Granite Rocks
Pros And Cons Of Granite Rocks For Construction
Granite occurs naturally as a hard igneous rock in different parts all over the earth.
Because of its quality of hardness and durability, granite is a popular construction material for various sections of your home such as the bathroom, kitchen, fireplaces and housing walls.
To guarantee long-term use, granite surfaces need to be carefully handled and installed. Illustratively, granite has found long-term usage as a construction material since the ancient days because it is likely to outlast the longevity of other building materials in the house.
In this article, we will show you some of the pros and cons of granite rock for construction, particularly for construction and landscaping works in your home.
Composition Of Granite Rocks
Granite rocks are composed of compounds like quartz, orthoclase, microcline and mica. Other minerals present in granite rocks include muscovite, biotite, hornblende and pyroxene.
Uses Of Granite In Construction
Granite is used to construct and cover shelves, kitchen and office counters and walling structures in a building. Granite is also used in the construction of statues and pavement structures.
Pros of Granite Rocks
Product Variety
Granite rocks comes in different colors, enabling the creation of attractive spaces to enhance the aesthetic value of the home.
The elegance of granitic surfaces has made the material suitable for the construction of luxury spaces in office and residential developments.
Resistance to Water Seepage
Granite rock surfaces have high capabilities to resist water leakage. Using granite rocks to finish construction surfaces protects your house’s internal walls and foundation from water infiltration and damage.
Additionally, you will better resist moisture and bacterial infection on the foundations and walling of your home by using granite rocks for wet areas in the house like bathroom and kitchen.
Additionally, it is easy to clean granite surfaces at home because they do not stain easily.
Durability
With an appropriate care and maintenance plan, it is easy to preserve the strength and the highly-shinny surface of granite rocks for a lifetime, despite the use in the building’s high traffic areas. For instance, it is estimated that granite rock surfaces can last for up to 20 years without any significant fading, abrasion impact or replacement.
The durability and hardness surface of granite rocks makes the construction material suitable for outdoor and indoor housing finishes.
Cons of Granite Rocks
Cost
Granite rock finishes are expensive for most buyers especially after incorporating the extraction, polishing and transportation costs. Also, the transportation costs for granite rocks will go higher if the extraction site, e.g., quarry is located far from the construction site
You will probably pay more to repair granite rock surfaces following an unpleasant scratch, crack or other structural altercation.
Part of the cost of granite rocks is as a result of the rather technical extraction process. Granite has to be drilled before it is blasted and cut into the required sizes using a gang saw. Next, the material has to be polished to acquire the required shine.
Skilled Labor For Installation
It is complicated and time-consuming to fit granitic rock materials in construction works, requiring skilled labor and precision to install the material. Also, granite has low workability qualities, making it difficult to install on most surfaces.
Indoor Temperatures
Granite finishes feel exceedingly cold under the homeowner’s feet especially during the winter seasons – granite rocks are colder than other materials like marble or wood.
Brittleness
Granite rock finishes break easily when it is dropped on a hard surface owing from its hardness quality. Additionally, extremely polished granitic finishes are slippery and may cause falling of small kids and other home occupiers when fitted on housing floors.
Using Granite Rocks For Pavement Structures
Granite is perfect for outdoor construction because it is hard and weather resistant. Granite provides a sturdy pavement for your housing as well as statue construction, thanks to its strength and resistivity qualities.
Conclusion
Granite does not fade easily and has the perfect ability to resist high temperatures. However, the material does not feel soft beneath the feet and should be cleaned regularly.
