How Much Does Granite Tile Flooring Cost?
Last Updated: January 14, 2022
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The same properties that make granite a premium countertop material, namely hardness, durability, and beauty, also make it an excellent choice for flooring. This unique stone is elegant enough for indoor use and tough enough for outdoor use. With a huge range of color choices, as well as several finishing options, you should have no problem finding granite tile that's right for your project. And if you're worried about price, keep in mind that the relative thinness of tiles makes them much more affordable than, say, granite slab counters.
How Granite Tiles are Made #
While granite tends to impart a sense of timelessness, and indeed the stone will last for your lifetime and well beyond, it is in fact the end product of violent geologic change. As volcanoes erupted and the liquid magma cooled over the course of millions of years, granite was created. The swirls of color that you see in granite are bits of quartz, feldspar, mica, and other minerals that were cocooned in the cooling magma.
Granite is unearthed in huge sections and transported to a factory for processing. The stone is so hard that it must be cut with a diamond saw. Once sliced down into tile-sized chunks, the granite is polished, producing the sheen it is known for. The tiles are now ready for resale.
Granite Tile Considerations #
If you're interested in granite tile for your home, there are a few things you should know. They include:
- Granite tile is generally NOT a do-it-yourself project, primarily due to the weight of the stone.
- There will be color variations in the granite tiles.
- Multiple finishes are available for granite floors. A polished finished is generally used for formal settings and is not ideal for heavy traffic or bathrooms, as it can be quite slippery. For higher traffic areas, including outdoor applications, a honed finish is more suitable. You can also select a flamed or brushed finish; this textured finish is often found on granite pavers used for decking, sidewalks, benches, and other yard and garden areas.
- In addition to flooring, granite tile can be used for countertops and vertical surfaces (such as bathroom walls).
- Granite is porous and should be sealed annually or once every two years to protect it from water and staining, especially if it is used as a countertop material. And while granite should retain its luster indefinitely, some homeowners choose to periodically polish granite.
- Soap and mild household cleansers should be used to clean granite.
- While keeping the granite itself clean is easy enough, tile grout, the compound used between individual tiles, can be more challenging to clean. Try using nontoxic oxygen bleach.
- Common granite tile sizes are 12" x 12", 16" x 16", 18" x 18", and 24" x 24"; custom sizes are available. The tiles are typically available in thicknesses of 3/8" ½", and 5/8".
Granite Tile Flooring Costs #
- Granite tile starts at $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot. More high-end products and custom orders, however, can easily reach costs of $6.00 to $15.00 or more per square foot.
- The weight of granite makes it more difficult to install than other types of tile; expect to pay an additional $3 to $6 per square foot for installation.
- In total, expect to pay roughly $6 to $20 per square foot installed for granite tile. In a 10 ft. x 12 ft. kitchen, that works out to approximately $700 to $2,400.