Granite Searcher

Where granite comes from

This rock is quarried by miners from several areas worldwide, the best-known sources of which are Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Portugal, India, Brazil, and in many countries in southern Africa. Granite occurs as stocks in so-called batholiths, having actually crystallized from magma.

Various countries have different methods of quarrying granite, and this is one of the first factors determining the price of a finished piece of granite. It takes a lot of digging to get deep into the ground where granite can be found, and because it is essential for this stone to be extracted in large pieces, blasting could not be employed.

This means that special heavy equipment have to be used to properly extract granite from where it can be found, requiring large cutters and several men to take out a single large piece. It is said that a block can weigh as much as 20 cars.

After the extraction process, the blocks are then taken to Verona, Italy for further cutting, refining, sanding, shaping, and polishing. These Italian factories have special equipment for processing these stones and of course, the cost of everything the process makes use of is factored into the cost of the slab you’ll eventually buy.

Next, after the processing of the granite blocks, prices are now tagged on them according to their size, color, tone, pattern, granularity, and other factors. Manufacturers know which ones are rarer or are more beautiful than the others and thus should command higher prices.

The regular ones cost about $50 to $150 per square foot, while the rare varieties, such as the White Lanka granite, may cost upwards of several hundred dollars. Each piece can also be said to be a work of art because the granularity of granite creates fascinating patterns that cannot be duplicated by engineered stones. Even the stones’ color plays a role in the determination of the cost of granite countertops.

Now that you have read about the many factors affecting the cost of granite Type Of Kitchen Countertop, you will understand why this material costs considerably much more than other materials that are easier to source or manufacture. You now also know why two granite slabs you see in a showroom, which may look identical, can actually have different prices.

Despite the relatively high cost of granite kitchen countertops, they are still preferred by private individuals and business owners alike because of their elegance and durability. If something this gorgeous can last a lifetime, wouldn’t you spend the extra dollars to have it?

You can also find more info on Kitchen Countertop Tips. kitchencountertopbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about kitchen counter.

Author: Frank Burris

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Burris