Many homeowners are not well-informed about the properties of natural stone and often lack knowledge about its quality standards. As a result, they tend to opt for ceramic tiles when decorating their homes. The quality of natural stone is typically evaluated based on three main factors: appearance, processing, and gloss. Understanding these criteria can help consumers make more informed choices when purchasing stone materials.
1. Three Key Observations for Appearance Quality
The appearance of stone includes visual defects such as chipped edges, cracks, stains, color lines, pits, or warping. According to the standards for natural granite and marble building boards, superior products must have a consistent color tone and no visible defects. Yang Xinli explained that the inspection method involves placing the stone flat on the ground and checking for defects from a distance of 1.5 meters. If the defect is clearly visible at this distance, it’s considered defective. If the defect is not obvious at 1.5 meters but becomes visible at 1 meter, it’s classified as having minor imperfections. Any defect that is invisible within 1 meter is considered acceptable.
2. Three Measures for Processing Quality
The processing quality of stone plays a crucial role in the final aesthetic outcome and is a key factor in determining the product’s grade. Yang Xinli noted that the main technical indicators include dimensional accuracy (length, width, thickness), flatness, and angle tolerance. Based on these measurements, stone panels are categorized into top-grade, first-class, and qualified products. To avoid ambiguity, Yang advised consumers to specify the desired quality level in their purchase contracts rather than using general terms like “meeting national standards.†For example, if a batch is labeled as top-grade, no more than 5% should be first-class. Similarly, first-class batches should not contain more than 10% qualified products, and qualified batches should not have more than 10% non-conforming items.
3. Three Gloss Units to Determine Quality Level
Gloss, also known as specular gloss, refers to how well the stone reflects light. According to the standard for natural granite slabs, the surface should reflect the surroundings clearly, with a minimum gloss value of 75 units. Yang Xinli mentioned that most high-quality granite has a gloss value between 80 and 90, which provides an excellent reflective finish. For marble, the minimum gloss values for top-grade products vary depending on the chemical composition, ranging from 90 to 60 units. Consumers are encouraged to specify the required gloss level in their contracts or use the gloss value of a sample board as a reference.
According to industry data, natural stone accounts for about 20% of the home improvement market, with some luxury homes using it in up to 30-40% of their decor. From flooring to countertops, and even cabinets and furniture, stone has become a popular choice across all areas of home design. As more stone companies target this growing market, they are focusing on brand reputation, customer service, and experiential marketing strategies to attract buyers.
Taizhou Hongchuang Hardware Co., Ltd. , https://www.taizhouhongchuang.com