Choosing stone: samples, origin and evidence

A useful selection begins with a clear description of use: indoors or outdoors, floor or wall, water exposure, traffic and intended appearance. A trade name helps locate a material, but should be linked to origin, rock identification, finish and the actual selection offered. Similar names can cover different structures.

Compare several representative samples, not just the most uniform piece. View them in the intended light and agree how to handle veins, fossils, cavities, colour variation and cutting direction. Where possible, inspect existing applications under comparable conditions to understand surface change, without treating them as a universal guarantee.

Request technical evidence relevant to the project and confirm that it concerns the stone and finish supplied. Record thickness, tolerances, treatment, packaging and spare quantities. A price per square metre and a photograph do not describe installation, special pieces or maintenance costs. The strongest choice combines geological identity, aesthetic expectations, documented performance and batch availability.