Throughout the last decade or so, the stone industry has experienced growth in finishes that are not as traditional as some of the others. Textured, brushed, antiqued slabs have gotten more popular and are a unique way to make a project stand out. In fact, almost all slab companies are now stocking these textured, brushed slabs.
But what happens when you get a slab that has an antiqued or leathered surface but the edge has been left with a polished edge? How can you make the edge match the rest of the stone? If you are trying to determine the best tools and process to use to get an edge that matches the textured, antiqued, or brushed finish of the top of a pre-textured slab, you are in the right place.
Tools for Matching Antiqued or Leathered Surfaces
Tenax Filiflex and Airflex brushes are the best tools to match these edges, as most of the slab producers are using the Tenax system to create the texture in the first place. But what are these brushes used with?
A great, simple way to match these edges is by using water fed electric or air tools. After you get the profile you want, simply use the 4" snail lock Filiflex, grits 36, 46, 60, then Airflex 120, 220, 300 and that's it. This will match 90% of the finishes slab producers are creating.
As a suggestion, Tenax recommends using a snail lock back up pad with the 4" and 5" brushes. They are 5/8-11 thread and screw onto the polisher. This serves 2 great purposes:
It's a super-fast quick change system
This creates a very nice, stable, even pressure across the brush which allows for a better finish.
Antique Brushing Technique in Action
Tenax created a video of using the brushes by hand. You can go to the video page or simply watch the video here:
Most homeowners will prefer to have their edges match the top when purchasing a textured granite countertop. A set of 6 Tenax brushes, along with a snail lock back up pad will allow you to create and match the edge perfectly to the top.
So, there you have it, the best way to achieve a high quality edge match on an antiqued stone slab is really as simple as knowing what tools to use and which settings to use for the task.
