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Choosing Countertops Honed Black Granite and Fingerprints

12 years ago

In searching for the "right" countertop, calacatta marble is my dream, but not sure I'm up for the maintenance, and/or patina.

To bring in the marble as an element, I have been thinking of doing dark countertops, with the marble as a backsplash. The kitchen will have white perimeter cabinets with walnut island cabinetry, stainless appliances, and ebonized oak floors.

I looked at soapstone, but reading on this forum about the need to oil it, the danger of chipping, and so many people needing a refinish (who is Florida Joshua, anyway??--It surely sounds as if he's a busy guy, and not likely to make it to the Pacific Northwest where I live).

So I started thinking about using a honed black granite..until hearing several people remark about fingerprints driving them crazy on their honed Absolute Black.

So, my big question for those with honed dark granite--are fingerprints an issue on any honed dark granite, or is there something special about Absolute Black that makes fingerprints more of an issue?

Also, any opinions on which dark granite with Calacatta, and the mix of white and walnut on the cabinets. I am thinking maybe Antique Brown would be nice, but not sure if there would be fingerprint problems with this too. Maybe I need to check-out "leathered finishes," though those seem to me sort of earthy and organic, where this will be a more formal looking kitchen--thoughts?

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Comments (6)

SaraKat
12 years ago
I have shiny black pearl in my laundry room. I honestly do not understand all this talk of fingerprints. I am not seeing all the pesky fingerprints that folks complain of. Do people have oily hands? What is up with the fingerprints driving people crazy? Do they go and put their fingers on the counters all day long and everywhere? I mean I have to wipe down counters at least a couple of times a day anyway so I don't understand why it is causing such angst? Must just be me!!!
Emily
12 years ago
I personally don't have the honed AB but have done a lot of research about it because I want to use it in my daugther's bathroom reno. It seems that since the honed does not have a shine to it, that when you touch it or it gets wet, it leaves marks, just form the natural oils in your hands absorbing into the stone.

I have read mixed reviews that some people don't notice it at all and it bothers others. I also read a great way to solve the fingerprint issue to spray method granite cleaner and polish all over it with a rag right after it's installed and the polish will soak into the stone, so you won't notice the fingerprints as much. That is what I have decided to do if I go that route.

Sorry I don't have personal experience but that is what I have read about. If it is really the look you want go for it! I love the way it looks in kitchens.
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Like a lot of you, I love soapstone and I lovethe look of antiqued nordic black. We drove over to a soapstone place in vermont yesterday (Green Mountain Soapstone). Their stone was lovely, BUT, because our counter is an L with a diagnol due to a lazy susan, they wanted to charge us for the whole rectangle( and not just the L) - this means an extra 50% is sf-age - feels like a rip-off. So I went to home depot, where theyhave asoapstone called Savonpierre - anybody know much about this? Its a lot less expensive, but I'm nervous because nobidy gets soapstone athome depot. Nordic Black makes me nervous because the edges atthe stone yard awlays look crumbly and I think becuase itsa large grained granite, its not going to be as tough as Abs. black (smaller is stronger!!). Sorry for the info dump. But am having a hardtime deciding. Any thoughts? btw, we have a modest kitchen with a simple L counter and and about 25 actual sq.ft of counter. Thanks a bunch Vidya
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francoise47
12 years ago
I have honed black pearl granite.
Finger prints have not been a problem at all.
I do use Method's Daily Granite cleaner on the counters a few times a week.
On a daily basis I just wipe the counters with a wet rag.
vickevette
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, I think that is it, just fingerprints from the natural oils in your hands. I seem to only hear about it with Absolute Black, not other dark granites, but maybe that's just because it is more popular/commonly used than some of the others, or maybe it's uniform grain makes any smudges/prints more noticeable.

Thanks everyone for the input!
rocketmomkd
12 years ago
I looked at shiny, honed and leathered black absolute. The saled rep said the honed it the only one where fingerprints would be an issue. He put his hand on the slab, and sure enought there was a handprint left when he removed his hand. That didn't happen with either of the other black absolute finishes. If you like the matte look, leathered may be a better choice.
westtoeast
12 years ago
We just put in honed absolute black counters a week ago. My fabricator used an color enhancer and sealer on it.. No issues with finger prints at all. We asked for a sample while we were deciding and let it sit on our old kitchen counter for a few weeks. I poured lemonade, tomato sauce, oil, vinegar and everything else I could think of on it and let it sit over night. Everything came out without a problem. He also gave us a sample without the color enhancer and that piece was a total mess.

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