Honed granite finishes are porous and prone to staining, therefore require more maintenance to keep it protected. To keep your honed granite stain-free and to ensure its longevity, we recommend that this type of granite countertop be resealed once every six months with a natural stone sealant for granite.
Even if it is sealed, a honed granite counter may still discolor or stain from food and drink spills. It will even etch from anything acidic that contains lemon juice or vinegar. A honed finish does require more maintenance to help keep it protected, and that means resealing it every few months.
Honed granite offers a natural, slip-resistant surface that resists scratches, making it a durable option for high-traffic areas, though it may require extra care to maintain.
Honed granite is different. It's recommended that you seal it every 2 to 3 months. Although this may seem like a lot of work, it's a small price to pay for such a unique slab of granite. Even though honed granite needs to be sealed more often than polished granite, you can still use the same kind of sealant on both.
While you can technically place a hot pan directly on your countertop briefly without sustaining long term damage, it's not a good idea to do so. There are several reasons why we always recommend using a trivet, pad or potholder when placing a hot pan on a granite countertop.
If left unsealed, granite countertops can become vulnerable to stains and damage over time. Granite, being a porous material, naturally absorbs liquids. Without proper sealing, liquids spilled in the kitchen, such as wine, oil, coffee, or food can seep into the pores, leaving behind stubborn stains.
There are many different finishes available for granite, including polished, which has the traditional glossy look, and honed, a more matte finished version. While polished granite may look more dramatic than honed, it is actually honed granite that is the more expensive of the two.
Honed granite is more resistant to scratches because of its matte finish. Unlike with a polished surface, honed granite does get scratched, it is less noticeable because the scratch won't be as easy to see when light reflects off it.
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the granite before (left) and after (right) our refinishing process. The original honed finish had very little reflective quality. This is the same top, after we changed it to a polished finish. What a beautiful reflection!
Because the porous nature of honed granite is eliminated during the leathering process, leathered granite is also resistant to liquids, so you won't need to sprint to mop up a spill before it stains. One major drawback of leathered granite is that dust settles into its imperfections.
Years of repeated thermal cycling can result in fatigue and eventual cracking of granite countertops.
Both the Tenax Ager and the Tenax Ager Tiger work well on honed granite as well as polished granite. These color enhancing granite sealers add a deep, rich look to the stones on which they are used and a sub-surface barrier designed to protect the stone from potential stain-causers.
White granite countertops are a classic choice that never goes out of style.
Polished Granite (Shiny, Mirror Finish)
The polished finish makes granite appear glossy and reflective, and it accentuates the stone's natural hues and textures. Because the surface is mirror-like, it will also make your kitchen appear brighter. Polished granite's stain resistance is one of its biggest advantages.
Storing Acidic Things on Your Granite Countertop
Be careful with these common acidic household items that can damage the seal on your granite: Vinegar. Citrus fruits. Soft drinks.
Honed surfaces, without the glossy seal, can be more susceptible to staining, especially if spills are not promptly cleaned up.
Durability: Quartz is one the hardest materials on the planet. This means it has a higher scratch resistance than granite and won't chip or crack easily.
First up is a polished surface; this particular finish is the standard of quartz countertops. Polished surfaces tend to be more popular due to their easy maintenance and glossy top that reflects light in a flattering way.
– Color and Patterns
For example, granites with rare blue or red tones, or those with intricate marbling, are often priced higher than more common varieties like beige or grey.
Something as simple as replacing your countertops with granite or another type of natural stone is an investment that will do more than just enhance the appearance. Granite continues to be the most popular countertop among homebuyers and it can boost your home's value by up to 25%.
Granite has too much versatility to be outdated. Nor has engineered stone made granite obsolete. Granite's list of strengths — durable, heat-resistant, fade-resistant, scratch-resistant and easy to clean — compare favorably with man-made products.
This soft, malleable material can trap dirt within its layers and, as it accumulates, can give the surface a yellow hue. This issue is commonly reported when someone believes their granite counters need repolishing. Wear on surfaces is typically caused by grinding sand or dirt underfoot.
Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn't porous like granite, it's easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Be careful with cooking pans though: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat, so use heating pads at all times.