What Can Granite Be Used For?

When reviewing celebrity real estate deals and listings in 2019, granite countertops seem to be a recurring theme. They can be found in the kitchen of Jennifer Garner, a Hollywood actress who is also a home chef, and also in the bathrooms of Steve Martin's mansion in Beverly Hills. Granite countertops are part of a North American interior design trend that started in the 1980s and shows no signs of slowing down. Nonetheless, this natural stone has quite a few other applications. Here are some other uses of granite that underscore its versatility. Flooring Tiles One of the best ways to complement granite countertops is by choosing the same stone for your floors. Granite is pretty good at resisting moisture, and it looks great when cut into floor tiles. When you install granite flooring along with countertops, the residential value of your property is bound to appreciate. Interested in learning how to clean granite flooring? Here's a brief yet informative video: Decorative Surrounds Granite is a smart choice for fireplace surrounds. Cleaning and other maintenance of granite panels are tasks you can easily accomplish with a granite cleaner such as Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®, along with Granite Gold Sealer® and Granite Gold Polish®. Paving Stones Ancient Roman builders extensively used granite blocks for their roads, particularly those intended to be used by legions carrying out military excursions. These days, granite paving stones can be installed in gardens and patios for decorative purposes. Keeping granite pavers in good shape is easy with a granite outdoor stone cleaner. In addition to the 24-oz Granite Gold Outdoor Stone Cleaner®, there’s also a 64-oz version that comes with a special garden hose attachment for deep cleaning. Building Foundations The durability of granite is something ancient Egyptians clearly understood. In the case of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the exterior was mostly made with basalt and limestone blocks. In the King's Chamber, however, massive granite slabs and blocks were specifically arranged in ways to allow heavy loads to transfer from the upper structures to the void, thus preventing the sacred rooms from collapsing. Just about everything else in this chamber is also made of granite, and archaeologists believe there were aesthetic as well as functional reasons for choosing this particular stone. Gemstone Jewelry One of the prettiest types of granite is known as K2, Jasper, or raindrop azurite. Its high quartz content gives it a bright white coloring, and its unique pattern consists of bluish orbs. Some azurite granite slabs can be installed as countertops, but they’re not very easy to find because this type of stone rarely forms large blocks. Azurite granite is perfect for gemstone jewelry, particularly pendant necklaces, which you can search for on craft marketplaces such as Etsy. If you’d like to learn everything you need to know about maintaining granite countertops, floors, surrounds, or other surfaces, reach out to the Stone Care Experts at Granite Gold®. All of our products are safe to use on all other types of natural stone, including marble, slate, and travertine. Give us a call today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866), and make sure to like our Facebook page for regular updates and tips on caring for natural stone.