Leathered granite combines the best qualities of polished and honed graniteincluding ease of maintenance.
Unlike the natural-looking finish of honed granite, leathered granite imparts texture and a more matte look.
Though the material is polished, leathered granite doesn’t have the high-gloss effect of traditional polished varieties.
Credit:Werner Straube
It’s more durable for this reason and subsequently has homeowners increasingly opting for this character-rich finish.
What is leathered granite?
Many stone finishes are available, and each can greatly alter the look and feel of your countertop.
And then there’s leathered granite.
How is leathered granite made?
However, an additional process is required to reach the desired level of texture in leathered granite.
Leathered granite is created by running a diamond-tipped brush over the surface of honed granite.
This results in a nearly polished look depending on the number of times the brush strokes the surface.
During this process, the stone’s pores are closed, making leathered granite less susceptible to staining.
Leathered Granite Design Options
The leathering process results in a highly customized countertop unique to your home.
Gray andblack countertopsare popular choices, and brown shades are available for a more earthy leathered granite finish.
Cleaning and Maintenance Considerations
One of the main draws of leathered granite is its low maintenance requirements.
One major drawback of leathered granite is that dust settles into its imperfections.
Regularly use a hand brush to clear crumbs and other debris to prevent this.
Otherwise, a simple soap and water solution is sufficient forcleaning leathered granite.
Spill a small amount of water on the surface to determine whether your countertopneeds to be resealed.
If it soaks in within 5 to 10 minutes, its time for a reseal.
Is Leathered Granite More Expensive?
Because of its popularity and availability, polished granite is usually less expensive than leathered granite.
