If your granite countertops have lost their shine, started to look cloudy, or picked up a few stains and chips over the years, you might be wondering:
How do I refinish granite countertops without replacing them? And what does “refinishing” even mean?
Good news: unlike softer rocks such as shale, granite stone is tough, dense, and absolutely refinishable. With the right steps, you can bring back that glossy, showroom finish and extend the life of your counters for many more years.
This guide walks you through, step by step:
- How granite’s geology affects refinishing
- How to clean, repair, polish, and seal granite countertops
- What to do about superglue, Sharpie, and soap scum
- How granite compares with quartz, marble, soapstone, and concrete
- Where Aardwolf granite products fit into the bigger picture
Understanding Granite Stone Before You Refinish
Before you jump into refinishing, it helps to know what you’re working with.
Granite geology and composition
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock, formed when magma cools slowly deep underground. That slow cooling creates large, visible crystals of:
- Quartz – adds hardness and scratch resistance
- Feldspar – white, cream, or pink; controls much of the background color
- Mica & accessory minerals – dark flecks and shimmer
These minerals create the core characteristics of granite:
- Very high hardness and durability
- Excellent heat resistance
- Slight natural porosity (important for sealing)
- Ability to take a high, mirror-like polish
This is why granite works so well in busy kitchens and bathrooms, both as a white granite countertop for bright, airy spaces and black granite countertops for dramatic, modern looks.
Natural vs. engineered granite
When you talk about granite vs quartz countertops, remember:
- Natural granite = quarried stone slabs, each one unique
- Quartz = engineered material (crushed stone + resin)
Natural granite can be deep-cleaned, repaired, polished, and resealed many times. That’s what makes refinishing granite countertops not only possible, but often a better value than replacement.
What Does “Refinishing Granite Countertops” Mean?
Refinishing is more than just “wiping and shining.” A full granite refinishing typically includes:
- Deep cleaning – to get truly clean granite countertops
- Targeted stain removal – for oils, inks, soap film, and more
- Repairing chips in granite – especially along edges and corners
- Polishing granite surfaces – to restore gloss and color depth
- Sealing granite – to protect the stone and make cleaning easier
If your stone is just slightly dull, you might only need cleaning, polishing, and sealing. For older or heavily used counters, you’ll want to walk through all five steps.
Step 1: Deep Clean Granite Countertops
You can’t refinish over grease, soap film, or mineral deposits. First, get the surface truly clean.
How to deep clean granite safely
- Clear the counters
Remove everything—appliances, cutting boards, décor, drying racks. - Dry dust
Use a soft microfiber cloth to remove crumbs and grit without scratching. - Wash with a pH-neutral cleaner
- Warm water + a few drops of mild dish soap, or
- A cleaner specifically labeled safe for granite/natural stone.
- Rinse well
Wipe again with clean water to remove any soap residue. - Dry completely
Use a clean, dry microfiber towel to buff. Once dry, you’ll see where dullness, staining, or etching remains.
If you notice cloudy film—especially around sinks, faucets, or in bathrooms—it may be soap buildup. For those patches, use:
After this step, your granite should be debris-free and ready for stain treatment.
Step 2: Remove Stains From Granite Before Refinishing
You don’t want to polish or seal over stains. Take time to deal with them now.
Common granite stains
- Coffee, tea, wine – brownish or reddish spots or rings
- Oil & grease – dark, shadowy patches that don’t dry out
- Ink & permanent marker – colored lines or scribbles (hello, Sharpie)
- Soap scum & hard water – cloudy, whitish film near sinks
Each type of stain has its own fix. These guides are especially useful:
- Superglue accidents on granite
If a repair job or craft project left glue on your stone, see:
👉 How to remove superglue from granite - Marker and Sharpie on granite
For kids’ art or accidental markings, use:
👉 How to get Sharpie off granite - Soap film and bathroom haze
For cloudy areas around sinks or faucets, revisit:
👉 How to remove soap scum from granite
Deep or stubborn stains sometimes need a poultice (a paste that sits on the surface and draws the stain out). It takes patience, but it’s worth it—your final polish and seal will look much more uniform.
Step 3: Repairing Chips in Granite Edges and Corners
Even though granite is harder than many other stones, edges and corners can still chip.
DIY chip repair
You can often fix small chips yourself:
- Clean and thoroughly dry the chipped area.
- Use a clear or color-matched stone epoxy kit.
- Carefully fill the chip so the epoxy is just slightly proud of the surface.
- Let it cure completely (follow product directions).
- If recommended in the kit, lightly level the area with a razor or fine sandpaper, then buff.
When to call a pro
You’ll want a stone professional if:
- Chips are large or clustered
- Cracks extend across seams or into corners
- There’s structural movement or poor cabinet support
In many cases, a pro can restore even heavily chipped granite countertops to near-new condition.
