Granite is a very common type of rock, often intrusive to an area and indigenous to many more areas. It is also widely used in the home, on patios and decks, and even in and around commercial centers. Granite deposits above the surface of earth, or close enough underground for us to reach them, actually come from deep in the crust of the earth. Magma from a depth of around 2 to 50km below the surface many times will find its way up due to a number of factors, the molten rock is the naturally occurring granite from this deep area of the earth’s crust, the resulting cooled magma will have large portions of different types of granite. The precise way granite makes its way from this depth to closer to the surface is a matter of contention, and it is thought there are different ways this occurs in different areas. Granite has a course to medium texture and can come in a wide range of colors including shades of pink and grey. The color depends entirely on the chemistry and different minerals making up the stone. Generally different areas will have stone of a slightly different shade. Another common feature of granite is the different colors within any slab of stone. The overall hue will usually range from gray to pink, but within are shades of both pink and gray along with tan, black, white and a clear or shiny crystal. Just as the overall color or hue of the stone can vary so to will the makeup of the different colors within the stone.
Granite in construction
Granite has been used in construction for tens of thousands of years. It is a popular stone due to its very tough and durable nature along with an abundance of the stone found around the world. Most granite deposits are massive. This also tends to bring down market prices when compared to some of the other types of stone used in construction. In addition to this however, granite can also be quite beautiful and is many times preferred in areas where style is the primary concern as opposed to the functional characteristics of the stone.
Uses for granite
The third largest Egyptian pyramid, the Red Pyramid, is named for the color of the granite surface when the sun reflects off of it. There are other examples of ancient Egyptian structures using granite in large quantities, and a few even older examples. Today builders use more durable or pliable substances for the actual building process and granite is most often used for flooring and polished granite for areas like kitchen countertops. It has become in large part a style preference more than an essential portion of the building process. That is not to say there are not a number of advantages though:
1. Granite is durable – Granite is a very hard stone and will last for years with little or no wear. In fact many who carve monuments have begun switching from marble to granite due to increased acid rain, which over years will degrade the marble more so than granite.
2. Granite is beautiful – Granite comes in a wide range of shades, and polished granite can be a truly stylish addition to nearly any home or building.
3. Granite is inexpensive – Compared to many stones granite is very affordable due to its abundance.
Feel free to take a look at our Granite Pavers Gallery.

You see cultured stone in nearly any residential community and in many storefronts and commercial centers as well. What is cultured stone though? Unlike many stones used in masonry and construction, cultured stone isn’t exclusively, or even usually, a functionally structural part of the building process. In almost all cases cultured stone is adhered to another, sturdier or more easily manipulated surface like wood, concrete, steel, etc, for aesthetic reasons. Cultured stone is a relatively new option for builders, masons and home improvement companies. It was not invented until 1962 by two brothers from Vellejo, California, Garret and Floyd Brown, a couple of plasterers. They wanted a material that was easy to work with but with all of the beauty of natural stone. They created flexible molds and used exact stone replicas to come up with an exact copy of the more difficult to work with stone, and at the time hand colored these in order to look as real as possible. They weighed less than one quarter what stone weighs yet were durable enough to be used outdoors. The veneer was light enough to be plastered to nearly any surface with an adhesive and the materials used could stand up to the elements.
Modern cultured stone
Today of course the process for creating cultured stone is streamlined, bringing down the cost significantly but also allowing for more options and even sturdier, yet equally light and easy to work with stone. Cultured stone is perhaps most often used around fireplaces, more and more they are found at the entrance to homes, around garden areas, as chimneys, steps, walls, fire pits, outdoor kitchens or grills, even walkways. Today an entire home may use cultured stone to give the appearance of an actual stone building.
How real do cultured stones look?
Most people literally will not be able to tell the difference between cultured stone and real stone, even if they are standing next to an actual stone structure and a cultured stone structure. The molds used for these stones are created from real stone and carefully selected for a specific appearance or style. The casting process captures every single detail of each individual stone and the mold is then colored using iron oxide pigments that look exactly like stone. Masons and others who work with real stone and cultured stone alike may see the difference, only in that the cultured stone actually usually looks cleaner and more appealing than if one were to use real stone due to the simplicity of the installation process and less likelihood of cracking and breaking like real stone.
Benefits of cultured stones
1. It is lightweight and easy to work with, and can be adhered to nearly any surface.
2. It comes in a wide range of styles.
3. It offers the beauty of stone, but without the expense and construction difficulties.
4. It is easily customized and changed if you decide to do a makeover. This cannot be said of stone in most cases.
5. Adding cultured stone can often increase the value of a home.

Limestone has been a building material since the beginning of time, and rightfully so. Its strength and durability has lasted millennia as well as its style and grace. The natural beauty of limestone really shows best when used as a patio or walkway. Their colors are through and through, with deep contrasts and also uniform hews. Whichever style or look you like there is a limestone for you. Gappsi is a direct supplier of Limestone and can design and install your limestone project at a great price. . For any additional information, call the long island limestone store experts or visit our showroom for more information at (631)-543-1177, 1015 W. Jericho Turnpike Smithtown NY 11787.