Considering home improvement, it is often the first kitchen that comes to mind. A key use of granite slabs is in the production of kitchen countertops where their durability and beauty make them ideal.
Granite is an elegant piece in the kitchen. It is a hard and durable material that is mostly valued for its beautiful natural stone designs and patterns. Granite is always a valuable addition to any kitchen or bathroom, especially to your countertops.
Granite countertops is an igneous natural stone that was created by the cooling of molten materials under the Earth’s surface. Do to its impressive strength, granite countertops is commonly known for its durability to wear and tears.
In its natural beauty form, granite is one of most non-absorbent, stain resistant and scratch resistant material. Granite countertops is affordable and offers a wide range of color options and patterns.
WHAT IS GRANITE SLAB?
Granite slabs are pieces of granite cut directly from the stone and custom fit to your kitchen or bathroom countertops. They are cut to size depending on your countertop dimensions which is why they are priced way higher than tiles.
How is Granite Made into a Slab?
Granite does not simply come out of the earth in the form of a slab. At the quarries, granite is extracted and separated into large blocks. These blocks are then cut into thin sheets called slabs. After the stone is cut, it is then polished and shipped off to the fabricator. Multiple slabs that are similar will be grouped together, as many jobs will require more than one slab.
What Happens to the Extra Stone?
When slabs are cut and shaped to fit a particular space, there is the waste produced. However, this waste can serve a valuable purpose. These left-over pieces are referred to as remnants and are sold at a lower cost. Remnants are a great option for smaller structures such as backsplashes, kitchen islands, vanity tops, and more.
Granite slab dimensions
The story of a granite slab starts when it is cut from a giant block into thick sheets of 1.8, 2, or 3 cm. The cutting of various sheets from a block depends upon the block size cut on different types of stone cutting machines.
A bigger size of the block is likely to produce a big number of granite slabs. Remember that the size of the granite slab hinges on the machinery used and the size of the granite. Generally, there are three common types of granite slabs:
Gangsaw slab
This sort of slab type is procured with the help of multi-blade or multi-wire gang saw machines. Such machines are capable of cutting a slab into 280-340 cm length and 160-220 cm height. You can expect 2 cm and 3 cm thickness in this category.
Big cutter slab
If you are expecting such a big slab in cutter size, a multi-blade big cutter will make things happen. This machine can help you get a slab of 130 cm height and 220-330 cm length. 1.8, 2, and 3 cm are popular thickness types in this category.
Small cutter slab
This slab type is very popular for making kitchen countertops. This sort of slab is made using a small vertical multi-blade machine. Such a machine can induce a slab of 65-100 cm height and 180-330 cm length with 1.6, 1.8, 2, and 3 cm thickness.
HOW IS A GRANITE SLAB DIFFERENT FROM GRANITE PREFAB?
Once you’ve decided to install a granite countertop in your kitchen or bathroom, you still have a few choices to make. There’s a multitude of colors and patterns available, for one thing. Also, you can choose between a granite slab or granite prefab — so you may be wondering, what’s the difference, and why would you choose one or the other?
First, consider the many similarities between the two options:
- They are entirely crafted from natural granite.
- They are available in a huge selection of colors.
- They equally add value to your home, boosting resale prices.
There are a few differences to keep in mind, as well:
- Granite slabs are available in a larger selection of colors.
- Prefab granite countertops are already finished on three sides.
- There are greater options for edges and finishes on granite slabs.
- Prefab granite comes with a small, matching backsplash.
- Prefab granite is lower-priced than the slab alternative.
To summarize: If you have your heart set on a custom design, or desire a granite center island, granite slab is the way to go. However, if your kitchen design is standard, you can save a lot of money without sacrificing beauty or quality by choosing prefab. After all, the secret to a designer home is not spending a lot of money, but choosing expenses wisely!
