Granite offers beauty, durability, and a variety of other positive qualities, making it a popular choice among homeowners for their remodeling projects. While it is a popular option, there are a variety of interesting facts that many people don’t know about this beautiful natural stone.
Here are 7 interesting facts about granite that you may not have known!
Although you typically see granite in a slab, that is not how it naturally occurs. It is cut from the rock beneath the surface of the earth. Granite is formed by the cooling and solidifying magma, making it an igneous rock.
Granite is primarily made up of quartz, feldspar, mica, amphiboles, as well as other minerals. Of these materials, quartz and feldspar are the most dominant. The different amounts of all of these minerals together produce the unique colors of granite that are found all over the world. For example, if the molten rock that cooled to form the granite had a high potassium feldspar content, you will have a pinker granite.
Granite has a ranking of 9 on the Mohs scale. This scale is used to measure the hardness of materials. On this scale, minerals are ranked from 1 to 10. One is the softest, and ten is the hardest. To put that in perspective, talc is the softest at 1. Quartz, another popular countertop material, comes in at a 7, with the hardest obviously being diamond, which is not used for countertops.
Some of the most famous structures in the world were made using granite which has been used for building since the time of the Ancient Egyptians. This material has been used in more recent famous structures such as the base of the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore was chosen as a place for the monument due to it being the highest peak, as well as being composed of some of the hardest granite.
The surface of granite is scratch-resistant, and it can also handle having hot pots and pans set down on it without damage. It is recommended that you use a cutting board, hot pads, and trivets, even with granite, to be cautious. Even though granite is extremely tough, in order to protect their home investment, Pittsburgh homeowners with granite countertops are still encouraged to treat them as though they are more fragile.
Granite is one of the easiest types of stone to care for. You only need to worry about cleaning and resealing your granite countertops, which are both easy to do. Be sure to use granite or natural stone cleaners. Typically, you will only need to reseal your countertops once a year for the best results. Since granite is naturally porous, without sealing, stains and liquids can seep into the stone and cause discoloration.
Many people picture granite as white, black, or beige. Granite can be found in these colors as well as green, blue, pink, and more! Granite is available in solid colors as well as veining or speckles to suit your style. Whatever your preference, it is likely that nature has worked to create a style of granite that you will love for your granite countertops. Check out some of the popular types and colors of granite countertops!
Granite countertops are popular in Pittsburgh homes, adding style and value. Granite is a versatile material that can be utilized in your kitchen or as a bathroom vanity top, fireplace surrounds, and backsplashes.
