:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1392374185-9b791e9bde4b4cd4affd7bd92bfdac13.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1324&ssl=1 "What Is Leathered Granite? Everything to Know About This Rustic Countertop Option")
Granite is a popular material for countertops, specifically polished and honed granite. These two granite finishes are frequently seen in kitchens and sometimes in bathrooms. Now though, a different kind of granite is gaining popularity—leathered granite.
Leathered granite, as the name suggests, has a textured, matte finish similar to leather. It’s durability, easy maintenance, and customizability are exactly why this countertop material is becoming more popular.
Read on to find out all about leathered granite and whether it could be the right choice for your home.
What Is Leathered Granite?
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While polished granite has a shiny, reflective surface, both leathered granite and honed granite have a similar matte finish—but that’s where the similarities end. Honed granite has a smooth surface while leathered granite has a textured surface featuring small dips and crevices, giving this countertop lots of character and a rustic look.
While all leathered granite has a textured finish, the amount of texture is entirely customizable to personal preference meaning leathered granite can go from being very lightly textured to very heavily textured. The method used for leathering helps highlight the stone’s natural beauty and closes the stones pores, making leathered granite more resistant to stains.
How Is Leathered Granite Made?
- Polished granite is buffed with diamond abrasives until it has a high shine.
- Honed granite goes through part of this polishing process but stops short of creating shine, resulting in a smooth surface with a matte or satin finish.
- Leathered granite is first polished up to a similar point as honed granite, after which a diamond tipped brush is run across the entire surface to create the dimpled, textured finish.
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Does Leathered Granite Cost More?
As a premium material, all granite countertops are on the pricier side; of the three types of granite, leathered granite usually costs a little more because of the extra process of giving the granite the textured finish.
That said, leathered granite offers a unique look and is overall more durable and easier to maintain than other types of granite. So while the upfront cost is more, there are benefits, too.
Leathered Granite Cleaning and Maintenance Considerations
Though leathered granite is the easiest to care for, it still does need some maintenance and upkeep. Here are the need-to-know pros and cons when it comes to cleaning and maintenance:
- Everyday cleaning is very low maintenance with the surface needing just a quick wipe down with some mild countertop cleaner and water.
- Leathering tightens the pores of the stone making it less porous, meaning spills are less likely to penetrate the surface.
- Unlike polished granite, the matte, textured surface of leathered granite means that things like fingerprints, smudges and water marks are far less likely to be visible.
- The dips and crevices by their very nature will trap dust, crumbs and liquids, though this does depend on the level of texture—rougher finishes will naturally trap more dirt while smoother finishes will be easier to wipe clean. A small brush is handy to scoop out any dirt that collects.
- Granite is known for being heat resistant and leathered granite is no exception.
- Like all types of granite, leathered granite requires protective sealing, but you won’t have to re-seal as often as you do the other types of granite.
FAQ
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While the textured surface of leathered granite has many benefits, it also comes with a higher potential for chipping or scratching. That said, this is only likely to happen with heavy use or by dropping heavy objects on the surface.
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Leathered granite is the most forgiving of all the three granite surfaces when it comes to the visibility of everyday marks. The material is resistant to things like water marks, finger marks, smudges and everyday stains. Just a simple daily wipe of the surface is enough to keep it looking clean.