Granite is an extremely beautiful stone that has made its revival in regarding new houses today and also the remodelling of older houses. This intriguing stone makes a significant addition to the style and sophistication of a home with its pleasing colours and dynamic vein patterns. This is the major reason why so many homeowners always prefer granite for their building projects. Although these are naturally very beautiful, they are made more attractive with the help of different surface finishes making them impervious and unique giving them a great appeal.
This writeup entails information about the top granite finishes commonly used in buildings and how each finish influences the looks and functionality of the space.
Top Granite Finishes and Their Applications
Polished Finish
Polished finish is the most common and popular granite finish having a high gloss and mirror-like appearance. It highlights the rich colour of the stone and has a reflective surface that is full of shine. With a high-end polished finish, the intricate designs of the stone are intensified and the veins, flecks and swirls are clearly visible making each slab unique.
Polished granite
How is it done?
The polished finish granite undergoes a long polishing process to attain the desired shine and smoothness. The process involves grinding and buffing where the stone slab passes through a range of polishing wheels attached with specialised, fine grain polishing pads.
Where does it look the best?
Polished finish granites don’t get stained easily and are the easiest surface to clean as polishing seals the porosity of granite, thereby making it heat and humidity resistant. Its easy maintenance and resistance to chemical substances make polished granite the most popular choice for kitchen countertops, wash-basin counters, flooring and risers of the staircase steps. However, these are slippery to install in floorings so certainly not the right choice for bathroom floors, but can be used for floors in dry environments like bedrooms and living rooms.
Leathered finish
The leathered finish, also known as brushed finish, is a relatively new finishing style that tends to look more sophisticated. It is created by running diamond-tipped brushes over it to add texture. Leathered granite boasts a soft sheen, granular finish with a textured look. The leather finish is more stain-resistant and hides water spots, fingerprints, and smudges. This kind of surface finish highlights the general depth of each granite slab lending it a warm and rustic appeal.
Leathered granite
How is it done?
This finish is achieved by first removing the polished finish of the granite followed by grinding the surface with leathering brushes that put heavy pressure on the surface. These brushes make small ripples on the surface that lead to the leathered finish.
Where does it look the best?
As leathered granite has a more textured appearance, this finish is an ideal choice for places where you want more of a rustic touch. These are used both in residential installations and in the commercial sector. However, leathered granite exhibits more resistance to stains, scratches, fingerprints, and smudges but cleaning leathered granite requires high effort, these are best for Bar tops, Bathrooms, Fireplace covers, and custom-designed tables
Flamed Finish
A flame finish or thermal finish granite stone is exquisitely rare. These are non-slippery and non-shiny and their appearance is slightly rough and irregular but soft to the touch. As these stones are processed at high temperatures, this stone finish is available in muted colours including shades of charcoal and tan. If you are looking beyond usual stone finishes, flamed granite can take things to the next level.
Flaming process in progress
How is it done?
Creating a flamed finish requires an aggressive process where a stone is directly exposed to high-intensity fire followed by rapid cooling (using water) which causes the surface of the stone to pop, leaving an uneven texture. The aggressiveness of the flames also changes the colour of the stone, leading to a more faded, rustic, and lighter shade.
Where does it look the best?
It is a favourable finish for exterior spaces prone to high moisture or wetness and where a non-slip surface is required. They are usually used for outdoor kitchens, exterior walls, paving and even the shower floors that are dampness prone.
The timeless beauty of granite finishes distinguishes themselves from the rest, creating a statement piece for your space. If you want to know what finish options are available then you may contact us. Eternal Stones Export is one of the leading organizations that deals in a wide variety of granite stones. You can buy different finishes as mentioned above from us at reasonable rates for your home or business.
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