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Granite Styles and Terminology
Ordering a monument or memorial can feel like a daunting task when you are asked if you want it polished or pitched… and if there is a need for a base, plinth and foundation. At Sunset we can answer your questions about ordering granite, the finishes, as well as the terminology used in the industry. Below are some styles and terminology you might come across.
We measure a memorial (die) by its Length x Width x Height always in this order.
The three most popular memorial tops are shown below. However, we are not limited to these and can create a variety of custom shapes.
On certain monuments an additional piece of granite can be included. These additions, plinths, sub bases, bases and caps, come in a variety of designs.
The look of a stone depends not only on its shape and size, but also on how the information is presented on the memorial. An overall look for a stone, also dependent on lettering and artwork, can be achieved through an array of sandblasting techniques we employ. Below are examples of these styles of blasting.
Granite has different finishes or surface textures available. With technology today, stones are fabricated to give desired surface textures. There are several of the most common types of surfaces that we use:
Pitched
Rugged and rough, heavy relief, chiseled stone face finish. The edges of the stone are either hand or machine chipped, splintered or slightly fractured. The surface comes with natural clefts giving a very raw look.
Sawn
Sawn surface is coarsely polished leaving a semi-smooth, regular finish. It is done by using a gang saw. Saw Cut finishes offer complimentary accent to other types of stone work.
Polished
A smooth, reflective finish. The polished stone finish brings out the rich colors and enhances natural pattern in the stone. The shine on stone surface does not come from any coating but the process. It is buffed to the highest level possible creating a high shine and smooth finish.
Sand Blasted
Producing a finish by projecting a high-pressure jet of sand to the surface of the granite. This treatment produces a smooth mark, leaving the granite with a slightly etched surface. The color tones are slightly dulled.
Deep Carved / Sculptured
The effect is achieved either by hand carving or the use a deeper sandblasting method to any type of stone creating a sculptured look.
The information above is solely for informational purposes only. Questions? Please do not hesitate to contact our knowledgeable and compassionate sales team.