Granite has long been a popular material when it comes to interior design. This popularity comes from the exceptional beauty and natural beauty of the stone. Granite is available in various finishes to create stylish areas. Leathered granite has been gaining attention and admiration among homeowners and interior designers lately. This beautiful finish is the perfect way to showcase the natural beauty of granite’s characteristics. Let’s look closer at leathered granite and its many features and benefits.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat is Leathered Granite?
Leathered finish is relatively newer when compared to traditional finishes such as honed or polished finish. Leathered granite has been gaining popularity for various appliances such as kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and other indoor and outdoor applications. Opposed to honed and polished finishes, leathered granite has a natural and rustic look. Polished granite features a glossy and reflective surface, whereas honed granite has a smooth and matte look. Leathered granite has a texture that feels like fine leather, hence the name.
To achieve this leather-like finish, diamond-tipped brushes are run over the surface repeatedly. Doing so strips away imperfections, polishing the stone while keeping the natural color and features intact. If you are after a rustic look, leathered granite can be the perfect option for you with its sleek, smooth, and non-reflective surface.
Pros and Cons of Leathered Granite
Granite is a fantastic material for various applications, and it has many advantages no matter what the finish is. While the finish generally provides aesthetic variations, leathered granite has some unique features. Let’s look at the pros and cons of leathered granite, starting with the pros.
Pros
All granite varieties have exceptional strength, durability, and beauty. Granite’s hard and durable nature makes it an ideal choice for high-traffic areas. While these features are common in all types of granite, here are some unique advantages that leathered granite has.
- Exceptional Beauty: Leathered granite is the perfect way to preserve granite’s raw and natural beauty. This finish highlights the unique and elegant veining of the stone, adding depth and character.
- Unique Texture: Leathered granite has a tactile feel, offering a subtle rough texture. Leathered granite can be customized to have its roughness as much as you like, yet another feature you can’t find with any other finish.
- Stain Resistance: Leathered granite has a higher stain resistance than other finishes. The leathering process tightens the stone’s pores, making it resistant to stains. Leathered granite is also highly resistant to fingerprints and water spots, making it an ideal choice for people who wants low-maintenance surfaces.
- Slip Resistance: Yet another unique feature of leathered granite is that it provides improved slip resistance due to its textured surface. This exceptional traction is especially significant in areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms.
Cons
Like all materials, granite has its disadvantages as well. Downsides, such as porosity and requiring resealing, are universal among all types of granite. While most of them can be classified as minor draw-backs, leathered granite has some of them unique to itself. Here are some cons of leathered granite.
- Matte Finish: Leathered granite with its matte finish isn’t for every space. The non-reflective surface can end up making your rooms feel smaller. Especially the darker-toned leathered should best be used in either large rooms or outdoor areas.
- Harder to Clean: Cleaning your leathered granite surfaces can be harder due to the textured surface. The reliefs can make cleaning slightly harder since you’ll hit these tiny bumps.
- Prone to Scratches: While still being much stronger than other materials, the leathered finish is slightly more prone to scratches or chipping when compared to other finishes.
- Not Suitable for All Applications: The unique texture of leathered granite is not suitable for certain people or applications. It may not fit well if you prefer a contemporary or minimalist style since they require smooth and sleek surfaces.
- Uneven Surface: The leathering process can make your granite surface slightly uneven. This can be undesirable for situations like rolling out dough or working with delicate items.
- Cost: Leathered granite is slightly pricier because of the leathering process. The price goes up since the leathering process requires additional labor and tools.
Common Questions About Leathered Granite
What is the downside to leathered granite?
Keeping leathered granite clean might be challenging as it does not have a flat texture. We recommend you use a dry brush to get rid of any dust on the surface before wiping with a wet cloth.
What is a leathered granite?
Leathered granite is a granite with a matte effect that showcases a textured surface. The leathered finish is commonly used on darker surfaces and is good at highlighting the natural contours.
Is leathered granite good?
Leathered granite is the perfect option for those who are after stain resistance for their counters. Besides, if you want to reflect earthiness with your countertops, you will love to use the leathered finish.
Is leathered granite hard to keep clean?
Although leathered granite is stain-resistant, it is not entirely dust-resistant because of its uneven nature. Using a brush to remove the dust before wiping the surface with a wet cloth would be better.