FAQ

Common finishes are polished (mirror gloss), honed (smooth matte), brushed, leathered (textured matte with a soft feel), flamed, bush-hammered and sandblasted. Suitability depends on the stone: polished and honed suit marble and quartzite indoors, while flamed, bush-hammered and sandblasted finishes are mainly for granite and sandstone used outdoors where slip resistance matters. Flaming damages marble crystals, so it is not offered on marble. For white marble countertops polished and honed are the usual choices; honed or a textured matte finish is often recommended for bathroom floors because it shows less water spotting. Finish changes how light reads on the slab, so we recommend confirming the finish on an approved sample before production.

Common profiles are eased, beveled, bullnose, half-bullnose, ogee, waterfall and mitered (45° return). Modern white marble projects usually work best with eased, mitered or waterfall edges because straight lines keep the veining continuous; classical interiors often suit an ogee profile. Waterfall and mitered edges require the side pieces to be cut from the same slab area so the pattern runs around the corner, which affects yield and cost. When you order, tell us the countertop thickness (20 mm and 30 mm are common) and whether you need a backsplash, because changing the edge after cutting is expensive.

Standard North American bathroom vanities are about 21 inches deep, and vanity tops are usually made 22 inches deep (about 560 mm) to leave a slight front overhang. Lengths typically run from 24 inches (about 610 mm) for a single sink to 72 inches (about 1830 mm) or more for two sinks. Metric projects can be made to the cabinet drawing. For white marble vanity tops please also confirm the sink type (above-counter or under-counter), the cutout positions and whether you want an integrated backsplash — it is easier to get these details right on the drawing than to correct them after cutting.

Standard kitchen base cabinets are 24 inches deep, so prefabricated countertops are commonly made 25.5 inches deep (about 648 mm) to give a 1.5-inch overhang. Lengths follow the cabinet layout, typically from 74 to 120 inches (about 1880 to 3050 mm). Kitchen islands are often around 40 by 76 inches (about 1016 by 1930 mm), and larger kitchens can take longer islands. Prefabricated tops are economical because they are made in fixed sizes, but the seams and cutouts follow fixed positions. White marble with visible veining usually needs a cut-to-size top from selected slabs instead, so the seams can be placed where they suit the pattern.

Floor and wall tiles are commonly supplied in 12 by 12, 16 by 16, 18 by 18 and 24 by 24 inches (305 by 305, 406 by 406, 457 by 457 and 610 by 610 mm), with metric options such as 600 by 600 and 600 by 1200 mm for white marble walls. Stair treads are typically about 33 by 120 inches (838 by 3048 mm) and risers about 7 by 120 inches (178 by 3048 mm); both can be cut to the project stair width and rise. Tell us whether treads need a slip-resistant treatment or edge rounding, and order white marble treads and risers from the same batch so the tone does not change between steps.

Slab sizes follow the quarry and the block, not a fixed standard. Many white marble slabs run about 120 by 78 inches (approximately 3050 by 1980 mm, close to 6 m²), while others come in 2800 by 1600 mm or larger formats. Gang-saw random slabs commonly measure 77 to 118 inches long and 47 to 78 inches high (about 1960 to 3000 mm by 1200 to 1980 mm). Because slab size changes usable yield and freight cost, we quote from the actual slab list for the batch rather than from a nominal size. Common thicknesses are 18, 20 and 30 mm, and surface flatness and mesh backing are confirmed before packing.

Check the packing list marks and count first, then look at the crate or frame for impact damage before opening. When unpacking, inspect corners, edges and faces for chips, cracks, scratches and water staining. For white marble, watch for slabs from a different batch mixed into the delivery, because the background tone can differ. Photograph every issue with the mark number in the same frame, note it on the delivery receipt, and send the photos to us within 24 hours. Problems found after installation are much harder to assign, so the inspection step is worth doing properly. For a fuller checklist see our article on tapping tiles for hollow sound before removal.

Deliveries are made under the trade terms in the contract, and transit damage is handled according to who arranged the carriage and insurance. Whatever the cause, the first step is evidence: photographs of the damaged pieces, the original packing kept for inspection, and a count of any shortage against the packing list. We keep loading photos and the packing list for every shipment, so we can confirm whether a shortage or defect existed at the factory. If it is our responsibility, we arrange replacement or compensation under the contract; if it belongs to the carrier, we provide the documents needed for the claim. Claim deadlines and required documents should be agreed before you place the order.

Slabs travel in steel A-frames, upright, with protective film on the faces, foam separators between slabs, corner protection and steel strapping. Tiles are boxed on wooden pallets with corner guards and stretch wrap. Fabricated tops and shaped pieces go in wooden crates, which are fumigated or heat-treated under ISPM-15 where the destination country requires it, with the certificate provided. The container is braced so cargo cannot shift in transit. Before loading, white marble slabs are checked face by face and photographed with their slab numbers, so you can verify the delivery against the same numbers at arrival.

Loading is done by our in-house team: slabs go upright in the container, smaller and lighter cases are stowed on top, heavy material is kept off fragile material, and the load is braced against the container walls. The container seal number is recorded on the packing list, and loading can be photographed or filmed on request. Third-party inspection before loading, or a customer representative watching the loading, can be arranged with a few working days’ notice.

Lead time depends on the stone, the quantity and the work involved, so a written schedule is agreed before the order is placed rather than quoted from a blanket number. Stock tiles usually move faster than cut-to-size or fabricated work, and orders that need slab selection, bookmatching or a specific batch need extra time for the approval stage. Send us the stone, finish, sizes and quantity and we will confirm a production schedule with milestones, then keep you updated at each point. For white marble projects we recommend approving slab photos before production starts, because batch selection affects the result more than a few days of schedule.

