How Do You Know if Honed or Polished Marble is Better for Your Home?

How do you know if honed or polished marble is better for your home? Nothing says luxury quite like marble. Marble is one of the finest materials produced by the earth. Many homeowners desire to incorporate this wonderful natural stone into their homes in the form of countertops, vanity tops, backsplashes and various other surfaces. No matter where you install it, marble will look incredible.

Choosing the Right Surface Finish

The good news is you don’t have to be wealthy to enjoy the natural elegance and luxurious aesthetic of natural stone, such as marble. There are various types of marble or other natural stone to choose from to create a timeless look in your home. But don’t think you’re done making decisions once you have chosen the perfect stone for you. There’s still one more choice to make the finish. There are various ways to finish natural stone, and two of the more popular finishes are polished or honed. So how do you decide? We have broken down some characteristics of both to help make your decision a little easier.

The Difference between Honed and Polished Marble

Honed marble is marble that has not gone through the polishing process. This results in the stone having a matte appearance, rather than the distinctive shine of polished marble. Many homeowners choose honed marble because of its natural look. A honed marble countertop or other surface will not be as reflective as one that is polished. On the other hand, polished marble refers to marble that has undergone the polishing process. Polishing makes the stone appear shiny and reflective. Polished marble will emphasize the coloring and veins present in the natural stone. 

How Do You Know if Honed or Polished is Better for Your Home? 

The true answer to this question is that it will ultimately be a matter of your opinion. The following analysis of each option can help lead you to your decision. Stains, scratches and etches are three of the most common problems associated with marble. Below is a comparison of how marble with both finish options handle the issues. 

Honed Marble and Staining

If properly sealed, stains should not be an issue with honed marble. This is not to say that stains will never occur, but an adequate seal will lessen the likelihood that stains will be a problem.

Honed Marble and Scratching

Scratches leave behind dull marks on your marble. Because of this, honed marble may be the better choice if you are concerned about scratches. The surface already has a matte appearance. Thus, scratches can be hidden easier than they can be with polished marble.

Honed Marble and Etching

Etches can occur if you leave spills sitting on your marble for too long. An etch will appear as a dull spot on the surface of your marble countertop or other installation. Exercise as much caution as you can around your honed marble.

Polished Marble and Staining

If your polished marble is properly sealed, it should not have issues with staining. Note that just because the stone is stain resistant does not mean it is totally stain proof. Stains can still occur, although the chances are significantly decreased with a proper seal.

Polished Marble and Scratching

If you are concerned about scratching, polished marble may not be an ideal fit for your home. While exercising caution can prevent scratches any that do occur will dull the appearance of your marble.

Polished Marble and Etching

Etching can negatively impact your polished marble. You do not want to have dull spots undermine the beautiful shine of the stone. Because of this, you will want to be careful to avoid spills.

When purchasing marble, you will have many different colors and styles to choose from. In addition to this, you will also have options when it comes to the finish of the stone. The two most common finishes you will find are honed and polished. We hope the above guideline give you information about what each option is and may help you decide which is the right fit for your home. 

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Sources

marble.com/articles/what-is-honed-marble

www.gmswerks.com/blog/article/polished-vs.-honed-natural-stone-which-should-you-choose