Very Cool Honed Granite Surfaces!

A durable as well as beautiful upgrade to your kitchen or bathrooms comes in the form of a natural igneous rock called granite. This material has been growing popularity since the early 90’s and remains a sort of status symbol for middle class Americans all over the country. The stone can be shaped and polished in a variety of ways depending on the specific application and this article will give the reader a few things to consider when deciding what they want their granite to look like.

One of the most common finishing styles for granite countertops is honed granite. This type of finishing is far less glossy than a polished one where the surface of the rock is smooth however it isn’t shiny or slippery like it is when it is highly polished. The material takes on more of a matte or flat finish and can hold its form longer than highly polished finishes that tend to erode over time with scuffing. It is preferable to flooring where there may be increased water pools where people walk making the surface slippery or because foot traffic can quickly wear down a glossy finish. Drawbacks to this process are that the rock is more susceptible to staining and the color depth is not maximized.

On the other end of the finishing spectrum is a polished or glossy surface also referred to as a mirror finish. With this process, color depth, appearance of crystal structure, and tone are all maximized making the finished product highly attractive and water resistant. This technique allows for easier cleaning of countertops which is especially useful for bathrooms and kitchens. It also acts to seal many of the pours of the stone making it impervious to water or chemical damage and stains. The downside is that the luster can wear over time and any scratches or other damage will be far more visible than with a flatter finish.

Another option is a satin finish which is somewhere in between the extremes of highly polished or matte finishes. All processes for the final appearance of granite countertops do not drastically affect the overall durability and beauty of granite. Mostly these finishes are a matter of preference and one will not protect the stone far better than the other although there may be slight advantages based on what purposes you will be using your granite for most. Matte or honed finishes are highly recommended for flooring however because glossy or polished finishes can become extremely slippery when wet.