Granite Monument Design Decision #5 - Monument Finish

Granite monuments can be finished with a very rough textured finish to a smooth mirrored finish depending on the look you envision. A standard monument starts with a polished front and back face. Lettering is added inside a steeled panel which will be discussed later in this tutorial. The sides and top are typically rock pitch although any finish can be added. The standard base is polished on top with all sides rock pitch.

The following terms are used in the monument industry for the various types of finishes.

Polished Finish

A polished finish has a dark, mirror-gloss finish that brings out the dynamic colors and natural grain of the granite. The vast majority of granite countertops are polished.

Steeled Finish

The steeled finish is a light, smooth finish, which is the finish stage right before polishing. The granite has a dull luster which is slightly lighter than its polished finish. A steeled panel is used to give sandblasted letters its contrast on a memorial.

Rock Pitch Finish

A rock pitch finish is a hand-cut rustic finish with edges dressed to a straight line. This finish maintains the natural rock texture of the granite while creating the semi-flat contour of a memorial top or side.

Thermal Finish

The thermal texture is a rough, random texture finish with a heavy pocked surface. Thermal texture is widely used on granite steps to prevent slipping that would normally occur with a polished or steeled finish.

Example

Finishes are very difficult to convey on a website. We encourage you to visit Star Granite Company to actually touch the various finishes before making a decision.

The following image shows three of the four finishes discussed above. The two visible sides of the Barre grey granite hickey are rock pitch. The top is a combination of steeled (inner rectangle) and polished (outer rectangle) finishes. Notice how the steeled finish is quite a bit lighter than the polished finish. This is typical of all granite. It is this difference that makes lettering, carvings, and graphics visible.

Design Decision #6 - Monument Carvings and Etchings