What is granite?

It’s a coarse-grained, igneous rock with an even texture and color. It’s composed primarily of quartz and feldspar, with small amounts of mica, hornblende, and other minerals. Granite was formed by molten rock (magma) material beneath the Earth's surface crust. As it rose, it cooled, and was under tons of pressure for millions of years, allowing it to form a unique crystalline granular structure. As the quartz, feldspars, micas and other minerals fuse into the rock, the granite gets its beautiful array of color and pattern.

Where does granite come from?

Large blocks of solid granite that are as big as 50 feet tall are taken from mountain quarries around the world in countries like Brazil, India, Italy, China, and Africa. After excavation, the blocks are drilled and cut into smaller, movable blocks for transport.                                                                                                     

After being sent to granite stockyards, they are cut down to the desired slab thickness. The slabs are then coated with a resin to minimize the amount of surface pits and fissures, along with sealing the stone to reduce the porosity. Diamond polishing tools are then used on the surface of the granite to bring out the color and pattern of the stone, before they are crated for shipping.

What makes granite a great countertop material?

It is an ideal choice for all countertops because of its incredible durability and the low maintenance required to keep it looking beautiful. Granite is a virtually scratch resistant material; you can cut directly on it with knives without damaging the surface. The heat resistant properties of granite also allow you to place a hot pot directly on the countertop without damage. With the exception of occasional sealing, granite is virtually maintenance free, and therefore an excellent choice for a stone countertop.