After deciding to invest in a granite slab countertop for your Toronto home, you’ll need to decide which type of finish you want for the stone. Granite is not naturally smooth and polished; buyers have the choice between certain finishes. Depending on where the granite will be placed in your home, certain finishes are better than others.

 

 

A polished finish is the standard factory finish for granite slabs. Polished finishes are high-gloss, high-shine finishes that emphasize the colour and veining of the stone. These finishes are preferred for most buyers, as they not only accentuate the beauty of the stone, but also protect it the best. Due to the smoothness that comes with a polished finish, the stone can be easily cleaned and kept bacteria-free.

 

 

A honed finish is not the standard for most granite projects, however it has great benefits. When granite has a honed finish, it is essentially buffed down into a smooth texture. This process makes the stone more porous, and has a matte finish instead of being glossy. Honed finishes would be preferable in areas of the home that are consistently very busy and where a polished finish would not be able to keep its sheen, such as floors and outdoor areas. When investing in a honed piece of granite, it is important to consider that it will be more difficult to keep clean than polished stone, as the pores of the stone are left wide open.

 

 

A flamed finish is when the granite slab goes under a high intensity flame and the crystalized minerals and impurities burst. This process leaves the slab very rough and without any shine. Flamed finishes are not preferable for indoor use due to this roughness and its likeliness to emit dust. Rather, flamed finishes are the best choice for outdoor uses; the rough finish makes the stone highly slip-resistant. Flamed stone is difficult to keep clean as the bumps within the stone can hold almost any grime that comes in contact with it.

 

 

A leathered finish is essentially a combination of two processes. First, the granite slab is finished using the honing process to buff down the stone into a matte finish. Then, the granite slab is slightly textured so that it has the same effect as natural leather. This process is preferable to honing, as it leaves the slab less porous with the additional texturing, giving the stone a shiner appearance. Leathering is the preferred choice for darker natural stone as it does not dull the stone down as much as other processes. The slightly textured finish will be more difficult to clean than a perfectly polished stone, as it will be able to hold bacteria and grime within its surface.

 

Polished, honed, flamed, and leathered finishes are only a few of the finishes that are available for natural granite slabs. Depending on where the granite is placed in or outside of the home, the preferred finish will differ. Polished granite is the best choice for kitchen countertops, and flamed granite is the best choice for outdoor uses such as stairs and driveways. Regardless of the finish of the granite, all granite slabs will add beauty and luxury to your Toronto home.