Selecting natural stone for real estate development is not merely a choice of a particular colour and texture.

For developers, there are performance, consistency, availability, cost and suitability considerations involved in choosing stone. At large volumes, a little inconsistency can affect the whole development project.

But how do experienced developers approach stone selection?

1. They Start with Application Requirements

The first question is not “What stone looks great?”

It is:

“For what application?”

Each application imposes certain requirements on performance of the material.

Developers may need stone for:

• Exterior walls and elevations
• Wall cladding made of natural stone
• Entrance zones and lobbies
• Driveways and walkways
• Landscaping
• Poolside
• Steps and outdoor areas
• High-traffic commercial areas

For example, a stone that is suitable for decorative wall cladding may not be a great fit for a heavy traffic floor. The application defines the technical requirements.

2. Technical Properties Come Before Appearance

Once application is determined, developers analyse technical parameters of the material.

Depending on the project, it can be:

• Water absorption
• Compressive strength
• Flexural strength
• Abrasion resistance
• Density
• Slip resistance
• Resistance to stains and chemicals

Importance of Each Property Depends On The Stone’s Application A stone used on floors will have different properties compared to one used in walls.

For example, a flooring stone should be resistant to abrasion, slippage, and strong enough.

While a wall stone should be strong too but the property of being anti-slippery is less important for vertical applications.

3. Important To Consider Indian Standards

A developer also needs a material which meets certain specifications and standards.

Bureau of Indian Standards provides standards for different building stones such as sandstone, limestone, marble, structural granite and so forth.

This makes it easier for developers to select materials based on standards rather than on appearance or the look of a particular stone in a showroom.

Technical information and test reports can therefore be very important for evaluating suppliers.

4. Batch Consistency Matters In Bulk Projects

The sample may be perfect. However, developers need to know whether such material can be supplied consistently. And this is true with natural stones since they come in different colors and textures naturally.

So prior to placing an order on a bulk amount of material, developers can evaluate:

• Batch-to-batch consistency
• Thickness and dimensional consistency
• Surface finish
• Color variation
• Quantity Available
• Production Capacity
• Expected Lead Time

This is where an experienced natural stone supplier really makes a difference. The supplier must have the capability to support the project’s scale, not just be able to provide some beautiful samples.

5. Physical Samples & Mock-Ups Help Avoid Expensive Mistakes

The physical sample provides a first impression of the material’s look. A mock-up provides a much better idea of the material’s performance in the actual design.

Developers and architects can use the mock-up to assess:

• Color of the stone in natural light
• Its texture and finish
• Pattern of the joints
• Details of its installation
• Overall performance against other materials

It may help detect design or installation problems before ordering large volumes of stone.

6. Stone Selection Involves Installation Too

Selecting the stone is only one step in the process. When used for cladding applications, developers should also consider the entire installation system.

It may include:

• Size and thickness of the stone
• Conditions of substrate
• Method of fixing/anchoring
• Jointing details
• Movements
• Drainage
• Wind load
• Installation quality

Strong stone doesn’t mean that any cladding system would be acceptable. The stone and installation should go together.

7. Developers Consider Whole Project Cost

The most economical stone does not necessarily result in the most economic development project.

The developer usually has to take into account all costs associated with procurement and installation, which include:

• Material
• Processing
• Finishing
• Packaging
• Transportation
• Wastage
• Installation fixtures
• Sealing if necessary
• Future maintenance

This way the true cost of the material in a big construction project can be evaluated better.

8. Supplier Capability is Critical in Procurement of Materials

For big projects, supplier reliability becomes as important as the material itself.

The developer may want to assess if the Indian stone manufacturer is able to supply the following:

• Bulk supply capability
• Production capacity
• Quality documentation
• Proper packaging
• Predictable delivery schedules
• Technical support
• Replacement material if needed
• Assistance in the project

These are the exact criteria on which the project positioning of JK Stones concentrates, including the quality and supply scalability for developers, architects and builders.

Conclusion

Natural stone may greatly influence the appearance and performance of a real estate project. But for large projects, the selection of the right material involves much more than choosing an aesthetically pleasing finish.

The correct stone depends on meeting all of these requirements.

Working with a professional supplier of natural stone will help architects, developers and contractors predict this process throughout selection and installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What factors do developers need to take into account when choosing natural stone?

A: They need to pay attention to the application, technical performance, aesthetic appearance, consistency, availability, installation requirements and costs of the entire project.

2. Why is consistency important for large projects?

A: In large projects, materials are used extensively. Color inconsistency, variations in thickness, texture and surface finishing may affect the overall look of the project.

3. Should natural stone be tested before the purchase in large quantities?

A: In case of necessity for the application, testing will help developers determine parameters like water absorption, strength, abrasion resistance and slip resistance before purchasing materials in large volumes.

4. What is good about mock-ups?

A: It allows developers and architects to examine the stone in real installation conditions before the full-scale project.

5. How to choose a natural stone supplier for a large project?

A: Pricing is not everything. Evaluate the supplier’s production capacity, consistency, documentation, quality control, delivery time, packing and other aspects.