Granite Characteristics

The 3 main characteristic features of granite rock are: Hardness, Durability and Aesthetics and they are the primary reasons which make granite pavers perfectly suited for architectural landscaping and pavement applications.

Hardness of Granite
The hardness of granite material is determined by the resistance of granite to be penetrated by a different solid rock of higher hardness. The hardness of the granite rock is factored on the location, density, size and overall cohesive value of the mineral grains that make up the granite rock. Hardness is a technical value for granite classifications which is used by stone masons to calculate the technological and labor cost of working with granite material. Resistance to scratching and durability in foot traffic areas are largely dependent upon the hardness of the minerals that make up the stone. For this reason granite pavers are ideally suited and commonly used for residential and commercial pavements.

The main minerals found in granite are quartz and feldspars, making up for approximately 90% of the stone. The hardness of a mineral is determined by use of Moh's Scale of Relative Hardness, developed by the Austrian Mineralogist Friedrich Moh, in 1822. Generally, granite should have a hardness of about 6 or higher based on Moh’s scale.

Durability of Granite
The concept for defining the durability of granite material is based upon its ability to maintain it decorative property and polished surfaces during its lifetime in service. Once again, the strength and structure of the mineral components will be factored into itsdurability rating. It is known that the finer or smaller granite minerals are stronger than larger grained granite materials. Therefore, finer grained granite materials are most durable of all granite materials. It is interesting to compare and know that quartz has the most durable polished surface which can maintain its luster for up to five hundred years.

Granite follows after quartz as having a long lasting polished surface. Granite pavers have been used in Europe for hundreds of years and proven to be a very successful pavement material.