What Is a Honed Tile? A Deep Dive into the Honed Stone Finish

Teaser: In this comprehensive guide, you are going to learn about honed tiles, how it's different from other finishes, maintenance tips, and real world applications. 

Do you know why honed-finish tiles are the perfect choice for your space? Adding a modern touch to your home, their understated elegance creates a sophisticated yet inviting atmosphere.

The term ‘hone’ means the act of sharpening or making something more intensive. In this blog, we will discuss what is honed tile, its pros and cons, its application, and real-world examples. 

What Does Honed Tile Mean

Honed refers to a soft elegance that's subtle, smooth, and refined like polishing a diamond to reveal its true brilliance. The term also describes a whetstone made of fine gritstone typically used for sharpening razors. For honing stone tiles experts grind the stone surface lightly to create a consistent, and smooth texture. 

It reduces the shine of the surface but does not eliminate it. We can say it is a micro matte. However, true matting means making the tile surface non-shiny and non-slippery. 

Pros and Cons of Honed Natural Stone Tiles

Honed tiles offer a wide range of benefits but there are some disadvantages as well: 

Pros: 

• Versatile Style: For modernising your stone surface, consider honing that's available in a variety of materials from Marble to Limestone or Travertine. 
  
• Slip Resistant: Honed Tiles are the safe solution for spaces prone to moisture and high-traffic areas because they offer better traction. 
  
• Subtle Sheen: Providing soft and understated appearance, honed tiles showcase the natural beauty of the stone without being shiny. 
  
• Easy Maintenance: These types of tiles are easy to maintain as they hide water spots and fingerprints. 
  

Cons: 

• Sealing Frequency: Having a porous surface, honed tiles get stained easily requiring more frequent sealing. 
  
• Etching Risk: Honed stone tiles can etch but the mark is less noticeable. 
  
• Cost Factor: These are more costly than polished tiles due to additional labor and time required for handling the project. 
  

Buying Considerations:

You need to consider some aspects before buying honed natural stone tiles. It helps you to compare different options. 

The average cost of honed tile falls between $5-$15 per square foot. It depends upon the type of stone you choose including Carrara White, Gascogne blue etc. 

Natural stone-honed finishes are indeed more expensive than porcelain or ceramic. But don't worry, it will be your long-term investment due to its ability to resist slipping, making it ideal for busy areas like the home floor or entryway. 

In addition to this, honed finishing is a sustainable option. Eco-friendly stones like Limestone and Sandstone, are abundant and highly regarded for their toughness and endurance. You are less likely to need to replace them in future. 

How Is Honed Tile Different from Other Finishes?

When compared to other finishes, a honed finish offers a noticeably different look: 

Honed vs. Polished

Polished tile is glossy, shiny, and reflective with more intense colors. While honed has a subtle, matte, and overall warmer appearance. Polished stone is akin to polished leather finishes: shiny, and reflective. On the hand hand, honed stones feature a softer and non-reflective style.

It's important to note that smooth-surface tiles are elegant though they may have less intense colouring. Polished tiles have slip resistance and they are also likely to show fingerprints, water spots, scratches. 

Honed vs. Tumbled

A tumbled surface is formed by placing the stone tiles in a machine with abrasive materials. It's done to achieve a weathered and worn design, offering your tiles rustic and aged appearance than honed stone. 

Honed vs. Glazed

Honed and glazed finishes are not directly comparable because honing is used for stone tile, while glazing is used for ceramic, zellige, terracotta and brick tile. Depending on the style, glazing adds a protective glass or enamel coating to the tile creating either matte or shiny finish. 

Honed vs. Gauged

Technically, gauged stone means tiles with a ground-down backside making it a plain or even. This finish is ideal for indoor flooring as they fit together nicely and easily. 

Honed vs. Unfinished

Unfinished tile is exactly what it sounds like, that's not processed to create a smooth and flat surface. Instead of honing, unfinished flooring showcases the natural texture of stone, terracotta, and other materials.

Honed vs. Matte Tile

Matte tiles become your perfect choice for achieving a natural and rustic look. This finish is created by leaving the tile unpolished, giving it a flat, non-reflective appearance. 

