Honed Granite in to Polished Granite?
Tom,
I have honed black granite countertops and they are terrible about spotting. If a drop of water sits on them for 5-10 seconds, I have a spot. It’s impossible to cook with these restrictions. I have read your thoughts on honed granite and fully agree with them it’s not the best for customer satisfaction. [My architect specified and has been no help in solving the many problems that have arisen.]
My question is it possible to change the finish from honed to polished in situ?
Molly
Hello Molly,
Honed Black Granite is the worse maintenance experience as you have come to find out. Most restoration company charge about $150 per hour to resurface granite and it would take all day to polish your countertops. In addition, since black absolute is such a homogeneous color, I don’t think it can really be done well enough throughout the surface without leaving distracting difference is sheen.
I can not offer any advice that will meet your complete satisfaction. If you don’t want to tear it out and start over, then consider researching enhancers and sealers that will darken the surface and repel all contaminants. Again you may have distracting difference in sheen when you are done. Do a google search for “Granite Sealers” or “Granite Enhancers” and see what you find. I really don’t want to recommend a specific product because you will have to substantially modify your expectations in order to become satisfied with what you have.
I am sorry for your situation and you have my very best wishes,
Tom Cordova
October 16th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Tom, I have a question about granite countertop and backsplashes. We live in a 1920’s bungalow and are remodeling our kitchen. We have maple hard wood floors and honey maple shaker cabinets. We have stainless appliances. We are planning to go with a dark granite to contrast all of the light wood in the room. I should also tell you that we are planning to do honed granite as we do not like the polished look. I think we have narrowed it down to antique brown, uba tuba gold and black pearl opalescense. I am looking for your thoughts as to a recommended granite both between our choices and any others you would recommend with such light wood. Also, do you know which of these granites will react the best honed. I read somewhere that the antique brown is less pourous and I assume that means it will fare better with honing.
Also, we are really stuck on a backsplash. We came home with some stone options (tumbled travertine 1 by 2’s that we considered doing the whole spash with in our small kitchen). The color is walnut and classic and the manufacturer is SO. We were leaning toward the antique brown when we chose it. Many friends are saying that using a tumbled stone is too heavy and not classic enough for a 1920’s kitchen. Almost everyone we talk to suggests doing a ceramic subway tile. I am wondering if with cabinets and granite without a lot of movement, do we need a little more life in our backsplash? For example, if we should lean toward subway tile, how can we ad a little something extra special.
Any recommendations you have would be wonderful. Thanks so much.
Sheila Kerwin