Inspection
Accountability and transparency in natural stone supply chains
Why we exist
Stone Inspectors exists to bring accountability and transparency to natural stone supply chains.
Professionals who specify, purchase, and install natural stone deserve accurate, independent information at every step — not reassurances from parties with a commercial interest in the sale.
Our mission is to give clients the confidence that what they specified is what they receive, and that the materials entering their projects meet the standards they were promised.
The procedure
A strict 10-step inspection procedure.
Honed by our experts over more than 20 years in the natural stone industry, and applied in the same order on every engagement.
-
Step 1: Physical, mechanical and petrographic properties
Assessed according to ASTM standards — the material is what it was sold as, and it behaves the way the specification requires.
-
Step 2: Sizes
Every nominal dimension measured against the approved specification, across a representative sample of the lot.
-
Step 3: Thickness
Checked at multiple points per piece — calibration drift shows up as thickness variation long before it shows up on site.
-
Step 4: Squareness
Corner-to-corner and diagonal verification. Out-of-square material is the most common cause of unworkable joint lines.
-
Step 5: Concavity and convexity
Surface flatness measured across the face. Warp and cupping are invisible in a photograph and unmissable once laid.
-
Step 6: Edges and corners
Chipping, bruising, arris condition and edge profile consistency — inspected piece by piece, not lot by lot.
-
Step 7: Surface and finishing
Polish, honing, brushing, flaming or tumbling assessed for uniformity and for compliance with the approved sample.
-
Step 8: Selection and colour variation
Dry-laid and reviewed as a set. Veining, background tone and movement judged against the control sample and the agreed variation range.
-
Step 9: Packing
Crate construction, bundling, edge protection and moisture control — verified before the container doors close.
-
Step 10: Shipping
Loading supervision, container condition, securing and documentation, so the material that passed inspection is the material that sails.
Coverage
Each step is a detailed evaluation tailored to the type of stone and the type of product.
Stone types
- Marble
- Travertine
- Limestone
- Onyx
Product types
- Blocks
- Slabs
- Tiles
- Decorative Elements
In the field
Inspections in progress.
Get in touch
Contact us for further information.
We'll walk you through our inspection procedure, our workflow, and pricing for your project.