At Affordable Quality Marble & Granite, we think it’s important for our customers to know everything about the countertop material they’re purchasing before they actually invest in it. So, if you’re here to research your potential marble countertop, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll go over the possible finishes for a marble countertop: polished, honed, or leathered.
Not everyone knows that marble is available in more than one finish. We’re here to educate you on these finishes so you have the information you need to make the right decision. After all, the finish of your marble impacts both its looks and its performance, so it’s very important.
Polished Marble
Polished marble is smooth and reflective. To get this look, the stone goes through a process that involves grinding, buffing, and polishing. After that, the stone is shiny and glossy. This finish is a great way to show off the beautiful colorations and patterns of marble because its shine places emphasis on marble’s unique veining.
Polished marble is the least porous finish of all three finishes of marble, which means it’s not as prone to staining as a honed or leather finished slab might be. But on the flip side, marks like scratches, etches, and fingerprints might be more visible on a polished surface.
Honed Marble
A honed finish for your marble creates a flat and smooth slab. This is achieved through sanding and grinding. If you think of the comparison between glossy and matte photos, honed marble would be comparable to matte, whereas polished marble would be glossy.
A honed marble countertop looks and feels classic, and it doesn’t show scratches, etches, or fingerprints in the way that a polished slab might do—at least, not as easily. But it’s important to note that a honed slab is more porous than a polished one and therefore might be more vulnerable to staining.
Leathered Marble
Rather than glossy or matte, leathered marble has a textured surface—one that almost feels like leather itself. It has more depth than honed marble, and it doesn’t have the shine that polished marble does, but it’s in a category all its own. It is less porous than honed marble, but more porous than polished marble, and does a fine job at hiding scratches, etches, and fingerprints.
Choosing a Finish
Deciding what marble finish works for you depends on how you want your stone to look. If you’re installing a marble countertop with the goal of creating an air of opulence, we’d recommend a polished finish—especially if that slab is not located in a high-touch area. If you’re looking for more of a subtle appearance, we’d recommend a honed or leathered finish, especially if your countertop is going in a place that sees a lot of traffic.
If you have questions or would like further guidance on what marble finish suits you best, reach out to Affordable Quality Marble & Granite today!
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