Stone Honing

Tile Cleaning Solutions hones natural stone floors and countertops. Honing smooths the surface of the stone to remove etching, scratches, and worn traffic paths, leaving an even, satin finish or a smooth base for polishing. For a free quote, call 888-294-0404 or fill out the quote form on this page.

Signs Your Stone Needs Honing

Cleaning removes dirt. Honing is for damage to the surface of the stone itself:

  • Etch marks. Dull spots and rings from acidic spills like wine, citrus, or vinegar.
  • Visible scratches. Grit tracked in from outside scratches marble and travertine floors.
  • Worn traffic paths. Hallways and entries lose their finish faster than the rest of the room.
  • Uneven finish. Patches of shine and dullness across the same floor.
  • You’d prefer a matte look. A honed finish is less slippery and shows fewer scuffs than a high polish.
Close-up of a smooth honed stone finish in the Bay Area

Our Stone Honing Process

  1. Inspection. We identify the stone, check the depth of scratches and etching, and talk through the finish you want.
  2. Preparation. We protect walls, baseboards, cabinets, and adjoining surfaces. Our technicians can move small, light furniture. We don’t move heavy or fragile items, so please clear those before we arrive.
  3. Cleaning. We clean the stone first so dirt doesn’t interfere with honing. See tile and grout cleaning.
  4. Honing. We work the stone in stages, from coarser to finer, until the damage is removed and the surface is even.
  5. Rinse and inspect. We rinse the stone and check the finish under good light.
  6. Polishing or sealing. We can stop at a honed finish or continue to polishing. Then we seal the stone. If we seal, allow 24 to 48 hours for the sealer to cure before normal use and mopping.
Tile Cleaning Solutions technician explaining a free quote to a homeowner

What's Included

  • Stone identification and finish consultation
  • Cleaning before honing
  • Staged honing to remove etching and scratches
  • Rinse and finish inspection
  • Sealing, plus optional polishing
Technician honing a marble floor in the Bay Area

Stones and Related Services

We hone marble, travertine, limestone, terrazzo, and other calcium-based stone, plus granite in some cases. For a full refresh, see stone restoration. For kitchen and bath counters, see countertop restoration.

Areas We Serve

We provide stone honing for homes and businesses in four service regions: Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. Follow the link for your region to see our work there, or call us if you’re not sure we cover your neighborhood.

Aftercare for Honed Stone

  • Allow the sealer to cure. Wait 24 to 48 hours before normal use and mopping.
  • Use a pH-neutral stone cleaner. Acidic cleaners will etch the stone again.
  • Put mats at entries. Trapping grit at the door is the best protection against new scratches.
  • Use felt pads. Pads on chair and table legs prevent scratching.

How long a honed finish lasts depends on foot traffic and daily care. Plan on resealing about every 2 years.

request a free quote

OR CALL 888 294 0404

other services

Find out about the wide range of services provided at Tile Cleaning Solutions. Whether you need cleaning, sealing, or restoration, we’re the experts in tile care. Contact us today for details on how we can help you keep your surfaces looking great.


Tile & Grout Cleaning

Extend the life of your tile floor and surface with secure tile and grout cleaning, suitable for all kinds of tiles in both commercial and residential settings.

Tile Sealing

Specialized tile sealing service meets all your maintenance needs for tile surface and makes your daily tile cleaning easy.

Tile Stripping

Give your tile floor a fresh look that seems as new with specialized tile stripping. We offer tile stripping for all kinds of tiles.

Stone Restoration

Re-establish the natural glow of your stone tile surfaces and floors with the stone polishing service

Make your stone floors less prone to wear and scratches with specialized stone honing service

Stone Polishing

Enhance the durability and appearance of your stone floors with our specialized stone polishing service

Frequently Asked Questions

Call 888-294-0404 or use the quote form on this page. Tell us about the size of the area, the surface, and its condition, and we’ll give you a free quote.

Honing smooths the stone to remove surface damage and leaves a matte or satin finish. Polishing goes a step further to bring the surface up to a shine. Many jobs use both.

Yes. Etching is surface damage, and honing removes it by smoothing the stone down to an even layer.

Generally, yes. A honed finish has less shine than a polished one and tends to feel less slick, especially when wet.

We protect walls, cabinets, and adjoining surfaces, and we clean up the work area when we’re done.

Yes. Honing opens the surface of the stone, so we seal it to help it resist stains. Allow 24 to 48 hours for the sealer to cure.