Step 4: Polishing Granite Surfaces to Restore Shine
Now comes the satisfying part of how to refinish granite countertops—bringing back that reflective shine.
Light DIY polishing
If your granite is structurally sound and just looks a bit dull:
- Use a granite-specific polish or polishing cream (avoid furniture polish and wax).
- Apply a thin, even layer over a small area.
- Buff with a clean microfiber cloth, using overlapping circular motions, until the shine returns.
This can revive both:
- A white granite countertop that looks chalky and flat
- Black granite countertops that have lost their depth and mirror-like reflection
Professional honing & polishing
If your counters have:
- Widespread etching or heavy dullness
- Large areas of fine scratching
- Very uneven gloss
…then professional honing and polishing may be the best option. Stone pros use diamond abrasives and water, working through multiple grits to restore a like-new finish.
For a more restoration-focused overview that pairs well with refinishing, see:
👉 How to restore granite countertops
Step 5: Sealing Granite After Refinishing
Once your granite is clean, repaired, and polished, you need to seal it to protect your hard work.
Why sealing granite is essential
Because of its crystalline structure, granite is slightly porous. Liquids like oil, wine, and dark-colored sauces can seep into microscopic pores and leave stains if the surface isn’t sealed.
Sealing granite:
- Reduces absorption
- Helps prevent deep staining
- Makes day-to-day cleaning much easier
How to seal granite countertops
- Test for absorption
Put a few drops of water on the surface and leave them for 10–15 minutes. If the stone darkens, it’s time to reseal. - Clean and dry
Make sure the surface is spotless and completely dry. - Apply a penetrating granite sealer
- Use a soft cloth, foam applicator, or sealer pad.
- Work in small sections to ensure full coverage.
- Let it dwell
Allow the sealer to soak in as long as the product recommends. - Wipe and buff
Remove excess sealer and buff the surface with a clean, dry cloth until no residue remains. - Allow to cure
Avoid heavy use or getting the counter wet until the sealer has fully cured.
Regular sealing (usually every 1–3 years, depending on use and product) keeps clean granite countertops easier to maintain and protects your refinishing work.
Granite vs Other Countertop Materials After Refinishing
Once you see what refinishing can do, it’s natural to compare granite to other materials.
Granite vs quartz countertops
- Granite
- Natural stone, each slab unique
- Needs periodic sealing
- Can be re-polished and refinished multiple times
- Excellent heat resistance
- Quartz
- Engineered stone (not “quartzite”)
- Non-porous—no sealing needed
- Less tolerant of extreme heat
- Damage is sometimes harder to repair in place
Granite vs marble: pros and cons
- Marble
- Softer, more porous
- Easier to scratch and etch (especially from acids)
- Granite
- Harder and more scratch-resistant
- More practical for busy family kitchens
Granite vs soapstone durability
- Soapstone
- Very stain-resistant, but soft
- Scratches and dents more easily
- Often needs regular oiling to look uniform
- Granite
- Better scratch resistance
- Holds a high-polish finish longer
Granite better than concrete countertops?
- Concrete
- Highly porous and can crack
- Requires frequent sealing and careful installation
- Granite
- Naturally dense, strong, and heat-resistant
- Easier to keep looking good with basic care
Overall, granite usually wins the natural stone countertop comparison when you balance cost, maintenance, and durability.
Granite Countertop Cost, Sourcing & Aardwolf Solutions
Refinishing may be all you need. But if you’re adding an island, expanding a kitchen, or mixing old and new stone, it’s helpful to think about granite countertop cost and sourcing.
Where to buy granite countertops
You’ll typically look at:
- Local fabricators and stone yards
- Wholesale granite suppliers for the best selection of full slabs
- Big-box stores with affordable granite countertop options in common colors
Aardwolf granite: premium slabs and professional services
If you’re upgrading or expanding along with refinishing, the Aardwolf granite countertop collection can help you tie everything together:
- Aardwolf premium granite slabs are selected for strength, consistency, and attractive patterning.
- The collection includes many of the best Aardwolf granite colors to match modern and classic cabinet styles.
- Aardwolf granite installation services offer professional templating, cutting, seam placement, and proper initial sealing.
- The Aardwolf granite pricing guide helps you understand cost tiers and choose options that match your budget and design goals.
Combining thoughtful refinishing with smart new stone choices can transform your space without a full, expensive tear-out.
Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Refinish Granite Countertops
Unlike shale or other softer rocks, granite stone is built to last—and built to be refinished.
To recap how to refinish granite countertops:
- Deep clean to remove residue and film.
- Treat stains with the right methods (superglue, Sharpie, soap scum, etc.).
- Repair chips in granite along edges and corners.
- Polish granite surfaces to restore gloss and clarity.
- Seal granite to protect against future stains and wear.