The Difference between Granite and Ceramic – Ceramic materials on the floor are currently the best and most efficient alternative to enhance the appearance of your home. But this material also has a large selection of various types, motifs and sizes that you can find at the nearest building shop.
As a comparison, there is the difference between granite and ceramic that can be used to cover the floor of the house to make it look clean and beautiful. Both of these materials have the characteristics of being sturdy, durable and classy with a wide choice of textures and patterns.
Therefore, in this discussion we will provide information about the characteristics of the differences between granite and ceramic so that you can easily distinguish them.
Difference between Granite and Ceramic
In distinguishing the type of granite from ceramic, you basically have to know the characteristics of the way it is made and the physical appearance of the material. Because that way you can distinguish and know the advantages and disadvantages of each type of material that you will choose.
Differences Based on Physical Appearance
You can compare the difference between granite and ceramic by paying attention to its physical color appearance and properties.
Color Brightness
If you pay attention, then each type of ceramic or granite has various bright colors and almost resembles one another. You need to know, the brightness level of the color indicates the water absorption power of the material’s pores.
For ceramic types with a color that is almost like granite, it has a greater water absorption rate than granite which has a lower water absorption rate. This is because granite has smaller pores and a higher density than ceramic.
Window Frame
You can also tell the difference between granite and ceramic by looking at the window frame or white stripe that is not covered in coloring around the edges. This sign appears as a result of the process of making it in a different way.
On ceramic, the line will appear to be overlapping and wavy, while on granite it will look more even and more precise.
Surface Flatness
The next difference between granite and ceramic is that ceramics do not actually have a flat surface. If you pay close attention to the surface of this material, it will look a little wavy due to the glaze layer that does not spread evenly. The difference with granite is in the process of coating the glaze by means of a press and has a density and brightness level better than ceramic.
Forming Materials
For the next difference between granite and ceramic is the type of material that forms it, the material commonly used to make ceramics is to use clay or silicate soil as a base material. While granite is made using natural rock materials that are intrusive, felsic and igneous. The natural rock material is mined and formed by pressing and burning at high temperatures to form granite sheets.
Differences Based on Manufacturing Method
How to Make Ceramics
The way of making ceramics is by using a basic material from clay or silicate earth which is formed to a certain size and then burned with high rates. Then the ceramic that has gone through the firing process will be coated with a glaze on its top surface.
After that, a motif is formed to make it more beautiful on the surface of the glaze layer which is then burned again until cooked. The purpose of the double fired tile combustion process is to increase the hardness and strength of the ceramic.
Sometimes for special ceramic motifs, you will add accessories called listello and inserto to add to the aesthetic value. After the addition of these accessories is done on the ceramic surface, the next step needs to be burned again (third fliring tile) so that the additional material can adhere perfectly.
The process of making certain types of ceramics requires a combustion stage of up to 4-5 times, especially for premium quality ceramics. The more ceramics that go through the burning process, the more beautiful the results will be, so the price will be more expensive.
How to Make Granite
Meanwhile, the difference between granite and ceramic from the manufacturing process is that granite is a natural stone made of magma that has cooled and formed under extreme pressure for years.
Granite itself is a type of rock obtained from mining, the texture of the granite is mostly rocky, hard and strong. Therefore granite is widely used as construction rock and building floor layers.
The average density of granite is 2.75 gr / cm³, granite material is water-resistant, rigid, non-hygroscopic and has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion.
Granite flooring types based on historical discoveries are arguably one of the oldest building materials that have been discovered. Because granite floors have been used since hundreds of years ago by human civilization on this earth.
Due to the texture of granite floors that are strong, scratch-resistant, anti-stain and anti-slip, granite floors are often applied to areas of public places such as building lobbies, terraces, and homes.