GRANITE VS. DURAMICA GRANITE
The use of granite in architecture
Granite is rightly considered one of the most valuable types of stone used in construction and finishing. This material has earned recognition from architects and designers worldwide, as it combines the most important qualities of natural building materials - strength, durability, and beauty. Since ancient times, this material has been used in the construction of majestic and monumental structures. We will tell you about the place that eternal stone occupies in world architecture, as well as what is made of granite, in our blog.
Granite in modern construction
Thanks to its rich physical and chemical properties, granite has a wide range of applications: from the initial stages of construction to the execution of small decorative works, from external to internal finishing of buildings, from the construction of monumental structures to the carving of elegant monuments - in short, it is difficult to imagine an area of construction where this durable stone is not used.
Facade cladding
• The aesthetic appearance of granite makes it an excellent material for architectural structures. Most often, granite is used to clad public and administrative buildings: banks, business centers, government institutions, metro stations. Residential buildings are much less commonly clad with granite.
Interior decoration
• Granite is also perfect for interior decoration. Thus, stairs, floors, railings, balustrades, columns, and pilasters made of natural granite are very popular. In private houses and apartments, you can also find granite countertops, window sills, and even sinks. This stone perfectly complements other materials such as wood, metal, glass, and even plastic.
Granite properties
The special popularity of granite and its advantages compared to other types of rock are due to the unique properties of this stone.
• Hardness. The hardness of granite is its main advantage, thanks to which this rock has established itself as an ideal building material. In terms of hardness and strength, it is second only to diamond. It is this property of granite that makes it resistant to mechanical influences.
• Density. Granite has high density - about 2.6-2.7 tons per cubic meter of volume. The high density of the material, obtained under the influence of crystallization processes and high temperatures, helps it withstand colossal loads.
• Moisture absorption. Another property of the "eternal stone" is its low moisture absorption. Granite not only absorbs moisture very little but is also practically waterproof, which makes it an ideal material for cladding embankments.
Advantages of granite
Granite has several other advantages:
● Cost. The cost of granite is significantly lower than the cost of other natural stones - for example, marble or travertine. The affordable price is an undeniable advantage of the stone.
● Durability. Granite is not called the "eternal stone" for nothing. Its durability is far from a myth. Ancient structures made of granite serve as evidence of this. Over time, this stone does not lose its external or qualitative characteristics - for hundreds of years, granite does not fade or deteriorate.
● Reliability. Granite is perhaps the most reliable building material of all existing ones. Its high strength and density allow the stone to withstand the strongest mechanical impacts.
● Low wear. Granite has low wear resistance - a tendency to lose volume when exposed to wear force. Granite stairs and floors will last much longer than the same elements clad with another material.
● Ease of processing. Granite is easy to process - it is perfectly ground, sawn, and cut. This advantage makes it popular both among builders and interior designers - it can be given almost any shape, and its quality will not suffer.
● Variety of colors and shades. Granite has a wide range of natural shades: black, gray, green, red, pink, brown, and blue. So artistic possibilities are almost limitless!
Disadvantages of granite
The most significant drawback of granite is its weight. Although granite is renowned for its strength, reliability, and eternal aesthetic appeal, its high density can create logistical difficulties during transportation, installation, and processing. Due to the heavy structure of granite slabs and products made from this material, they can be bulky and difficult to manage, requiring specialized equipment and skilled labor for proper processing.
Additionally, the weight of granite can limit its application in certain architectural and design contexts, where lightweight materials may be preferred for structural or practical reasons.
This drawback transforms into an advantage in the case of a thin layer of granite based on
DuraSkin ceramic and Duramet aluminum honeycomb core. In these variants, the weight of granite is reduced by at least 10 times! And the material becomes suitable for use wherever possible.
In the case of Duramica, this disadvantage turns into an advantage!
DuraSkin - granite veneer on ceramic base and DuraMet - granite veneer on aluminum honeycomb base. In these options, the weight of granite is reduced by at least 3-10 times! And the material becomes suitable for use almost everywhere where it is possible.
Average weight of granite:
20 mm: 56 kg/m²
30 mm: 84 kg/m²
40 mm: 112 kg/m²
50 mm: 140 kg/m²
DuraSkin Weight (kg/m²): ± 36-37,5 kg / ± 43 kg
DuraMetWeight (kg/m²): ± 14-16 kg
In conclusion, it can be emphasized how Duramica technology revolutionizes the application of granite in architecture, overcoming its main drawback - weight. This innovative technology transforms granite from a heavy material into a lightweight, easy-to-handle, and mechanically resilient one. Now, granite can be utilized in various architectural projects where its weight was previously prohibitive. Duramica technology opens up new possibilities for designers and architects, enabling them to create lighter, more elegant, and durable structures using this robust and beautiful material.
