Polished, honed or brushed: how they differ in daily life
A polished finish gives deep colour and shine, but shows water marks and fingerprints. A honed finish is matt and softer on the eye, and hides small scratches and etch marks better. A brushed finish has a slightly tactile texture, hides fingerprints well and is less slippery. Not every finish suits every stone.
A finish is more than shine
The finish changes how stone reflects light, how it feels to the touch and how much everyday wear shows on it.1 The same granite polished and brushed looks like two different stones.
Polished
The surface is ground to a mirror. The colour is at its deepest and the pattern at its clearest. Polished stone is the least absorbent, so it is easy to wipe clean. It does show water marks, fingerprints and, on marble, dull marks left by acids.
Honed
The stone is ground to a matt surface, with no shine. The colour is lighter and calmer. Small scratches and etch marks show less on it than on a polished finish.1 With some stones a matt surface is more absorbent, so sealing is checked on a sample.
Brushed (antique, leathered)
The stone is brushed with hard brushes and gets a tactile, gently undulating texture. It hides fingerprints and crumbs well and is less slippery. It looks great on dark granites. Dirt can collect in the hollows, though, so on a countertop next to the hob it needs more thorough wiping.
Which finish where
- Kitchen countertop: polished or brushed. Honed on marble, if you accept its character.
- Bathroom countertop: polished or honed.
- Indoor stairs: honed or brushed, polished only with an anti-slip strip at the nosing.
- Outdoor stairs and window sills: brushed or flamed.
See it in person
A finish is best judged on a sample in the light of your own window. We will bring the same stone in several finishes.
(Sources)
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Rich Stone Surfaces, What Are Stone Finishes? Polished, Honed, and Leathered Explained
(Questions)
Which finish is the least slippery on stairs?
Brushed or flamed. Polished stone on stairs, especially outdoors, can be slippery.
Does a honed finish get dirty more easily?
A matt surface can be more absorbent, so with some stones it needs sealing. We check this on a sample.
