Granite and Marble Stone: What are the Differences in Quality, Strength and Design?
15 January 2019When it comes to aesthetics, there is no greater debate than between the advantages of granite versus marble, and vice-versa. Both are considered integral to architectural aesthetics, and have played an important role in both historical and modern applications. Generally thought of as being durable and long-lasting materials, both granite and marble have their own unique properties that make each one suited for a specific application.
Read below to find out more about what makes these two materials different:
Granite
Granite is an igneous rock that is characterized by unique inclusions of other minerals. Its colours range from black, grey, pink, and sometimes even red.
• Quality – granite is a stone renowned for its high quality and superior versatility. Remarkable for the tiny inclusions of pyrite and sometimes even gypsum, copper, feldspar, or quartz, it lends a unique and inimitable appeal to kitchen countertops and flooring.
• Strength – granite is remarkably hard, and requires specialised cutting tools to cut and work with it. Being an igneous rock, it is also less prone to acidic damage brought about by the use of conventional cleaning agents and detergents, making it low maintenance.
• Design – granite is perfect for a wide assortment of applications, such as flooring, countertops, tabletops, and even shingles.
Marble
Marble is a type of metamorphic rock, comprised of calcite, dolomite, or limestone. It has long been used in statuary and architecture, and has a long history of preference when it comes to the creation of exterior facades or interior tile-work. Typically off-white, marble also comes in shades of grey, pink, and even black, blue and green.
Marble is typified by contrasting streaks that occur on its surface, typically in grey, white, or black, but sometimes even in gold and blue.
• Quality – marble has a long history of use that dates back to the Ancient Greeks. If quality is an issue, it is historicity proof enough that marble is among the greatest choices if you are looking for the best stone to use for construction.
• Strength – marble is slightly softer than granite, which is why it was the stone of choice for Classical and Renaissance statuary. Because it is comprised of minerals like calcite and serpentine, marble is also prone to sustaining damage from acidic substances, and may degrade overtime in environments exposed to high acidity and humidity.
• Design – because of its off-white to pure white colour, and any other variation within its spectrum, marble is an excellent choice for tile flooring and home accents, although it is less ideal for countertops due to its sensitivity to detergents and acids.
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