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Granite

Granite is an igneous stone that can be used for many different applications around an interior or exterior environment.  This stone comes in a large variety of colors, finishes, and styles to match the desired look of the space.  

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01: Granite tiles applied to the floor of a living room

Characteristics & Sourcing

  • Igneous rock found in quarries around the world, mostly in the United States and Brazil

  • Mostly made of quartz, mica, and feldspar

  • Available in many colors and styles

  • Very durable, which makes is applicable to high traffic areas indoors or outdoors

  • Heat, stain, and scratch-resistant

  • Come in slabs that are measured to specified sizes

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02: Large granite slab used as a fireplace surround 

Production & Maintenance

  • Very little maintenance needed

    • Easy to clean by wiping with a cloth and water

    • Occasionally needs to be resealed and polished

  • Produced by harvesting from quarries

    • Harvested in large blocks that are cut down into workable slabs​

    • Shaped into specified sizes by sanding, chiseling, and/or sawing

    • Polished using a variety of grinders, buffing pads, and abrasives to give it a mirrored finish

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03: Granite applied as a wall covering

Environmental Impact

  • Quarrying and cutting the stone use machinery that runs on gasoline which has a large carbon footprint

  • Not a renewable material

  • Shipping and transportation emits greenhouse gases

  • No waste products from packaging

  • Little to no maintenance costs

  • Repairable, which means the material lasts a very long time

  • No effect on interior air quality

  • Not considered a "green" material

  • Installation produces dust, VOCs, and chemicals from the adhesives

Application

The most common use for granite is countertops.  

  • These are produced by cutting slabs measured to the specified size and can come in various shapes.

  • The edge profile can be shaped to preferred styles such as beveled, bullnose, quarter round, or ogee edge.

  • Like any application, granite countertops come in a variety of colors and styles, and clients can pick out specific slabs to choose their desired veining pattern.

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ASTM Standards for granite countertops: 

     Active Standard ASTM C615/C615M -

              Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone 

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National Building Granite Quarries Association:

https://nbgqa.com/ 

04:Granite slabs used on countertops throughout a kitchen

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05: Granite steps

Resources

Images:​

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Information:

Page by Ruth Baker

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