Technical guides
How to choose, specify, buy and maintain natural stone: practical guides and a glossary written by the Marmi di Carrara team.
Natural Stone Glossary A–Z: 60+ Trade Terms for Marble & Granite
Alphabetical glossary of 60+ natural stone trade terms: block, slab, bookmatch, vein-cut, honed, flamed, resin, mesh, ICODE, incoterms, selection grades. Essential for ar
Read the guide →Marble vs Granite vs Quartzite: How to Choose for Your Project
Discover the key differences between marble, granite, and quartzite for kitchens, bathrooms, floors and façades. Compare hardness, acid resistance, porosity, look, mainte
Read the guide →Choosing the Right Slab Thickness: 2 cm vs 3 cm vs Thin Tiles
Discover when to use 2 cm, 3 cm, or thin 1.2 cm marble slabs. Learn about spans, supports, weight, cost, and regional preferences for architects, designers, and contracto
Read the guide →Natural Stone Surface Finishes: Polished, Honed, Flamed & More
Compare polished, honed, flamed, and brushed stone finishes. Learn about slip resistance, maintenance, and visual effects for your project.
Read the guide →Outdoor Natural Stone Guide: Façades, Paving, Pools & Stairs
Selecting stone for outdoors? Learn about frost resistance, water absorption, suitable types like granite, and installation best practices for façades and pools.
Read the guide →Kitchen Worktops in Natural Stone: The Complete Guide
Discover the best natural stones for kitchen worktops. Learn about granite, quartzite, marble care, sealing, thickness, and how to request a quote.
Read the guide →Stone Floor Guide: Traffic, Slip Resistance & Installation Best Practices
Master stone flooring with this guide on traffic loads, slip classes, formats, and installation. Expert advice from Marmi di Carrara for architects and builders.
Read the guide →Understanding Natural Stone Quality Grades and Selection
Learn what Extra, First, Standard, and Commercial grades mean, how to assess colour and vein consistency, and specify stone to avoid disputes.
Read the guide →Resin, Mesh & Treatments for Natural Stone Slabs – What You Need to Know
Learn why stone slabs are resin‑impregnated and meshed, epoxy vs polyester, UV yellowing, vacuum resin, outdoor impact and how to spot treated surfaces.
Read the guide →Marble & Granite Sealing Guide: Maintenance & Care
Learn how to seal and maintain marble and granite. Discover impregnating sealers, pH-neutral cleaning, and routines for polished vs. honed surfaces.
Read the guide →Marble Stains, Etching & Repair Guide: Professional Restoration Tips
Learn how to identify and treat marble stains, acid etching, and chips. Practical guide to poultices, re-honing, and when to call a professional.
Read the guide →Natural Stone Technical Properties & EN Standards Guide
Understand apparent density, porosity, strength, and frost resistance of natural stone. A practical guide to EN standards for architects and contractors.
Read the guide →Incoterms & Shipping Guide for Natural Stone from Carrara
Comprehensive guide on EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP terms, container loads, packing, insurance, HS codes and transit times for Carrara stone worldwide.
Read the guide →Packing, Crates and Transport Damage Prevention for Natural Stone
Learn how to pack, crate and transport natural stone slabs safely. Practical tips on ISPM 15 crates, A‑frames, straps, foam separators, moisture control and delivery chec
Read the guide →Natural Stone Lead Times: From Quote to Delivery Guide
Understand natural stone lead times. Learn typical durations for stock, block sawing, cut-to-size, and shipping to plan your project accurately.
Read the guide →Cut‑to‑Size, Tolerances and Shop Drawings for Natural Stone
Learn how to prepare accurate DWG/PDF shop drawings, set tolerances, design edge profiles, plan holes, anchors, numbering, dry assembly and on‑site templating for Carrara
Read the guide →Edge Profiles for Stone Tops, Stairs and Tables: A Practical Guide
Discover the best edge profiles for tops, stairs and tables. Learn about straight, bevel, bullnose, half bullnose, ogee, mitred, laminated edges and drip grooves, and how
Read the guide →Stone Stairs Guide: Treads, Risers, Nosings & Anti-Slip
Expert guide on stone stair construction. Learn correct thickness for treads and risers, nosing profiles, anti-slip treatments, and outdoor durability from Carrara marble
Read the guide →Stone Façades & Ventilated Cladding: Technical Guide
Master stone façades with this guide on ventilated cladding, anchoring systems, EN 1469 compliance, wind loads, and suitable natural stone types.
Read the guide →Pool Copings & Wet Area Stone Guide – Slip‑Resistant, Durable & Beautiful
Learn how to choose, detail and maintain bullnose pool copings and wet‑area stone. Tips on slip resistance, water chemistry, thickness, drainage and sealing for granite,
Read the guide →Backlit Onyx & Translucent Stones Guide for Architects & Designers
Explore onyx and translucent marble for backlighting: thickness, LED panels, bookmatching, fragility, applications, cost and practical tips.
Read the guide →Travertine: Filled vs Unfilled, Vein-Cut vs Cross-Cut – A Practical Guide
Explore travertine types, finishes, outdoor suitability, Roman heritage, and price ranges. Ideal for architects, designers, contractors, and buyers seeking reliable stone
Read the guide →Limestone: Softness, Uses and Care – A Practical Guide
Explore the softness, density, finishes, outdoor suitability, staining risks, cleaning and typical architectural uses of Portuguese, French, Turkish and Italian limestone
Read the guide →Granite Guide: Types, Colours and Uses for Architects
Discover granite types, mineral colours, finishes and uses. A practical guide for architects and designers on selecting durable natural stone for kitchens and exteriors.
Read the guide →White Carrara Marbles: Bianco Carria, Statuario, Calacatta & Arabescato Guide
Explore the differences, veining, selection tips, pricing, uses and identification of Carrara's white marbles – Bianco Carrara, Statuario, Calacatta and Arabescato.
Read the guide →Understanding Colour and Vein Variation in Natural Stone Slabs
Learn how batch, quarry level and processing affect colour and veining, and get practical tips for sampling, approval, mixing and client communication.
Read the guide →Tiles vs Slabs: Natural Stone Format Guide for Architects
Compare natural stone tiles and large slabs. Analyze weight, cost, waste, and installation to choose the right format for floors and walls.
Read the guide →Installing Stone: Adhesives, Joints and Substrates
Learn how to choose the right adhesives, joints and substrates for stone installations. Practical guidance for architects, designers and contractors on cement-based, epox
Read the guide →Sustainability of Natural Stone: Durability, Recycling & Environmental Impact
Explore natural stone's 100‑year durability, recyclability, quarry restoration, water reuse, transport CO₂, EPDs and compare its sustainability to ceramics and engineered
Read the guide →What Determines Marble and Granite Prices – A Practical Guide
Learn the key factors that influence marble and granite pricing, from rarity and quarry yield to thickness, finish, transport and how to compare quotes accurately.
Read the guide →How to Read a Stone Quote: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers
Learn to decode stone quotes: units, prices, finishes, incoterms, VAT, and more. A concise, metric‑based guide for professionals in the stone industry.
Read the guide →Natural Stone vs Quartz, Porcelain & Sintered Slabs
An honest, technical comparison of natural stone against quartz composites, porcelain, and sintered slabs for architects and designers. Covers durability, aesthetics, and
Read the guide →Choosing the Right Natural Stone for Every Room – Practical Guide
Discover which natural stone families and finishes suit kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, stairs, exteriors, pools and more. Practical tips for architects and designers.
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