Granite Richmond Hill - a Popular Choice for Home Decor

 

It's amazing that something that occurs so commonly on this planet could achieve such desirability. Granite forms a major part of the continental crust and is quarried all over the world. An igneous rock, granite is found deep inside the earth's surface – but is often also exposed and accessible for use.

 

And granite has definitely been used over the years. The ancient Egyptians used it in the pyramids. The Red Pyramid – build around 26th Century BC – was so named for the light crimson tint of its granite surfaces. The Great Pyramid of Giza contains a huge granite sarcophagus built from red Aswan Granite. Ancient Hindu temples in southern India also used the stone.

 

Inhibiting its wider use (but also the reason behind much of its desirability as a building material) is granite's toughness. It required skill to be carved and shaped by hand. Until the early 19th Century this could only be done so with hand tools and with poor results. The development of steam powered cutting and dressing tools changed all that and dressed granite immediately became the trendy choice for memorial stones and monuments. No less a personage than Queen Victoria herself would choose to spend eternity under a granite sarcophagus at her palace at Frogmore. Then, in later years, with the advent of acid rain, granite's superiority over other materials has widened. Limestone, in particular is affected by acid rain, but granite is not. Marble tombstones are also badly affected by acid rain.

 

 

With its new adaptability, granite also became extensively used in buildings – both as flooring tiles in public and commercial buildings, and as foundations for homes. Usage has moved inside, as well, and granite is a common material for flooring (in slab or tile) and for kitchen counters and backsplashes.

 

Besides its durability, another key to granite's popularity is its colouration. Granite is a rainbow rock – there is a shade to suit every décor. A visit to a local supplier will bear this out. Customers can choose countertops or tiles from "traditional” granite – shades like Black Galaxy, Tropical Brown, a lighter, black-flecked stone called Ornamental, or the light-brown Giallo Venesiano. But just to make choosing difficult, there are also "Exotic Granites”, with names that speak for themselves, but must be seen to be believed: Aquarella, Arctic Cream, Blue Baha, Golden Shadow, Iron Red, Madagascar, Oasis – and Typhoon Bordeaux.

 

 

Installing a granite floor or counter is not a do-it-yourself activity. Your first task is to visit a showroom and look at stone samples and, if possible, see the stone in as large form as possible to get a true idea of its shade. (It's not like painting a wall that you can simply paint over later if dissatisfied!) Consult a stone specialist. This is not a big box-style purchase, but one that should be done with people who are experts... Look for a local company with a track record, and one that relies on the word of mouth of satisfied customers and not mere volume.