When you’re creating your dream kitchen, you may start by choosing the color and shape of your granite countertop. Once you've chosen these, and a matching backsplash, you might think it’s time to choose your sink, flooring, and so forth. However, there's one more detail in the granite stone process to do. You will need to choose your finish. There are three main finishes to choose from: polished, brushed, and honed.
Polished granite gleams like glass.
Polished
A polished granite counter is created by using very fine grinding process, in order to produce a smooth glossy finish which is as reflective of the light as a clean, still swimming pool. This finish is elegant and will show off the color, flecks and design of your granite, and since it is not as porous as the other finishes, it does not need to be sealed quite as often. Polished surfaces are also the most common granite finishes, so a supplier is more often to have it in stock. The high polish makes this the easiest of the surfaces to keep clean and maintain, so if your kitchen hosts a constant flow of teenage messiness or sticky toddler fingers, this might be a good fit.
A honed finish creates a soft, matte look.
Honed
A honed counter is made with courser detailing and the manufacturer stops grinding the stone right before the surface becomes shiny. This results in a softer-matte finish. This surface is more porous so will need to be sealed more often. This is a good choice for someone who wants a softer look or muted color. While not as easy to maintain as the polished surface, a honed surface will clean well even with medium kitchen traffic such as adults with an occasional mix of guests.
Brushed, also called leathered finish.
Brushed
Brushed is a more severe version of honed. The granite is brushed gently by the manufacturer creating a diluted color and textured surface. There will be dips and valleys which mean that the surface will need to be sealed more frequently, and spills should be cleaned immediately to avoid stains or a cavern of food debris in it. This surface does have tremendous character, but requires more work. If you're prone to making a mess in the kitchen and leaving it, this might not be the best surface.
Any of these looks will highlight your granite counter as a unique piece of art in your kitchen, and help create the kitchen of your dreams.
Oops! We forgot to talk about edgings! That will have to be a blog for another day.
Rock on.
