Granite Tile and Granite Slabs FAQ
- What makes granite the hardest building stone?
- What do the finished surfaces of granite look like?
- What applications are recommended for these granite finishes?
- Why is granite an excellent material for kitchen countertops?
- Can granite get stained and do I need to seal it?
- Can I use granite tile for bathroom flooring?
- Can I use granite tile for counter tops?
- Can I use granite tiles on shower walls?
- Can granite tile be butted or do I need to leave a grout line?
- Does MJ Flooring do granite tile installation?
- Is your granite real and why is it so inexpensive?
- Is your granite Kerosene cut?
- How do I know MJ Flooring’s granite is high quality?
- What are granite slabs?
- What are the standard dimensions of Granite slabs and how are they prepared for shipping?
- How many bundles of granite slabs can be loaded onto a container?
- How are granite slabs sealed?
Granite Tile
Granite Slabs
Granite Tile
Q. What makes granite the hardest building stone?
A. Granite is formed by solidification of liquid magma (molten rock) under the pressure of earth's crust. It is composed of Feldspar, Quartz, Mica, and other minerals, making it one of the hardest stones in the world. It has been used for building and decorative purposes for centuries. Granite resists wear-and-tear applications remarkably well, making it ideal for interior or exterior flooring. When used outdoors, granite's mineralogical structure is not influenced by freeze-thaw cycles.
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Q. What do the finished surfaces of granite look like?
A. Granite can have four main finishes: polished (shiny), honed (matte), flamed or brushed (textured). The polished and honed surfaces are flat and smooth. The flamed and brushed surfaces are flat and textured. The polished surface is shiniest, while the brushed surface reflects the least amount of light. The back and sides have a sawn finish.
Q. What applications are recommended for these granite finishes?
A. Granite finishes are suitable for different applications. For example:
- Polished surface – low traffic indoor flooring, wall cladding, counter tops, vanity tops & decorative items
- Honed surface – high traffic indoor/outdoor commercial flooring, wash rooms, side walks.
- Flamed or Brushed surface – external flooring, decks, pavements, side walks, curb stones, garden benches
Q. Why is granite an excellent material for kitchen countertops?
A. Next to diamond, sapphire, and ruby, granite is the hardest natural product on earth. Once polished, natural granite will maintain its high gloss virtually forever. Normal use of kitchen knives, cutlery, and cookware leaves no scratches. Heat has almost no effect on natural granite, making it much safer than synthetic surfaces with polyesters and resins. Pots and pans heated to 900 degrees Fahrenheit will not dull natural granite's lustrous finish, but the use of trivets is recommended to keep your granite counter clean.
Q. Can granite get stained and do I need to seal it?
A. Granite is a highly dense material and relatively porous so it can get stained if a spill is not cleaned quickly. Sealing the surface with a water-based sealant is therefore recommended to protect the granite from water patches and stains. Sealing can be done once a year or once every two years depending on the usage of the surface.
Q. Can I use granite tile for bathroom flooring?
A. Like any other smooth surface floor, the polished surface of a granite bathroom floor can be slippery if it gets a lot of water and is walked on with improper footwear. A honed granite surface is therefore recommended for bathrooms.
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Q. Can I use granite tile for counter tops?
A. Granite tiles can be used for a counter top surface. It is recommended to use a 3/4"sub-board with waterproof membrane to support the tiles. It is also essential to seal the tiles after installation to avoid staining.
Q. Can I use granite tiles on shower walls?
A. Granite tiles can be used on shower walls. It is recommended to use cement backer board or hardy board with a waterproof membrane to avoid transfer of moisture. It is also recommended to seal the granite after installation to avoid water absorption and mildew formation.
Q. Can granite tile be butted or do I need to leave a grout line?
A. Granite tile floors appear the best when the tiles are butted. However, it is important to make sure the tiles are matched before setting on thinset.
Q. Does MJ Flooring do granite tile installation?
A. We do not do tile installation. Please consult your local Yellow Pages for information on tile setters. MJ Flooring recommends the services of an installation specialist for lasting satisfaction.
Q. Is your granite real and why is it so inexpensive?
A. All the granite products sold by MJ Flooring are genuine granite, produced from the natural rock and are first quality. We are able to sell at such low prices because we ship directly from the production site, in addition to cost reductions owing to our huge volumes in shipping.
Q. Is your granite Kerosene cut?
A. No, it is not. MJ Flooring ensures that all its granites are cut by using water as coolant and gives a lifetime guarantee of the quality. Some manufacturers use petroleum by-products in the coolant to aid the cutting process and reduce processing costs. The granite is later soaked in water and washed to remove the chemical smell, but the damage is done the moment the chemical comes into contact with the ferric content in the stone. Within a couple of years, rust marks will appear.
Q. How do I know MJ Flooring's granite is high quality?
A. MJ Flooring supplies only first quality material. The quality of the material is determined by measuring different parameters of a granite product through the entire production process:
- Mining – MJ Flooring's granites are mined utilizing modern methods. Some mines still use dynamite or blasting methods to reduce cost, but this also damages the granite. The shock wave created by the blast will cause invisible hairline cracks which will result in the stone cracking at some later time.
- Cutting – MJ Flooring's granites are cut by using water as coolant to ensure a lifetime guarantee on the quality of the product.
- Dimensions – Product dimensions are controlled within the stipulated limits in ASTM standards. Tiles are calibrated to ensure their thickness is uniform. Gauging is done to ensure the tiles are square. Beveling is done to produce a smooth edge on the tiles
- Inspection: Inspection is done at different stages of the manufacturing process and the products are segregated for unusual patches, major color variation, cracks, dimensions, surface finish, and other quality issues. They are then categorized as first, second, and commercial quality. MJ Flooring supplies only first quality material.
Granite Slabs
A.Granite Slabs are produced by cutting large granite blocks into 3/4" or 1-1/4" sheets. When cut, these slabs are cleaned and then polished.
Q.What are the standard dimensions of Granite slabs and how are they prepared for shipping?
A.Usually, the minimum average sizes of granite slabs are 105" x 54". Thickness can also be 3/4" or 1-1/4". The granite slabs are packed in bundles of approximately 400 to 450 square feet, each bundle including approx. 8 to 10 granite slabs. Each bundle weighs 2.6 tons, or 5,700 pounds. Every slab is protected by a thin plastic sheet placed between slabs. A piece of wood is placed beneath the slabs. The information that is printed on the labels attached to each bundle includes:
- Name of the Material
- Billing Sizes
- Quantity of slabs in the bundle
- Block number from where the slabs come
- Country of origin
Q.How many bundles of granite slabs can be loaded onto a container?
A.Usually 8 bundles or 3,600 square feet of ¾” granite slabs can be placed into a single 20-21 ton container. The granite slabs are packed in bundles of approximately 300 to 350 square feet. Each bundle includes approximately 6 to 7 slabs, weighing 2.6 tons, or 5,700 pounds. For 1 ¼” granite slabs, 8 bundles (or 2,380 square feet), fill up a container of 20-21 tons.
Q.How are granite slabs sealed?
A.Slabs are treated with resin most commonly in one of two varieties:
- 1. Resination with hydro-repellent, a treatment which covers most of small fissures, and helps to brighten the color of the granite. This is the more common variety of sealant.
- 2. Resination with epoxy: This treatment fills up larger holes and open veins. This variety is generally used with Brazilian stone.
