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Home & Garden Articles
History, Source & Use of Granite As a Countertop Material
Mon 18 May 2009 - 13:20
History, Source & Use of Granite As a Countertop Material
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dan_Canfield]Dan Canfield
An impressive comeback is being made by stone kitchen countertops these days. Many people understand the perfect suitability of granite counters in the bathroom, kitchen, or any other place in the home. Natural stone counter tops make a great addition to any living space. The unique qualities of naturally occurring materials are now more than ever, available to the general public. With prices more affordable than ever, this market is experiencing a bloom in business and interest.
Granite is a primordial stone with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern,the word comes from the Italian "granito", meaning grained. Aside from the traditional sources, such as Italy, USA, and Canada, popular producing areas now include India, China, many African nations, much of mountainous South America, and the northern European countries.
Granite is drilled and blasted from the quarry in large blocks, cut into slabs by a gang saw, and polished to uniform thickness by automatic polishing machines. Due to quarry variances, slabs are sold in random sizes. Supply is the affected by the accessibility of the quarry, the uniformity of the stone within the quarry, and the stone's workability.
Consumers who are less acquainted with the material may expect the slabs ordered to be identical to the sample they were shown. Granite is crystalline in structure, so it always has tiny pits or spaces between the various mineral crystals. These minerals are what give it its various colors. Other minerals imbue the stone with a rainbow of colors, depending on their source, and these varieties are often given unique names.
Granite counters offer great visual appeal and are also very durable. Having been used as a building material since ancient times, natural stone will never be an outdated material choice. Countertop finishes include Honed, Brushed, or Polished. Unlike synthetics, polished stone presents a surface depth that seems almost three-dimensional, however harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners will dull the surface over time. Regardless of its finish, granite creates an immediate impression of elegance, and is considered a definite plus on any real estate broker's checklist.
As you are probably aware, diamonds are the hardest material. Granite is cut and fabricated into countertops using diamond saw blades or drill bits. Polishing is done with diamond impregnated polishing pads these days as opposed to silicon carbide & messy chemicals.
Whether you are remodeling or involved with new construction, granite countertops will make a beautiful addition and increase the resale value of your home. Most of the time, but not always, the top will be the focal point of the kitchen. Whether you need to cut meat, roll dough, or just need another place to set that hot pot, stone is just the perfect material to handle these kitchen tasks. While other materials may be a cause of worry while working in the kitchen, granite is almost always a perfect working surface for the kitchen. Granite counters offer quality, durability and a very elegant feature to your kitchen or bathroom. The timelessness of granite allows you to redecorate around its qualities for life.
Dan Canfield http://www.alphastoneworks.com http://www.alphastoneworks.com/stockmaterialgallery.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Canfield http://EzineArticles.com/?History,-Source-and-Use-of-Granite-As-a-Countertop-Material&id=2334597
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