I had this problem with honed black granite for the 13 years I lived in my apt. The granite guy won't call us back so far. Okay, folks: if you have used honed Virginia Mist, what's the skinny? I know myself well enough to know that the scratching and chipping potential of soapstone would have bothered me to look at all these years later, but I still look at my honed virginia mist and am pleased with how it's held up. It has a matte, consistent and smooth surface due to the honed finish. Fingerprints, stains, resealing requirements who needs em? proseal. aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. A good analogy would be that a leathered finish is like a matte finish on a photograph whereas a polished surface is like a glossy photograph. I have had honed virginia mist granite counters in my kitchen for 16 years. I agree I've seen photos where this doesn't appear to be the case, but for me, I wasn't so lucky. Your email address will not be displayed publicly. I don't cook there, so the counters don't come in contact with oils. Out of five stars, choose a rating to express how satisfied you were with our services. While a leathered finish has a sheen to it, it is nowhere near as reflective as a polished surface. However, we also have a leathered sample that is a dream and people like it a lot. Stet clita kasd gubergren, Not a deep gouge. But some also mention Virginia Mist: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2684514/to-all-owners-of-jet-mist-virginia-mist-counter-tops, http://forums.thenest.com/discussion/6562169/honed-granite-specifically-jet-mist, https://disqus.com/home/discussion/marble4/materials_granite_virginia_mist/. Please note that the amount of texture will vary from stone to stone and some stones will not leather (especially extremely uniform materials). Our team has over 100 years of combined experience in the industry. The area around the kitchen faucet gets sealed every year or so. Then make some scratches with a fork, a key - knife - you name it. I'm curious where you have read about the issues with honed Virginia Mist? Virginia Mist is beautiful granite countertops that can be used for kitchens, bath vanities, bar tops, fireplace surrounds and more. Columbus Granite offers many in stock granite, and quartz slabs ready to view. I will have to ask our fabricator what kind of sealer they use. Copyright 1996 - 2022 Marble.com. Leathering is preferred to honing for blacks and other very dark materials. We have hard water, but use a whole house water softener so my water staining is minimal. 2955 Franks Road Curious about how to get your project started? Lorem ipsum. Virginia Mist Honed is a wonderfully elegant and stylish stone that will last a lifetime with proper care. Take a look at the actual slabs of this stone at our store in Raleigh, NC location. weezel - I did see a slab of this and I didn't like the veining. If anyone has suggestions on what type of sealer might be good, it would be appreciated. Not sure what the names of these things really mean) mist (looks like a spray of flour or, if you are more poetic, the Milky Way, leathered/antiqued/whatever granite 21 months ago. This material is no longer available from this seller, but StoneTrash might still be able to get it for you. Matte black or brushed nickel hardware for birch color cabinets. We ask you to refrain from writing any inappropriate profanities. We have since moved so I can't comment on longer wear. But the color was right - so I know what you mean. Good luck with your choice -- I love the look of mine and am so glad I picked it. Stairs, floors, countertops, vanity tops and other exterior applications can be created using this misty-looking and durable stone. It requires a professional daily cleaner as well as periodic sealing every six months. Columbus Granite furnishes, fabricates and installs granite, and quartz countertops for residential and commercial business. PA 19006, 2021 Privacy Policy Website Design and Marketing by SearchTrafficNow.com. Countertop Websites, a Search Traffic Now site, does not sell any products. Im currently researching what our options aresoapstone might have been easier! It is supposed to be fingerprint free. Try sodalite, zinc, limestone, onyx and more, See granite types from white to black in action, and learn which cabinet finishes and fixture materials pair best with each, Contrast or complement textures, tones and more by using a mix of materials for countertops and island tops, Zero in on a kitchen combo you'll love with these strategies and great countertop-backsplash mixes for inspiration, Get a delightfully different look for your kitchen counters with lesser-known materials for a wide range of budgets, DIYers and budget-minded remodelers often look to this countertop material, which can last for decades with the right maintenance, Acidic solutions can damage your marble surfaces. Marketing Secrets in the Stone Countertop Industry, 2022 CounterTopWebsites Design - Privacy - Web Design and Marketing by SearchTrafficNow.com. Just not. I know so many people on Houzz just love soapstone, and I love it, too, but whenever I see it in a showroom I'm just struck by the imperfections, and not in a good way. The