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Granite vs. Limestone: Understanding the Difference
Natural stones showcase their natural charm and beauty when used for decorative or building purposes. Be it marble, limestone, sandstone, granite, slate, basalt, quartzite, gneiss or travertine, all these stones are used in architecture and as construction materials.
Limestone and granite are two naturally occurring rocks widely available and used for a variety of applications. In the civil engineering and construction sector, numerous construction materials companies are involved in unearthing and supplying these rocks as essential building materials. Stones used for building construction need to be hard and free from defects or soft patches to perform best.
Each stone is different in terms of properties and uses in various construction applications, and the same goes for limestone and granite. But how do you tell the difference between these two natural stone products? Although they look similar, do you know the specific applications of these rocks in building and construction projects?
As a distinguished construction material company, our team at Storefield Aggregates helps you uncover the substantial differences between these naturally occurring rocks in our blog. First, let’s dig a little deeper into understanding more about these stones.
What is Granite?
Granite is an igneous and intrusive rock formed when molten lava deep within our earth’s crust cooled and crystallised under intense pressure. Composed of quartz and feldspar, it is located throughout the planet’s crust in mountainous regions.
Granite’s appearance depends on the minerals most prevalent in the regions it is quarried from. Worldwide, Brazil, Spain, India, Italy, North America and China are the main granite suppliers for commercial purposes.
What is Limestone?
In contrast to granite, limestone is a sedimentary rock containing calcium carbonate from fossilised shell-producing and coral-building organisms that are deposited over time. Geologically, it is formed in the shallow marine waters of the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mexico or during cave formation in locations around the world.
Excavated rocks are processed and used as limestone edging stones or limestone fillers for the building and construction industry.
At Storefield Aggregates, we always strive to supply quality building stones and construction aggregates for your project’s needs. Contact us to learn more about our products and services.
Now armed with this information, let’s dig deeper into the differences between granite and limestone.
Granite vs Limestone: Appearance
Widely used for construction and decorative purposes, granite and limestone have distinct properties that set them apart.
In terms of appearance, the colour of granite depends on its composition of minerals, from shades of red, pink, grey, white or black. Visually granite has large, coarse grains giving it a granular texture, lending to its name. A construction materials company supplying granite for flooring and other decorative applications will often polish it to a shine.
On the contrary, if you look at a limestone rock closely, you’ll notice bits of shells and fossil fragments that vary in colour, from white, grey, tan or taupe. Although the actual colour of limestone is white, the iron oxide component can make it look yellowish or brownish and the carbon component makes it appear blue, black or grey.
Granite vs Limestone: Applications
Being hard and granular, granite has been widely used in monument sculpturing, building construction, and architectural and decorative purposes since ancient times. You’ll find granite to be the preferred rock of choice for a range of exterior and interior work from roadwork to kitchen flooring to countertops to floors. Polished granite vinyl flooring in homes and commercial spaces exhibits its natural shine and adds beauty and elegance.
Although durable, limestone slabs can be easily cut to size to craft monuments, decorate buildings and construct roads. The versatility of limestone makes it a great choice for use as pavers, cladding, kitchen aggregates, and bathroom countertops. Limestone edging stones are often used for window sills, back garden water features and steps.
Granite vs Limestone: Durability
The strength and durability of both these stones are very high, avoiding the need to replace them. As compared to limestone, granite fares better in terms of being scratch-resistant and resistant to wear and tear.
However, in terms of heat, limestone absorbs heat better but granite is more heat resistant. Not just for highway works, granite is great for building interiors, from kitchen countertops to flooring while limestone fillers are used for exterior cladding works.
Granite vs Limestone: Costs
Ask any construction materials company, and you’ll understand the variety of factors determining the pricing for these two durable natural stones. At Storefield Aggregates we pride ourselves in supplying quality construction aggregates and stones at competitive prices.
Granite quarrying is challenging due to its location, which is a major factor contributing to its higher cost. It is more durable and has a better aesthetic appeal due to its type, finish and exotic varieties which are also reflected in its price. The installation and maintenance can also add to the overall expenditure of this stone.
On the other hand, limestone is more affordable than granite, making it a better option for wide-scale applications in the construction and building industry for cladding and building exteriors.
Our Type 1 Granite is fully compliant with series 800 specifications for use in highway works. If you need granite for your next construction project, enter your project details into our Tonnage Calculator and we’ll tell you how much you need.
Contact Storefield Aggregates for Your Project’s Materials Requirements
Understanding the varied differences between granite and limestone does not make one better than the other. Each stone has its unique strengths that make it suitable for a specific application in the construction sector.
As a reputed construction materials company since 1996, Storefield Aggregates has been in the business of supplying quality construction aggregates for years, also offering building waste management and heavy machinery hire. Our multiple quarry sites extract quality natural stones and process them ready for a variety of civil engineering applications.
With our extensive experience and expertise, who better than us to understand the differences between natural stones and know exactly which stone suits what application?
To know more about our products and services, contact us today with your requirements.
