Materials Guide
Selecting Natural Stone Without Being Surprised on Site
The slab you approve and the slab that arrives should be the same slab.
Photo: army.arch · BY 2.0In this article
Approve the actual slab, not a sample
Natural stone varies enormously within a quarry. A 100mm sample tells you the colour family and nothing about the veining you will live with. Photograph the slab and mark it.
Ask about the block, for book-matching
Book-matched slabs must come from consecutive cuts of the same block. If the supplier cannot confirm that, you are not getting a book match.
Understand the finish before you choose
Polished shows every mark and scratch. Honed hides more and feels better underfoot. Leathered hides the most and is the practical choice for a dark counter.
Plan the joints on the drawing
Where a joint has to fall on a long run, decide it on the elevation rather than letting the fabricator choose on site. It is the difference between a detail and a compromise.
Budget for the wastage
Mitred edges, sink cut-outs and vein matching all increase the slab area needed. A 30-40% allowance over net area is normal and is where stone budgets get missed.
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