Granite
Altough granite is not the cheapest natural stone, owing to its high durability and resistance, it has become a popular building material.Granite was an acknowledged and valued material in ancient times and it was used for erecting monumental constructions and it served finishing purposes, though not as often as marble or alabaster. Granite is an ignous rock of complex structure. It contains several mineral constituents, such as quartzite, mica, feldspar, augite, etc., unlike e.g. marble, which is composed mainly of one mineral.
It is the most durable and resistant rock, and relatively easy to process at the same time. Since granite is a fissile material, it can be shaped into elements of any size.
Grains and bands
Granite is an easily polished material, which makes it a valuable decorative stone. Cutting and polishing granite allows to bring out its deep colour and texture, i.e. the way and pattern in which mineral constituents of the rock are arranged.Granite has a coarse-grained or fine-grained texture with dominating grains of one colour or various colours arranged in streaks and bands. The most typical colours are dark or light grey, shades of yellow, green, brown or red. Among the most splendid granite varieties are dark grey with red and green grains arranged in streaks.
There are also white-grey, grey-pink, steel-blue varieties of granite. Even more decorative from Polish granite rock is dark gray Swedish granite.
Resistant to chemicals
Granite is a material resistant to abrasion, and what is particularly important in modern world - to corrosive chemicals present in polluted environment. It is also a material of very low absorbability, which makes it also highly freeze-resistant. All the features mentioned above make granite a very popular and demanded though expensive, building material.Since granite is resistant to freeze and other weather conditions, it is a perfect material for exterior flooring of sundecks, patios and stairs. It can also be used in exterior windowsills. Moreover, stairs can be constructed of uniform slabs of granite.
Granite cladding is a good idea also in passages or halls. In this case, its biggest advantage proves to be its high resistance to abrasion.
Granite does not absorb fat so it is a good material for kitchen countertops or can be used for cladding the surfaces which are near the place where meals are cooked. Besides, like marble, it can be used to finish the floors in living rooms, bathrooms and kitchens. A fireplace can be covered with granite tiles or irregularly dressed granite stones. Moreover, granite admirers will appreciate its elements in pieces of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves.
Finally, one of the most fashionable elements of house decoration are granite panels that are hung on the wall to function as heating devices. They are additional decoration in flats or houses where stone has already been used as a finishing material. Granite, as an element of such a heater, can be applied in a living room, bathroom or kitchen. A stone panel is heated by an live wire molten into its back side and it spreads the heat throughout the room.