Please Note: Matte tiles are more prone to staining. Additionally, they require regular cleaning to maintain their appearance.

Technical Honing Process Explained

You have to make yourself well-prepared if you want to tackle honed Marble or other stones. Honing involves polishing the surface of natural stone with a fine abrasive.

Here's the step-by-step process: 

1. Materials Needed: Honing powder or paste, a soft cloth, and something to catch the slurry.
   
2. Cleaning: First of all clean the stone surface and remove any dirt or debris. For this use a mild soap and water solution or a specifically designed stone. 
   
3. Smooth with Diamonds: Now, get something that has a fine grit i.e. diamonds or ceramics. Smooth the stone with the help of a handheld rotary tool. 
   
4. Polish with Abrasive: Alumina oxide is a white powder that's used as an abrasive available in three grades: fine, medium, and coarse. Polish smoothly without damaging the surface. 
   
5. Sealing: Finally seal the stone to safeguard your stone against staining. 
   

Quality Checkpoints for Consistent Finish

• Focus on consistent texture across the entire tile surface.
  
• Check whether the finish is smooth and free of cracks or holes.
  
• Is the color of the tile uniform? 
  
• Have the piece straight cut or beveled edges?
  

Sealant Types & Performance

	Impregnating	Topical
How it Works	A Penetrating sealer works by absorbing directly into the stone surface upon application.	The solution stays on the surface and doesn’t seep through the stone itself.
Coverage	Covers 200 to 2000 sq. ft. per gallon.	125-300 square feet/gallon
VOCs	Impregnator meets V.O.C. requirements	Contains Volatile organic Compounds (VOCs)
Brand Tips	Trusted brand: Stonetech	Reliable brand: Miracle Sealants

 

Recommended re-seal intervals for honed-finished floor are: 

• Every Year or 2: For spaces like outdoor (with high usage).
  
• Every 3 to 4 years: for bedroom. 
  

Installation Best Practices

Have a look at some installation practices for honed floor finish: 

Subfloor Prep & Moisture Barriers

Check your subfloor thoroughly using a straightedge and test wedge. Detecting irregularities and ensuring uniformity is important. Then examine where the grout is cracked or missing. Consider using a waterproof membrane beneath the tile to prevent water damage to your home especially in the bathroom and shower. 

Adhesive & Grout Choices (Sand Vs. Epoxy)

For natural stones, we recommend a high specification, rapid setting, and flexible adhesive. If you are using grout, then sanded grout is suitable for floors, ceramic tiles, and natural stone tiles.  

Joint Spacing & Movement Considerations

You can fit the honed natural stones with a 4mm-8mm grout width. Please make sure that joints are 4mm wide to accommodate dimensional tolerance and movement. However, the movement joints in these tiles should be placed every 20-25 feet indoor application and 8-12 feet outdoor application. 

Where to Apply Honed Tiles

Honed stone brings a natural aesthetic to any place with each tile featuring linear marking and speckling. You can apply these stones to the following areas: 

Kitchen: 

Satin-finished tiles are a versatile pick for kitchen floors and walls, available in crystalline white tiles, purple tiles, and gold tiles. In addition to this, you can find them in multiple shapes, including square tiles, pebble tiles, and penny round tiles.

Bathroom:

You can choose honed flooring to cover the entire walls and floor of your bathroom. For spaces like showers, small honed flooring options such as penny rounds and mosaic tiles are ideal due to added grout. 

Living room 

Did you know the honed marble floor is suitable for living rooms because it is less greasy? As you know your living area has higher foot traffic and occurrence of common spills, so it will be your best choice. 

Outdoor 

Soft-textured tiles come in a variety of colors and patterns, and are good for exterior application. The other advantage of honed stone such as Marble is that when they get wet, they are not as slippery as a polished surface. Furthermore, they are resistant to water absorption, that's well-suited for freeze thaw climates. 

Real-World Examples & Media

Whether made of Limestone or Travertine, honed tiles increase the aesthetic appeal of interiors. 

