Beyond Countertops: The Many Uses for Granite

Did you know The Red Pyramid, the third largest pyramid in Egypt, is made of granite? The ancient Egyptians knew the value of granite, not only using it for heavy-duty building but also for door jambs and wall and floor veneers. Likewise today, granite is still a popular building material and decorative stone for inside and outside. And just as the ancient Egyptians found multiple uses for granite, you may be surprised to know how many places other than kitchens you can find granite today.

Kitchen Countertops and Bathroom Vanities
Probably one of the most recognized and popular uses for granite is the countertop. Found most often in kitchens and bathrooms, few would deny the beauty it adds to any room. Because granite is available in such an array of colors and patterns, it's suitable for both modern and traditional aesthetics. While granite countertops may initially be purchased for looks, the natural durability of the stone makes it perfect for kitchens and baths, retaining its good looks for years.

Granite Tile
While the granite slab look (one large piece of granite instead of many smaller ones) seems to be preferred by homeowners, granite tile is also used on countertops. In addition, granite (in one piece or as tiles) is also a popular backsplash. Granite tile makes a lasting impression used on other surfaces such as floors and walls as well.

Granite for Construction
Granite can be used to build structures such as houses and bridges. It may not always look like it does on your countertop though. Some granite structures use the rough stone either for looks or cost-effectiveness. This may make granite a little less recognizable to most of us. In some cases, they may use a combination of rough and finished stone on one or more sides. For larger structures, it's common to use a granite veneer on the outside.

Paving and Curbing
Once upon a time, before asphalt and concrete, granite paved some city streets. We don't see much of that anymore but granite is still used for paving driveways and patios. And while the streets themselves may not be made of granite, you may notice the curbing on sidewalks often is. Not only is it more attractive than concrete, but it's also much more durable.

Monuments and Memorials
The Red Pyramid of ancient Egypt isn't the only massive monument made of granite. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, U.S.A., was carved directly out of the mountain, which is granite.

You may also realize that many memorial tombs and headstones are carved from granite. Aside from having a lasting quality, it's also an attractive way to honor loved ones.

This is just of summary of the uses of granite. As you can see, its functionality goes beyond kitchen countertops. From ancient civilizations down to our day, granite has found a multitude of purposes from giant pyramids to curbing on the sidewalk. No doubt, we'll continue to utilize and admire this awesome and beautiful stone for many millenniums to come.