Resources
Buying guides
Plain answers to the questions buyers ask before choosing, ordering and looking after stone. General guidance — confirm project-specific decisions with your fabricator or engineer.
- comparison · 7 min read
Granite vs marble for a kitchen
ReadFor a busy kitchen worktop, granite is usually the more forgiving choice: it is generally harder than marble and is not etched by everyday acids such as lemon juice or vinegar.
- comparison · 6 min read
Granite vs quartz
ReadGranite is a natural stone cut from quarried blocks; engineered quartz is a manufactured surface made mostly of crushed quartz bound with resin.
- explainer · 6 min read
Cutter slabs vs gangsaw slabs
ReadGangsaw slabs are full-size slabs cut from whole blocks on large multi-blade frame saws; cutter slabs are narrower slabs produced on block-cutter machines.
- comparison · 6 min read
Granite thickness: 2 cm vs 3 cm
Read2 cm (20 mm) granite is lighter and is common for flooring, cladding, vanities and worktops that sit on a full support with a built-up edge.
- how-to · 6 min read
Choosing a granite colour for your kitchen
ReadThere is no single best granite colour for a kitchen: the right one depends on your cabinets, your light and how much pattern you want to live with.
- how-to · 6 min read
Granite flooring in a hot climate
ReadFor outdoor floors in the UAE, choose lighter granites with a textured finish, because dark polished stone absorbs the sun and becomes very hot, and polished surfaces are slippery when wet.
- how-to · 6 min read
How to seal and care for granite
ReadWipe granite daily with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner, blot spills promptly, and use trivets and chopping boards.
- how-to · 5 min read
What to include in a stone quote request
ReadAn accurate stone quote needs the material, format, thickness and finish, plus either finished sizes or a measured quantity, the application, your timing and whether you need delivery or will collect.
- explainer · 5 min read
Natural variation in stone: lots, batches and slab inspection
ReadNo two blocks of natural stone are the same, so colour, pattern and markings vary between slabs and between deliveries.
- explainer · 5 min read
Polished, honed and textured stone finishes
ReadA polished finish is glossy and deepens colour but is slippery when wet; honed is smooth and matt; textured finishes such as flamed, bush-hammered or leathered add grip or a tactile surface and usually lighten or soften the colour.
- how-to · 5 min read
Planning stone delivery and unloading at a UAE site
ReadBefore stone arrives, agree whether it is delivered or collected and who unloads it, confirm the vehicle can reach the site, and have suitable lifting equipment, people and A-frames ready.
- how-to · 6 min read
Bookmatching stone and preparing a contractor BOQ
ReadBookmatching places consecutive slabs from the same block side by side so the pattern mirrors across the joint; it is only possible when genuinely consecutive slabs exist and have been identified.