Finishes
Shellcrete finishes for Florida decks
Honed
Smooth and matte, honed to 100 grit
Best for pool decks, patios
Not for steep driveways, ramps, a mirror finish
Polished
Sleek and reflective, polished to bring up the embedded shell
Best for covered lanais, interiors
Not for open pool decks, driveways, anywhere it stays wet
Exposed Shell
The signature texture
Best for driveways, walkways
Not for dining terraces, barefoot sunbathing, interiors
How to choose between them
Does it get wet?
Open pool decks, steps, coping and driveways want texture at the surface. That rules polished out and points at honed or exposed shell.
Does it hold furniture?
A table and chairs want a flat plane. On exposed shell, four chair feet find four different high points.
Is it under a roof?
Polished belongs indoors and under cover, where it stays dry and can throw the light back into the room.
One property often wants two of them — exposed shell on the walkway and coping, honed on the terrace where the table goes. Same mix, same pour, finish varying by what each area is for.
