Crash course on STONE

Most stone is quarried as a huge block and sliced up like a loaf of bread. Then each "slice" is treated with epoxy/poly resin as needed, baked and then polished. From that point, there are essentially three common stone finishes. All natural stones will follow the same principles, but the patina will be different for marble, quartzite, soapstone or limestones.

POLISHED

Polished: High shine, smooth. Note: Actual shine and consistency of polish will depend on actual elements in the stone.

• Pros: Classic, finished look. Less porous than untreated honed/leathered stone, so it absorbs (aka stains) less than the untreated honed/leathered.

• Cons: Requires regular sealing. (Industry recommendation: every 6-8 months for kitchens.) Solid, dark polished granite will show EVERY bit of dust, smudges, etc. (think black car).

HONED

Honed: No shine, smooth. Pads are used to remove some of the polish, creating a smooth matte finish.

• Pros: A more natural stone finish. If an amalgam stone (meaning it has veins of marble or other softer elements), honing can “hide” any etching that occurs.
  IF treated with an ager product, surface will be comparatively low maintenance.

• Cons: IF left untreated, this surface is more porous than polished stone which makes it more prone to staining or uneven wear. Black honed stone often shows smudges/fingerprints.

LEATHER BRUSHED

• Leathered/Brushed (usually interchangeable): No shine, textured. Pads are used to wear away softer parts of the stone, leaving a textured feel. Note: Actual texture will depend on the elements in each stone - ranging from orange peel feel to smooth mica layer feel.

  • Pros: Very intriguing look. Easy to keep looking clean. Fits well with rustic décor.
    IF Treated with an ager product, surface will be comparatively low maintenance.

  • Cons: Texture will vary. IF left untreated, this surface is more porous than polished stone which makes it more prone to staining or uneven wear.

SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES

*Honed and Leathered stones: We would ALWAYS recommend treatment with an Ager product at install, instead of just sealing. If treated, these surfaces become incredibly maintenance friendly. Short story on this product:

• It is done once every 15-20+ years.

• Sits topically on the stone, so it provides a slight barrier for stains by making pores less accessible.

  This will create a uniform patina across the entire stone (enhancing color and adding a slight sheen). This can be good or bad, depending on what you like about the stone. For most stones, it will darken the look to imitate the way the stone would naturally age around higher use areas. Treating from the get-go gives the stone a uniform appearance.

*The darker the granite, the less pores. Less pores = less absorption/staining possibly.

*The more color/movement in the granite, the more life friendly it will be.