Yes. Standard fabrication covers cutting slabs to size from drawings, CNC sink and tap holes, edge profiling, back bevels, integrated backsplashes, bookmatching and flow matching, and mitered or waterfall corners. For white marble with visible veining we lay the pieces out dry first, record the slab numbers and the vein direction, and send you the layout for approval before cutting. Send a CAD or PDF drawing, or a measured sketch, with hole positions measured from the edges, the edge profile and the seam positions marked. For table tops and furniture pieces, include the thickness and the support structure so the stone can be sized correctly.

Quality control runs in six steps. First, block and slab selection against the approved sample colour and veining range. Second, slab inspection after sawing, where fissures, iron lines and other natural features are checked and documented, with resin and mesh work recorded honestly. Third, surface finishing to the agreed standard with a final hand check. Fourth, dimensional checks on cut-to-size pieces against the drawing tolerances. Fifth, a pre-shipment check where every piece is matched to its slab number and photographed as the QC record. Sixth, packing and container loading with photos kept on file. Third-party pre-shipment inspection can be arranged with notice. The same discipline appears in our Knowledge articles on slab approval and batch matching.

Esta Stone is based in Xiamen and works with two supply routes: Chinese white marble from our own and partner quarries, and imported blocks from Italy (Carrara-area Calacatta, Carrara and Statuario), Greece (Volakas and Thassos), North Macedonia (Sivec), plus Turkey, Spain, Brazil and India for other marbles, granites and quartzites. Origins rotate with the market, and stones sold under the same commercial name can differ in background tone between quarries, so we quote against actual slab photos of the current batch rather than the name alone. Origin and quarry information can be listed on the quotation.

Natural marble (white families such as Calacatta, Carrara, Statuario, Sivec, Volakas and Thassos, plus darker marbles like Nero Marquina), granite from China, India and Brazil, quartzite including exotic varieties, travertine, limestone, slate, sandstone, onyx, and engineered stone including quartz and sintered stone. Product forms cover slabs, tiles, countertops and prefabricated vanity tops, stone furniture, mosaics and medallions, stair parts and outdoor paving. One point worth making: quartzite and quartz are different materials, with different performance and price, and our quotations state clearly whether a stone is natural or engineered.

Yes, with the right slab selection, correct installation and a realistic maintenance routine. Marble is a calcium-based stone, so it is sensitive to acids such as vinegar, citrus and many cleaning products, and to standing water if the substrate lets moisture sit behind the face. For showers we recommend lower-porosity white marble, a honed or matte finish for slip resistance, mould-resistant grout, and falls and waterproofing done to code. Several of our Knowledge articles cover the problems that appear after installation, including grout haze versus etching, hollow-sound tiles and dark sealant joints. Tell us at the quotation stage that the stone is for a wet area, and we select the slab and finish accordingly.

Natural stone is never identical from piece to piece. Different blocks from the same quarry, and different layers of the same block, produce different background tone and veining, so a small sample shows the character of the stone family, not the character of your batch. That is why we send full-slab photos or videos and confirm slab numbers before dispatch, and why multi-room projects need batch matching: if two different batches are mixed across hotel rooms or a large floor, the tone difference becomes visible after installation. For a worked example, see our article on Calacatta batch matching for hotel bathrooms.

No. A penetrating sealer reduces how fast liquids soak in and buys time for cleaning, but it does not stop acid from etching the surface. Lemon juice, vinegar or wine left on polished marble will still leave a dull mark, and etching is a chemical change rather than a stain, so normal cleaners will not remove it; the surface may need re-polishing. The practical rules for white marble countertops are to wipe acids promptly, use pH-neutral cleaners and protect the surface from heavy impact. Sealing still matters for stain resistance. Timing and product selection are covered in our article on protecting white marble after installation.

Yellowing usually comes from iron minerals oxidising inside the slab, resin or adhesive ageing, or old stains from tea, coffee or cleaning products. Dark patches more often mean moisture sitting behind the tile, mould, or adhesive shadow showing through thin stone. The right response is diagnosis before treatment: aggressive acid cleaning or bleach can turn one uncertain mark into permanent damage. Our article on diagnosing white marble bathroom problems explains how to separate rust, efflorescence, picture framing and etching, and this one covers rust stains. If you are unsure, send photos with the location, when it appeared and the cleaning history, and we will point you to the right specialist treatment.

Because layout decides the result. With white marble, half the value is in the veining: bookmatching needs two slabs mirrored from the same cut, flow matching needs the pattern to continue across a seam, and cutouts and joints should avoid heavy veins and natural fissures. None of that can be checked on a hand sample. A sample fixes the colour range; the slab photos fix which pieces go together. For cut-to-size and bookmatched orders we always produce a dry layout drawing or photo for approval before cutting. The same point is explained in our guide to full-slab approval and vein layout.

Every shipment includes the commercial invoice, packing list with marks and slab numbers, and the bill of lading or waybill. QC photos and container loading photos are provided with dispatch. On request we can supply origin and quarry statements, test reports agreed at the time of ordering (for example ASTM water absorption, compressive strength or abrasion results), and the ISPM-15 fumigation certificate for wooden crates. For white marble orders we can add a slab register: a photo of each slab matched to its number and to the room or drawing position, so site acceptance is a simple check against the register.

A quotation is fastest when the request includes the stone (or a photo of the look you want), the finish, the product form and sizes, the quantity, the destination port or trade terms, and the intended use, because wet areas and kitchens change our slab recommendations. Email [email protected] or message WhatsApp +86-13950063644. For white marble projects, say that you want full-slab photo confirmation and we will include the approval step in the schedule.