Granite tiles: resistant but elegant

Granite is a type of igneous rock that forms below the Earth’s surface, under tremendous heat and pressure. The rock is granular in texture, which is why it is called granite. It is the origin that makes granite highly resistant to heat, humidity and normal wear and tear. Therefore, granite tiles are the ideal choice for kitchen and bathroom floors. This is because these floors have to endure a lot of punishment from dropped utensils, high humidity, spilled liquids of various kinds and at various temperatures, scratches from sharp utensils and metal buckets, etc. Kitchen and bathroom floors also require frequent cleaning, so the material used on the floor must be able to withstand it.

Granite tiles are cut, shaped and polished on one side. Being very hard in nature, granite slabs cannot be easily cut. Special types of abrasive cutters or sandblasters are required to cut granite slabs to size. These tiles may be hard, but the polished surfaces are smooth and cool to the touch. Granite is not only preferred for its strength, but also for its aesthetic appearance. The tiles are available in various colors such as grey, green, yellow, black, red, white, brown, silver, etc. Different colored granite tiles can spice up almost any type of kitchen or bathroom setup. Polished surfaces also provide little to no room for bacteria to thrive, making granite tile the safest choice for flooring.

The best option would be to use medium size square granite tiles with narrow 1/8 inch grout lines. This would ensure cost effective use of the infill material and would also bond the tiles strongly enough to give a long lasting end result. Medium-sized tiles will make the room look more spacious. Polished granite tiles tend to reflect some light, thus improving the lighting in the room.

Granite tiles, despite their strength, require some care and frequent cleaning. Stone soaps (highly concentrated water-based cleaning solutions) are special for cleaning granite floors. These do not leave residues on the tiles and do not make them slippery either. Stone soaps can clean granite floors down to the pore, removing dirt, dust, grime, and grease. Frequent cleaning and responsible use will keep your granite floor looking like new for years to come.