When you decided to take weekend off, and go down to slab yard to pick out your perfect stone slab(s), here are some useful tips on how to pick out the best slab.

slab yard.
So, you at the slab yard or showroom! How do you know, witch stone or slab is the best Natural Stone slab for you? And what, to look out for when choosing stone?

Here are few things to keep in mind when choosing stone slab:
Check the surface of the stone. Some stone slab surfaces have smooth polish while others have dimples, pitting, or cracks running through them. Run your hands over the stone to check for cracks. Being a natural stone, cracks and dimples aren't a bad thing. They are characteristics of the natural stone. But, is it something you like?

Check for fractures or deep long lines and (or) scratches, on surface, which are running through the stone. These lines or scratches may weaken the stone or cause it to break. If you really like the stone, sometimes fissures can be cut around, so consult your counter top fabricator, to get his or hers opinion.

Look for blemishes in the stone. Strange swirls or large masses may be an ugly thing. Look over the entire slab and choose a stone based on what is visually appealing to you. If you don’t pick out your stone, and it happens that there are some blemishes in stone, it will be hard to argue with fabricator, since this is Natural Stone, and there are no two slabs a like.

 
Fiber mesh on back side of "Gold"
granite slab. Click on the image for close up.
If you notice a mesh fiber on the back side of the stone, this tells you it is a more delicate or brittle Natural Stone. But that "absolutely" doesn't mean it is a bad stone slab.

If you need more than one slab, make sure the slabs are "sister slabs" from the same bundle. On the slab there should be “slab number” either on the side of the slab or writhen on sticker on the slab. Slabs from different areas in the same quarry can vary noticeably.

Once you choose your stone slabs, put the stone slab(s) on hold. It's a good idea to have them, to hold an extra slab or two for you until you or your fabricator figures out exactly ho much stone you need for the project.

By the way, you maybe wondering where I can see the stone slabs? Its possible, that your fabricator will not have the stone you want, in their yard, but they can tell you, where they bay the stone from. And a good starting point is our Natural Stone photo galleries.