Ever wondered how granite slab gets to Toronto homes? Continue
reading to learn more about granite and how it gets from quarry to kitchen
countertop.
Granite Slabs for Toronto Décor
Granite slab countertops are at
the top of the list for Toronto homeowners. Granite is a favourite countertop
material for many reasons, including:
- Durability.
Granite is one of the hardest natural substances in the world.
It’s an igneous rock formed when magma cools between layers of the earth. It’s
also heat resistant, scratch resistant and stain resistant. With proper care,
granite will last for centuries, which is why it has always been the material
of choice of classical artists and architects.
- Value.
A natural granite slab countertop will add beauty to your home – and its resale
value – according to a recent survey of homebuyers. When asked to rank
attractive features of the homes they were considering purchasing, homebuyers
consistently listed stone countertops as one of the most desired elements in a
kitchen.
- Appearance.
Granite is available in every colour you can imagine – and then some! Granite
is quarried all over the world. Types of this natural stone include India’s
Ivory Silk, Israel’s Massada Gold, Saudi Arabia’s Violetta, Brazil’s Verde
Twilight, Portugal’s Rosa Aurora, Norway’s Mahogany Blue Eyes and Canada’s own
Arctic Rainbow. You can opt for neutral toned granite with very subtle
patterning, jewel toned vivid granite with bold patterning, or anything in
between. Each piece of granite is unique, and like nature’s work of art, will
grace your home.
From Quarry to Your Kitchen
In recent years, new technologies
have made it possible for quarries to increase their output. Using diamond wire
cables, drills and high temperature torches that melt the stone, quarrymen
first cut a "bench wall.” Small dynamite charges help to loosen the bench wall
from the surrounding stone. Blocks are then cut from the bench wall. Some
granite blocks can weigh more than 40,000 pounds!
These granite blocks are then sent
for processing. A gang saw slices the block into slabs, much like a bread
slicer cuts slices. These slices then move to a polishing line, where they are
polished with a series of abrasives, beginning with coarse grit and progressing
to very fine grit. The slab will be coated with a small amount of resin to fill
in micro-fissures and then polished again.
If the granite originates
overseas, slabs are then packed into shipping containers and loaded by crane
into a ship. Once the slabs arrive at a Canadian port, they are sent by train
to a stone importer-distributor in Toronto.
Choosing Your Granite Countertop
Better stone importers maintain a
large showroom, where you can view hundreds of slabs and choose one you love.
You will then "tag” this slab, or reserve it. The importer will fax all the
relevant information to your fabricator (or contractor), who will order the
slab.
The fabricator will visit your
home and will measure all of your cabinetry. He/she will then design a plywood
pattern. You will be asked to choose edges for the slab. When the stone
arrives, the fabricator will use this pattern to create the countertop. Once
it’s cut to order, the fabricator will install your one-of-a-kind granite
countertop.
Visit a stone importer’s showroom
today and explore the many beautiful granite slabs available for your kitchen.
Bring nature’s art to your home!