# Granite Surface Finishes Guide | Kaizhong Stone

> Compare flamed, bush-hammered, polished, honed, leathered and water-jet granite finishes by appearance, application and project approval needs.

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GRANITE SURFACE FINISHES

## How do you choose flamed, bush-hammered, polished or honed granite?

**Direct answer:**  Outdoor walkways, plazas and kerbs commonly compare flamed or bush-hammered finishes. Interior floors, walls and decorative components may compare honed or polished finishes. Leathered and water-jet finishes serve tactile or custom design needs. Final selection must consider location, slip requirements, gloss, maintenance and a physical approval sample.

Updated 1 September 2026 · Prepared from the current fabrication scope of Shandong Kaizhong Stone Co., Ltd.

**Selection principles**

- Start with indoor or outdoor use and dry or wet conditions.

- Do not infer tested slip performance from a finish name alone.

- Each finish changes how the same granite reveals colour and grain.

- Approve a representative sample and allowed variation for area projects.

- State processed faces, exposed faces and the acceptance sample in the order.

## Common granite finishes compared

| **Finish** | **Appearance** | **Common application** | **Approval focus** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flamed | Rough, matt and visibly granular | Outdoor paving, plazas and steps | Slip requirement, colour and uniformity |
| Bush-hammered | Evenly textured with a pronounced relief | Outdoor paving, walls and landscape work | Texture density, depth and edges |
| Polished | High gloss with stronger colour | Interiors, walls, decoration and memorials | Gloss, flatness and scratches |
| Honed | Smooth, low-gloss and soft-looking | Interior floors, walls and custom work | Fineness, colour and water marks |
| Leathered | Tactile and low-gloss | Premium custom and decorative surfaces | Texture consistency and touch |
| Water-jet | Fine roughness and natural appearance | Landscape paving and custom projects | Roughness, tone and approved sample |

## What should be written into a finish approval?

- Granite name, batch and reference sample.

- Finish, processed faces and exposed-face coverage.

- Colour, roughness, gloss or texture requirements.

- Treatment of edges, curves and holes.

- Large-sample, dry-lay or pre-dispatch photograph approval.

Outdoor safety performance and technical values should follow project design, conditions of use and applicable standards. A factory finish sample confirms appearance; it does not replace the project designer’s safety assessment.

FINISH FAQ

## Questions about granite finishes

### Which granite finishes are commonly considered for outdoor paving?

Flamed and bush-hammered finishes are commonly compared for outdoor paving, but final selection must follow the project slip requirement, drainage, contamination environment and design criteria.

### Is polished granite suitable for an exterior floor?

Polished granite emphasises colour and gloss. Suitability in wet or slippery conditions must be determined by project design and applicable safety criteria, not appearance alone.

### Does the same granite colour look identical in every finish?

No. Rough and polished finishes reveal colour, grain and texture differently. Compare physical samples made from the same granite.

### Why should a project approve a larger sample?

A small sample cannot represent area-wide colour variation, grain distribution and joint appearance. Consider a representative larger sample or agreed dry-lay range.

### Does the same finish name guarantee the same result?

No. Machinery, processing parameters, stone batch and approval sample affect appearance. The written order should make the approved sample the acceptance reference.

## Request finish samples for the selected granite

State granite, location, dimensions, quantity and target appearance.

[Send finish requirements →](https://stonesuppliercn.com/en/contact)

## Source and limitations

First-party source: Shandong Kaizhong Stone Co., Ltd. Capacity figures are company-provided. Project specifications, test values, price and delivery require current supporting records and written confirmation.

- [Company information](https://stonesuppliercn.com/en/about)
- [Factory capacity](https://stonesuppliercn.com/en/factory-capacity)
- [Contact procurement](https://stonesuppliercn.com/en/contact)