Countertops Today: Granite and Beyond
A big thank you to Steve Rymer, the owner of Architectural Tile & Stone, who patiently shared his thoughts on new trends in kitchen countertops.
Granite
Steve says polished granite is still the most popular surface for countertops, and for good reason. Granite is a very hard, dense stone made of crystallized minerals formed at extremely high temperatures. It is not subject to etching by cooking acids, or to scratching by knives or pots and pans. Steve says selections today have moved away from busy granite patterns. This coincides with a housing trend toward modern styling with cleaner lines and simple, soothing colors and patterns. Although non shiny finishes are now available, he does not see a strong movement toward the use of honed granites on countertops. When granites are matte finished, the natural colors and patterns are subdued or lost. In granites, Steve sees the demand at about 95% for polished material, and 5% for honed.
There are several finishes for granite:
High Gloss Polished – This is the most reflective and the least porous of the surfaces available. Fine polishing brings out the depth, color, and pattern in granite. Each piece has it own natural movement of pattern and color.
Honed Finish – To create a honed surface, the polishing process is not taken to its full potential. Rather than a 3,000 grit polished surface, it is taken to a soft sheen 600-grit surface. The result is a less formal, satin finish. The surface is more absorptive, so it will show stains easier than a closed-pore polished surface.
Leather Finish – A leather finish begins with a honed surface; then it is swept with diamond tipped brushes. The process brings back the color and closes pores on the surface. The result is between polished and honed. It has more sheen and is less porous than a honed finish.
Flame Finish – To create this surface, blowtorch-strength heat is applied to the granite surface. This causes some of the granite crystals to explode and shatter, leaving a highly textured surface. This surface is more suited for exterior paving, rather than for countertops.
River Washed – To create this surface, the granite is first flamed; then it is wire brushed to smooth out the sharpness of the surface. The result is a rustic texture with an aged, irregular finish.
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