Granite for sustainable housing

Natural stone cladding has been and is widely used for facades. Traditionally, its use was especially aimed at those buildings that sought a touch of class and elegance, but the advances of technology have led more and more companies and construction professionals to go for this type of material. Slate, marble, limestone and granite are the most commonly used natural stones for facade cladding and design elements. Of these, granite is by far the most recommended as it shows remarkable advantages concerning energy efficiency, environmental impact, heat requirements, and maintenance.

Advantages of granite ventilated facades

• Highly resistant and great compressive strength. The excellent physical properties of granite make it a very hard and strong stone that does not flex. It is fire resistant, scratch/abrasion resistant and even water resistant, guaranteeing durability over time.

• Variety of formats. Granite is quarried directly from the earth in large blocks. These blocks are then cut into slabs and can be shaped and adapted according to the architectural design.

• Thermal insulation. Cladding helps to create a tight building envelope, and thanks to the pocket between the facade and the building, insulates it against the cold in winter and keeps heat from entering in the summer, resulting in substantial energy savings. What´s more, granite responds better to sudden changes in temperature, thereby reducing the emergence of damp.

• Soundproofing. Natural stone ventilated facades considerably reduce noise pollution transmission levels in the home or building.

• Low maintenance. The amount invested is recovered thanks the little maintenance required by granite. When compared to the lifespan of other building materials, granite works out to be by far the most cost-effective.

• Modern. The architectural design options of granite are endless thanks to the latest technologies, to the large spectrum of shades available, as well as to the choice of finishes. These are the very reasons why more and more construction professionals are opting for this elegant natural stone, and not only for traditional finishes but for use on more contemporary buildings. Although home and building design encounters many passing trends, granite never dates; it most definitely has and will continue to stand the test of time.

• Sustainability. The processes of granite extraction and manufacture require little energy consumption. Also, as it is a natural stone, it can be easily reused and any waste produced is not harmful to the environment.

• Lifelong. Granite facades are practically unaffected by the passing of time or by severe weather conditions.

• Property value. Using this type of cladding for the facades of refurbishment works is an extremely practical option as it can be placed directly onto the existing material. And, thanks to its esteemed quality and beauty, considerably increases the value of the building.

New construction industry trends are focused on building ustainable housing that is respectful to the environment. The use of granite as cladding is an ideal way of creating more environmentally friendly, comfortable and durable buildings.