Calacatta Gold Honed 12x24 Marble Tile

With bold veining and rich hues, Calacatta Gold honed 12x24 tile is a captivating centerpiece. Homeowners prefer this finish for luxurious bathrooms, kitchens, or statement walls to enhance its elegance. This product is part of the prestigious Calacatta Gold Marble Tile Collection.

Thassos Honed 4x4 Marble Tile

For detailed designs like backsplashes and mosaic patterns, the Thassos honed 4x4 marble tile is popular. Reflecting light beautifully, its pristine white finish offers bright and airy spaces. This product is part of the exquisite Thassos Marble Collection.

Sand Honed 18x18 Limestone Tile

Bringing natural warmth to your space, whether it's an office or home, Sand honed limestone is amazing. With its earthy tones and large format, it’s a perfect fit for earthy or Mediterranean-style interiors. This product is part of the refined Limestone Marble Collection.

Nero Marquina Honed 18x18

Looking for strikingly bold interiors? Consider Nero Marquina 18×18 low-gloss tile. With its dramatic black and white veining, the large size is perfect for contemporary spaces, making it a bold statement. This product is part of the luxurious Nero Marquina Marble Collection.

Maintenance and Advanced Cleaning Protocols

The smooth surface finish hides small scratches and scuffs, making everyday wear a non-issue. Therefore, you need to follow a care routine: 

• Daily Care with Ph-neutral Cleaners: For this type of flooring, non-acidic cleaning solutions are best. Without compromising the stone’s natural surface, remove dirt and grime. 
  
• Stain-removal: When you notice any stain or spill, clean it immediately. Start with a soft cloth and gentle cleaner. Rub it nicely to remove stains. 
  
• Mildew Prevention & Periodic Deep-clean: To prevent mildew, try to maintain proper ventilation and control moisture. Perform deep cleaning practice every few months. 
  

Bonus Tip: Avoid using harsh scrubbers or rough sponges for honed marble specifically as they scratch the surface. Instead opt for microfiber cloths or non-abrasive pads for safe cleaning. 

Durability & Performance Metrics

There are a few factors you have to consider when evaluating durability and performance: 

Coefficient of Friction (COF) Slip Ratings

Describes how much force you need to move a tile on a certain surface. Honed generally have a higher (COF) rating than other finishes that's 0.3 to 0.6. 

Mohs Hardness/scratch Resistance

The Mohs hardness scale measures a stone’s resistance to scratching. 

Stone	Mohs Hardness
Granite	6-7
Marble	4+
Limestone	3-4
Travertine	4 to 5

 

Freeze-thaw and UV Performance

The freeze-thaw performance of stone refers to its ability to withstand the cycle of repeating freezing. Marble, Limestone and Travertine can be used for wet areas. Furthermore, UV plays a significant role in the durability, colour and surface integrity of the natural stones. Black marble, travertine and limestone can all be changed in this way. 

How to Choose the Right Honed Tile

Here are some tips to follow when selecting the right honed finish: 

• Personal Preference: Pick what you want from a range of options such as pure, minimalist, dramatic and high contrast.
• Tile Size: Smaller-sized tiles if you want to have non-slip flooring. 
  
• Order Samples: Study your samples in a variety of lighting conditions to ensure how it looks.
  
• Work with Professionals: Hire a skilled professional who can cut, install and seal the tiles in the right way. 
  

Conclusion

In a nutshell, tile finishing is the cherry on top that impacts the overall design and feel of a room. By making yourself aware of subtle-finished tiles and how it's different from other finishes, you can make informed decisions. To get a sense of the actual look, samples are invaluable.

Check honed stone tile samples at MOSAICENTER. Moreover, consult with our experts to get your job done and produce beautiful results. 

FAQ's

What is a Honed Finish on a Tile?

A honed tile means grinding the surface of the tile to achieve a smooth finish. 

What is a Honed Porcelain Tile?

Honed porcelain tile is a type of ceramic tile that undergoes a unique finishing process. It provides you with a smooth and matte surface. 

Are Honed Tiles Slippery?

No, honed flooring panels are less slippery than a polished finish. 

Do Honed Tiles Need to Be Sealed?

Yes, sealing your tiles will protect them from staining and wear and tear.