Natural Stone Finishes 101 – Polished, Honed, and Leathered

Natural Stone Finishes 101

Choosing the right finish for your natural stone surface is just as important as selecting the perfect stone to compliment your interiors. While all natural stones- whether marble, granite, or quartzite – are endowed with nature’s divine beauty, each stone has its individual characteristics and nuances that are enhanced by the choice of finishes. 

Thanks to the advancement of technologies, our options are not confined to traditional finishes. Nowadays, there are a myriad of contemporary finishes available, allowing you to achieve your desired aesthetic and functional requirements. In this blog, we are going to discuss different finishes, their best applications, and more.

Polished Finish

Do you like how marble floors of luxury hotels shine under the light of glittering chandeliers? Yes? This is the specialty of polished finishes. It has the ability to transform any ordinary space into a jazzy and lavish retreat. 

Blue Bahia Granite Polished Finish

The polished finish is desired for its smooth and glossy luster, lending a mirror-like sheen to the surface. The finish is achieved by a meticulous process of grinding and buffing with abrasive pads until the surface pores are reduced to an even, reflective finish. Polishing significantly enhances the colors and patterns of the stone. Moreover, it helps reduce the porosity of the stone to some extent, making it more resistant to stains. 

Some stones are more demanded in polished finish than others, mostly because they appear more elegant and opulent when polished. Marble, granite, quartzite, and onyx are some of the top options for this type of finish. 

Application: Polished stones are great for busy areas like kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and living room floors. It not only improves the stone’s durability but also makes the space look glamorous and alluring.

Pros

  • Polished surfaces are less prone to stains than other finishes.
  • Easy to clean and maintain.
  • Polished stones add a bright and breezy look to a place.

Cons

  • Scratches and etches look more prominent in a polished finish.
  • Polished finish surfaces become slippery when wet; therefore, they are not suitable for water sides like bathroom floors or pool surrounds.
  • It is difficult to polish back honed or other textured finishes. 
  • Requires frequent sealing depending on the stone type.

Honed/ Matte Finish

The honed or matte finish is regarded for creating a soft and sophisticated aesthetic. In contrast to polished finishes, honed finish stones do not reflect light. The finish appears subdued and feels velvety smooth to the touch. 

A honed finish is created by following the same process as it is for polishing. The stone surface is ground and buffed rigorously until the desired matte look is achieved. Since the surface is not buffed to a completely refined finish, the honed stones tend to have more porosity than the polished stones. 

Many interior designers admire matte surfaces as they preserve the rustic and organic charm of natural stones. The hues and patterns of honed stones appear deep yet subdued. Although polished marble flooring and countertops dominate the pages of interior design magazines, the stone looks incredibly sophisticated and luxurious in a matte finish. Other stones like limestone, travertine, soapstone, and slate in honed finish add warmth and pastoral feel to any setting.

Application: Honed surfaces are ideal for bathroom flooring, patios, walkways, pool surrounds, and staircases since they are slip-resistant and can withstand regular wear and tear.

Pros

  • Scratches or etches are less visible on honed surfaces.
  • The honed finish is relatively smoother than any other textured finish.
  • Creates an aura of relaxing and inviting atmosphere.
  • It is the perfect finish for those who prefer less of a bling.
  • This finish improves the stone’s overall durability. 

Cons

  • Honed surfaces are susceptible to staining and etching due to being more porous than polished surfaces.
  • Removing stains can be slightly difficult.
  • If the stone is naturally more porous, a honed and unfilled finish can leave the pores open to accumulate dust over time.
  • Requires timely sealing.

Leathered/ Brushed Finish

A leathered or brushed stone finish is a burgeoning trend in the world of interior design with more designers incorporating this finish in their high-end projects for its premium appearance. The terms leathered and brushed are used interchangeably. As the name suggests, leathered finish exhibits a look and texture similar to that of fine leather. The tiny dips and highs spread across the surface are enhanced by a waxy smooth finish that feels pleasant to the touch. Leathered finish lends a dull sheen to the stone, giving it a rich appearance. 

Leathered Finish

The finish is achieved by a thorough process of brushing and buffing the surface of the stone with diamond-infused brushes, which, in turn, help soften the uneven surface and bring out the rich tones. Leather treatment is mostly recommended for darker stones such as granite and slate. 

Application: Leathered stones are also perfect for high-traffic areas since they are less likely to show scratches and etches. They are perfect for both indoor and outdoor applications. 

Pros

  • The leathered finish enhances the depth of colors and patterns of the stone.
  • It conceals minor imperfections of the stone including scratching or etching.
  • It contributes to the stone’s durability, making it stronger.
  • It offers more grip, making it suitable for moist areas like pool sides, and bathrooms.
  • The finish adds more depth to the stone’s character.

