To complement diamond based machinig processes, laser beam machining offers new ways in surface modification of ceramics. An excimer laser has been used to study the basic mechanism roughening the surface of silicon carbide. Investigations on different surfaces (lapped, polished) show a minor influence of the initial topography on the development of a characteristic cone structure. Microscopic studies identify the crystal structure and the melting phase as the main influence. The combination of these effects is responsible for the formation of a regular cone like structure ('microspherical caps'). A promising application of this roughening-phenomena is the improvement of adhesive bonding.