Cut-to-size quartz stones have been the most preferred option for kitchen and bathroom countertops for a long period. The primary reason behind the choice of quartz is its durability and natural aesthetics. According to the quartz countertop fabricators near me in Houston, when you choose multi-family quartz countertops, you will have the options of a polished finish and a honed finish. Now, you have to understand the difference between the polished and honed finish for cut-to-size quartz countertops. To explain the difference, let us explain what both of them are in brief.
What is Honed Quartz?
Honed Quartz is the quartz countertop whose surface has a soft sheen with a much more natural and less formal aesthetic. These are also known as matte surfaces. The honed quartz countertops come with an organic appearance that retains authentic quality. Also, when you look at the honed quartz countertops, the visual appeal is much better with a less glossy finish. The cut-to-size honed quartz countertops come with a smooth flat and consistent surface without any bumps or ridges and they have very little to almost no reflection.
In the honed countertops, the natural polish of the quartz surfaces is removed. Thus, there is almost little to no shine. Also, you will not see any reflection on the smooth surface. According to the professional quartz countertop fabricators near me in Houston, most of the homeowners will prefer the reduced reflection of the overheat lighting elements. The reason is, it offers a much more relaxed, calm, and casual vibe.
What is Polished Quartz?
Compared to the honed quartz, the polished multi-family quartz countertops come with a glossy surface that has a highly reflective appeal and they are much more vibrant. With the polished surface, the natural qualities of the stone-like its colors, and vein structures are highly pronounced. The polished is also known as glossy quartz countertops. These are highly popular and widely used countertops on the market because of the overall vibrancy they offer.
The reflective surface adds to the overall appeal because it will enhance the overall vibrancy because the aesthetic appeal of the countertop becomes much better. It is a perfect addition to the kitchen which needs a much more elegant style, more vibrancy, and sophistication. Along with the polished quartz, the countertop surfaces are easier to clean and maintain because the smooth and glossy finish repels the moisture.
What are the differences between honed and polished quartz?
There is no denying the fact that the type of finish that you choose for the surface of your countertop, will not only affect the looks but also the overall feel of the room. Thus, as a fabricator, whether you are choosing honed or polished quartz, the countertop surface will either add or take away the visual appeal and the vibe of the room.
Both the honed and polished quartz countertops have their own pros and cons. The differences are subtle yet prominent. Thus, the quartz countertop fabricators near me in Houston consider the patterns to be important to choose for the design of the kitchen or bathroom. Also, the difference in both the honed and polished surfaces makes them so unique and preferable for the homeowners.
- Appearance
The primary difference between the cut-to-size honed and polished quartz is the amount of light both of them can reflect. This is minimal for the honed quartz and plenty for the glossy quartz. Apart from that, there are other subtle differences in appearances as well. One of them is the ability to hide fingerprints and smudges.
Due to the high sheen and reflectiveness, the polished surface can hide the fingerprints and smudges on the surface better than the honed surfaces. The body marks like hand, fingerprints, and smudges come from oil and it has a similar sheen just like the glossy countertops.
Also, the chips, seams, cracks, and scratches are much more noticeable on the polished quartz countertops due to the opposite effect. These imperfections come from the damage on the countertop surfaces and thus, the surface has a lesser sheen than the exterior.
- Availability
This is another important factor that differentiates the honed and polished quartz countertop surfaces. According to the quartz countertop fabricators near me in Austin, the cut-to-size polished countertops are more readily available than the honed surfaces. This has been the case for quite a long time. If you see the earlier versions of the quartz countertops, they came with a glossy surface due to the high demand. The reason is, quartz always came along with a very natural sheen. However, more recently, the demand for quartz countertops with a matte finish has increased. Thus, it has resulted in an increase in the availability of honed quartz.
- Maintenance
This is one of the most important advantages of quartz over any other stones because quartz needs minimal maintenance, especially in multi-family or commercial usage. Also, the great thing about quartz is, it doesn’t need to be sealed. Now the difference is, this quality is available in the polished quartz but not within the honed quartz. The honed quartz is a much more porous material. Thus, the quartz countertop fabricators near me in Austin suggest resealing the quartz countertops every few months to ensure the integrity and quality remain consistent.
- Affordability
In general, quartz is a shiny stone. When it is crafted within the countertops, it gets converted into a standard form. These are used in the polished quartz countertops. Due to the natural standard form, the polished quartz countertops don’t need additional processing. Thus, you won’t have to bear any additional charges or fees.
On the other hand, the matte sheen or the honed quartz finish is achieved through the removal of the polished surface. This will need fabrication and processing. Thus, the honed quartz is also considered a great option for upgrade. The additional cost will depend on the quartz countertop fabricators near me in Austin.
What are the factors to consider while choosing the finishes?
Choosing the right finish for the quartz countertops is not a decision that you can take in just a few minutes. As a fabricator, there are a lot of factors you need to evaluate before you suggest something for your audience. Here are the factors to consider before choosing the right quartz countertop finish for your clients.
- Scratch and Etch Resistance – When you are suggesting a quartz countertop for your client, what is the area where the countertop will be placed? Will it be placed in a high-traffic area with a lot of wear and tear? If it is so, then there will be the risk of the quartz countertop getting damaged from scratches or etches. According to the quartz countertop fabricator near me in North Carolina, if your client is bothered about the scratches and etches, then the best option is to go for the honed quartz.
- Stain Resistance – This is another important factor to consider. As we have already mentioned above, the honed quartz is a porous material and this is what leaves the quartz countertops vulnerable to stains. The polished quartz countertops are much more stain-proof and they don’t need any sort of sealing.
- Personal Choices – Well, at the end of the day, the choice of quartz countertop finishes will come down to personal preference. What kind of quartz countertop surfaces do your clients like more? Do they like polished surfaces? Are they in favor of the low-key elegance of the honed surfaces? This will all come down to a personal choice of surface finishes.
Conclusion
According to the quartz countertop fabricators near me in North Carolina, the preference for a honed and polished countertop is a tough choice to take. Fabricators have to evaluate certain elements before suggesting them to the end-user. However, when you are choosing the quartz countertops, you will find the best options at Impact Quartz. The sole objective of Impact Quartz has been to deliver the highest quality quartz products for different sectors of the building and construction industry and that too at the best prices. At Impact Quartz we strive to create an impact by developing long-term partnerships with the fabricators, designers, and developers.