Cons

  • Due to its comparatively rough texture, leathered stones accumulate dirt and grime and are slightly more difficult to clean.
  • Leathered stones have more open pores and, thus, are more susceptible to staining.
  • Requires timely sealing to preserve the natural sheen.
  • Not all types of stones are suitable for a leathered finish. Stones with a certain level of hardness and texture offer the best result. 

Flamed Finish

A flamed finish is a heavily textured finish that offers a rough appearance to the stone. It is obtained by literally flaming the stone surface, allowing it to burn to the extent that its crystals become visible to the naked eye. Flamed surfaces offer a muted effect and excellent slip resistance, making them perfect for outdoor applications such as pool surrounds, patios, and garden walkways. 

Flamed Finish Stones

The finish is not suitable for softer stones. Granite is commonly used for the flamed finish, along with some hard variations of limestone and marble.

Application: Thanks to the coarse texture, stones with a flamed finish are anti-slip and moisture resistant, which makes them an ideal fit for water-prone areas. Its added durability makes it perfect for high-traffic outdoor areas.

Pros 

  • Its rugged texture gives any space a warm and earthy feel.
  • It equips the stones with added slip resistance.
  • A flamed finish conceals scratches, etches, or other minor imperfections.

Cons

  • Flamed stones can be prone to staining as flaming exposes the stone’s pores.
  • Flamed surfaces are hard to clean as the rough surface can accumulate stubborn dirt. Hence, this finish is not recommended for countertops.
  • This finish is not suitable for all types of stones. Therefore, a limited option is available in flamed stones.
  • Frequent sealing is required to keep the surface in prime condition.

Sandblasted Finish

In a sandblasted finish, a stone is treated primarily with air, sand, water, and other abrasives applied at a high pressure onto the stone to smoothen out the imperfections and blemishes, rendering the stone with a silky smooth yet granular texture. This finish softens the hues and patterns of a stone while lending it a uniform appearance across the surface. Granite, travertine, sandstone, and slate offer a unique appearance with a sandblasted finish. 

Sandblasted Finish

Application: Sandblasting, just like any other textured finish, offers excellent slip resistance in wet areas such as bathroom flooring, walls, and even pool surrounds. It is great for outdoor wall cladding as well. 

Pros 

  • This finish is perfect for creating an even tone and uniform appearance.
  • It creates a subtle, matte look which is trending nowadays.
  • It offers resistance against scratches and lends structural strength to a stone.
  • It can be used for versatile applications.

Cons

  • Sandblasting stones are prone to staining due to open pores.
  • It is not a recommended finish for countertop materials as it can take additional effort to keep a sandblasted surface clean.
  • This finish has limited applications indoors.

Bush Hammered

Bush-hammered stones are known for their uneven, ridged surface, achieved by a technique in which a bush hammer – a tool with evenly spread teeth – is used to inflict heavy blows on the surface, leaving the stone with uniform indentations. Since this technique requires a heavy impact on the surface, the ideal stones for this finish would be thick and strong stones like granite, sandstone, and limestones. 

Bush hammering gives stones a kind of smudged and weathered aesthetic, in which the patterns on the surface soften and their natural tones become subdued.

Application: The matte aesthetic of the stone makes it a perfect choice for creating a sophisticated yet subtle aesthetic. Its rugged surface offers additional grip to the stones, which makes it perfect for outdoor applications such as wall cladding, facades, staircases, patriots, and pool surrounds.

Pros 

  • A bush-hammered finish contributes to the stone’s resistance to wear and tear.
  • This finish camouflages scratches and minor flaws.
  • It offers excellent slip resistance in wet areas.

Cons

  • Bush-hammered surfaces are not suitable for countertop and backsplash applications as they tend to stain and collect grime and dirt in their pores.
  • Its textured surface is hard to clean and remove stubborn stains.
  • Its matte and coarse appearance might not suit all types of decor styles.
  • This finish is costly for being labor-intensive and requires specialized tools.

When it comes to selecting the right finish for your stone, there is more than one factor you must consider. Every finish, whether it is polished or textured, evokes a different kind of aesthetic. While polished surfaces exude a feeling of sheer luxury and glamor, matte finishes create a sense of earthiness and preserve the stones’ raw beauty. Besides aesthetics, you must consider the functionality of these finishes, making sure that your choice of finish serves the purpose of its application.

For instance, textured finishes are perfect for wet zones such as washrooms and poolsides due to their added benefit of slip resistance. On the other hand, they do not make a good choice for kitchen countertops because of their highly porous nature. A polished finish is, therefore, always ideal for countertop materials. Considering the aesthetic and functional aspects of each finish can help you create a space that is both stylish and practical.

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