The short answer
See the full slabs, not a sample. Check that all slabs for one area come from one lot. Look along the surface in raking light for cracks, pits and resin fills. Check the back for mesh and repairs. Ask for the quarry region. And make sure the slabs delivered are the ones you chose, tagged with your name.
Key takeaways
- See full slabs, not a sample, and keep one lot for one area.
- Look across the surface against the light for cracks, pits and resin fills; check the back.
- Tag the slabs you choose, and check the tags on delivery.
Advice for you
Tell us who you are and we will show you what matters most in this guide.
I am building or renovating my home
Take this list to every store you visit. A crack that catches a fingernail is worth asking about; a resin fill is normal in many marbles. What matters is how much, and where it will sit in your room.
Book a visit to see full slabsI am an architect or interior designer
Walk the client through the slabs and mark where bold veining or fills will fall in the layout. Tagged, photographed slabs make it easy to confirm the delivery matches what was approved.
Request samples for a clientI am a contractor or builder
Check thickness at several edges and inspect each slab as it is unloaded, against the tag list. Raise problems before cutting, not after.
Work out quantitiesI live outside Bengaluru
Ask for photographs of the face and back of each slab with tag numbers. On a video call, ask us to tilt the camera along the surface so fills and cracks show.
Choose slabs on a video callWhat should you check before paying for marble?
- See the full slab. A sample shows colour, not veining across a room.
- One lot for one area. Shade and veining change between lots.
- Look across the surface against the light: cracks, pits and filled holes show as dull patches.
- Check the back: mesh and resin backing are normal on some stones, but ask why.
- Check thickness at several edges. Akrruthi supplies 18 mm.
- Ask the quarry region. A name alone proves nothing.
- Tag the slabs you choose, and check the tags on delivery.
| You see | What it is | Concern? |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline line that does not catch a fingernail | Natural vein | Usually not |
| Line that catches a fingernail | Crack | Ask; avoid in floors |
| Dull, glassy patches | Resin fill | Normal in some stones; check extent |
| Colour change across slabs | Different lots or blocks | Avoid for one floor |
Stones with bold veining such as Statuario, Arabescato and Breccia Aurora vary most from slab to slab. Quieter stones such as Thassos White and Crema Marfil are easier to match. Read how to read a slab next, and for Italian stones, how to choose the best quality Italian marble.
