Granite flooring is a durable and stylish choice for various spaces. Known for its natural beauty, strength, and resistance to wear, granite adds a touch of elegance to homes and commercial settings. There are various types of granite flooring option including polished, honed, and textured finishes, granite flooring accommodates different preferences and design aesthetics.
If you value durability paired with aesthetic appeal, granite flooring stands as a reliable and timeless option for enhancing the look and feel of your living or working space.
What Is Granite Flooring?
Granite tile flooring is the most popular choice indoors as well as outdoors owing to its various advantages. It also gives an aesthetic appeal along with being durable. Granite Flooring is known for a few decades now and it is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. One of the reasons for its increasing popularity is that it offers wide design options at a reasonable rate.
So, if you are thinking of having your tiles replaced because either you are renovating your home or just want to have your tiles replaced, granite flooring may be the best choice for you.
Read further to know its advantages so that you can decide whether it is suitable for you or not. Do not forget to read the disadvantages if you are planning to install the granite tiles so that you may not regret it later!
Types of Granite Flooring
The following are the best types of granite flooring options,
1. Kashmir White Granite
It is durable and has a glossy finish. The tiles having a thickness of about 2-3 cm are much more durable.
These tiles are available in sizes:
- 60 cm * 30 cm
- 60 cm * 60 cm
- 24” * 24”
- 12” * 24”
2. Platinum White Granite
Platinum white granite tiles come in bright colors. Also, they are economical. If you are planning for a tight budget, then these tiles can suit you. Its durability is also high. Also, you get options for finish- polished, flamed, or leather-finish.
These tiles are available in sizes:
- 60 cm * 30 cm
- 60 cm * 60 cm
- 24 cm * 24 cm
- 12 cm * 24 cm
3. Absolute Black Granite
Yes, absolute black granite tiles are also available and used as flooring tiles. The countertops of absolute black granite are costly but the tiles of this granite type come in an affordable range.
4. Black Galaxy Granite
It is also a similar choice to absolute black and is now used for flooring as well along with countertops. These tiles are sorted out without a line.
5. Crystal Yellow Granite
Crystal yellow granite comes in a bright color. it is quite suitable as an indoor flooring option. It has evenly scattered crystals and is one of the most uniform tiles. It is available in a thickness of 1.8 cm or 2 cm. it can be used for outdoor usage too.
6. Tan Brown Granite
Tan brown granite is another dark color option for your flooring. These tiles also come in a wide range of finishes like flamed, polished, and leather finishing.
7. Rosy Pink Granite
These pink granite tiles are one of the most economical granite tiles. It is also called zero-maintenance granite because of its high durability. It does not even require sealing, thus saving the cost of sealant. However, it is polished heavily.
8. Steel Grey Granite
These granite tiles resemble silver pearls in the ocean and are one of the most popular types of granite tiles used.
Above the given options, there are other types of granite tiles too like vision white granite and so on that are widely used.
Read More: All About VITRIFIED TILES- Know How Are They Different?
Installation of Granite Tile Flooring
The installation procedure for the granite flooring is explained below in a step-by-step manner along with the equipment required.
Equipment Required for the Installation of Granite Tile Flooring
- Plastic spacers
- Floor tiles- made of granite
- Rubber mallet
- Wet saw
- Backer-board
- Screw
- Notched trowel
- Grout sponge
- Grout float
- Penetrating grout sealer
- Paper towel
How to Install Granite Flooring?
The installation procedure for the granite tile flooring is as follows-
- The subfloor should be cleaned and dried before the installation of tiles.
- During the cleaning, the paint and residual sealants should be scrapped by using sandpaper or other suitable paper.
- The granite floor tiles in use should be 90-degree corner tiles.
- Then the floor tiles are laid with the help of a plastic spacer so that the alignment of the tiles is properly maintained.
- The thin-set is mixed as per the guidelines and the mix is then spread with a trowel in an even layer over the subfloor.
- The backer board is then placed down and screwed to the subfloor. Thus, the surface is smoothened and the tiles are protected from damage.
- The trowel is held in such a way that consistent ridges are formed.
- The granite tiles are pressed into the mortar and with a slight twisting motion and then a rubber mallet is used to tap the tiles. The tapping is done to ensure that the entrapped air is forced out.
- The grout is mixed in small batches and used within 20 minutes of its preparation. The grout float is used to apply the grout to fill the tile joints.
- Float is used to clean off the excess grout from the joints. then, the grout is allowed to remain in the atmosphere for about 3 days.
- Then after, a grout sealant is applied and the excess sealant is removed.
- Thus, granite flooring is completed.
Size of Granite Tiles
Granite tiles are available in a number of sizes. The most commonly available sizes comprise:
- 60 * 30 cm
- 60 * 60 cm
Granite Finishes
The following are the most popular granite finishes types,
1. Smooth Finish
Smooth-finished granite floor tiles are mostly suited for indoor use. Polished tiles give a smooth finish. Matte finish tiles are also available. They are also smooth.
The possibility of slipping is avoided in this type of tile. Besides this, the natural look of these tiles adds to the elegance of the interiors of your home.
2. Rough Finish
Rough-finished granite floor tiles are most suited for outdoor use. The outdoor tiles should be resistant to slipping and they should also be able to resist the action of sun, rain, or frost.
Outdoor tiles are mostly preferred to be grey in color so that the stains are not easily visible. This is done because the non-slippery tiles have a tendency to accumulate dirt on their surface.
Most Popular Granite Colors
The most widely used popular granite colors are as follows,
1. Black Pearl Leather Granite
This granite stone is semi-solid in nature and is of dark color. black, gold, silver, brown, and even different shades of grey are present in this stone. These tiles give a beautiful texture.
2. Alaska White Granite
This type of color mostly has a lighter background against the darker minerals present on its surface. Also, every type of stone of this type is different especially in the patterns of the darker colored minerals, therefore your home will surely have a unique design.
3. White Ice Granite
One of the most popular granite slabs in the trend with a blue and grey tone.
4. White Sparkle Granite:
It has a cool white tone and greys present in the form of highlights. These are quite durable.
5. Blue Pearl Granite
Blue, grey, and beige shades are present in this tile design. It gives an almost metallic background.
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