ordering from stoneCIRCLE
Everything we do is made to order to your specifications and in the stone of your choice. We want you to enjoy the whole experience from choosing your new granite or quartz worktop through to using it in your kitchen.
Please take a little time to understand the process and the peculiarities of natural stone, so that there are no misunderstandings or disagreements on the way. Everything here applies equally to everything we make, whether you are ordering a marble vanity unit, limestone shower tray, marble staircase or granite worktop.
We’ve broken it down into the various steps to guide you through your journey from learning about the material to enjoying it in your home.
You can download a copy of our Terms and Conditions here.
1. Understanding natural materials
a. Colour variations and sampling
The colour and veining of natural stone vary depending on which part of the seam or mountain it comes from. With some stones, it is possible to have a wide variation within one slab. These two photos of two different slabs of Belvedere Vintage show the possible difference in veining.
We are happy to provide you with small cut samples and will try to inform you when a stone has lots of variation, but the best thing to do is to come in and view the exact slab that will be used for your project.
b. Choice of stone
Not all stones are suitable for all uses. Limestone and some marbles are softer than granite and should be avoided in areas of heavy wear and tear. Even granite is porous and can stain. We can advise you on the right stone for your project.
c. Pitting and fissures
When stone forms, small bubbles and cracks can occur within it, which still exist millions of years later. We will fill these in as necessary before they leave the factory.
d. Product availability
We offer natural stone from all over the world. We aim to hold the most popular types in stock and can source others, as necessary. We’ll tell you if there is a danger that a particular stone may no longer be available, particularly where it may affect very large projects.
e. Stone is heavy
At typically 80kg per square metre for 30mm thick slabs, there are obvious constraints on the size of slabs that we can handle and install. We always try to minimise the number of joints but there will be times when size, access and installation considerations will determine the maximum size of the pieces that we produce.
f. Stone is brittle
The compressive strength of the stone is good, but its tensile strength is low. In layman’s terms, if you bend it, it will crack. For vulnerable stone, we resin bond strengthening rods into the stone to impart additional strength.
g. Stone is porous
A common misconception is that stone, particularly granite, is non-porous. In its natural state stone is porous and a sealer is required to keep it stain free.
If you intend to use stone for a shower tray or in a wet room, we recommend that the area is made waterproof prior to the installation of the stone. If it is tested and does not leak before the stone is fitted, it is unlikely to leak afterwards. It is also important to choose the correct trap and 'dress' the waterproofing into it. This will ensure that any moisture that does pass through the stone or its joints is routed into the drain.
Where a stone is to be fitted to the walls of wet areas such as showers, we recommend a tile backer board that is itself waterproof. These are specifically designed to maximise the adhesion of the stone to the wall and will provide the best long term result.
2. Estimating & Quotations
We will happily provide estimates and advice on any project and can let you know in advance if there is anything in the proposed plans that could cause us difficulties in manufacture or installation.
Please use our form to get an accurate quotation. All prices are subject to VAT. We will quote for delivery, templating and installation separately.
3. Delivery and Collections
We use a number of different delivery methods and we will choose the appropriate one to ensure that your stone reaches you in perfect condition, on time and at a reasonable cost. Of course, if you have a suitable vehicle, you are welcome to collect from us at the Shothanger works in Basingstoke. Goods collected at the works are then transported at the individual's own risk. Please ring to arrange a time to collect.
4. Ordering
It is best to place your order as soon as possible so that we can schedule it and avoid any unnecessary delays. We do need an official written order before we can proceed.
We need the following information on your order:
a. The job reference - name of customer, site, telephone number and our quotation number
b. The type of material, thickness and whether you need upstands.
c. The type of edge profile and any cut-outs required such as sink and hob for a kitchen worktop.
d. The required templating and installation dates if there are restrictions.
e. The address of the installation.
f. Your contact for the job if it is not you personally.
We will send you back an order acknowledgement clarifying any missing details if there are any. Please send it back with the required information so that we can confirm your templating date. If you do not receive an order acknowledgement, we may not have received your order so please get in touch as soon as possible.
Please ensure that you add in at least 10% to cover for cuts and breakages if ordering tiles.
5. Templating
Preparing the template
If you wish to make the template yourself, please bear in mind that we will work from prepared templates as long as they are in wood or plastic and are detailed enough for us to use. We cannot use cardboard or paper templates due to the nature of our manufacturing process. Please also note that we do not install to other people's templates, so if you want us to do the installation, we will need to prepare the template as well.
If we are doing the templating, it is imperative that the site is properly prepared when we arrive. If it is not, we may not be able to prepare the templates and in any case, it will result in delays.
Please make sure that you or someone who knows the details of the project is on site as we will need to clarify details.
Any change to the details of the original order made on site must be signed for and a new quotation will be provided where necessary.
We need the following to allow us to prepare a successful template:
a. All base units must be level and fixed in the final position.
b. Wall finishes must be complete and should not change between the templating and installation dates.
c. Wall battens should be securely fixed where required.
d. The sink and hob should be on site with a template if possible and their positions highlighted. Undermounted sinks need to be fully supported in the base unit.
e. The position and number of tap holes should be made clear.
f. We will also recheck all previously communicated details, i.e. material, colour and thickness, upstands, edge profiles, sink cut-outs and drainer grooves.
6. Production & installation constraints
We can make most things in stone but there are some constraints depending on both the type of stone and the conditions on site, so please bear in mind the following:
a. We manufacture to a +/- 2mm tolerance which is the industry standard.
b. Individual pieces of granite with cut-outs should ideally not exceed 2.5m in length.
c. Extra-large island tops and non-ground floor sites will require extra labour for installation.
If we feel that there are any potential problems in manufacture or transport once we have viewed the template, we will highlight these to you and suggest changes. If you still wish to proceed then any breakages in manufacture or transportation will be at your own risk and we reserve the right to charge for them.
Changes in materials at this stage may lead to delays if we do not have the material in stock.
7. Installation
stoneCIRCLE offers an installation service for most of the stone 'slab' work such as kitchen worktops and wall cladding. For tiling, we know local tradesmen and will recommend one in your area with whom we have worked previously for you to contact directly.
a. Lead time
Unless we are exceptionally busy, we work to a 5 working day lead time between templating and installation provided that we get any additional information we need in time to programme production.
b. Installation
We will contact you to agree on a time for the installation to go ahead. This is likely to be either a morning or an afternoon slot. If the fitters are likely to be later for any reason, we will ring you as soon as we can.
Please make sure that:
i. We have adequate lighting so we can see to do the job!
ii. We can get our van close to the building entrance as the stone is heavy.
iii. There is power available as we may need to do the hob cut-outs on site to avoid breakages in transit. Please let us know if there is a reason you cannot have dust on the site and we will make alternative arrangements.
iv. Kitchen base units are properly fixed so we can install the tops safely. Please note that if we are forced to wait too long on site, we may have to abort the installation and charge you the full installation fee.
v. Someone with the authority to sign off the job is present. Please check really carefully before signing. If there is a problem, please do not sign the form, as you will be charged if you later change your mind and we have to return to the site to sort out anything that would have been obvious at the time of installation.
If you have a tiler in after we’ve left, please don’t let him cut tiles on the worktop. It may well scratch!
8. Caring for your stone
To find out more about how to care for your stone, please visit our care and maintenance page.
