Choosing your finish
The finish changes how your stone looks, feels and wears. Compare polished, honed and leathered side by side, or tell us what matters most and we'll mark the best fit.
You choose the finish with your slab
Most slabs are finished before they reach the showroom, so you pick the finish when you pick your stone. Some stones come in more than one finish and some in only one. If you love a stone, ask which finishes it comes in.
What matters most to you?
Pick any that apply. We'll highlight those rows and mark the finish that scores best on them.
| Compare | Best fit Polished High gloss Ground smooth and buffed to a shine. The most common finish. | Best fit Honed Matte Ground smooth but not buffed. Soft, flat and velvety. | Best fit Leathered Textured Brushed to a low sheen with a gentle texture you can feel. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look & feel | |||
| Look Color and shine You picked this | Glossy and reflective. Brings out the deepest color and pattern. | Flat and soft. Colors look a little lighter. | Low sheen. Colors stay rich without the shine. |
| Feel Under your hand You picked this | Smooth and glassy | Smooth and velvety | Slightly textured, like soft leather |
| Everyday wear | |||
| Stains Oil, wine, coffee You picked this | Excellent Tightest surface. Spills sit on top longer. | Fair More open surface. Wipe spills quickly. | Good Holds up well once sealed |
| Fingerprints & water spots Smudges on a busy counter You picked this | Good Wipes clean; streaks show on dark stone | Low Dark honed stone shows fingerprints and oil | Excellent Texture hides them |
| Scratches & etching Fine scratches, dull spots from acids You picked this | Fair Marks show against the shine, especially on marble | Excellent Hides fine scratches and etching | Good Texture hides most marks |
| Upkeep | |||
| Cleaning Day to day You picked this | Easiest Wipes clean with soap and water | Easy Wipe spills sooner than on polished | Easy Use a soft cloth; crumbs can sit in the texture |
| Where you'll find it | |||
| Available on Which stones come this way You picked this | Granite, quartz, quartzite, marble and porcelain | Most stones, plus quartz and porcelain (often called matte) | Mostly granite, quartzite and marble. Some quartz brands offer a textured finish. |
| Slab selection How many slabs to choose from You picked this | Widest Most slabs come polished | Good Common, especially marble and quartz | Fewer Fewer slabs, so you may have fewer colors to pick from |
| Best for Where it shines You picked this | Kitchens that want the most color and shine | Marble kitchens and baths, and a modern or classic matte look | Busy kitchens, islands and dark stone |
More bars is better. How a finish wears also depends on the stone: a honed granite holds up better than a honed marble. On a phone, swipe the table sideways.
Quartz and porcelain: the finish comes with the color
Quartz and porcelain are made in a factory, and each color is sold in the finishes its maker offers, usually polished or matte and sometimes textured. You choose the finish when you choose the color, and it can't be changed later, so look at a sample in the finish you want.
Honed and leathered surfaces are a little more open than polished, so keeping natural stone sealed matters more. Our care guide covers each stone.
Other names you'll see
- Matte, satin, suede
- Variations of honed. Quartz and porcelain brands often call their honed finish "matte."
- Brushed, antiqued
- Close cousins of leathered, with a similar textured, low-sheen surface.
- Flamed, sandblasted
- Rough finishes used mostly on outdoor paving and steps, not countertops.
Or stop by the shop
We're a small crew and often out on installs, so please call ahead. Look for the Suite 2 entrance.
Serving Waukesha, Milwaukee and the surrounding counties.