Granite: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Features, Applications, and Factors you should take note

Granite reigned supreme in construction and interior design for a long time. However, the rise of alternative materials like quartz, wood, stainless steel, and composite plastics has shifted preferences. These newer options offer diverse design possibilities and additional benefits like lower maintenance or improved functionality. Despite this, Granite remains a material with remarkable properties and applications, and understanding it remains important for those interested in interior decoration and construction.

In this article, let’s learn about marble with LUX, from basic characteristics to uses and current usage trends!

1. What is Granite Stone?

Granite, or marble, is a natural stone created from the crystallization of magma in the ground. The chemical composition of granite is similar to lava, but due to crystallization conditions deep in the soil and high pressure, granite has much better hardness and durability. Granite is formed from different types of rock, mainly feldspar (more than 50%), quartz (24-40%), mica (3-10%), and amphibole.

A popular choice for centuries, granite has found its way into construction, interior design, and even sculptures. Its diverse colors and grain patterns make it a versatile material, gracing architectural projects from classic to modern.
Valued for its exceptional scratch resistance and durability, granite remains a popular choice in interior design. It’s a versatile material for kitchen countertops, flooring, stairs, bathroom vanities, and even wall cladding (both interior and exterior).

2. Granite characteristics & features

Granite has the following typical characteristics:

• Diversity in texture and color: The minerals in granite have different proportions, creating granite samples with characteristic patterns and colors.
• High hardness, great durability: Compared to other natural stones, marble has quite high hardness, second only to diamonds, quartz, or other precious stones. Granite is resistant to abrasion, ensuring product durability over a long period of use. The ability to bear great weight makes marble suitable for projects with high requirements for durability.
• Ability to resist harsh weather conditions: Granite can withstand environmental impacts from heat to rain and wind.

3. Types of Granite

3.1 Natural Granite

Natural Granite often has the following characteristics:

• Shape and color: Natural Granite is a large block of stone exploited directly from nature. After being transported to processing factories, they are cut into bricks of different sizes, such as 40×40, 60×60, and 80×80 cm, depending on usage needs. However, due to strict management and exploitation, natural stone sources today have become rare and have higher value, ranging from one to several million VND per square meter.
• Outstanding characteristics: Depending on the origin and mineralogical composition, natural Granite can have a variety of colors and vein patterns from white to black, from dark to light. With its natural nature, each stone slab has a unique and unique beauty.

3.2 Engineered Granite

Engineered Granite is produced through a technical process, and has the following characteristics:

• Production process: Engineered Granite, often called imitation stone tiles, is produced from the main ingredients of 70% stone powder and 30% clay. After these two ingredients are combined, they are fired at temperatures ranging from 1,200 – 1,220 degrees Celsius. This process helps create an Engineered Granite with properties and structure similar to natural stone. Brick pigments are often pre-mixed into the aggregate. They have a uniform structure from the core layer to the surface layer. The production of artificial Granite aims to create a product that “simulates” natural stone at a lower cost. In this way, consumers can own tiles that have the same beauty and properties as natural stone without spending much money. (Artificial Granite often has a lower price than natural Granite, ranging from 20$ to 60$/m2, depending on quality and design). Through artificial processes, artificial Granite also has a greater variety of patterns and colors, meeting the diverse design needs of consumers.
• Advantages and disadvantages compared to natural stone: Although it is possible to create colors and grain patterns upon request, artificial Granite is often not natural and its mechanical strength may be lower than that of Granite

4. Evaluating the Quality of Granite Countertops

Before deciding to use Granite, identifying and distinguishing the quality of this stone is important to consider.

• Visual inspection: Look for blemishes such as cracks, chips, discoloration, scratches, and dents on the stone surface. Check the uniformity of the surfaces and edges to see if they are cut straight.
• Check size and thickness: Accuracy in the slab size and thickness of the stone is important in ensuring aesthetics and uniformity during installation.
• Check polishing quality: Gently rub the surface to check polishing quality. Scratched Granite can be caused by poor-quality polish or sealant.
• Check reaction with chemicals: To check Granite’s features like porosity and water permeability, we can use lemon or alcohol. When exposed, if the stone does not absorb many acids and is not affected by them, it is a sign that the Granite has been properly polished and is more durable during use.

5. What to Consider when Choosing Granite?

When using Granite in construction or decoration projects, there are a few things to remember:

• Suitable for space and design style: Nowadays, many more beautiful and delicate stones can replace Granite, so when choosing Granite, you need to consider its suitability.
• Advice from an experienced professional: If necessary, consult with experts or designers to ensure you choose the right type of Granite and quality. To refer to other types of stone to combine during construction, do not hesitate to contact the Lux Quartz team for the fastest and most accurate advice!

6. Granite Stone Design Trends on the Rise in 2024

In modern interior design and architecture, the combination of Granite and quartz is becoming a popular trend. Using quartz to highlight or accent Granite surfaces is one of the most sophisticated and attractive ways.

Quartz stone, with its natural shine and transparency, creates a wonderful highlight on the Granite floor, creating a unique and attractive harmony for the space. From stone walls to dining tables, floors, or even bathtubs, this combination brings a new and more creative living or working space, while enhancing the natural and unique beauty of the house. both types of stone. Above all, it shows the luxury and aesthetic taste of the homeowner.

>> Related: Engineered Quartz Countertops: All You Need to Know

Above are some highlights of Granite and its use trends in interior design and modern architecture. Although no longer as popular a material as before, Granite still maintains an important and valuable position in the construction and decoration industry. Hopefully, the information in this article has given you an overview of this material and helped you make the right decision before using it.

LUX takes pride in being a manufacturer and supplier of high-quality quartz artificial stone, offering a diverse range of designs, colours, and sizes to meet various needs and design preferences.

If you require further information or wish to view samples of quartz-based artificial stone, or if you are interested in becoming a distribution agent, please don’t hesitate to contact our WhatsApp at +84914417702 or send a message to our Fanpage “Lux Quartz Vietnam“. Our dedicated staff will provide you with expert advice and send you detailed quotations.

With a team of professional staff knowledgeable about products and services, LUX commits to:

• Providing high-quality Engineered Quartz stone products, meeting international standards.
• Competitive pricing with attractive discounts.
• Professional consulting, design, installation, and warranty services.

Let LUX be your companion on the journey to creating the ideal kitchen space with suitable stone products for your home!

More:

• Engineered Quartz Countertops: All You Need to Know
• Top 5 Most Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials So Far in 2024
• Note for Homeowners when Choosing Kitchen Countertop Surface