Granite is an igneous rock which is both hard wearing and beautiful, thanks to its ‘grainy’ appearance from which it takes its name. Depending on its mineralogical make-up, granite can be grey, pink, red or black and when polished, this crystalline rock is both pleasing to the eye and touch. Consisting of feldspar, mica, quartz and silica which makes up over 80% of the rock, the crystals found in granite are always unique as is the depth and colour variation of each piece, which can be seen in the image below.
Granite is quarried all over the world and has been used throughout history, having been used to construct the Pyramids, Roman bath houses, Cathedrals and even in the paving slabs under our feet. All of which are testament to the hard wearing qualities of this naturally abundant rock. For this reason, it is still used in many applications such as granite counter tops, floor and wall tiles in both both commercial and domestic buildings.
A good quality granite counter, worktop or floor will keep it’s colour for a lifetime if properly looked after and properly sealed. It is ideally suited to applications where hard wear and tear is common. It is also ideal where aesthetics are also of great importance such as hotel lobbies, bars and restaurants and many other commercial settings.
