Homeowners who pick to put in granite countertops for their homes require to pick beyond the color of the stone. They also require to settle on the finish that they require applied to the surface of the stone.
      There's a few different finishes that can be applied to the surface of slab countertops. Each of these finishes creates a different look for the kitchen and the home. It will also decide the maintenance method that homeowners require to be definite to maximize the life of their granite countertops.
     The six different finishes that are usually applied to the face of the stone include polished granite, stain and honed granite.
A polished granite kitchen counter is one in which the surface of the slab is polished and shiny. The polishing method of the slab countertops involves placing the granite on an automatic conveyor method which moves the slab through various stages of the finishing method. The sides of the granite slabs that require to be polished are place “face-up” on the conveyor belt.
The granite slabs then go through a series of polishing wheels that are fitted with coarse abrasive pads as well as finer polishing pads. These pads grind the granite and then buff the surface to a smooth finish.
       The advantage of a polished finish to granite countertops is that it adds depth to the room. A polished stone appears darker and richer. It is also simpler to maintain these granite kitchen countertops.
       The stain finish on granite kitchen countertops is a comparatively new finish. It provides a light gloss to the surface of the slab countertop. The gloss is between a polished look as well as a matte finish.
       The honed surface look for a granite countertop is achieved by pulling the granite slabs out of the conveyor belt before they can be buffed. This provides the granite slabs with a matte finish. The issue with using a matte done granite slab on a kitchen countertop is that the slab can stain basically. Also, these slabs are duller than the polished stones and therefore could bring about a dull tone to the kitchen.