From Quarry to Home: The journey of Granite Floor Tiles in Sydney

Granite has been the top pick and a personal favourite with almost all the Sydneysiders for a long time when it comes to outdoor flooring. The versatility of this stone makes it special, majorly used on high traffic areas, it is equally beloved being used on low traffic areas too like a patio. But have you ever wondered how does this amazing stone comes in the market for you to purchase? From where all this natural stone comes from and what makes it the most valued stone in the market and the top pick among all other paving options.

Quarrying Granite Stone

Well, it starts with mother earth itself. Do you know Granite is a volcanic stone and since there are volcanoes in Australia, you would see a lot of monumental places in Australia even before the global trade started done with Granite. The composition of Granite is quartz, feldspar and mica and is formed from molten magma.

The process of extracting Granite out involves cutting large blocks of the stone with a diamond wire saw cutters from the mountain sides making sure it doesn’t impact the surrounding environment.

These heavy blocks weighing tons are carefully lifted and prepared for their stage of the journey.

Transporting to the factory

Remember these heavy blocks weighs a ton and transporting them from the quarry to the factory is a logistical challenge. Heavy duty trucks are used to carry the blocks to the factory site.

Processing at the factory

Once these blocks reaches the factory, that’s where the magic starts, these factories are equipped with start of the art machinery and expert artisans are involved in cutting and shaping the stone to the desired sizes.

Granite blocks are cut into slabs which later cut into Granite tiles. Not only tiles can be made from the slabs but other formats like pavers, treads and risers are also made from these slabs.

Cutting blocks into slabs is done through the process called wet saw cutting where diamond blades are used and water to keep the dust low and have a smoother cut every time. This process not only brings out the granite's unique colors and patterns but also provides a smooth surface, making it suitable for residential and commercial use.

Packing in a pallet

Once the Granite tiles and pavers are cut, they are packed in a wooden pallet which has a standard size of 1mx1mx1m. The tiles and pavers are put in the pallet vertically so that they do not break easily due to bumps while transporting them to different locations. In case if they were placed horizontally, there is always a chance of ripple effect, if one tile breaks, the others too can break easily.

Once the tiles are put in a pallet, the pallet is wrapped with a plastic film, this process is known as palletisation, which protects the stone from dirt and debris.

Distribution

If the Granite is sourced locally from Australia, these pallets need to be transported via trucks to different stores and warehouses of retailers or wholesalers and distribution companies.

In case the Granite is coming from China or India, these pallets are loaded in a shipping container, put on a ship, the ship arrives at the nearest port of the distributor and sent to the warehouse via trucks.

Displaying at store

Once the Granite tiles reaches the store of a retailer or a wholesaler, the tiles are put up on a display and customers can now view the sample on the display in Sydney and get sample of the stone home too to match it to their project space and getting approval from their builder or architects.

You can connect with different Granite Floor Tiles Supplier in Sydney to buy A grade Granite tiles.

Summary

Granite is a popular choice for flooring among Sydneysiders, prized for its versatility and durability in both high and low traffic areas. The journey of granite tiles begins with quarrying, where volcanic stone is extracted from the earth. This process involves cutting large granite blocks with diamond wire saws while minimising environmental impact.

Transporting these heavy blocks to processing factories presents logistical challenges, typically managed by heavy-duty lorries. At the factory, advanced machinery and skilled artisans cut the granite blocks into slabs and then into tiles using wet saw cutting, which helps maintain the stone's natural colours and provides a smooth finish.

Once processed, granite tiles are packed vertically into wooden pallets to prevent damage during transport. These pallets are wrapped in plastic film for protection. Distribution varies based on sourcing; locally sourced granite is trucked to retailers, while imported granite is shipped and then transported to warehouses.

Finally, granite tiles are displayed in stores, allowing customers in Sydney to view samples and select the perfect option for their projects, ensuring a seamless journey from quarry to home.