Being in the tile industry, you will always run into the question "What is the difference between honed and polished marble?". Yes, we always look to the obvious answer which is how it looks, shinny and matte.  But there is so much more than just appearance that separates the two of these finishes when it comes to marble.                                                                                         

According to the Marble Institute of America, a polished finish has a glossy surface that reflects light and emphasizes the color and veins of the stone, while on the other hand a honed finish appears as a satin, smooth surface that will have little reflection of light.  Polished marble really does give a striking presence to the room it is installed in.  The finish can also give a more elegant or expensive look that will aw your guests.  This is not to say that a honed finish makes marble look cheap, because after all it is still marble and you will have a rich looking space when you select real stone.  When choosing between the two for a wall application, it really does come down to personal preference and where this is being install.  

Lets talk about the slip factor between the two.  Naturally when you see polished, you may think it might be unsafe for a floor.  This is not always true.  Yes, polished is more slippery than honed which makes people lean towards honed in larger field for bigger floor applications, but in lower traffic areas of the home where the floor will not be wet, polished is safe for the floor.  Polished mosaics are also something people over look as being safe for floors, most commonly mistaken for not being safe for bathroom or shower floors.  When you have a mosaic, you have plenty of grout lines! This means traction, which means your foot or shoe has something to grip and not slip on.  If you still have doubts and are unsure about the safety of a polished field or mosaic, honed will always be there as your "SAFE" option. 

What are the cons of honed marble? Honed marble may be the safer option when it comes to non-slip but there is other factors to consider as well.  Stains are one factor that people need to remember when choosing honed marble. Honing makes the marble more porous which allows for absorption (making it non-slip) of water and spills.  This finish needs to be cleaned right away when something is dropped or spilled on its surfaces to prevent stains.  I highly recommend to seal honed marble (or all marble in general) to help preserve the color and beauty of the stone.  One other thing to consider, is not all marble is the same.  Because natural stone is a product of our earth, each is so different from the next and not all marbles and stones can be honed.  For example, Blue Celeste is a marble that we do not recommend honing or having honed due to the large crystals found in Blue Celeste.  Honing this stone makes it weak and easy to break because of the large crystal make up.  

Whether you select honed or polished, selecting real stone is something you will not regret.  If you need more information or have other questions or questions about this blog, please feel free to reach out!  We are available 24/7 by live chat or 9am-9pm EST by email or phone.  info@lmphome.com (516) 588-1500.  We also LOVE customer suggestions on what to blog about.