All natural stone needs to be sealed to ensure that it doesn''t degrade due to moisture and other elements.  So, if you''ve chosen natural stone wall cladding, you''ll need to seek out the latest in stone sealers.  Check with your retailer about the right ones to use with your choice in natural stone.  Generally speaking, it''s a good idea to keep any acidic cleaners away from natural stone surfaces.  So, choose your cleaners wisely; talk to retailers, read the labels, and follow all of the instructions on the packaging.

If you''ve decided to go with faux stone siding, the best way to keep it clear of unwanted materials is to hose it down about twice a year.   That is pretty much it. Faux stone is designed to be low maintenance and hard wearing as an exterior surface.  These are some of the many reasons it''s become as popular as it has in the past few years.

Granite tiles and slabs come in different thicknesses. The weight per square foot for each thickness is as follows:

• 3/4(20mm) thick slab: 12.8 lbs. sq. ft.


• 1 1/4(30mm) thick slab: 18 lbs sq. ft.

Granite is heavy and will require proper equipment or labour to accept goods on delivery. Please check weight of goods before they are delivered so you are properly prepared.

Packing depends on the nature of the product as follows:

• counter tops are bundled in quantities of 10 pieces in wooden crates.


• Vanity tops are bundled in quantities of 30 pieces in wooden crates.

BuildDirect supplies only first quality material. The quality of the material is determined by measuring different parameters of a granite product through the entire production process:   

• Mining – BuildDirect''s granites are mined utilizing modern methods. Some mines still use dynamite or blasting methods to reduce cost, but this also damages the granite. The shock wave created by the blast will cause invisible hairline cracks which will result in the stone cracking at some later time.


• Cutting – BuildDirect''s granites are cut by using water as coolant to ensure a lifetime guarantee on the quality of the product.


• Dimensions – Product dimensions are controlled within the stipulated limits in ASTM standards. Tiles are calibrated to ensure their thickness is uniform. Gauging is done to ensure the tiles are square. Beveling is done to produce a smooth edge on the tiles


• Inspection: Inspection is done at different stages of the manufacturing process and the products are segregated for unusual patches, major color variation, cracks, dimensions, surface finish, and other quality issues. They are then categorized as first, second, and commercial quality. BuildDirect supplies only first quality material. 

Not as such.  All natural stone pavers are the products of millions of years of development. Random mineral elements in each slab of stone, from which the pavers are cut, mean that there are naturally occurring differences in color and pattern from paver to paver.

Generally though, there is a subtle tonal range in travertine and granite that you can use to your advantage when laying out each paver.  Slate pavers tend to have more radical differences, but the principle is the same; you can use the variations to your advantage when laying pavers, and the result is a visual effect that reflects your creative expression.