Granite is igenous rock, meaning it forms from magma.
When building a home, construction companies and owners must choose appropriate materials for everything from floors to sinks. For surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms, granite and cultured granite are frequently used. While they are similar in appearance, pure granite and cultured granite vary drastically in price. Does this Spark an idea?
Granite
Pure granite has become one of the more popular materials for furnishing because it is available in a wide variety of colors. Some home magazines have even considered granite the best stone for kitchen counter tops. The American Geological Institute defines granite as rock composed of at least 25 percent quartz and over 50 percent potassium and sodium. Less than 20 percent of granite can be composed of accessory minerals, which usually include biotite, hornblende and muscovite. While granite is beautiful, it must be cleaned more than other types of surfaces.
Cultured Granite
Cultured granite is another popular material used for home furnishings. Unlike granite, which forms naturally, cultured granite is manufactured. Cultured granite gives the appearance of granite rock and does not require any extra cleaning. Cultured granite is excellent for sink tops because it is highly water and mildew resistant when compared to granite and ceramic. It is also regularly used because it can be cast into multiple shapes, meaning it can be installed immediately after shipment.
Granite Price
Granite prices vary tremendously from store to store. Typically, stores will have three or four different levels of quality of granite. The highest-quality granite is obviously the most expensive. Granite quality is determined by a number of factors including country of origin, color and pattern. Granite classified in lower tiers is not necessarily the least aesthetically pleasing. Consumers should do a great deal of research to find a granite that balances price and beauty. Generally, pure granite is much more expensive than cultured granite.
Cultured Granite Price
Because cultured granite is manufactured rather than mined, its prices are much more stable. As of June 2011, cultured granite costs start around $8.87 per square foot of surface area. This means prices for a cultured granite tub will cost just under $600. Cultured granite is generally more expensive than cultured marble and cultured onyx, two other popular synthetic materials frequently used in home furnishings. Prices for cultured granite showers start at $470. Cultured marble and cultured onyx showers, on the other hand, cost $325 and $370, respectively.
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