Out of the many countertop materials available for homeowners, granite is often the most sought after. It is elegant, beautiful, and can last a lifetime, and when compared to other countertop materials, it offers numerous benefits. As a homeowner who is considering granite as an option for your kitchen remodel, it is important that you know as much about it as you can. This knowledge helps you ensure that you are making the right choice for your family and lifestyle, and it helps you to make an informed decision about your investment. Though there are many common, well-known facts about granite, there are also many things that the average person doesn’t know. Here are the top eight things you didn’t know about granite countertops…until now:
1 – Granite is Natural And Has Been Used for Centuries
Granite is one of the several natural stones that are used as a countertop material, and it has been used as far back as Ancient Egypt as a building material. In fact, the walls of the Great Pyramid of Cheops was lined with granite, and the tomb of the Pharaoh was built out of granite stones. Granite is formed by volcanic activity, and it is an igneous rock that has a strength second only to diamonds.
2 – Granite Is Made Up Of Many Materials
The mineral composition of granite is primarily feldspar, mica and quartz. Other materials also make up the composition of granite, and these minerals are what determines the various colors of the stone. For instance, red or pink granite has a high concentration of feldspar. Black or dark brown granite has a lot of mica, and black granite has a lot of amphibole.
3 – Granite Usually Comes In Slabs, But There Are Also Other Forms
Granite comes from quarries across the world in large blocks, and then it is cut into slices, called a slab. The granite slabs that are cut from the same block mimic each other in veining and color variations, but not all granite available on the market is a slab. Slabs can further be cut into tiles, and remnants are also available.
4 – Granite Is Not Completely Smooth
When people glance at granite, they often think that it is completely smooth, but this is not completely true. There are actually small pits and spaces between the various crystals in the stone. These pits are caused by a mineral call biotite, and should be expected when buying any natural stone, including granite. Some people may believe that these pits make a slab of granite undesirable, but this isn’t the case since all natural stone slabs have pits.
5 – Granite Contains Natural Fissures, But Not Cracks
Just as granite naturally contains spaces, it also contains natural fissures. These fissures are areas of visible separation along the boundaries of the crystalline structure. Some people mistakenly believe that these fissures are cracks, but this is not true. They are simply part of the natural beauty of this natural stone and does not affect the durability or function of the stone. Keep in mind, however, that fissures are often more noticeable in lighter colored granite than granite that is a darker shade.
6 – Granite Is Not Indestructible
Though it was mentioned previously that granite is one of the hardest materials on the planet, this does not mean that it is indestructible. Granite can be cracked or chipped when struck by a hard or heavy object though it takes a lot of force to do so. Granite is also unyielding and inflexible, and due to this, if dropped from a distance, it can break.
7- You Can Cut And Place Hot Pans On Granite…But You Shouldn’t
Due to the durability and strength of granite, it is possible to cut directly on the granite with a knife or place a hot pot or pan directly onto the surface. However, just because you can do these things, it doesn’t mean you should. Since granite is so hard, it will dull any knife that you use when cutting, so it is recommended that homeowners use a cutting board. Homeowners should also use a trivet or hot pad for pots and pans because feldspar and mica, which are a big part of granite, is not as durable to heat.
8 – Granite Comes In Hundreds Of Unique Colors And Styles
Since granite is a natural stone, it is available in hundreds of colors and styles. Also, because of the way it is constructed, no two slabs of granite are the same. This means that the slab you choose for your home is unique, and no other home in the world will have a granite countertop with the same exact coloring, patterns and veining as yours.