Kilkenny Limestone Finishes

This finish shows the raw surface texture that results from diamond frame-sawing, pale grey in colour with visible saw marks. Commonly used for cladding and kerbing, the as-sawn finish suits applications where a robust, industrial character is preferred.

Tested wet PTV of 51 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

Honing uses progressive grits to produce smooth, matt surfaces in varying tones. The coarsest grit (100) gives Irish blue limestone a pale blue-grey colour with a faint pattern of circular scores. Honed finishes suit interior applications such as worktops, flooring and cladding, and external use including furniture, window sills and plinths. For a darker tone using finer grits, see dark honed.

Tested wet PTV of 23 in line with EN 1341. As a smooth honed finish, blue honed is intended for interior and sheltered exterior applications rather than wet-exposed paving.

The finest grit (500) produces a dark blue-grey to near-black surface with a smooth matt texture. At this level, crinoid fossils appear as well-defined surface mottling, and finely honed shell beds often read as black against the white contrast of brachiopods and other fossil inclusions. Dark honed finishes suit interior applications such as worktops, flooring and cladding. For a lighter tone using coarser grits, see blue honed.

Tested wet PTV of 18 in line with EN 1341, intended for interior applications such as worktops and flooring rather than wet-exposed exterior paving.

A smooth, pale blue-grey finish produced through dry sanding. The natural features of crinoids and the calcite grain structure remain visible, with minor tonal variation across the surface. The ground faces are flat with a faint, fine pattern of scores. Sanded is a finish specific to Irish blue limestone, used effectively on external cladding, façades and interior flooring for projects that combine durability with a refined surface character.

Tested wet PTV of 64 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

A classic masonry technique that incises the limestone surface with a series of fine parallel lines. The incisions appear dark grey to black against a paler blue-grey background, with crinoid fossils visible as a randomly distributed pattern of pale grey flecks. Line chiselled Kilkenny Limestone suits a wide range of applications including cladding, ashlar, lintels, mouldings, paving, setts, kerbs and steps.

Tested wet PTV of 84 in line with EN 1341, among the highest values in the Kilkenny range, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

An overall light-grey surface with light-grey markings contrasting against the darker limestone background. The finish originates from the manual cuts once applied by stonemasons using a flat chisel, at 20 to 30 strokes per 100 mm. The grooves are intermittent and run either parallel to the edges or at a 45° angle. Commonly specified for paving and cladding in projects with a traditional or heritage character.

Tested wet PTV of 76 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

Light-grey chiselled markings against a darker limestone background. Similar to old mechanical chiselled, with intermittent grooves, but deeper and applied at a 90° angle to the edges. Mainly used on external surfaces such as cladding and paving.

Tested wet PTV of 74 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

A traditional masonry finish with fine, regular parallel lines chiselled across the stone surface. The result is a pale, uniform appearance that reveals the calcite grain structure and crystalline inclusions of the limestone. Sclype is commonly specified for cladding, ashlar and decorative elements where a refined, linear surface character is required.

Tested wet PTV of 83 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

A speckled grey surface with random lighter areas and an irregular texture of minor creases. The finish is produced by torching the stone with a white-hot open flame, which fractures the upper crystal layer. Flamed Kilkenny Limestone has excellent slip resistance, making it well suited to outdoor paving, patios, paths and landscaping. The distinctive surface texture has also led to its use for cladding and interior applications.

Tested wet PTV of 77 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

Produced from a dedicated seam of Fossil Kilkenny Limestone, rich in large fossil oyster shells and coral fragments. Flaming gives the surface a speckled black-grey colour while preserving the contrast with the fossils. The finish has excellent slip resistance, making it well suited to outdoor paving, public spaces and urban installations where the fossil pattern becomes a visual feature.

Based on the same flaming process as standard flamed Kilkenny Limestone, with a tested wet PTV of 77 in line with EN 1341.

A dark blue-grey surface with a pattern of fine dimpling: randomly distributed, closely spaced paler blue-grey indentations set against the darker base. The finish has excellent slip resistance, making it well suited to outdoor paving, kerbs and steps. On larger surfaces, the consistent textured pattern also works well as a decorative feature for cladding and wall panels. For a similar finish with finer indentations, see peon hammered.

Tested wet PTV of 72 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

A dark blue-grey surface with a finer dimpling pattern than bush hammered, produced using a smaller hammer head. The paler blue-grey indentations are more closely spaced and subtler in effect, giving a refined textured appearance. Peon hammered suits applications where a tactile, non-slippery surface is required but the bolder dimpling of bush hammered would be too pronounced, such as cladding, decorative paving and feature surfaces. For a bolder textured finish, see bush hammered.

Tested wet PTV of 82 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

Also known as the 'frosted' finish, Ice Flower features a decorative white etched pattern applied to the surface of Irish blue limestone. The pale pattern reads as a delicate crystalline texture against the darker stone, creating a high-contrast visual effect. Introduced in recent years as a specialist finish, ice flower is mainly used for decorative cladding, feature walls and accent paving where visual character is the priority.

Tested wet PTV of 77 in line with EN 1341, providing low slip potential per UK SRG guidance.

Starting from a flamed surface, a diamond brush is applied to soften the texture without losing the underlying relief. The result is a smoother surface with a subtle sheen that retains the flamed character, in tones ranging from dark grey to blue depending on the brush type used. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, including paving, cladding and interior flooring where a less pronounced flamed texture is preferred.

Tested wet PTV of 25 in line with EN 1341, intended for interior or sheltered applications rather than wet-exposed exterior paving.

A finish produced by the abrasive action of ceramic chips on the stone surface. The process creates a distinctive micro-textured pattern with improved scratch resistance, giving the stone a softly worn, aged appearance. The final tone depends on the starting surface: a raw cut produces a paler blue-grey surface, while a honed starting point produces a deeper blue-grey tone with a smoother overall character. Stonewashed Kilkenny Limestone is typically used for interior flooring, wall cladding and bathroom applications, and suits outdoor surfaces where a weathered appearance fits the project character.

Tested wet PTV of 18 in line with EN 1341, intended for interior applications such as flooring, cladding and bathroom surfaces.

A smooth, matt blue-grey surface produced by polishing with diamond brushes. The brushes consist of fine diamond particles embedded in a plastic matrix, and the density of those particles determines the final tone: denser brushes produce a deeper blue-grey, finer brushes a paler one. The finish is highly durable and suits both indoor and outdoor applications, including worktops, flooring, cladding and paving.

Tested wet PTV of 23 in line with EN 1341, best specified for interior applications and sheltered exterior surfaces.

Also known as a "leathered" finish, referring to the slightly uneven, leathery touch of the stone surface. The finish produces a textured matt appearance with subtle relief, created through a combination of honing and brushing. Letano is commonly specified for worksurfaces including kitchen worktops, vanity tops and reception desks, valued for its cool tactile feel and easy maintenance.

Tested wet PTV of 18 in line with EN 1341, suited to interior worksurfaces such as kitchen worktops and vanity tops rather than wet exterior use.

Produced from a dedicated seam of Fossil Kilkenny Limestone, rich in large fossil oyster shells and coral fragments. The letano finish deepens the contrast between the fossils and the surrounding matrix, resulting in a strongly patterned tile with a textured matt surface. Commonly specified as a decorative feature for worktops, vanity tops and feature cladding.

Based on the same letano process, with comparable performance characteristics: a tested wet PTV of 18 in line with EN 1341, intended for interior worksurface applications.