Granite Tile

Granite tile is an attractive natural stone that is truly striking, delivering a distinctive, sophisticated look to any interior space. Granite tile is as long-lasting as it is good-looking, being one of the hardest natural substances on the planet.  With proper maintenance granite tile can last a lifetime, transforming a kitchen , foyer or patio into a focal point of your home.

Created deep in the earth, granite is the product of incredible heat and pressure applied over thousands of years.  Granite is technically an igneous rock fused with grains of elements such as quartz, feldspar and mica among other trace elements. These grains are classified as fine, medium, or course.

Colors are white, gray, buff, beige, pink, red, blue, green and black, but within theses colors, the variegations run from light to dark. The color gray, for example, may be light, medium, or dark or vary between dark and purplish gray, or dark and greenish gray. It is important to see an actual sample of the type of granite to be used. The Natural Buildings Granite Quarries Association recommends submitting duplicate 12x12 inch samples to show the full range of color, texture and finish, with the designer retaining one set and the other being returned to the granite supplier for his guidance.

In addition to color, finish is important. The following definitions were set up:

• Polished – Mirror gloss, with sharp reflections.
• Honed – Dull sheen, without reflections.
• Fine rubbed - Smooth and free from scratches; no sheen.
• Rubbed Plane - Surface with occasional slight “Trails” or scratches.
• Thermal - Plane surface with flame finish applied by mechanically controlled means to insure uniformity. Surface coarseness varies, depending upon grain structure of the granite.

As with other natural stones, polished granite should not be used floors because the mirror gloss and color will eventually be dulled by the abrasion of foot traffic. Flamed or thermal texture are used to create a non-slip surface where water may be present. The same method of veneered construction used to make thinner and lighter weight marble tiles is also used with granite, and for the same reasons.

Granite is generally sold in stone yards as slabs or tiles; you can also get granite tiles at some tile stores. Granite tiles are 12 or 24 inches square and usually 3/8 inch thick; they weigh at least 5 pounds per square foot. You can cut granite yourself with a diamond blade, but with such an expensive material it's probably smarter to have it cut professionally.