Stone Material Finishes

Choose the Finish That Is Right for You

There are various options for finishes, with polished and honed finishes being two of the most popular. Neither a honed nor polished finish impacts the true nature and durability of the stone slab. Polished is the most common finish for natural stone and quartz.

This will be the most stain- and spot-resistant because polishing the stone causes the pores to tighten up. Call family and locally owned Milestone New Generation for more information on what finish to choose or stop by our showroom today.     

Long-Lasting Polished Finishes

A polished finish is considered the finest, smoothest finish available. It creates a beautiful glossy shine from the natural reflection of the stone’s crystals. It is a high-gloss, mirror-like finish with sharp reflections for the full color, depth and crystal structure of your stone. A polished finish retains its lustrous shine for years.

The finish is produced by grinding with progressively finer abrasives. Polished surfaces are the easiest to take care of. On a microscopic level, the pores of the stone are closed and prevent most stains from penetrating the surface.

Polished marble is coated, which acts as a protectant, making it less susceptible to stains. Consequently, the highly reflective surface means more visible scratches. Since polished marble is very smooth, this makes it a dangerous option for flooring in high-traffic areas such as bathrooms because it can be very slippery when wet.

It is, however, a classic choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops.

Keep Your Shine With Honed Finishes

The honed finish is produced in the same manner as polished slabs, but the process ends before any “shine” is created by the polishing steps. You will get a satiny look with a low sheen and very little reflection. Honed finishes can require more maintenance than a polished surface. On a microscopic level, the surface is rougher than a polished surface and can grab stain-causing agents.

Scratches on honed marble countertops are less noticeable because the scratch won’t be as easy to see when light reflects off it, like with a polished surface. Honed marble is more susceptible to stains, so it's important to clean up spills immediately.

Utilize a honed finish for floors where moisture might make a polished surface too slippery or where a finish is just too rough to walk on.

Leather and Antique Finishes

Leathered Finish

A leathered finish for granite has become increasingly popular. It looks more elegant and has more stain resistance than the honed finish. The leathering process closes the stone pores, which helps it to be more stain-resistant than the honed surface.

This leaves the stone with a soft texture that feels similar to leather. This finish will leave the stone with a textured matte finish. A leathered finish hides water spots and fingerprints better than a polished surface.

Antique Finish

An antique finish is growing in popularity and involves a special tool called a brush-hammer that pulverizes the surface of the stone. Diamond brushes impart a polish on the roughened surface. The finish is easy to maintain since the brushing portion of the process is similar to the final stages of polishing.