Okay, so you’ve decided you want stone tiles for your flooring or backsplash, and you’ve even narrowed it down to one certain type of stone. The problem is you now have another decision to make: what kind of finish do you want?
There are quite a few options, but honed tiles are generally a good choice. Here’s a quick overview of the benefits honed stone tiles bring to the table.
Appearance
Natural stone tile with a honed finish has been ground on one side to create a very smooth finish. Each piece will look slightly different depending on the level of honing – you’ll generally find honed stone taking on a matt or satin sheen. In any case, honed stone is ideal for creating a subtler appearance that still demonstrates the luxury of genuine stone. Colours are muted, so honed stone works well when you want a more rustic or traditional appearance.
Toughness
Honed stone tiles lack a glossy surface. That comes with several benefits, but probably the most compelling is an ability to resist scratches. This is a particularly important factor to consider if you’re using a softer stone – marble tiles, for example, will often come honed, especially if used for flooring across a high-traffic area.
Smooth and Even
Depending on the stone, most honed stone tiles will have the tiny holes in their surfaces filled with an epoxy resin prior to finishing. This produces a smooth, flat appearance and noticeably clean, even edges. The stone will feel smooth and velvety, but not enough to cause slips as you walk. Better yet, the smooth feel and non-porous surface of honed stone tiles makes cleaning a lot easier and prevents bacteria gaining a foothold.
Reduced Reflectivity
Reflectivity is a common problem with smoother stones. It’s not always an issue, but stone that reflects a lot of light can make a room feel overwhelming, especially if it already enjoys plenty of natural light. Because honed stone takes on a matt rather than polished surface, it doesn’t reflect light as easily.
