![\"honed](\"http:\/\/intlstoneworks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/honed-marble-sink.jpg\")
<\/a>What are the benefits of having a honed finish on natural stone?<\/strong><\/p>\n If you have honed white marble countertops, and you spill something acidic like vinegar on the marble, the etch mark<\/a> will show a little less compared to a marble surface with a high polished finish. Etch marks remove the shine from the surface of the stone, so the lower the shine, the harder it is to see the etch marks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For buildings, wear patterns and traffic areas also show a little less compared to a lobby floor with a high gloss finish. Please keep in mind that both honed stones and polished stones need maintenance, but with a honed finish, wear patterns may be a little less visible to the untrained eye.<\/p>\n What issues might you have with a honed finish on natural stone?<\/strong><\/p>\n The more honed a stone surface is, the more open the pores are; meaning that stones with a honed finish may absorb liquids more than a stone with a polished finish. For example, a honed black granite floor can absorb liquids such as oil and grease faster than a polished black granite floor.<\/p>\n One way to help this problem: make sure you seal your stone at least annually with a penetrating sealer such as Seal & Go\u00ae S<\/a>. According to the Marble Institute of America, sealing makes \u201ca veneer joint watertight with an elastic adhesive compound\u201d and \u201capplication of a treatment delays staining.\u201d<\/p>\n One more point to consider: if you have a completely flat (no polish at all) honed finish that has a little texture, you may have to clean embedded dirt on a regular basis. You can use a soft bristle scrub brush and a neutral cleaner such as Lavenet<\/a> or Lavenet Green<\/a>. If you would like to learn more about cleaning embedded dirt from textured surfaces, please read \u201cHow to Clean Textured Stones and Tiles<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>