The short answer
A slab is one thin cut from a block, so the slabs next to it share its veining. Slabs cut one after another can be laid so the veins flow across a floor or open like a book on a wall. Choose all slabs for one area from one lot, lay them out before cutting, and decide where the strongest veining should fall.
Key takeaways
- Slabs cut one after another share their veining, so lots can be laid to flow or book-match.
- Judge veining at room scale, not up close.
- Tag and photograph the slabs you choose, in their numbered order.
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
At the store, stand back and picture each slab in your room. Decide where the strongest veining should fall, such as behind the sofa or the TV wall, before anything is cut.
Book a visit to see full slabsI am an architect or interior designer
Mark the slab sequence and vein direction on the layout. Ask at the viewing whether the lot has enough consecutive slabs for the book-matching you have drawn.
Request samples for a clientI am a contractor or builder
Lay the slabs out dry in order before cutting. Keep the tag numbers visible until the layout is signed off.
Work out quantitiesI live outside Bengaluru
On a video call, ask us to show the slabs in numbered order and to step back so you see the whole slab. Photographs with tag numbers let you check the order on arrival.
Choose slabs on a video callWhat do the trade words mean?
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Block | The large piece cut from the quarry |
| Slab | One thin cut from a block |
| Lot | A group of slabs from the same block, numbered in order |
| Book-matching | Two consecutive slabs opened like a book so the veins mirror |
| Vein cut and cross cut | Two directions of cutting a block, giving stripes or clouds |
How do you read veining?
Strongly veined stones such as Statuario, Calacatta and Arabescato change most from slab to slab, and look strongest when the layout is planned. Travertine changes completely with the cut: compare Classic Beige Travertine with Travertine, cross cut. Onyx such as Honey Onyx is often book-matched for backlit walls.
What should you do at the slab viewing?
- Ask to see slabs in their numbered order.
- Stand back: judge veining at room scale, not up close.
- Mark which way each slab will run.
- Tag the slabs you choose and photograph them.
