Trusted Masonry, Concrete, Brick & Stone Services in London

Stone is a natural product and no two pieces are ever identical. Some products have fairly subtle differences from slab to slab and batch to batch, whereas others contain a lot of variation. This makes it impossible for us to show a true representation of the stone you will receive in just one 75mm x 75mm sample. We strongly recommend that you make a visit to one of our showrooms to view the stone in situ. Again, what you see at the showroom will not be identical to the stone you receive, but the more stone you can view the better idea you will have of what to expect.

Open and mix pallets of stone before laying. Do not just lay from one pallet at a time as this ensures an even mix of the natural variation and colour. It also gives the opportunity to spot any pieces that will want to be left for cuts and wastage.

Yes, although it is harder to do so than with Natural stone. You will need to use a blade specifically designed to cut Porcelain. This are available to purchase from London Stone, if required. We also recommend using water whilst cutting which helps keep the blade cool and reduces the risk of chipping. Also, if the blade gets extremely hot and fails, it can result in injury not just to those around you, but others nearby as well. It is also not recommended to use a 115mm angle grinder to cut porcelain. They are too small, which means the blade may not get time to cool.

On light coloured paving materials use a white rubber mallet to tap them down with or wrap a rag around a normal mallet. This prevents rubber marks getting transferred to the paving material which can cause unsightly stains that are difficult to remove. It is also advised for some specific stone to use white cement and river washed sand (see individual product guides for further information).

Clients, especially trade clients can make a real difference in the fight to improve conditions for workers in foreign supply chains. If you buy or specify natural stone, ask your stone suppliers about what they are doing to improve conditions for workers, challenge them to prove that they are sourcing products ethically. Talk to your customers too, educate them about the human cost of buying cheap natural stone that has been sourced without any regard for the welfare of workers. It doesn't sound like much, but talking about the issues at every opportunity and supporting suppliers who source their products ethically does create leverage for change.