Granite is well known for both its beauty and its strength. These qualities make it excellent for everyday use on kitchen and bathroom countertops. With modern machinery and labor, it’s easy to make your granite countertop the shape you want for a lifetime of style and durability.
Granite Basics
Granite is a type of igneous rock or created by magma. It forms when natural movements in the earth’s crust force magma between layers of other rocks and minerals. Magma cools and hardens between these other rocks and minerals, giving granite its distinctive appearance. Granite comes in many different colors, largely dependent on the minerals or crystals that were present when it was formed.
in the quarry
Your granite countertops begin their journey above ground when they are quarried from a granite quarry. Granite is quarried in large chunks that are then cut into smaller, more workable slabs. Once in good size slabs, the granite is carefully transported to a local installation company, granite storage yard, or granite showroom.
granite is chosen
Usually, a granite slab is chosen for a project before further cutting. This allows the project specifications to be taken into account to ensure that the granite itself is ideal. Color and crystal formation are strong determinants of whether granite will be used for the project. Large cracks or blemishes are also considered as these should be removed from the final product.
Training
When it finally comes time to cut, a saw with a diamond blade is used to cut the countertop to project specifications. This process produces a large amount of dust, so most manufacturers use a wet blade technique, where water keeps the blade cool and dust to a minimum, or they use a blade with a vacuum attached. Computers are generally used in this process to avoid human errors.
detailing
Once the general shape of the granite is correct, it is moved to high-powered water jets that create the appropriate detailed cutouts, such as holes for sinks, faucets, and faucet handles. Once these holes are made, the granite is handed over to the artisans to be edged and finished. These craftsmen can create many different shapes for the borders, allowing the consumer to choose a border that complements the overall design of their project. Once the edge is complete, the entire piece is inspected and polished to its final state.
Installation in your home
At this point, your granite countertop is ready to be installed in your home. Although it is possible to complete the installation process yourself, it is much better to hire a professional to install your granite countertops. Professional installation companies can guarantee their work for many years, while a do-it-yourself installation may have problems at some point.