The short answer
Before you pay an advance, ask the dealer six things: where the stone is quarried, what grade it is, whether all slabs come from one lot, how quantity and wastage were worked out, whether the slabs delivered will be the ones you chose, and what happens if a slab arrives broken. Get the answers in writing.
Key takeaways
- Ask the origin, the grade and whether all slabs come from one lot.
- Check how quantity and wastage were worked out, against your own plan.
- Tag the slabs you choose, and agree in writing what happens if one breaks.
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
Print the checklist or save it on your phone, and ask every dealer the same six questions. The answers will tell you more than the rates.
Book a visit to see full slabsI am an architect or interior designer
Put origin, grade and lot requirements in the specification, so every quote your client gets is for the same thing.
Request samples for a clientI am a contractor or builder
Agree the wastage allowance and the breakage terms before cutting starts, and keep the tag list on site.
Work out quantitiesI live outside Bengaluru
Questions 5 and 6 matter most when you buy remotely. Ask for photographs with tag numbers and agree breakage terms before dispatch. See delivery across India.
Choose slabs on a video call1. Where is this stone quarried?
A trade name proves nothing. Many stones are sold under Italian-sounding names without coming from Italy. Ask for the country and, for well-known stones, the quarry region: Carrara for Statuario, Brescia for Botticino, Sicily for Perlato Sicilia. A straight dealer will also tell you when the origin is not confirmed. We list Italian Beige, for example, as imported with the country confirmed on enquiry.
2. What grade is it?
There is no single grading standard, so ask what the dealer means by first choice or premium, and look at the slab, not the label. Two quotes for the same name can be for very different stone.
3. Are all the slabs from one lot?
Shade and veining change from block to block. For one floor or wall, all slabs should come from one lot, ideally cut one after another. Ask how many slabs are in the lot and whether that covers your whole area with spare.
4. How did you work out the quantity and wastage?
Ask for the number of slabs, their sizes and the wastage allowed. More rooms, borders and book-matched walls mean more wastage. Check the figure against the stone quantity calculator and read how much stone do you need.
5. Will I get the slabs I chose?
This is the question most buyers forget. Ask whether you can tag the slabs you choose and receive photographs with the tag numbers. At Akrruthi you choose and tag your slabs before you pay, and those are the slabs we deliver.
6. What happens if a slab breaks or falls short?
Agree in writing what happens if a slab arrives cracked, or if the quantity falls short during laying. Ask how slabs are packed and transported, and whether more slabs from the same lot can be held for you.
A checklist to take with you
| Ask | A good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Where is it quarried? | A country and region, or an honest 'not confirmed' |
| What grade? | An explanation you can check against the slab |
| One lot? | Yes, with the slab count and sizes |
| Quantity and wastage? | A figure worked out from your plan |
| Will I get these slabs? | Yes, tagged and photographed |
| If a slab breaks? | A clear answer, agreed before dispatch |
Granite such as Absolute Black varies little from slab to slab, so questions 3 and 5 matter less there. They matter most with bold stones such as Calacatta and Breccia Aurora.
