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Different Granite Finishes And Their Applications
In the building industry, granite has been a staple for decades. It’s one of the best materials around in terms of durability and stability, improving the feel and appearance of any room. It is still widely used worldwide in modern homes and workplaces because of its exceptional technical performance and eye-catching aesthetics. In addition, it is available in various coatings that may be selected according to the intended use.
Granite is the material of choice whenever an architect is looking to provide a feeling of lavishness and exquisiteness to a building project. As a result of its classic good looks, granite is often used in architectural projects. In addition, if you’re working on a business or residential project, using granite stone is a good choice because of its long lifespan and low maintenance requirements.
Granite’s singularity is one of the stone’s most striking characteristics. Even if two granite slabs are taken from the same quarry, they will never be identical. Since granite is composed of many minerals, the slab’s colour changes are attributed primarily to the minerals themselves.
Both granodiorite and syenite fall under the umbrella term “granite” to describe light-coloured igneous rocks. In contrast, black granite, basalt, gabbro, diabase, anorthosite, and diorite are the components of dark-coloured volcanic rocks.
Granite surface finishes and their respective applications
#1. Polished Finish
Mostly, this is the type of coating used on granite. The main goal of this polish is to highlight the stone’s natural beauty and class up any setting. The reflective quality of polished granite surfaces is frequently sufficient to cause awe among spectators. Therefore, this polish is popular because it brings out the granite’s natural beauty.
All countertop surfaces are polished to make them smoother, essentially an inherent part of stone manufacturing. Similarly, this coating is also often utilised for flooring.
Stone processing facilities employ a grinding and buffing procedure to provide a polished finish intended to make the stone more slippery.
The stone slab is polished using a series of wheels outfitted with abrasive pads. These pads apply pressure to the stone’s surface to smooth and polish it. Gloss may be achieved using pads with grits ranging from 50 to 3 000.
Application: Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces, Flooring
#2. Honed Finish
The honed polish on granite makes it appear satiny and matte. Less replication and shine are used in this surface finish than in a polished one to create a more casual appearance. Stones with a honed polish maintain the elegance and uniqueness of their beautiful source material while projecting an air of simple sophistication.
The colour and uniformity of the granite will not be as apparent. Honed granite is a great option for countertops and backsplashes if you want a more understated appearance.
This surface treatment is widely used for counters because it produces a more controllable and attractive finished version. In addition, because it is less reflective than other finishes, a honed one also has the added benefit of concealing flaws better.
Like how a honed surface is suitable for flooring because it is less slippery and shows signs of wear or traffic patterns, it is also suitable for countertops. A sharpened finish is less efficient in retaining moisture than a polished one.
A sharpened finish is less efficient in retaining moisture than a polished one.
Application: Countertops, Flooring
#3. Leathered Finish
This cutting-edge granite finish is quickly becoming a standard in the home design world. It has a grainy appearance and a slight shine that is not unlike that of a highly polished finish. Individual pieces may have a more noticeable leather finish than others, and the texture may vary depending on the type of natural stone used.
Stones with this polish look more natural and welcoming. Leathered finishes are rougher than honed yet lack gloss. Leathered stones hide stains, scratches, fingerprints, and smudges.
This finish doesn’t produce a perfectly smooth and even surface, and natural cracks and fractures might be challenging to remove.
First, the polished coating is stripped away, and then the surface is ground down using leathering brushes and a lot of pressure. Finally, the leathered effect is achieved by using brushes to create tiny ripples on the surface.
Although home settings are more likely to have polished, honed, and leathered, commercial settings are more likely to feature various finishes.
Applications: The most common uses for this material are in bars, bathrooms, mantle pieces, and specially crafted tables.
#4. Flamed Finish
The stone surface of this finish is slightly uneven, giving it a rustic look. The stone’s polish is lightened, worn, and distressed throughout the finishing process.
Brushed granite can conceal the inevitable dings and scratches of regular use.
Applications: Outdoors, vanities, countertops
Final Words
Granite’s many finishes allow buyers to customise the stone to their interests. Honed, polished, flamed, and leathered granite countertops are popular. This article explored different finishes and how they impact a feel and function.