Menu
Check out the biggest trends of the season and our expert take on them.
In thoughtfully designed spaces, finishes aren’t just decorative, they’re a continuation of the material’s expression. When it comes to natural stones like marble or granite, polishing is often the final act that reveals the stone’s character and depth.
For interior designers working with stone surfaces in high-visibility areas like lobby floors, vanity tops, or wall panels, a stone polish isn’t just about vanity – it’s more about visual drama, refinement, and durability. When done right, it ensures protection of the stone’s visual appeal and results in a subtle mirror-like shine that doesn’t compete with the material but rather completes it. Importantly, high-quality polishes also provide abrasion resistance to everyday wear from footwear, luggage, or cleaning equipment, which is crucial in such high-use environments.
Every natural stone has its own grain, tone, and reflective behaviour. Surface polishing, when approached with care, enhances these attributes rather than masking them. Whether it’s floor polish for high-traffic areas or a marble polish for a clean vanity surface, the goal remains the same: to bring out the best of the material, with minimal interference.
A well-executed stone polish also helps unify the look across adjoining surfaces, especially where large slabs or mixed textures are involved. However, the key is accuracy both in terms of application and product. Here, it’s worth noting that durability of shine — the ability of the surface to retain its gloss over time — is different from durability of the stone itself. A stone may remain structurally intact, but without the right polish, its shine can fade quickly.
In practice, not every space demands the same type of finish.
1. Short-term polishes are useful when a quick uplift is needed for photoshoots or temporary installations.
2. Long-term polish systems, on the other hand, are chosen where performance and visual consistency must endure over time, such as in entrances, staircases, or high-use countertops.
What matters is choosing the right stone polish for the purpose. This is something which is often overlooked.
Choosing a high-quality polish is the first step towards achieving a mirror-like finish. Low-grade stone polish liquids often leave behind a surface film, or worse, uneven gloss levels that disrupt the visual continuity. It’s also important to ensure that the polish fits the stone’s composition, finish, and context to prevent these issues.
Surface preparation is another crucial aspect of this. Even a high-quality marble polish liquid will fall short if applied over residues, dust, or poorly finished joints.
Including polish selection as part of the design documentation can help retain the finish integrity. It also prevents on-site improvisation that may compromise the stone’s final look.
Roff’s Tenax range offers both short and long-term stone polish systems that are engineered for clarity and surface compatibility. With Tenax stone care solutions in your toolkit, it’s your design instinct that transforms polish into purpose, delivering finishes that are both refined and enduring.
