Why a stone ranking chart is not a specification

Ask what the ranking measures.

A chart may mix rarity, colour, price, origin and general performance claims. Before using it to select a material, identify the criterion and the source behind each statement. An attractive ordering is not a test report.

Keep design preference separate from the properties the piece needs. A colour that suits the room and a material suitable for the intended use are related decisions, but they require different information.

Specify the evidence you need.

Request the actual material or product identification, finish, treatment and relevant technical documentation. Ask the supplier or responsible designer which properties need verification for the proposed use.

A number without a method, specimen or applicable product reference may be difficult to interpret. Avoid transferring a value from one broad material family to every stone sold under a similar label.

Compare complete proposals.

Use the same dimensions, construction, finish, support and delivery scope when comparing suppliers. Keep the sample and slab record attached to the quotation. Ask which assumptions remain open and how a substitution would be approved.

The result should be a clear decision record: why the material was selected, what was checked and who approved it. That record remains useful after a trend or sales ranking changes.

Your checklist

Questions before the next step