Sourcing natural stone for contract work
If you’re looking to source natural stone for contract work or business use, it can be tricky knowing where to start. How do you select a natural stone supplier who can provide exactly what you need, where and when you need it? Here, we explain the key things you need to consider.
There’s no shortage of natural stone suppliers out there, so finding a wide selection to choose from will never be a problem! But not all stone suppliers are the same. If you’re searching for the right partner to deliver natural stone for contract work to suit your customer’s exacting requirements, read on – and choose wisely…
Quality AND quantity – don’t forget to check both!
It goes without saying that you’ll be looking for the best quality natural stone you can possibly find to complete the job to your customer’s satisfaction, within budget.
But you also need to make sure your chosen supplier can supply enough stone for your project. So, while it’s obviously important to check the quality of the base stone and stone workmanship, you also need to be sure that there will be sufficient stocks available to complete the job.
Where do you want it… and when?
Another important consideration with natural stone for businesses is logistics. If your chosen stone supplier offers a delivery service, that’s normally the simplest option to go for. But you do need to check a few things first.
Can they deliver to fit in with your construction timings? Are they flexible – for example, will they offer a staggered, ‘just-in-time’ delivery schedule? It may help your other trades if you don’t have to store the full stone consignment on site for weeks before it is actually needed.
And finally, here’s something fairly obvious which is often overlooked. Can your supplier’s standard delivery vehicles (and forklifts) access the site to drop the natural stone for contract work exactly where you want it? If they can only deliver it to the roadside – or can’t get through a narrow site approach – you’ll have the challenge of moving it later!
The two Es – ‘Eco’ and ‘Ethics’
More and more end customers are (quite rightly) becoming concerned about the ecological and ethical issues around product supply. Stone for contract work is clearly a naturally occurring substance. But the work taken to extract and process it needs to be carefully managed to minimise the environmental impact wherever possible.
If you’re considering imported stone, there are two added issues. First, there are ‘stone miles’ – the huge ecological cost of transporting heavy chunks of stone around the world. Secondly, stone industry regulation in some countries is poor (or non-existent). This can lead to serious ethical concerns around corruption, child labour and modern slavery.
The easiest way to avoid these issues is to check your chosen supplier’s ecological and ethical policies carefully. And clearly, if you can opt for locally sourced natural stone for contract work, so much the better.
Get a guarantee!
Most reputable providers of natural stone for businesses should offer some form of guarantee. Find out what your chosen supplier offers – and, as always, don’t forget to read the small print!
What do others say?
Don’t just take your stone supplier’s word for it! Look for any reviews and testimonials you can find from previous customers who’ve actually used your chosen supplier. And it’s also worth checking if your proposed stone supplier is a member of a recognised trade body like the GB Stone Federation. If not, you might want to ask them why!
About Stamford Stone
If you’re looking for locally sourced natural stone for contract work, the team at Stamford Stone are ready and waiting to help!
We operate our own quarries – adhering to strict ethical and environmental guidelines – on the famous Lincolnshire limestone belt.
When it comes to natural stone for businesses, we offer a full service – including cutting, design and expert in-house stonemasonry. Contact us today to find out more.