What is granite?
The Wood Guide · Materials
MaterialWhat is granite?
A rock that solidified underground over millions of years and is therefore hard, dense and heavy. Exactly what a parasol base needs.
- Hard, dense rock
- Heavy = stable
- But breakable if dropped
Granite in brief
A natural rock that needs no treatment and is heavy enough to keep a parasol upright.
Granite is a rock. It formed when molten rock deep in the earth's crust cooled and crystallised very slowly. Look closely at a piece of granite and you can see those crystals as a speckled pattern: mainly quartz, feldspar and mica, sometimes supplemented with other minerals.
The rock is hard, dense and heavy. A piece of granite of the same size weighs considerably more than wood, plastic or concrete. That weight is exactly why it mainly turns up in the garden as a parasol base: a heavy base keeps the parasol upright without you having to fix it to anything.
With most furniture you look for something lighter. With a parasol base it is the other way round: the mass of the base is what holds the parasol back when the wind pulls on it. Granite gives a lot of mass in a compact slab.
- Species
- igneous rock
- Components
- mainly quartz, feldspar and mica
- Weight
- heavy; well over two and a half times water
- Hardness
- hard, does not scratch easily
- Outdoors
- weather- and frost-resistant
- Maintenance
- brush off and rinse
- With us
- parasol bases
To be honest, granite is heavy to transport and lift, and hard does not mean unbreakable. A corner or edge can chip if it is dropped or knocked against something, and a fall onto a hard surface can also damage the paving.
A granite parasol base in pictures
This is what granite looks like with us: a flat, heavy slab with a hole in the middle for the pole.
Five properties of granite
| Property | What it means | Where you notice it |
|---|---|---|
| Density | Granite is well over two and a half times as heavy as water, so by volume much heavier than wood | A fairly compact slab already weighs tens of kilos |
| Hardness | One of the harder building stones; quartz, the main component, is very hard | Does not scratch or wear easily, even when slid |
| Dense rock | Few pores, so little water absorption | Weatherproof, even in frost |
| Colour and pattern | Natural: grey, black, pink or red, with grains in it | No two pieces are identical |
| Brittleness | Hard, but not tough: it forgives knocks and falls poorly | Edges and corners can chip off |
Where granite comes from and how it is processed
Granite is not made but quarried: it starts out as a piece of mountain.
Granite forms when molten rock (magma) cools slowly deep underground. That slow cooling gives the crystals time to grow, which is why you can see them with the naked eye. Later, through erosion or uplift of the earth's crust, the rock comes closer to the surface, where it is quarried.
- QuarryingIn a quarry, large blocks are freed from the rock, for example with drills, wedges or wire saws.
- SawingThe blocks are cut into slabs or smaller pieces with large saws.
- WorkingPieces are brought to size and the edges finished. The surface can be left rough, honed or polished.
- TransportBecause of its weight, transporting granite takes considerable care and equipment.
Why parasol bases are made of granite
Weight that resists the wind
A parasol catches the wind like a sail. A heavy base keeps it in place without you having to drill anything into the ground.
Compact
Granite is dense, so a slab with a lot of weight stays relatively small and low. That looks neater on a patio than a large, light container.
Maintenance-free
The rock does not rust and does not rot. A going-over with a brush and water is usually enough.
Movable on wheels
Because of its weight you cannot carry it. That is why our bases have a trolley system or small wheels.
There is no general formula, because it depends on the parasol. The larger the canopy, the more wind it catches and so the heavier the base must be. A parasol with a central pole is more stable than a cantilever parasol with a side arm, which needs much more weight. So first check whether the manufacturer of your parasol specifies a minimum weight for the base, and take that as the lower limit. Also check that your pole fits in the base: our 30 kg base is intended for poles up to and including 46 mm. And you close a parasol in a storm anyway: even the heaviest base is not made for that.
Two granite parasol bases from our range:
Granite or concrete, steel and plastic as a weight
A parasol base can be made of different materials. They differ mainly in how much weight you get per volume.
| Material | Weight per volume | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Granite | high | Compact and hard, but breakable if dropped or knocked |
| Concrete | slightly lower than granite | Larger for the same weight; edges can crumble |
| Steel | much higher than granite | Very compact, but it rusts unless protected |
| Plastic (fillable) | low, until you fill it with water or sand | Easy to transport when empty, but only heavy enough once filled |
Granite sits in the middle: a lot of weight in a not-too-large slab that also does not rust. Steel weighs even more per litre but needs protection against rust. Concrete is often less dense and therefore larger. And a fillable plastic base is handy until it stands empty or half-filled.
Pros and cons of granite
Heavy, hard and weatherproof
- A lot of weight in a compact slab
- Does not rust or rot
- Copes well with rain and frost
- Does not scratch easily
- Little maintenance
Heavy, breakable and hard to move
- Hard to lift and transport
- Transport therefore costs more than with light bases
- Edges and corners can chip if dropped
- A fall can also damage your patio tiles
- No two pieces are identical in colour and pattern
Caring for granite
- Brush it offSweep away dirt and leaves with a soft brush.
- Rinse itRinse with water, if needed with a little mild soap and a soft sponge.
- Remove stains quicklyRemove oil, grease or wine as soon as possible. Rough or honed granite can absorb stains more easily than polished.
- Move it carefullyDo not lift by an edge and do not drop the base. Use the wheels or the trolley system if your base has them.
Do not use strong acids or abrasives. Metal parts such as wheels or a handle can age with prolonged dampness: do not leave the base standing in a puddle for months.
Frequently asked questions about granite
Why are parasol bases made of granite?
Because granite is heavy and dense. A parasol catches the wind like a sail, and the mass of the base keeps it upright. With granite a lot of weight fits in a compact slab, and the rock does not rust.
How heavy does the base of my parasol need to be?
That depends on the parasol. The larger the canopy and the more wind, the heavier the base. A cantilever parasol with a side arm needs much more than a parasol with a central pole. First look at the minimum weight specified by the manufacturer of your parasol. Our bases weigh 30 and 100 kg; you will find the pole diameter on the product page.
Can granite be left outside?
Yes. Granite is dense and weatherproof and can stand outdoors all year round. It can build up dirt and moss, though; brush and rinse it off when needed.
Is granite breakable?
It is hard but not tough. A fall or knock can make an edge or corner chip. So handle a heavy base carefully and do not lift it by the edge.
Is all granite equally heavy and equally black?
No. Granite is a natural product with colour differences and grains, from grey and black to pink and red. Weight and colour can therefore differ slightly from piece to piece.
What is the difference with concrete as a weight?
Concrete is usually less dense, so you need a larger piece for the same weight. Granite is more compact. Concrete does have the advantage that you can cast it in any shape.
A parasol with a sturdy base
Take a look at our parasols and parasol bases. And if you feel like reading more about materials, you will find more in The Wood Guide.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.