Granite

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Granite is one of the oldest, hardest, and strongest stones available. A truly beautiful natural stone with hundreds of colors and patterns to choose from. It symbolizes strength and longevity. A sleek rich feel. The finished products resulting from using granite are versatile, ranging from an unassuming elegance to a bold “look at me” statement. Granite is just as suitable for application in a farmhouse as well as in contemporary home. It’s all about the color and texture you choose. 

Granite is widely used in commercial and residential projects. Its uses range from kitchen countertops, vanities, wall and floor tiles, to exterior cladding, pavers and landscaping. Granite is just as suitable for application in a farmhouse as well as in contemporary home. It’s all about the color and texture you choose. The advances in modern granite fabrication have also rendered granite countertops to be an affordable luxury.

Granite is a widely occurring group of intrusive, igneous rocks that form at great depth and pressure under continents. It is composed primarily of quartz, feldspar and mica. Granite gets it’s wonderful variety of colors and patterns from minerals that are melted into the liquid mass as it is formed. With its deep iridescent colors, granite offers that elusive, one-of-a-kind beauty created only by nature. Granite comes in a variety of colors and stylish patterns, which make it into the most versatile and trendy of all stones.

The term granite is derived from the Latin word granum meaning grain. It is full of small and large grains of crystals. This stone starts out as a molten mass of magma and then forms into the rock granite as this magma cools deep within the earth. The main minerals in true granites are silicates, feldspar, and quartz.

Granite is greatly admired for its aesthetic qualities, but primarily valued for its strength, durability and low maintenance. Granite is extremely hard stone, which is also almost scratch, heat and stain resistant. It is one of the eco-friendliest building materials. When compared to other materials used for surface applications, granite remains the most bacteria resistant.

The hardness of your granite countertop is largely dependent upon the hardness of the minerals that make up the stone. In most granites, the primary minerals are quartz and feldspars. Quarts and Feldspar are rated with hardness of 6 and 7 by Moh’s Scale of Relative Hardness, and are the minerals that give granite it’s exceptional abrasion resistance. This abrasion resistance contributes to the durability and long life of your granite.

MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Granite is very versatile and highly durable stone suited for a multitude of uses. Some granites have slightly higher absorption and/or lower abrasion resistance than may be expected. Most granites are resin-treated to enhance the color and fortify the surface of the stone. Even though granite is generally very heat resistant, the resined surface may be damaged upon direct placement of hot items directly on the granite surface.

Abrasion Resistance

Granite characteristics make this stone virtually scratch proof. Although it does not scratch, we do not recommend using your granite top as a cutting board.

Absorption

Another granite characteristic is the lower water absorption rate when compared to marbles and limestones. Some of the darker granites almost do not need sealing. Usually, lighter granites that have larger crystals allow water penetration easier than darker, fine-grained granites.

Acid Sensitivity

Granite is a highly durable siliceous stone. Compared to marble and other natural stone groups, it is more resistant to the acids found in lemons, vinegars, and cleaning products and usually will not etch. It is an easy stone to live with.

Heat Resistance

Granite is also heat resistant. It can withstand heat up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. However, pots should not be placed directly on the granite surface because even though they cannot burn or char granite, they may damage the resined finish. Seams or joints in your stone can weaken it so you probably don’t want to put a pot of boiling water near a seam.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Always check the absorption rating.
• Always check the abrasion resistance rating.
• Always seal this material prior to use.
• Do not use resin-filled material outside, as the resin will discolor over time.
• Fabricators will often need to resin-treat the exposed edges to match the surface of the material.

APPLICATION AND FINISHES

Applications

• Interior Flooring
• Interior Tops Including Kitchen Tops
• Interior Wall Application
• Tub Surround
• Exterior Pavers
• Exterior Cladding
• Monuments & Statues

Finishes

• Polished
• Honed
• Brushed
• Tumbled
• Flamed

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