If you are in the final stages of constructing a new home or you’re renovating an older home, your mind has probably wandered to natural stone and how it will benefit your new kitchen and other areas. Natural stone is a great choice, but which finish? And how much maintenance do you really want to do?
There’s certainly a wide range of stone finishes out there, and selecting the perfect one for your project can seem overwhelming. But it’s a vital part of your project, helping to maintain the overall theme of your space.
Along with stone color and cut, stone finishes form the aesthetics, maintenance requirements and durability of natural stone surfaces, countertops and floors. Here are some of the most popular stone finishes and how you can maintain their appeal year after year, whether you ultimately decide on granite, limestone, soapstone or some other stone.
Polished Stone Finish
To get a polished finish, quarry workers have to polish the stones by applying abrasive treatments repeatedly to make way for resistant and shiny surfaces with minimal porosity. This polished finish augments the properties and colors of natural stone surfaces. This is why it’s a popular choice for interior flooring and wall dressing. It’s also ideal for kitchen and bathroom countertops. However, it is not good for outdoor paving uses due to its minimal slip resistance.
Polished stone finishes need regular re-polishing in order to maintain their elegant, glassy look.
Honed Stone Finish
Polishing gives granites and marbles a glossy finish, which is of course aesthetically appealing; however, to achieve a more rustic look, go with a honed finish. The honing process will remove etches, scratches and abrasions on natural stone surfaces, resulting in a dust-free, flat finish. Stones with honed finishes are perfect for lobby floors and other high-traffic areas.
Such surfaces are porous, though, meaning they require resealing every year with a penetrating sealer to prevent or delay staining.
Leathered Stone Finish
This effect is achieved through brushing stone surfaces with brushes to result in an undulating look with a warm, smooth and soft texture. Leathered stone finishes are best used on darker stones with a non-uniform structure. Granite is a good candidate. This type of finish will hide fingerprints, water spots, and smudges very well, backed by a stain- and slip-resistant quality that needs minimal maintenance.
Tumbled Stone Finish
This effect is achieved by tumbling stones in a solution of small pebbles, mild acids, sand, and water in order to soften and wear them. As a result, the surface gets a scuffed and weathered look. Known for its decorative purposes, tumbled stone finish needs no maintenance.
Flamed Stone Finish
A flamed finish is what you get when you heat up stone intensely, then cool it down rapidly. Flaming burns most of the carbon content in the stone, providing a gentle, rustic coloration. All this finish needs is regular cleaning, with no maintenance. Because it’s so tough, it’s a good choice for outdoor areas like entrances and hallways.
Contact Granite Guy
Whether you have your eye on granite, limestone, soapstone or some other stone, we can connect you with the right product and finished look. Contact us today at 508-460-7900 for a free quote.