Granite Uses and Benefits

Granite is a very common material for building in both interior and exterior settings. It has been used outdoors to construct bridges, monuments, and buildings. Indoors it is ideal for floors, stair treads, fireplace mantles, hearths, and countertops. Outdoors it is ideal for steps, statuaries, posts, walkways, walls, and more.

Granite is a common type of igneous rock with a coarse to medium texture and is at least 20% composed of quartz. The primary reason so many people use it to build with besides the many different colors it is available in is due to its hardness and durability. Since it is found all over the world, the available color palettes of granite include black, white, green, blue, grey, red, pink, and brown along with other possible shades. Every piece of granite is unique with its own color blending.

Granite steps and various structures are common for many homes and may either be included when purchasing the home or used to replace the existing stairs and walkways during an exterior renovation project. When used for walkways in the yard, granite is usually polished and smoothed out until it has a modern and clean appearance. The walkway is measured, a design picked and a slab of the material is cut to size. When used for exterior steps, typically in the front of a home or business, granite gives off an elegant appearance. It is shiny and stands out when compared to some other building materials.

In an outdoor setting, one of the areas where granite is becoming more common is with monuments and statuaries. Marble used to be the chosen material, but now the two can be used together to create statues, animals, basins, fountains, lanterns, and centerpieces. Also, some more popular items are granite benches and tables in various sizes.

There are a few different reasons that it has become popular as a material for building projects. It is very versatile and can be cut, molded, and finished in a variety of different styles to suit the environment. Since it is so hard, it is also resistant to most scratches that can occur with softer materials. It’s a high-quality material for pavers as well because it can withstand heavy foot traffic without showing wear in both the short and long term.

Granite continues to be a high-quality building material that is spreading in popularity as it becomes more affordable and people see the potential it has. Laying pavers down, installing steps, or installing posts has the potential to make exterior surroundings completely different without draining the budget for renovations.

Granville Stone & Hearth located in Holden, Maine can help choose the perfect piece of granite for your project.  Don’t put it off until tomorrow, contact us today!

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• Bangor, Maine
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