Honed Granite | Honed Granite Colours | Pros, Cons | Guide

In simple terms, when a Granite undergoes the honing procedure, it is called a “honed granite.”  The honing technique involves using a machine to create microscopic grooves on the stone’s surface.due to this, the stone gets a matte finish rather than shiny surface like polished stones.

Best Honed Granite Countertops

Why Honed Granite?

• Feel: Satin or Velvet
• Appearance: Matte
• Durability: Finger print magnet but resistant to scratches.
• Suggested Use: Countertops and high-traffic areas like living room, entryway, or bathroom floors.
• Maintenance: Clean spills immediately, reseal as needed, and wipe down frequently with water and a mild detergent.

Unlike polished granite with a glossy, shiny sheen, honed granite has a matte or satin appearance. This procedure gives the granite surface a more muted, natural appearance by halting the grinding and buffing before it reaches a highly polished state. A smoother, less reflecting surface replaces the shiny, reflective one in the before-and-after comparison.

When it comes to honed granite, more constant sealing will be essential. This is because a honed granite countertop is more porous than a polished one. Some honed granite colors may also tend to display hand impressions more.

Black Honed Granite

Nero Mist Honed Granite

Silver Grey Honed Granite

Absolute Black Honed Granite

Galaxy Grey Honed Granite

Jet Mist Honed Granite

Steel Grey Honed Granite

Black Pearl Honed Granite

Bianco Antico Honed Granite

How & Why is Granite Honed?

How Do You Get That Honed Look?

Granite honing can be achieved through two primary methods: wet honing and dry honing. Wet honing involves using water and diamond abrasives to create a smooth, matte finish. Dry honing, often used for polishing edges, involves using dry polishing pads on a grinder. 

1. Wet Honing

• Ensure the granite surface is clean and free of debris. 
• Start by using a right-angle grinder/polisher with variable speed, diamond abrasive pads, and water. 
• You must use a lower grit and gradually increase the grit as you move through the process. 
• Wet the surface with water throughout the process, especially with higher grit pads.
• Maintain a consistent pressure and overlapping while moving the grinder. 
• Finish with a final dry pass (for the last few seconds) when using grits of 400 and higher to increase clarity. 
• A smooth, satin or matte finish, ideal for a casual or aged look. 

2. Dry Honing (Polishing Edges)

• Clean and dry the granite edges. 
• Use a right-angle grinder/polisher, dry polishing pads, and clamps. 
• Attach the polishing pads to the grinder. 
• Start with a coarse grit (e.g., 50) and work your way up to finer grits. 
• Move the grinder in a controlled, left-to-right motion. 
• Apply moderate pressure and overlap the passes.

Why Do You Want the Honed Look?

Honed finish has become more and more desirable, particularly for modern interiors. Although it lacks the polished reflection, it has the smoothest surface.

Granite surfaces are honed for the following purposes: 

• For aesthetic purposes, to achieve a matte finish and look
• Making your countertop’s veins less noticeable
• This can be a valuable technique to improve the surface’s resistance to slippage for outdoor flooring, bathroom floors, and stairs.

Honed Granite – Pros and Cons

Pros

• Stylish Charm –  Your matte finish oozes subtle, modern beauty, fitting any vibe you love.
• Hides Messes –  Smudges, fingerprints, and watermarks disappear, unlike polished granite’s shiny surface.
• Super Tough –  Matches other finishes, shrugging off heat and scratches with ease.
• Fits Anywhere –  Works for your rustic, modern, or classic design dreams perfectly.

Cons

• Sealing Required –  You’ll need to seal it every 1-2 years, unlike some polished options.
• Etching Alert –  Acidic spills can mark it if you don’t clean fast.
• Stain Sensitivity –  Polished granite resists stains a bit better; leathered hides scratches more.
• Needs Care –  Stay on top of maintenance, but Petros Stones has your back.

Honed Granite Before and After

Before (Polished)

• Look –  High gloss, shiny, and reflecting appearance
• Feel –  Silky and possibly slick. High gloss, shiny, and reflecting appearance
• Color and Texture –  The reflective surface makes colors and textures seem vivid and distinct.
• Durability –  Generally resistant to scratches but susceptible to wear from frequent usage, particularly in high-traffic locations.
• Maintenance –  To eliminate smudges and fingerprints, cleaning may need to be done more frequently.

After (Honed)

• Look –  Less reflecting, matte, or satin finish.
• Feel –  Less slick, velvety, and smooth.
• Color and Texture –  Because there is no reflection, colors and textures seem subdued and less noticeable.
• Staining is more likely to occur, although durability makes scratches less noticeable.
• Maintenance –  Frequent sealing and cleaning are necessary to keep the surface stain-free and preserve its look. 