counters were professionally sealed prior to installation. I think there is nothing more beautiful than soapstone. Web Design and Marketing by SearchTrafficNow.com. It's often better to find material that's close. Service, < If you enhance it that will help hide oil marks too but I have never been tempted to do that. I do seal every few years when oil marks start to show . After 16 years, the counters that see a lot of action and cleaning -- next to the kitchen sink and the island --have started to develop a slight "sheen" more so than the less used counter areas. Its been installed only two months. This is one of the most beautiful stones you can add to your home. I use a cutting board, I wipe up spills when they happen, and force of habit (from years prior to owning granite) has me throwing a kitchen towel under hot pots. Many specifically mention Absolute Black as having problems with fingerprints and potential oil stains too many to cite, here. Id love to know what they sealed it with! I appreciate the "plug" for soapstone, jpmom, but I really know myself and I'm just not going to want to go through the consistent upkeep. reaction when I saw the sample of honed Virginia Mist that our architect brought to our last planning meeting. Shipping Slabs is expensive. Policy, Terms of They were sealed when they were installed and I sealed then again once or twice more in the following few years. no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. In a neutral-colored room, it can add some pizzazz to the rooms design. While I appreciate the comments about soapstone, I'm not going that direction please, I'd love to hear from those of you who have experience with honed Virginia Mist granite. If you can possibly find a slabit's worth the wait. I appreciate your feedback, The Kitchen Place, but please don't confuse the issue: I'm talking about VIRGINIA MIST granite, not Absolute Black. I put them in my house in 2006(?). Like many on these forums, I love the look of soapstone but just can't stomach the upkeep at first blush it looks like honed Virginia Mist is the solution but I'm now reading about issues with oils, staining, fingerprints showing (! Join Our Newsletter to Learn the latest Cosmos Marble & Granite Soapstone Countertops can scratch easy and need to mineral oiled time to time to hide potential scratches. CountertopWebsites.com is powered by SearchTrafficNow, the leader in custom countertop fabrication website design and marketing. That would be amazing; it would give me a sense of what we'll see in our kitchen, I would guess. They were only visible if you turned on every light and examined the counters with a fine tooth comb. This unusual and gorgeous stone has layers of silver and deep grey colors with high crystalline concentration giving it small waves of color and design. It is a popular stone with the white an gray design trending. It doesn't stain and you can put anything hot directly on it. This is a mystical and striking stone with cloud-like wisps of white scattered throughout the surface of the stone. Mine cleans up fine but it was originally polished and we paid to have our fabricator hone it, They told me I wouldn't have issues with it because it was once polished and that helps as a natural sealer. Edited to add, I think the technique that they use to hone the counters determines how porous/stainable(?) Countertop alternative that looks like soapstone or Virginia mist. Contact us for a free consultation. The unique coloring of the stone allows it to be used as both a neutral and a subtle color pop. If you Google honed virginia mist the first image is of my old counters the day they were installed (with the red painted walls). We have oil stains, dark marks, finger prints, everywhere. Privacy @sushipup1--would you mind sharing a picture of your counters? Here is a clip from Kitchenintuitions.com, Leathered:This finish adds texture to the surface. Thx for your feedback! I have leathered Black Pearl in our basement and don't have any problems with water marks, fingerprints etc. We installed a black (Virginia? We're remodeling from a 20-year-old kitchen with a speckled Corian, and though I don't mind cleaning before I head off to sleep, I will say that these counters hide sins quite well and I'm not looking to create a new cleaning problem for myself with our new countertops! Use letters and numbers only (no space or symbols). Virginia Mist Granite is also popular because of the look of the stone. This is the counter adjacent to the sink and directly across from the fridge. For example the amount of texture on Absolute Black is minimal and very fine grained, and the finish is much more uniform than honing Absolute Black. Click the button below to see approximately how far away the material is. They looked great and I really liked them. Do you have to seal & re-seal this countertop in some way (and what would that mean, anyway, when you're trying to get a honed finish)? I put them in specifically because I loved the look of soapstone but did not want the upkeep associated with soapstone. Huntingdon Valley. There are no exceptions for soapstone in the Marble Institute of America's recommendations for trivet use on all natural stones. ---Consumer