The characteristics of different stone types largely determine how and where they should be used and also the finishes that can be successfully applied to them.

The main characteristics of stone are:

• Hardness and density - which determine the ability of the stone to take a high degree of polish.
• Water absorption.
• Compressive strength.

These characteristics are dictated by how the stone was formed. There are 3 major methods of stone formation

• Igneous (granite, basalt)
• Sedimentary (sandstone, limestone, slate)
• Metamorphic (marble, travertine, quartzite)

Granite		Marble		Sandstone		Limestone and Kota Stone
Quartzite		Basalt		Slate		Travertine