A moonless night sky with a million stars in a granite dimension field tile. Dimension stone is a natural stone such as granite that has been cut and finished. Field tiles are the main tile used any application. The polished finish will have a high luster and strong reflection of incandescent light. Try it indoors on floors or walls in living rooms and baths or try it as a counter top or on a fireplace surround.
For centuries, granite has been used for its beauty, timeless characteristics and density. Did you know that granite is the second hardest known substance after diamonds? Known for its durability and strength, it has rich patterns and elegant veining due to small flecks of minerals throughout the stone, lending to a variety of colors to choose from. After polishing, natural granite will maintain its high gloss finish virtually forever. Since granite is anti-bacterial and cleans in seconds, it is commonly used on kitchen countertops, wet bars, entry walls, floors, fireplaces and bathroom vanities. Homeowners must be sure to seal the stone periodically.
Construction
A very hard, crystalline, igneous rock composed mainly of feldspar and quartz. Durability pending use: Countertops: Lifetime/ Flooring: 100 years with proper maintenance/ Exterior Applications: Lifetime
Installation
From the Marble Institute of America: 1)Purchase Tiles at the same time. due to natural color variation, even stone with the same color label, can have vast variations. 2)Dry Assembly. At the project site, it is recommended that all stone pieces be dry assembled in place to verify satisfactory fit prior to the application of adhesive. 3)Shims are commonly employed to level the stone countertops. Shim material may be wood or plastic. Maximum spacing between shims is 2- 0' (600 mm). Alternatively, longer spacing between shims may be used if the stone is supported with a noncompressible filler material (usually epoxy or polyester resin). This practice is often referred to as 'hard packing.' 4)Adhesive. The stone countertops are secured to the substrate with a nonstaining adhesive. Common construction adhesives or silicone sealant are the most popular materials used. 5)Final Positioning and Joint Filling. Final positioning of the stone is done either manually or with the aid of commercially available stone-alignment tools. Filling the seams is normally completed prior to final positioning of the stone units, allowing the filler material to extrude out of the joint as the stones are pulled into alignment. The stone surface may be masked to prevent contact by the filler material. 6)Sealer Application. After the countertops are installed and the seams are filled, a sealer or impregnator may be applied. Refer to the Reinforcement Techniques section below for further discussion of these applications. Alternatively, some fabricators prefer to apply the sealer or impregnator in the fabrication shop prior to transporting the pieces to the project site. Special Note: Marble is not recommended for kitchen counter tops and backsplashes unless the stone is honed and sealed.