Honed vs. Polished Marble Flooring: What’s the Difference?

Marble is a solid option for flooring. Why? Because not only is the material durable, but it also adds luxury and elegance to the home.

Honed vs. Polished Marble Flooring: The Differences

Marble has two types of finish: honed and polished. What makes them different? This post talks about honed vs. polished marble flooring and their differences.

1. Honed vs. Polished Marble Floor: Finish

First, the finish. The term honed marble refers to a marble slab that has been refined to the point its surface becomes flat and smooth.

The process of making honed marble follows all polishing stages except the last one. This is why honed marble has a matte look and velvety feel.

On the other hand, polished marble follows all stages of polishing. The marble is first honed and then refined to remove any flaws that hinder the surface from reflecting light.

As a result, polished marble has a shiny look and a very smooth texture.

Speaking of smoothness, honed vs. polished marble flooring is different. Honed marble flooring is smooth but not as smooth as its polished counterpart.

Compared to a polished finish, a honed finish is more scratch-resistant. Even if honed marble does scratch, it is noticeable thanks to its rougher and duller surface.

Polished finish, on the other hand, is the opposite.

Also, a honed finish is not as slippery as a polished finish when wet, but it does stain easier.

2. Durability

When it comes to honed vs. polished marble flooring durability, the two types of flooring are equally durable. Both honed and polished marble flooring is extremely tough.

So if you are looking for flooring that can last for a very long time, both are a solid option.

That doesn’t mean they don’t need protection. Protections are always welcome. Honed and marble flooring can be protected with re-sealing, which gives the surface an extra layer of protection.

3. Shine and Color

Now let’s talk about the shine and color of honed vs. polished marble flooring.

In terms of shine, honed marble is dull and doesn’t reflect light, whereas polished marble is glossy, shiny, and reflects light well.

As for color, honed marble is usually lighter, while polished marble is usually darker.

4. Maintenance and Damage Repair

The maintenance and damage repair of honed and polished marble flooring is different despite being made of marble.

Since honed marble flooring is susceptible to staining, you need to wipe off liquids that spill from the surface immediately. Never wait for too long before cleaning up spills as it might result in staining.

Also, when cleaning honed marble flooring, regular soap is not recommended.

Why? Because it can seep through the flooring’s surface and makes its color darker. Instead of soap, use bleach and mildly abrasive household detergent.

As for polished marble flooring, it doesn’t require as much re-sealing.

While it is more resistant to staining, thanks to the polished finish, you need to wipe off any stains from the surface immediately. This is because certain substances can etch it.

Use a small brush, water, and mild bleach solution to clean polished marble. Avoid brushing the surface too roughly or using a detergent with high ammonia content as they can damage the finish.

5. Marble Floor Honed vs. Polished Aesthetics

Now let’s talk about the aesthetics of honed vs. polished marble flooring.

Between the two, honed marble has a more natural and organic look. Honed marble flooring creates a neutral yet warm backdrop.

On the other hand, Polished marble flooring looks more high-end and refined. It is attention-stealing and works well with decorative lighting.

6. Applications

Last but not least, the applications of honed vs. polished marble flooring. What are honed marble and polished marble flooring good for?

Honed marble flooring is good all-around. It is best suited for high-traffic areas as it is tough, durable, and scratch-resistant. It can be used in most areas of a house.

Polished marble flooring is best suited for low-traffic areas.

You don’t want to install polished marble flooring in a high traffic area because the damage will be apparent if it is damaged.

Since it becomes slippery when it gets wet, avoid using it for areas where it will get wet or where spills are likely to happen—for example, the kitchen or bathroom.

7. Honed vs. Polished Marble: Pros and Cons

	Honed Marble	Polished Marble
Pro	Durability Although both honed and polished marble is durable, honed marble is more durable than a polished one. It is the primary reason why homeowners choose honed marble flooring over its polished counterpart. Plus, it hides scratches well, too. Velvety feel If you want marble flooring with a velvety feel, honed marble is the best option. Less slippery When honed marble flooring is wet, it is not as slippery as polished marble flooring.	Less expensive Although polished marble is the better looking of the two, it is less expensive. Why? Because polished marble is the more common option, which results in a lower price. Unmatched look Polished marble is glossy, shiny, and reflects light quite well. Polished marble is your best bet if you want flooring that steals attention.
Cons	Not as good looking as polished marble flooring Honed marble doesn’t reflect light as well as polished marble. This is why it is not as good-looking as its polished counterpart. That’s not to say honed marble looks bad, however. Honed marble is still marble. And marble is well-known for its luxurious and elegant look. It is just that polished marble is more appealing in terms of appearance. More expensive Honed marble is the more expensive option for the honed vs. polished marble flooring price. It tends to have a higher price because it is less common.	Susceptible to scratch Unlike honed marble, polished marble is susceptible to scratch. Not only does it scratch easily, but the scratches are also more noticeable. This is due to its reflective nature. Slippery Other cons of polished marble are that it is slippery when wet. Due to this, you want to avoid installing polished marble flooring in areas where it will get wet, or spills are likely to happen.

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And that’s honed vs. polished marble flooring. Each has unique characteristics, benefits, and downsides.

So, what do you think? Are you interested in incorporating them into your home?