Introduction
When you’re shopping for granite, it’s important to understand what to look for and how the material is produced. Although it may seem like there are plenty of options available in the native country, the truth is that most of those options come from China. The good news? There are many different types of stone available from China, so you should be able to find something that meets your needs. However, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind before making your final decision about which granite countertop material best suits your project:
Producers in China are susceptible to a lot of variations (i.e., from quarry to quarry) in the way their material is produced, sorted and delivered.
Since the quality of stone depends on the quarry, it’s important to know what you’re getting. The size and location of a quarry can vary dramatically, as well as its production processes and sorting methods. All these factors will have an impact on your finished product. In some instances, granite slabs may have chipped corners or damaged sides that could be hidden during the installation process if not for careful inspection beforehand.
When you’re looking for granite countertops, consider how much time you want to spend shopping around for just one material—i.e., how many yards are you going to need? Are there any other materials in your home or business? Is there something else that would look better than granite? Do you have enough space for this project? By answering these questions first (and making sure they all get answered), then taking into account all aspects from above—you should end up with great results!
You will not find a large selection of stones to choose from because most Chinese granite is classified as “commercial.”
This means that it has been produced in an industrial fashion and has not been hand-picked by artisans. Because commercial granite is not set aside for the highest quality stones, it can be easier to find and less expensive than other types of stone. It’s also more consistent in quality since it’s made on an assembly line with many steps taken before reaching your kitchen countertop or bathroom vanity top.
In addition, the physical characteristics (i.e., color and movement) change for many different reasons—it all depends on where the stone was quarried in China and how it was processed.
For example, producers in China are susceptible to a lot of variations (i.e., from quarry to quarry) in the way their material is produced, sorted and delivered. Therefore, you will not find a large selection of stones to choose from because most Chinese granite is classified as “commercial.”
This means that when you order Chinese granite from a U.S. importer, you’re likely to get material that looks different from the sample you were shown at the beginning of your project.
One of the main reasons you see so many Chinese granite slabs at your local stone yard is that they’re cheaper than domestic sources. But there’s a big difference between cheap and inexpensive: “Cheap” means low-quality stone that might not show up in your project’s final look; “inexpensive” means high-quality stone that will enhance the beauty of your design without denting your budget.
If you order Chinese granite from a U.S. importer, you’re likely to get material that looks very different from the sample you were shown at the beginning of your project—and it’ll probably be inconsistent in quality as well. If a slab doesn’t meet specs for color or texture, its importer will try again until he strikes gold with another batch; if this happens five times over several months (which it often does), then each time downshifting becomes less likely to yield satisfactory results and more expensive per ton than domestically produced stone would have been initially.
Chinese granite can also be more difficult to work with and is therefore more expensive than domestically produced stone.
Depending on where you live, Chinese granite may be more difficult to work with and is therefore more expensive than domestically produced stone. This is due to the hardness of the material and its scarcity in some regions. If you live near a quarry or stone yard that sells locally sourced granite from your area, then chances are good that you will find it much easier to work with than imported Chinese granite.
Chinese granite can be inconsistent in quality and appearance
Chinese granite can be inconsistent in quality and appearance. This is because it’s often produced in small batches, so you won’t know exactly what you’re getting until you see it in person. And even then, if the quarry that produces that granite changes its process or materials, the stone could appear differently than it did before.
Conclusion
Overall, it’s important to remember that there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a project material. No matter which type of granite you’re looking for, make sure you do your research beforehand so that you know exactly what your options are before making any decisions!
