Beautiful Granite Tile Flooring!

Granite is one of the toughest materials in the world, second only to diamonds. It has been created over millions of years by extreme heat and pressure deep within the earth, and contains crystallized minerals including feldspar, quartz and mica. It comes in a variety of colors, and due to the crystallization process its texture, tone and patterns have natural variations so that each slab of granite looks unique.

Granite is a popular choice with homeowners due to its resistance to damage from scratches or from pressure. It is also stain resistant and easy to keep clean. Although some natural stone materials, such as marble, can be damaged by acidic substances, granite generally resists most stains very well. Because granite tiles also resist many types of bacteria, they make an excellent choice for bathroom floors and kitchen floors. Granite is also heat resistant, and can deal with extreme temperatures as well as moisture and pressure.

Because it is not easily damaged by scratching or even chipping, granite flooring is one of the best choices for kitchens. For bathrooms floors, granite tiles are a durable option that looks good, is easy to keep clean and does not suffer from constant moisture. Granite’s non-slipping surface makes it is one of the safest materials for the bathroom floor and some polished bathroom granite tiles are specifically treated with a non-slipping coating.

The installation of granite tiles is usually best left for a professional, especially because granite is very heavy and installing stone tiles alone can be difficult. Generally most types of granite should be sealed before use, and the sealing should be repeated around once a year. Some types of granite do not require sealing at all or need to be sealed less often, so check the correct maintenance instructions from your tile manufacturer or retailer.

Cleaning granite tile floors is easy. As the material resists most stains, you can wipe the tiles clean with warm water and some mild soap – even a biodegradable washing up liquid will do, or you can use one of the commercial granite cleaning products. Use a soft cotton cloth or a piece of chamois for cleaning the tiles, and rinse and dry them well. Some homeowners like to polish their granite tiling occasionally to give it additional shine and to keep the tiles looking as good as new, but most of the time granite floors need very little maintenance.