How to Care and Maintain Honed Granite

1. Ammonia can damage the stone’s protective sealer, so avoid using any harsh cleansers that have ammonia. 
2. These well-known cleaning brands include 404, Fantastik, and Windex. You should also avoid cleaning products that contain acids, such as tile, grout, or tub cleaners.

3. Any spills or splashes must be blotted appropriately up as soon as possible because the porous surface of any natural stone is prone to absorbing water and stains. It will spread more if you wipe liquid on the surface. Honed granite is significantly more vulnerable to liquids than polished granite due to its smooth surface. 

4. Spills of food and beverages can discolor or stain a honed granite surface, even if it is sealed. Anything acidic that involves vinegar or lemon juice can even etch away. Resolving an honed finish every few months is necessary to maintain its protection. 

5. It’s crucial to remember that darker-colored honed granite, like Absolute Black, could also have more oil stains or fingerprints. Although frequently helpful, cleaning and sealing won’t remove these markings off the counter. Instead, you should have faith in the lived-in qualities that will emerge over time if you go with a dark color like this one.

6. It is important to learn how to seal your honed granite properly. It is the ideal way to maintain it in peak condition. Keep in mind that the porosity of granite varies. Like white granite, lighter hues usually require more frequent sealing. This is because they are more porous than darker ones. Topical sealers and impregnators are the two primary kinds of sealers which you may use. Before applying the sealant, you should always read the manufacturer’s instructions and safety cautions. This is because different products have varying application methods and lifespans.

Honed Vs Leathered Vs Polished Countertops

Polished Countertops

Polished countertops are generally the preferred finish in the kitchen remodeling market. The shiny, mirror-like sheen of a polished kitchen countertop is undoubtedly known to you.   A bespoke kitchen with a high-gloss countertop.

Fabricators use diamond abrasives to give the stone a high gloss and a polished surface. The color and sheen of the stone are enhanced by buffing the slab with excellent polishing pads. Additionally, it makes your kitchen work surface smooth.

Consider it similar to an uncut diamond. A diamond first looks like any dull, grey rock when removed from the ground. You won’t notice a brilliant, glinting diamond inside until it has been cut and polished. Similarly, you haven’t cleaned your wedding band in years. After the jeweler has finished polishing, you are presented with what appears to be a shiny, new ring.

The same holds for stone countertop polishing. The surface is luminous and reflective due to the degree of abrasion.

Honed Countertops

Like polished countertops, honed countertops are smooth; the only distinction is that the finishing process is shortened before the surface becomes overly glossy. Consequently, honed countertops appear matte or extremely low gloss.

Honed countertop is easier to manufacture because it requires less buffing. Honing a slab is an extra process requiring more effort and time.  Since polished surfaces are typically seen as standard, the finish is applied initially, and finishing typically takes place right at the quarry. 

Leathered Countertops

Similar to honed countertops, leathered surfaces offer a matte appearance. The rough nature of the stone is what sets a leathered finish apart. Fabricators begin with an honed finish and then add texture with a second brushing step to produce leathered countertops. They employ a brush with a diamond point to create delicate ridges on the stone’s surface.

The leathering process consistently produces a distinctive texture on natural stone surfaces. This is because each such natural stone has a different composition. For instance, feldspar, mica, and quartz are among the many minerals in a typical granite. According to the Mohs scale, some minerals are softer than others. As a result, distinctive peaks and valleys are created throughout the entire surface. This happens when the diamond-bit brushes rub over the stone during the leathering process.

So, Need More Help?

Honed granite’s matte polish makes it more scratch-resistant. Although honed granite can have scratches, they are less noticeable because light bouncing off it makes the scratches less visible than on a polished surface. However, polished granite is more prone to discoloration, so spills should be cleaned quickly. Matte flooring is an excellent option since it is less slippery than glossy flooring when the surface gets wet.

The appearance of your granite slab may impact your choice of treatment. It will also have an impact on the color’s depth. However, it is also critical to consider the maintenance required for one’s way of life. Every one of these popular granite finishes has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, a much-needed modern update might be better than a renovation for an enduring property. Finally, granite is a high-performance natural stone regardless of its finish. Select the one that best complements the design and style of your bathroom and kitchen. 

Ravikiran Jadhav

Hi there,

I’m Ravi, I have over 10+ years of experience in marketing, branding, and event management. Currently, I handle marketing activities at Petros® Stone. From strategic campaigns to creative storytelling, I focus on delivering impactful brand experiences that connect, engage, and convert.

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