Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to the most common questions we receive from clients, designers and fabricators. At Gerald Culliford Ltd, we have been supplying natural and engineered stone to the UK market for over 60 years. The guidance below is based on our direct experience across thousands of residential and commercial projects. If you need further advice, our team is always happy to help. Contact Us

Can you give me an idea of price or a ballpark cost?

We are happy to provide indicative material pricing to help guide your budget. Across our range, materials are typically grouped as:

£ – Entry Level
££ – Mid Range
£££ – Premium
££££ – High End / Rare Materials

Pricing depends on several factors, including:

Material type and origin
Slab size and thickness
Surface finish (polished, honed, textured)
Availability at the time of enquiry

As a wholesale slab supplier, we do not carry out fabrication or installation. Your final installed cost will be provided by your chosen fabricator and will typically include:

Templating
Cutting and edge detailing
Transport and installation

Based on our experience, the best approach is to obtain a fabricator quote alongside your material selection, so you have a clear understanding of total project cost. We are happy to recommend trusted fabricators if needed.

Is the material I’m interested in currently in stock?

Stock levels change frequently. Some materials are available immediately, while others may be reserved, sold, or due in shortly. Natural materials on our website are in stock but may have some reservations or orders made against the particular stock, just ask us for live availability. If we can’t give you slabs from our current stock, we may be able to bring in more from our suppliers or find similar.

If you contact us with the material name (or a link from our website), we can confirm current availability, the number of slabs available, and whether any slabs are already reserved or incoming.

What slab sizes and thicknesses do you carry?

Slab sizes vary by material and supplier, but most slabs are approximately 250-300 × 160- 180 cm. Common thicknesses include 20mm and 30mm, depending on the product range. Some ceramics are available in 12mm and even 6mm (normally use for flooring or wall cladding).

Not all thicknesses are suitable for every application, so if you let us know how the material will be used — for example, a kitchen worktop, flooring, wall cladding or a commercial project — we can advise accordingly.

Can I see images of the slabs or view them online?

Yes, for most materials (especially natural stone) we take images of each block (a block is a collection of slabs) when it arrives, we can share photographs via email or WhatsApp, or they can be viewed in the Current Stock section of our website. The images are normally of the front or back of the block. We also sometimes have production line images, which, although not great for colour, can show how veining moves through a block. We only sell from the front or back of a block, we don’t take slabs out of the middle.

For natural stone especially, we always recommend viewing the actual slab or block in person before final selection, as colour, movement and veining will vary from slab to slab.

Do you offer samples?

Yes, we offer samples for many materials, including porcelain, ceramic and selected natural stones. Sample availability varies depending on the product and finish. Often the rarer and more expensive materials are not possible to sample.

If you let us know which material or materials, you’d like to sample and where they should be sent, we can advise on availability and next steps. Request Samples

Do you sell directly to the public?

We are a trade-focused wholesale supplier, supplying stone slabs to professional fabricators rather than directly to the public. This approach is based on over 60 years of industry experience and is designed to protect the end customer and ensure the best final result.

Purchasing raw slabs involves several technical and logistical risks, including:

Handling and potential breakages
Natural variation and quality control
Cutting, finishing and installation
Transport and site access

Experienced fabricators manage these factors and ensure the finished installation meets both technical and aesthetic standards. While some companies now offer slabs directly to consumers, this can transfer responsibility and risk to the buyer. Based on our experience, we strongly recommend working with a professional fabricator to achieve the best outcome.

Can you recommend a fabricator?

In many cases, yes. If you let us know the location of your project and the material you are interested in, we can often suggest a fabricator who regularly works with that type of stone or surface.

What are your opening hours, and do I need an appointment?

Our yard is open Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. No appointment is required, but if you are travelling a long distance or would like to view specific slabs, we recommend contacting us in advance so we can ensure everything is available for you. Weekend openings are limited and subject to availability. Contact Us

What are the lead times for materials that aren’t in stock?

Lead times depend on the material, supplier and country of origin. Some products may already be on order, while others can be imported on request. If European, and we have trucks loading from a supplier, a lead time can be as little as 1 week if a product is ordered quickly, but typically, if something is not in stock, but is in stock with our suppliers, it will take around 3–5 weeks. For materials outside of Europe, we would advise during the offer / order process.

We’re happy to advise on expected lead times where possible or suggest alternative materials that may be available sooner.

Is this material suitable for my project?

