Granite.
Granite is a natural stone that has been used as a building material for centuries. It is known for its beauty, durability and the uniqueness of each stone and slab.
"Granite Countertops are still the top choice of most homeowners, traditional granite countertops offer a high-end look that adds to your kitchen's value."
Granite is made of at least 10% quartz; quartz is one of the hardest minerals on Earth, adding to granite’s durability. It is also made of mica, which gives some granite its sparkle, as well as feldspar and other minerals. The minerals present at the formation of the magma determined the granite’s unique colors and patterns once it had cooled.
Granite is a porous stone, some colors more than others, so it does need to be sealed. Sealing protects the granite from dirt and spills that can cause staining or etching. It is recommended to reseal granite once every 5-10 years depending on use, but the water test is a great way to know for sure. Simply get your hands wet and flick them on your counters. If the water beads up, you are good to go. If not, it is time to seal your counters.
Whichever granite brings you inspiration, it is sure to be a one of a kind expression of you.
Know Your Stone’s Finish
Over the years we at Stone Inspirations, have seen an abundant amount of natural stone slabs come through our facility. All of them having their own unique characteristics that make them beautiful in their own special way. In hopes of our team helping the consumer better understand granite, we have set up three classifications of granite finishes to help us determine the best fit for the consumer.
Premium Finishes
A premium finish is a very consistent polish with a high sheen that gives a reflection similar to a piece of glass.
It will have a minimal amount of surface imperfections and feels very smooth or slick to the touch.
Typically, these granites are very dense and that is part of what makes the finish so consistent.
Classic Finishes
The granite that we classify in the Classic Finish group will have a moderately consistent polish with a mid to high sheen consistency.
These colors may have more surface imperfections such as pitting and fissures, which can break the reflection of the finish and feel rough in those areas.
This classification of granite tends to be less dense and more porous than the Premium Finishes.
Exotic Finishes
Our exotic granites tend to be house favorites, but understanding their characteristics is very important. The polish of these stones are usually inconsistent. They have hard and soft spots with fissures, pitting, fill and other characteristics that can really distort the reflection of the face.
Because of the different compositions of the exotic granites and their characteristics you will have an inconsistent feel of the stone’s finish, ranging from glassy smooth areas to rough and dull areas. These stones may have fill in the natural voids of the material as well.
With all of the inconsistencies of an exotic stone you may find that parts of your stone are extremely dense where other parts are extremely porous.
Granite Edges
Eased
1/4″ Top & Bottom
Half Bullnose
Full Bullnose
Flat Ogee