Granite is an excellent choice for any contemporary construction.
But is it good for building a house?
Many different types of construction materials exist, including marble, basalt, slate, travertine, quartzite, sandstone, and granite. The best building stone should be durable, tough, and free of weathered soft patches, cracks, and other defects.
Granite possesses most of these characteristics. Quarried directly from the earth and cut to size for use in various construction projects, granite comes in a variety of styles and colors.
While granite is immensely popular, partly due to its many applications in the building industry, it’s not a modern invention. Many ancient civilizations, including the Romans, used it, which is a testament to how durable and effective it is as a building material.
In this post, we’ll examine granite in detail, including its many uses and whether it’s a great choice for building a house. Let’s dive in!
What Is Granite?
The word “granite” originated from the Latin word “granum,” used in reference to a course-grained structure of crystalline rocks.
Geologists describe granite as an igneous rock that is formed when lava (molten material from an erupting volcano) cools and solidifies below the earth’s surface. It’s an intrusive ingenious rock composed of a number of minerals, including quartz, alkali, mica, plagioclase, and feldspar.
Granite can also contain other minerals such as microcline, orthoclase, and amphiboles. The minerals contained in granite determine its color and pattern. To that end, granite comes in many shades of colors, such as brown, pink, red, grey, blue, or white. You can find the finest stones from a reputable building stone supplier, like Swenson Stone, in New York.
Because of its varying patterns and colors, granite is used in various construction projects, giving any home a contemporary look you’d expect of a modern house.
Uses of Granite in the Building Industry
Many builders and homeowners consider granite the material of choice for both interior and exterior construction projects.
Polished and rough-cut granite is used to construct pavements, monuments, building walls, road curbs, and other exterior works.
Granite is also used as coarse aggregate in concrete, external wall cladding material, road construction aggregates, and railways ballast. In housing and construction projects, granite can be used as:
- The material for kitchen and bathroom fixtures
- The material for construction tiles
- A landscaping stone
- As the paving material in high-traffic areas like driveways, walkways, and residential parking spaces
- A decorative element in fireplace mantels
- The material for kitchen countertops
Is Granite Good for Building a House?
The short answer is Yes.
Granite, as we’ve established, is the ideal choice for many builders owing to its many advantages. These include:
High Durability
As a natural stone, granite is known for its hardness and longevity.
Its exceptional durability makes it an excellent choice as a building material. When used as a countertop or flooring material, you won’t have to worry about it breaking easily.
Broad Range of Finishes
Granite is available in a wide variety of patterns and colors.
Its sparkling appearance makes it an ideal material for construction and decoration. Builders, designers, and architects install it for interior and exterior projects.
You can choose between a polished or unpolished finish or among the various surface finishes available that match your house décor or external surroundings.
Scratch Resistance
Granite scores a strong seven on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This means only a few minerals can scratch it.
Heat Resistant
As an igneous rock (formed out of the volcanic fire), granite is one of the toughest natural stones in the world. It can withstand extremely high temperatures (up to 1,650o F) and has a melting point of 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Easy to Clean
Got a granite countertop? You’ll never have to worry about spillages and stains. All you need to clean a granite surface is soap and a warm, damp, clean cloth.
Wrapping Up
Granite is a tough igneous rock found in various forms around the earth.
Because of its varying patterns and colors, granite is used in various construction projects. This naturally-occurring stone is ideal for building houses because of its many construction-friendly properties, such as durability, heat resistance, and availability in a wide range of finishes.
