Choosing Granite Countertops in a Range of Colors From Precision Stone Design

The broad range of colors for granite countertops from a contractor such as Precision Stone Design can be confusing to people at first. They're familiar with granite from finding the pretty stones in various locations, since this is one of the most common rocks on Earth's surface. They also recognize it from the prevalent use of granite for monuments, and maybe even from a geology class.

Most Common Natural Granite Colors

The granite they know about usually is most salmon in color, with some crystal quartz and perhaps a small amount of black stone. They've also seen some that is mainly black and white. How can granite countertops come in so many colors?

Most natural granite contains a large amount of potassium feldspar, which accounts for the prevalence of the salmon-colored stone. Less frequent are amphibole and biotite, which are the reasons for the black areas. Amphibole also can bring some green to the stone.

One of the more popular blend of colors for granite countertops is a combination of black and white, sometimes distributed fairly evenly and sometimes with a dominance of one color or the other. That stone contains mostly quartz and one of the black stones, with much less potassium feldspar than is the norm.

Different Definitions of Granite

In many cases, the definition of granite in the building trades is not precisely the same as that in the science of geology. Geologically, the components of granite must fall within a certain percentage range. That is not the case with granite for countertops and other building materials. This is why people can buy granite not only in combinations of pink, white, black, green and gray, but also in shades of blue and gold. Red granite is a darker shade of potassium feldspar.

A countertop that is all or nearly all black is not truly a type of granite, even though it is considered so as a building material. It does not contain enough quartz to qualify. These black countertops usually are made primarily of a stone called gabbro.

Advantages of Granite Countertops

In addition to its beautiful appearance, granite offers other advantages for countertops as provided by a supplier like Precision Stone Design. It's strong and durable, and resistant to scratching and scuffing. Granite also can be polished to a high shine for homeowners who like that aesthetic quality. The material is resistant to staining for the most part, and stains can be removed if they do occur.