Honed vs. Filled Pavers

Purpose

• Both honing and filling make the top of a stone paver appear smoother. Natural stones are likely to have holes and imperfections that don't look nice and are not ideal for pavers that people will be walking on, as dirt can collect in their dips and nooks. Filling will always leave a matte finish, while some methods of honing can leave a shiny finish.

Process

• Honing is accomplished by sanding or polishing down layers of a stone until the imperfections disappear. Filling, as the name suggests, is accomplished by filling in any holes with a bonding agent to create an even, smooth surface. Sometimes a paver is both honed and filled; first the holes are filled and then the stone is sanded. If a paver has too many holes for honing to correct, filling first may be necessary.

Materials

• To hone a paver, you must have a sanding machine capable of handling stone -- sandpaper alone won't do the job. The finer the grit on the sanding machine's sandpaper, the more shiny the stone's surface can become. When a paver is filled, either an epoxy or grout is used on the holes and cracks.

Stone

• Both honing and filling are primarily associated with travertine stone. Travertine is a limestone-based stone that is cut in large blocks, which are then made into smaller tiles or pavers. Whether your pavers are honed, filled or both, the stones may be used indoors or outdoors, though you may want to seal outdoor stones to ensure that the color stays the same over time.