Leather Textured Granite
In addition to the brilliant colors of granite you will find amazing textures. Of course, polished granite is common. However, another one of the very appealing stone finishes is leathered granite. In this post we will take a look at this granite texture. Additionally, we will discuss how the finish is achieved and why people seek it.
Leathered Granite’s Look & Feel
Even though polished surfaces are still the most popular choice in the stone arena, some homeowners are opting for leathered surfaces. One reason for this is that they want to add a fresh look to a classic presentation.
A leathered finish on a granite surface offers a distinctive look and feel. It is a very different appearance from that of polished granite. In fact, some even consider leathered granite to be the choice for creating a rustic look in the room.
Leathered stone’s textured, pebbly surface has little pits and fissures like the surface of a fine piece of leather. Some stones will have a much more pronounced leathered finishes than others since the texture will vary from piece to piece.
Leathered granite has a softer sheen that that of a polished stone. However, the natural colors on a textured stone remain and it makes water spots fingerprints and smudges nicely.
In addition to giving your room a distinctive look and feel, leathered granite can also be easier to maintain than a polished granite finish.
How Leathering Is Achieved
Stone fabricators create a leathered texture on granite surfaces by using a series of brushes designed to alter the stone’s appearance. Each brush consists of a specific grit and removes the softer material from the stone. The lower grits are more coarse and the higher grit brushes are less coarse. By using these brushes in succession, various degrees of texturing occur.
The brushes used to produce this type of finish to a granite surface can be attached to existing stone fabrication machines and tooling.
Caring for Leathered Granite
Although leathering granite tends to close up the pores in the stone, it is still a good idea to seal a leathered piece of granite. Sealing the stone can increase its resistance against stains and discoloration. Be sure to ask your stone fabrication professional about sealing your leathered granite surface.
While each stone will have different sealing requirements, there are ways to determine if your leathered stone is in need of sealing. One way to see is to do an absorption test.
This test is simple and is done by pouring a small amount of water on the stone and waiting to see if the water is absorbed by the stone. The faster the water is absorbed, the more often the stone will need to be sealed. After the stone is sealed, it should be good for a year or more. You can then test your stone periodically to see if it is time for another sealing.
As we have seen, leathered granite offers a very unique look. It is also great for a room in which you want a rustic look and feel. However, there are some key aspects that make it very similar to other finished granite surfaces. If you choose to go with leathering as a finish for your granite, be sure you know the characteristics and how to care for your leathered granite.