Granite Tile Quality Information

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Product Profile

Sourcing granite directly from the quarries allows us to offer our customers the best products at unbelievably low prices. All granite tiles from BuildDirect are carefully calibrated, beveled, and polished. BuildDirect searches the globe to bring you the only best quality granite tiles and slabs.

Benefits of Using Granite Tiles and Slabs

Granite resists corrosion, scratching, and heat
Can be used in very high traffic areas
Not influenced by freeze-thaw cycles in outdoor applications
Provides a natural acoustical barrier
Granite is an all natural material and each piece is unique
More durable than virtually any synthetic flooring surface
Will not fade
Easy cleaning and maintenance

Edge Finish on Tiles

All of BuildDirect's granite tiles are sold with beveled edges. The bevel is approximately 1.5mm (or between 1/32" and 1/16") at 45° to the face. The stability of this edge can vary between different types of granite. Denser stones with small grains usually have greater hardness and result in a cleaner edge. Softer stones can have minute blow holes and the edge collapses slightly during shipping resulting in a more rounded profile to the bevel.

Quality Assurance

Our manufacturer utilizes modern quarrying methods.
Blocks are cut from quarries by modern techniques, thus completely eliminating hairline cracks formed in blocks quarried by the dynamite method that appear on tiles during expansion after on-site installation.

European Standards for product quality.
Water is used as coolant in the cutting and polishing process, utilizing state of art machines from France & Italy, thus ensuring fine quality end product and eliminating odor problems at site from tile sweating. (For more information regarding water cutting, see below)

Factory Inspection.
BuildDirect's Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedures are implemented for all products at the factories and all products are inspected before packing to ensure desired quality.

Pedra Granite is carefully calibrated for consistent thickness

Granite Tile Calibration

Water Vs. Kerosene Cutting

Our manufacturer uses water exclusively as a cutting agent for all granite products.

Granite tiles and slabs are normally processed by using water as a medium for cutting. This is the industry accepted method for processing granite. However, there are many manufacturers that use kerosene in place of water as a medium for cutting, then soak the granite in water to remove the kerosene from the surface. Although the kerosene cannot be seen on the surface, because granite is porous, the kerosene remains within the granite.

Using kerosene in place of water increases the life of the diamond tools used in processing the granite by 20%-30%. This allows the end prices of the granite to be lower for material processed with kerosene, but results in an inferior product for the following reasons:

When kerosene is absorbed by granite, it will trigger the dormant ferrous and ferric particles in the minerals. Once these latent particles are triggered, the chemicals formed will eventually find their way out of the polished surface, creating discolorations and pit holes.

The polished surface, which normally lasts for years, will begin showing dull patches within 1 1/2 to 2 years on kerosene processed granite. In many cases the polish is lost on the entire batch of granite giving a honed, rather than polished finish.

When kerosene processed granite is used over radiant heating systems, the kerosene will slowly evaporate out of the granite causing health hazards and unpleasant odors.

Always ensure that any granite tiles or slabs you are considering are processed with water only!

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