Suitability depends on a number of factors, including the material type, thickness, finish, intended application, and personal preferences; many people love the natural patinas of a lot of natural stone, but others want a carefree environment, so something man-made might suit. We will answer as many questions about this as possible to help you make the right choice for yourself.

We’re happy to provide guidance, but for technical confirmation and installation details, it’s always best to review the final specification with your fabricator or installers to ensure the right solution for long‑term performance.

Why choose stone?

In modern and traditional buildings, marble and granite are more widely used today than ever before, chosen because they are durable, practical and timeless. The vast range available from Cullifords gives unlimited scope for the architect, client and stonemason alike to enhance the beauty and value of any building by the creative use of natural stone.

What is Marble?

Marble is a metamorphic natural stone formed when limestone is subjected to intense heat and pressure deep within the earth’s crust. This geological process recrystallises the original calcite minerals, creating the distinctive veining, luminosity, and fine-grained structure that have made marble a prized material for architecture and sculpture for thousands of years. Learn More

What is Limestone?

Limestones are sedimentary rocks rich in carbonates and composed chiefly of calcite. Limestones form by organic or inorganic processes mainly deposited from marine remains and constitute between 15% -25% of sedimentary rocks exposed above sea level. Learn More

What is Granite?

In the stone industry Granite is often used as a collective term for igneous rocks which have similar properties to that of actual Granite.

Actual Granite is a coarse grained igneous rock and consists essentially of quartz and Alkali Feldspar. Granites are igneous rocks with an origin deep within the earth where rocks melt because temperatures are so high. They form by the cooling of molten material and the perfection and size of crystals show the extreme slowness at which each mineral is cooled.

Within our stocks we have many materials from Gneiss, Dolerites, Granodiorite’s & Syenites, which often fall under the collective heading of Granites and in most cases can be used in the same way. Learn More

What is Travertine?

Travertines are a hard very compact material typically deposited in volcanic regions, where cooling carbonate – saturated water is exposed. These materials are usually white but can be yellow, beige or red, all formed from impurities such as iron. The characteristic holes found in Travertines are created when bubbles of carbon dioxide are trapped as the stone cools.

Marbles are Metamorphosed Limestones which have undergone intense pressure and heat, yet still chiefly consisting of calcite although other minerals can be present.

As with Granites the word Marble is often used to classify many different types of material. In it’s broadest sense it means polished stone. Within our stocks we have many materials from Serpetines, Onyx and Quartzite’s which often fall under the collective heading of marble, and in most cases be used in the same way. Learn More

What maintenance does stone require?

Natural Stone is a porous material but provided it is treated with respect it will last for many years. Below are a few guidelines to help preserve the beauty of the material.

We would recommend that a sealant is applied, generally by the fabricator, but should be re-applied overtime, we would suggest Dry-Treat, now known as Stain-Proof

Floors should be kept clean on a daily basis using a soft broom and all dust particles, grit, etc, removed.

Spillages on all surfaces should be wiped up immediately with a damp cloth.

Floors should be washed thoroughly on a weekly basis using warm water and a neutral detergent e.g. Lithofin Easy Care is ideal for regular maintenance on all stone surfaces. Lithofin Products are available from Cullifords Tel: 020 8390 4656. For further Technical Information you can contact visit the Lithofin website.

Stubborn stains such as those caused by rubber shoe marks, etc, should be removed by using a special multipurpose cleaner, like Lithofin Wexa.

Abrasives must never be used and domestic soap will tend to leave a slippery film on the surfaces.

Do not use household or commercial cleaning agents, which contain bleach.

In the case of minor stains or joints requiring re-pointing you should seek professional advice.

Can you match new and old material?

Natural Stone is variable by its nature. With some materials it is often possible to match old sample to new, however quarry seams can change over time and sometimes materials can run out altogether. If you have a sample to match we try our best to find the material you are looking for or we will suggest similar alternatives.

Can I see the exact piece being supplied?

The slabs in our yard are stored together as the blocks from which they were cut. It is possible to see the front slab from a particular block, but not always the exact slab which will be used for the particular job. This should not worry you too much though; there is usually very little variance through a block from slab to slab. In terms of tiles, for big jobs we can supply samples of the material which will be supplied. For smaller jobs we would provide a sample which would be a representation of the material to be supplied.

Author & Expertise 

This content has been prepared and reviewed by the team at Gerald Culliford Ltd, a UK-based stone supplier with over 60 years of experience. Oliver Webb’s expertise in business and marketing, coupled with his business partner, James Semmens’ degree in geology, and backed up by 3 generations of prior management have made for a winning team over the last 60 years and more. About Us