Apr 30, 2026

How to Polish Granite Countertops - A Guide to Stone and Granite Refinishing

Installing countertops can be a lengthy and messy process, but the right tools and techniques can help prevent damage to slabs during an installation. But even though precautions are taken to protect the materials, many times it’s those protections that hide the imperfections. For instance, the plastic film around the countertop hides most scratches, and is only noticeable after removal. Even with the best possible tools a stone or granite slab will inevitably end up with a few scratches or residues from the process. That’s why after an installation, it’s best to refinish and polish the new countertop, even if those scratches are small, in order to restore the slab back to its original sheen. But how do you polish granite countertops? And what methods and tools will produce the best results?

Why Refinish and Polish?

An installation can leave behind a big mess, but that’s not just in the work-space, it leaves behind its mark on the materials themselves—literally. After an installation, a countertop can be left with hazy residues, buffs and scratches that diminish its overall appearance. And it’s not just the installation itself that can leave a mark, it can be whatever the countertops come into contact with during the process. For example, from simple smudges after basic handling, to an electrician stepping on the installed countertop to fix a light, leaving scratches from a boot—it happens. But refinishing or polishing doesn’t just make the result look better. Post-installation refinements and touch-ups are beneficial for stone, granite, or other slab countertops in multiple ways.

Restoration and Enhancement: The clearest benefit of polishing and refinishing is the one that can be seen. It helps restore the countertop’s shine and enhance the stone’s color and appeal.
Removing Contaminants: Refinishing and polishing can scrub away debris trapped in the countertops, resulting in a cleaner, smoother surface. It’s important to use professional tools to do it, as debris can even be left with the wrong tools—for instance, older black suction or vacuum cups can leave behind a messy black ring of death.
Preparation for Sealing: Refinishing and polishing is actually beneficial for a countertop’s longevity. It prepares and cleans the surface for sealing, which protects the stone from future stains and other damages.

Whether you need to know how to polish stone countertops, granite countertops, or other slab materials, refinishing and polishing can be broken down into a few steps: preparation, deep cleaning, refinishing, polishing, and sealing.

Surface Preparation

Although a deeper cleaning happens later, before the real refining process can begin, it’s important to start with at least a basic clean surface.

Use either a specialized degreaser or pH-balanced cleanser, or even soap and water to remove major smudges, dust, grease, or other debris fresh from an installation.
If there are any pre-existing sealers, remove them or even any major debris and scratches with finely grit sandpaper.

A simple preparation or cleaning can help the rest of the refinishing and polishing go smoother, preventing major debris or scratches from hindering the process later.

Deep Cleaning

Even though a basic cleaning can get rid of major flaws on the countertop’ surface, a granite or stone countertop can still have stubborn residue and built up stains. After the initial cleaning, it’s best to go back to the countertop’s surface to remove stubborn stains and oil buildup.

For stone or granite, it’s better to scrub again using a specialized cleanser.
Any other leftover stains can be dealt with using a mixture of baking soda and water. Apply it to the stains, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it sit from 15 minutes (for light stains) to several hours (for deep or oil stains).
Next, do a final disinfection and grease removal with a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water.
Lastly is a final rinse with water, dry with a clean cloth, and the countertop is ready to refinish.

Refinishing

Next, is to remove the scratches leftover from transport, installation, and even micro scratches from cleaning. It's important to note that keeping the surfaces of granite or stone wet constantly with water can prevent overheating.

In order to remove scratches, it’s key to apply specialized refinishing pads on the countertop surface for the best results
For initial refinishing, use the specialized grinder/polisher tool at a low RPM (around 600), with a 220-400 gritted pad and constantly keeping it flat to avoid dips.
For further polishing, increase in sequence to even finer grits (600, 1000, etc.). During each step expand the area of your sanding by 1-2 inches to blend it in.

Having the right refinishing and polishing tools can also make the job much easier and smoother. At Omni Cubed, we offer refinishing tools built for the task, like the No-Spin Edger, offering an affordable way to buff, refinish, and polish countertops with minimal effort, allowing for precision cutting along corners and edges without the risk of vertical surface damage. The No-Spin Edger comes in a 5” size kit with the Low-Profile Bumper.

Polishing

One of the last steps is polishing and buffing.

For buffing granite countertops, stone, or other slab materials, apply a polishing powder (better for light dulling) or a polish paste or cream (for deeper shine), to the countertop’s surface and work it in.
To work the polish in use circular motions with (for the best results) a specialized polishing tool, or a damp microfiber cloth.
It’s also important to ensure you get the edges of the countertop, with your polishing tool.
For stone or granite countertop polishing, be sure to keep the surface wet to prevent overheating.

Omni Cubed’s No-Spin Edger is specially designed for refining and polishing countertop corners and edges with minimal labor.

Sealing

The final step to refinishing stone or granite countertops is key for making it last. Sealing granite countertops ensures the smooth surface and shine lasts long after the installation by creating (as the name suggests) a protective seal over the surface. Sealing a countertop also helps to prevent future stains and protects the surface.

One of the most important steps before sealing is letting the countertop dry completely. This may take 12 or more hours.
For applying the sealer, use a sealer designed for the material you’re working with. Apply the sealer with either a specialized tool, cloth, or even a paint brush for smaller sections.
Let the sealer absorb into the countertops surface for at least 10-20 minutes. Then wipe away the excess sealer and buff with a microfiber cloth until the surface is smooth and dry.
Finally, let the sealer cure for at least 24 hours before any use.
It’s important to test the seal as well after it’s cured. Drop some water on the countertop’s surface, and if the water beads up, the sealer is working. But if the sealer absorbs and darkens the surface, another coat is needed.

Conclusion

Refinishing and polishing is a crucial part of any countertop installation. Whether you're a beginner or experienced, it’s important to know how to polish granite or stone countertops in order to ensure a better overall appearance to the installation, as well as promoting the overall longevity of the countertop.