Granite

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Contents 1 Material analysis 1.1 Traditional uses 1.2 Emerging uses / trends 1.3 Finish and aesthetic qualities 1.3.1 Aesthetic qualities 1.3.2 Finish 1.4 Surface forms / shapes 1.5 Cost analysis 2 Material properties 2.1 Primary structural use 2.2 Dimensional and opening restriction 2.3 Acoustic property 2.4 Manufacturing process and assembly 2.4.1 Installation Issues 3 Environmental impact 3.1 LEED 4 Life Safety & Rating Standards 4.1 Flammability rating 4.2 Coefficient of friction 5 References 5.1 Notes 5.2 Student contributions 6 External links 6.1 Leading manufacturers

Material analysis

MasterFormat Number: 04 41 30

Traditional uses

• stone masonry
• exterior cladding
• stone flooring
• paving
• site furnishing
• building memorials

Emerging uses / trends

• Decorative Screens
• Exterior Walls
• Foundations
• Solar Screens
• Wind Breaks
• kitchen countertop designs
• popular flooring material
• sink bowls

Finish and aesthetic qualities

Aesthetic qualities

• Granite is second only to diamonds in hardness. It is therefore an excellent material to use in construction.
• Colors varying from shades of gray to brown are dependent on the aggregate used. Additional colors are created by adding mineral oxide elements to the concrete mix.
• Surface textures classified as fine, medium, and coarse depending on the mix of Portland cement, aggregate, and water.

Finish

• Blocks can be split to produce a rough finish. Sculptured, pierced, and patterned blocks are created by using raised or recessed forms during manufacturing. Blocks can also be glazed for decorative effect.
• The most popular finishes are polished, honed, textured, sawn, split face, sandblasted, and flamed. A polished finish where the surface is highly reflective and smooth illuminates the vibrant colors of the stone and is often the finish of choice for residential applications.

Surface forms / shapes

• Granite is classified as fine-grained, medium-grained, or coarse-grained.
• The particular composition of the minerals also determines the particular texture (grain), hardness, and veining pattern of the granite.
• Granite is sold as dimensional stones, slabs, or tiles.
• Custom shapes are available for specific projects.

Cost analysis

• Price / SqFt: $15+ for slabs, $12+ for tiles, and $375+ for dimensional stones.

Material properties

Primary structural use

• Compression

Dimensional and opening restriction

Dimensional Restrictions

• Typical face dimension of 7 5/8” x 15 5/8” with 3/8” mortar joint
• blocks are available in 4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12” widths
• 3/4” to 1 1/4” thicknesses

Opening Restrictions

• Can be custom cut
• The use of lintels is often required to create openings in a granite structure.
• The flexural strength of granite (its ability to resist bending) varies but is typically 1000-2000 lbs/inches squared.

Acoustic property

• Low
• Blocks with vertical-slotted faces have sound absorbing qualities.
• Blocks are available with a cavity filled with fibrous material to absorb sound.

Manufacturing process and assembly

• Granite is a hard, igneous rock formed from the cooling of magma.
• It is crystalline in structure created under extreme heat. Granite is made up of various minerals including feldspar and quartz.
• Granite is quarried all around the world with the majority coming from Brazil, India, Scandinavia, Southern Africa, North America and the Middle East.
• Granite is an igneous rock, formed and retrieved from the molten masses; the quarried granite comes in blocks which are then trimmed into rectangular shapes then cut and polished into slabs or tiles.

Installation Issues

• Granite will absorb water at a rate of .10% to .40% by weight.
• This should be kept in mind depending on its application.
• StoneLite is a company that produces lightweight granite panels which can be used for interior and exterior projects. *Since granite is extremely heavy lightweight panels may be useful for certain applications.

Environmental impact

Sustainability, Off-gassing issues Maintenance/Resilience/Durability

• Although granite is one of the hardest stones on the Moh’s Scale (7/10), non-toxic, topical coatings are often used to improve the performance of resistance.
• In interior applications, surface stains can often be removed with chemical cleansers
• In exterior applications, acid rain, industrial pollution, and exhaust fumes may cause severe deterioration
• Veins can cause weak points that might cause cracking or crumbling
• Traditionally, use of explosive charges loaded in drill holes have been used to extract the stone but there are environmental issues of noise and dust levels.
• Diamond cable saws are increasingly being used, as they produce lower noise levels; the saws are cooled and lubricated with water, thus eliminating dust emission.

LEED

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Life Safety & Rating Standards

Flammability rating

• Not flammable, under MSDS.

Coefficient of friction

• Per ADA guidelines, a slip-resistant finish should be specified for a C.O.E. of 0.6 for horizontal applications
• 0.8 for ramping applications.

References

Notes

• Cold Spring Granite
• New England Stone

Student contributions

• Hanna Kim-Seda, Fall 2005
• Neha Sethi, Spring 2008

External links

Leading manufacturers

• Coldsprings Granite Co.
• Stone Source
• Architectural Stone
• New England Stone
• StoneLite