It’s undeniable that the finish you choose for your granite surface greatly affects the space’s aesthetic and practical value. Your granite installation will be one-of-a-kind with any of the available surface finishes, which range from polished to honed, leathered to flame. If you want to make a smart choice, you need to know what each finish is good for and how to use it. In this piece, we will delve into the most common granite surface treatments and how they are used, giving you all the information you need to choose the perfect one for your project.
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Polished Finish
The polished finish is the most common finish applied to granite surfaces. It aims to enhance the natural beauty of the stone, creating a mirror-like shine that exudes elegance and sophistication. This finish reveals the true color and charm of the granite, making it a popular choice for countertop and flooring surfaces. The process of achieving a polished finish involves grinding and buffing the stone surface using abrasive pads of varying grit levels. Starting at 50 grit and reaching up to 3,000 grit, the stones pass through a series of polishing wheels to attain the desired gloss.
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The high gloss of polished granite complements various interior styles, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of applications. That is an ideal choice for both residential and commercial spaces, polished finish granite countertops and floorings add a touch of luxury and sophistication to any environment. In homes, these surfaces elevate the overall aesthetic appeal, while in commercial settings, they exude professionalism and elegance.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reveals true color and charm | Can be more susceptible to scratches |
| High gloss and shine | Not as slip-resistant as other finishes |
| Easy to clean and maintain | May show water marks more visibly |
The advantages of a polished finish include its ability to showcase the true color and beauty of the granite, as well as its smooth and glossy appearance that adds elegance to any space. However, this finish may be more prone to showing scratches and fingerprints compared to other finishes.
Honed Finish
A honed finish granite showcases a matte look, providing a calm and casual appeal to any space. This type of finish is less reflective compared to polished finishes, making it perfect for those seeking a more subdued appearance while maintaining the elegance of the stone.
The appearance of honed finish granite is similar to that of matte or satin. With less reproduction and brightness than a polished finish, this surface treatment gives the impression of being less rigorous. While preserving the beautiful stone’s charm and character, a polished finish can give it an air of casual elegance. Unlike a polished finish, this one will not let the granite’s natural color and texture show through. Honed granite is a great option for backsplashes and countertops if you’re going for a more understated style.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Provides a smoother and workable finish for countertops | Less effective in moisture retention compared to polished finish |
| Capable of hiding flaws better due to less reflection | Reveals traces of wearing or traffic patterns on flooring |
Another advantage of a honed finish is its ability to offer a softer aesthetic while maintaining the durability and functionality of the granite. However, it’s important to consider the trade-offs in moisture resistance and visibility of wear and tear when opting for this finish.
Leathered Finish
Leathered finish granite offers a subtle gloss, less than a polished finish, and includes a textured look. This finish provides a warm and rustic appeal to the stone surface, with varying textures from piece to piece. The leathered finish generally offers more resistance to stains, scratches, fingerprints, and smudges compared to other finishes.
The décor industry is quickly embracing this new granite surface treatment, which is relatively young compared to others. A rough appearance complements its mild sheen, which is lower than that of a polished one. Each natural stone will have its own unique texture, and some will have a more leather-like appearance than others.
Pros and Cons
Any granite finish has its own set of pros and cons. Here is a breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of a leathered finish:
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers a warm and rustic appeal | Less glossy compared to polished finish |
| Provides more resistance to stains and scratches | May have varying textures from piece to piece |
To further elaborate, the leathered finish is ideal for those looking for a unique and textured appearance in their granite surface. While it may lack the high gloss of a polished finish, it makes up for it with its ability to resist stains and scratches better, thus offering a more practical solution for busy areas in a home or commercial space.
Flamed Finish
A slightly uneven stone surface is the defining feature of this finish. Additionally, the finishing process lightens the stone finish to a certain extent, giving it a more weathered, natural, and lighter appearance. The name of this finish says it all: it’s made by subjecting the stone to a high-intensity flame, which makes it brittle and coarse. When a non-slip surface is needed in an outdoor setting, this finish is perfect.
Pros and Cons
There are some restrictions brought about by the flame treatment procedure, but the non-slip qualities make it perfect for usage outdoors. To help you make an educated decision for projects that need both design and function, we’ll go over the main benefits and downsides of this finish.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Creates a slightly uneven stone surface | Stone can become brittle and coarse after the flaming process |
| Gives a more weathered and natural appearance | Lightens the stone finish, altering its original color |
| Provides a non-slip surface for outdoor use | Susceptible to chipping or damage due to the high-intensity flame |
Bush Hammered Finish
To get this look, the stone is pounded with a series of steel brushes, which can crack the surface and create holes. For exceptionally slip-resistant surfaces, bush-hammering is a technique similar to the flamed finish described earlier. It can also be used to recreate the appearance of a primitive polish, which was achieved by hand-chiseling the stone. The surface is gradually given a “time-worn” appearance by delicately brushing it with steel brushes.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides exceptional slip resistance | Can create cracks and holes in the surface |
| Offers a “time-worn” appearance | Surface may appear less polished compared to other finishes |
| Recreates the appearance of primitive hand-chiseled stone | Requires delicate brushing with steel brushes |
| Can be used for achieving various aesthetic looks | May require more maintenance to upkeep its appearance over time |
Brushed Finish
Textured surface Gently stroking the surface until it becomes rough is the process that produces granite. Brushing makes granite stones with this finish more porous than polished granite because of the application of the technique. A brushed finish, like an honed one, dulls the granite’s natural hue. Granite with a brushed finish can hide normal wear and tear marks like scratches and blemishes.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Textured surface | More porous than polished granite, potentially more susceptible to stains and moisture |
| Hides wear and tear marks | Dulls the natural hue of granite |
| Can provide a rustic aesthetic |
Lepatora Finish
It is well-known that the term “Lepatora” originated in Italy. An abrasive is used to scrape the granite surface in order to remove the polish and achieve the Lepatora finish. After that, different stone abrasives are used to remove any scratches from the stone. A variety of stone brushes numbered 26, 60, 80, 120, 240, 320, and 500 are subsequently employed for the leather finish. The final stone finish is a combination of matte and glossy, with less shine, and is achieved with the use of three additional special stones with the numbers 800, 1500, and 3000. The granular worn-out appearance of lepatora finish granite is both highly fashionable and authentic. The surface is easy to clean and won’t cause any slips.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Authentic and fashionable appearance with a granular, worn-out look | Requires a multi-step process involving abrasives and stone brushes |
| Combination of matte and glossy finish | May not be as resistant to scratches and wear as other finishes |
| Surface is easy to clean and maintain | Less shine compared to other finishes |
| Provides a textured surface that is less prone to slips and falls |
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