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Natural Stone — Granite (Building)

Updated Mar 25, 2026
Crystalline igneous rock for cladding, countertops, flooring, and structural applications. Extremely durable with very low water absorption.

Granite: compressive strength 19,000-28,000 psi. Density 160-175 pcf. Water absorption: 0.02-0.5%. Mohs hardness: 6-7. Modulus of rupture: 1,200-3,000 psi. Varieties: polished, honed, flamed, bush-hammered, split-face. Cladding: 1.25-3 in thick panels, stainless steel anchors, open joint or sealant. Countertops: 3/4 in or 1-1/4 in thick slabs, $50-$200/sf installed. Flooring: 12x12 or 24x24 tiles, $8-$25/sf material. ASTM C615 standard. Thermal expansion: 4.4 x 10⁻⁶/°F. Freeze-thaw: excellent for Grade SW. Weight: cladding panels 15-25 psf. CSI 04 42 00 (stone masonry) or 09 63 40 (flooring). Quarry sources: India, Brazil, China, Italy, US (Vermont, Georgia, Minnesota).

TAGS
granitenatural-stonecladdingcountertopflooring
DETAILS
standard
ASTM C615
csi division
04 42 00
water absorption
0.02-0.5%
compressive strength
19000-28000 psi
installed cost range
$8-$200/sf
sustainability grade
C
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