Granite has been used in construction and design for many centuries because of its strength and beauty. It isn’t any less popular today, especially since it is more affordable than ever. Many homeowners are choosing granite countertops for their kitchen and bathroom renovations, and it is easy to understand why, considering the beauty and value they provide.
Although everyone is familiar with granite, there are plenty of things people don’t know about this fascinating rock. Here are five fun facts about granite:
- It is an igneous rock. As a natural stone of igneous origin, granite is formed through the cooling and solidifying of magma below the earth’s surface. Due to this process, it’s one of the most common igneous rocks on the planet.
- It features a wide variety of colors. When you’ve looked at granite countertops, you may have mostly seen shades of gray, white, and brown. However, granite can come in many different colors, including pink, green, and black. Blue and red can be found in granite too, but they are less common.
- It is recyclable. Granite countertops can be reused for other purposes once they are no longer needed. They may be cut into smaller pieces for other needs or crushed for use in landscaping.
- There is granite in the ocean. Because granite forms as magma cools, it is no surprise that it can be found in the ocean. Specifically, underwater volcanoes can lead to the formation of granite.
- Granite is one of the hardest substances on Earth. Granite is one of the hardest materials on the planet, which makes it an excellent choice for your countertops. It is usually a 6-8 on the Moh’s hardness scale, which designates 1 as the softest and 10 as the hardest.