What to include in a stone quote request

Why the details matter

Natural stone is priced by material, format and thickness, and the quantity you need depends on how your pieces fit onto real slabs. A request that says only "black granite kitchen" can produce a quote for the wrong stone, the wrong thickness or the wrong number of slabs. A few minutes spent on the list below saves several rounds of messages and gives you a figure you can compare. Stones Forever prices by quotation only.

The checklist

Send the list through the quote page. Trade buyers can also use trade supply.

• Material: the exact name, such as Black Galaxy or Colonial White, or a link to the product page. If you are undecided, list two or three options.
• Format: cutter slab, gangsaw slab, tile (and size), step, or porcelain slab. Not sure? See cutter vs gangsaw.
• Thickness: 20 mm or 30 mm for granite and marble; porcelain slabs are 15 mm. See 2 cm vs 3 cm.
• Finish: polished, honed or a textured finish. Ask whether it is available for that material; see the finishes guide.
• Application: worktop, vanity, flooring, stairs, cladding or paving, and whether indoor or outdoor.
• Sizes or quantity: finished piece sizes, or area in m², or linear metres for skirting and steps, or number of pieces.
• Drawings: kitchen layout, floor plan, stair drawing or a contractor BOQ, even as phone photos of sketches.
• Grade preference: the catalogue lists Standard, Premium and Extra grades; ask what each means for your chosen material before deciding.
• Matching needs: whether you need slabs from one block, consecutive slabs or bookmatching.
• Timing: when the stone is needed on site, and whether the date is fixed.
• Delivery or collection: site location, access restrictions and who will unload. Delivery or collection is agreed per quotation.

Getting quantities right

For slabs, the number you need depends on the slab dimensions and the cut list, so the best approach is to send finished sizes and let the fabricator or supplier work out how many slabs are needed. Ask for the measured sizes of available slabs if you are planning the layout yourself.

For tiles, measure the floor area and add an allowance for cuts and breakages. Installers commonly add somewhere around 5–10 % for straight layouts and more for diagonal or complex layouts, but your installer should confirm the figure. State clearly whether your quantity already includes wastage, so it is not added twice.

For steps and skirting, give the number of treads and risers with their lengths and depths, and linear metres of skirting.

What the quote will and will not cover

A Stones Forever quotation covers stone supply as described. Fabrication (cutting to size, edge profiles, cut-outs) and installation are not confirmed services, so plan to appoint a fabricator or installer and coordinate them with the supply. Delivery or collection, unloading and timing are agreed per quotation; our delivery planning guide lists what to arrange on site.

Check that the quotation states the material, format, thickness, finish, grade, quantity, unit, and any conditions such as slab selection or validity. If something you asked for is not listed, query it before you confirm.

An example request

"Kitchen worktops for a villa in Sharjah. Black Galaxy granite, 30 mm, polished. Cutter slabs if possible. Two runs: 3.2 m × 0.62 m and 2.4 m × 0.62 m, plus an island 2.0 m × 0.95 m. Undermount sink and hob cut-outs (our fabricator will cut). Needed on site in four weeks. We will collect from the yard. Can we view the slabs first?"

That is enough to quote accurately, and to arrange a yard visit or remote video viewing before you confirm.