One of the first steps after deciding to renovate your space is to decide on the material use. This is not an easy job since there are many things to consider. Even though colors, patterns and maintenance are among the most important aspects, it is important to highlight the options for different finishes as well. A slab can have a shiny or matte look. That is why it is very important to decide on the right finish for your slab.
Among those finishes, honed slabs are becoming more and more popular for homeowners. To begin with, let us explain what a honed finish is. When a slab is honed, the surface of the natural or engineered stone has smooth and matte appearance. In order to achieve this look, the surface is slightly grounded. This grounding sometimes gives the matte look and sometimes evens the surface of the stone. In some stones, it even helps to create a homogeneous texture.
Even though most of the honed surfaces are not reflective, like they are in polished finishes, sometimes the honed surface also becomes reflective with the help of some sealants that are applied during installation of the slabs.
Honed finishes can be applied to many of the natural as well as engineered stone surfaces. And it is becoming more popular among the homeowners for numerous reasons.
Image: Sahara Noir Porcelain Honed Slab from Terra Granite
Differences between honed and polished slabs
There are some basic differences between the two finishes. You can read further in the article to decide whether or not honed finish is more appropriate for your personal needs.
Like almost any surfaces, both polished and honed slabs need to be taken care of to avoid stains. Any kinds of spills need to be taken care of immediately. And the maintenance should be prioritized as well. Depending on the stone, the slabs are likely to have the need to be resealed every 6 to 12 months to protect the appearance and the performance of the surface.
As you would imagine, polished slabs have a reflective and shinier appearance whereas honed slabs have a more satin-like and matte look. The light is barely reflected in honed slabs. This gives a softer element to the countertops.
Image: Calacatta White Porcelain Honed Slab from Terra Granite
Since there is grounding involved with the honed slabs, it is fair to say that honed slabs are resistant to slippages when compared to polished slabs. If you are considering renovating an area that often gets wet—such as bathroom floors—honed slabs would be a better choice in order to prevent unintentional accidents.
In addition, if you are going to use the slabs in a busy area where there is high traffic, again, choosing honed slabs would be better since polished finishes tend to get dull and wear out over a period of time. Since honed slabs have a more matte look, they are better at hiding the worn out sections.
For the same reasons, honed slabs are better at concealing the scratches. In polished finishes, the scratches are more noticeable due to the reflective nature of the material. This is one of the main reasons why honed slabs are popular choice for kitchen countertop renovations.
To learn more about honed or polished slabs in different stones, you are welcome to visit our showroom in Houston, Texas. Our professional staff is always ready to answer and guide you through your renovation journey.
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