FinancingInventory ManagerCustom Web DesignDigital MarketingSEOSocial MediaLocal OptimizationReview ManagementB2B LinkedinWebsite Hosting. I do not baby my counters -- but I am careful. It sees a lot of action. No luck yet. Virginia Mist honed or Virginia Mist polished granite can be easily combined with marble counter tops, or white quartz counter-tops. My granite also came in polished and was honed by my fabricator (the look on his face when I said I wanted to take the polish off was priceless) So there may be some added protection when it's done that way. OP here: Thanks for the response! While they don't look exactly like they did when they were installed 16 years ago, I would say they're holding up really well. If you can afford soapstone - I wouldn't be afraid of the upkeep. This stone is a bold choice for any room kitchen, bath, accent wall or floor. My favorite soapstone look a like is Via Lattea in a satin finish (granite)it's gorgeous. Leathering starts with a honed surface and adds texture, and is a completely different process than river washed. From countertops to vanities, residential to commercial, StoneTrash can get your job done. As I suspected, I'm not really able to get a close up of any slight spotting etc. as the camera can't seem to focus that close up. jQuery('.ptext').appendTo('#content_tab_description'); Our granite countertops inventory changes often and may not be available. Check out other reviews of previous customers and how happy they were with our selections. Please call if you are looking for a specific granite countertops for a countertop project. Consider this granite for your next remodeling project. It was sealed with (tenax?) You've just added this product to the cart: Website Design and Marketing by SearchTrafficNow.com. I would love to have soapstone - but we are actually going with honed Virginia Mist, due to our budget. That could be something that you could research or ask the granite fabricator. Virginia Mist Honed granite is a blue-grey stone with light, subtle white veining. We still recommend that Virginia Mist granite is sealed periodically. Do not use your full name. It is a granite that looks a lot like a soapstone. Mon:8:00 am 6:00 pm Tue: 8:00 am 6:00 pm Wed:8:00 am 7:00 pm Thu: 8:00 am 6:00 pm Fri: 8:00 am 6:00 pm Sat: 9:00 am 5:00 pm Sun:11:00 am 3:00 pm, 2276 Westbrooke Dr, Building K, Columbus, OH 43228 Open 7 Days (Hours), 2276 Westbrooke Dr, Building K Columbus, OH 43228, Things that you should know about Quartz Countertop Columbus OH, Types & varieties of Granite Countertop to choose for your Columbus house, 3 REASONS TO PICK QUARTZ FOR YOUR COUNTERTOPS. Lol. Lots of topics about the issues with honed, dark granites. Using marble countertops on an island where you do not have a sink, or cooktop is a good idea. If you have hard water that stains, dark counters might be a problem for you. Emails are used for notification purposes only. It's in perfect shape, shows nothing at all. After three or four years I had some very minor pitting and etching (almost like eraser marks). For this reason, my next countertop will be a quartz surface and shiny. When writing a review, leave a title and write a concise and detailed summary of what you thought of our products. Do you have to use specialty cleaners? Just looked like horizontal brush strokes. Even with these issues, this granite is lovely. At least a 6x6 square. numbersjunkie may have hit upon the secret. Choose Service * I'm ordering honed Jet Mist for my kitchen island to be installed in Nov. I am well aware of the issues with Absolute Black. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. This is a durable, long-lasting stone that requires some love and care. With our own proprietary granite, marble and quartz database of images and video plus a full suite of marketing services including SEO, Pay Per Click Marketing, Social Media and more. Virginia Mist Honed can be used in a variety of places, including but not limited to, kitchen or bathroom countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, fireplace surrounds, and much, much more. Heres how to keep marble looking clean and amazing, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, 7 Low-Maintenance Countertops for Your Dream Kitchen, Kitchen Counters: High-Tech Solid Surfaces Make Maintenance Easy, Kitchen Counters: Durable, Easy-Clean Soapstone, Alternatives to Granite Countertops, Part II, 5 Favorite Granites for Gorgeous Kitchen Countertops, Countertop and Backsplash: Making the Perfect Match, Kitchen Countertop Materials: 5 More Great Alternatives to Granite, Kitchen Counters: Tile, the Choice for Affordable Durability. Check back with me early Dec and Ill let you know. I know this is an older post, but wanted to give feedback on my experience with Virginia mist honed granite. VIRGINIA MIST HONED GRANITE IN COLUMBUS OHIO Yes, Virginia Mist Granite is from Virginia near Culpeper area. Im tempted to oil the whole slab and see what happens. Comes in polished, honed or leathered finish. ), etc. This is a demo site for countertop fabricators, countertops businesses, and kitchen, bath and flooring companies that want to grow their business through a new website, or (SEO) search engine optimization, search engine marketing (Google, FB, Insta), B2B (Linkedin), email marketing, and much more. To enlarge a picture click on magnifying icon, Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 1:00pm, Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 1:00pm, Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 1:00pm, 1440 Westinghouse Blvd, Suite G Charlotte, NC 28273, Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 3:00pm, 3235 Industry Drive, North Charleston SC 29418, 3900 Stonecroft Blvd Suite B Chantilly, VA 20151, Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm Sat: 10:00am - 3:00pm, 2244 Luna Rd, Suite 100 Carrollton, TX 75006, Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 3:00pm. ntrainer, I will try to post a photo for you tomorrow. As d_gw mentioned, it might be worth a conversation with your fabricator to see if how they hone it has an impact on how well it resists staining, etc. It looked pretty spectacular, and reminded me of the real thing. 30 years serving Huntingdon Valley, PA & Metro Philly. I use SCI (Stone Care International) Clean Encounters (purchased at Home Depot) to clean them and that's it. We may need to DIY to try to fix. We have been successfully providing services in Columbus area for 3 years now. Contact us below and we will find it for you! Virginia Mist Honed 3CM is an honed finish granite with soothing grays and swirling patterns all over its surface. And the chipping would bug the heck out of me. Virginia Mist Granite can also be combined with Calacatta quartz countertops if you would like to use a sturdier stone. A full service marketplace for Stone & Tile, StoneTrash has a network of fabricators, distributors and retailers from around the country all working together to give you more options than anywhere else. It will be just like new. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. All rights reserved. I still love this granite but the product used did nothing to protect it. Ask your architect for a sample of soapstone. It was sealed by the installers. The oil/staining thing with VA Mist makes me a bit concerned - as I hadn't heard that. It is not weak or easy to damage as granite is resistant to both heat and scratches. Do not use your fullname. You must be logged in before you can vote. This material is located in Richmond, MN. Hope the photo helps. But nothing objectionable and only noticeable by someone who looks at the counters every day. Our honed absolute black granite sample shows fingerprints. Weve had absolute black honed in the past which had minimal issues compared to this. These countertop materials look great with little effort, Sculpted by heat and nonporous by nature, solid-surface countertops bring imagination and low maintenance to the kitchen, Give bacteria the boot and say sayonara to stains with this long-lasting material that's a great choice for kitchen and bath countertops, Still looking for a new kind of countertop? I warned her ahead of timebut she was willing to have the trade off. I have honed va mist and we are a messy family! Visit us anytime or call us at 614 771 3733 so we can discuss your ideas for your next kitchen countertops. It's just my nature. Would it look bad if I increased the height of my island? Purchase some mineral oil and very light grit sandpaper. Also, FWIW for me "cleaning" means wiping down the counters with 409 and calling it a day. }); Virginia Mist Granite comes to us from Brazil. Hope all that helps. Soapstone is so fantasticsomething about the way it feels and looks in person. Additionally, it closes the pores (compared to honing) and retains the color better than honing. Emails are used for notification purposes only. There is enough movement in my slabs such that -- unless you really look carefully for it -- any sheen or slight discoloration here and there blends overall. Since then we have not sealed it or done anything special except clean it, sometimes, not always, using Method granite cleaner. lve tried to order method online. I had a client who wanted it but could not afford it, so I did some kind of black granite that had almost no variation in it (can't remember name), and I did it honed. they might be. Only drawback was it shows everythingespecially handprints. Our team highly encourages our customers and clients to leave their honest opinions about our countertops. Previous. Use letters and numbers only (no space or symbols), Your email address will not be displayed publicly. Would you mind posting a photo of the water spots you've mentioned? Sorry I couldnt get it right side up. Then lightly sand it - all over the scratch marks and then apply the oil. Thanks for all the advice, dorothyz6! Expert design, fabrication and installation. I try to get pics posted tomorrow. I've been working through the posts here on honed countertops and I'm now doubting my initial "yes, please!" jQuery( document ).ready(function() { Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna ntrainer, here is a photo of my virginia mist honed granite. Family owned and operated for over 30 years, Cosmos Marble & Granite provides custom natural stone countertops for kitchens, baths for residential and commercial customers.