Stone products from China are supplied in two different shapes: standard formats that ship by the container with fixed specifications — slabs, tiles, paving, blocks — and fabricated items made to project drawings, where the drawing, the tolerance and the inspection rule matter more than the catalogue. The pages below cover both.
Each page states the formats and finishes available, the specification items a buyer should fix before ordering, and how the finished product is packed and checked. If you are deciding between materials rather than between formats, start from the material pages instead.
From Quotation to Container
Fabricated stone is bought on a drawing, not on a catalogue page. The sequence below is what keeps a project from arriving with the wrong dimensions or the wrong finish.
Fix the drawing and the specification
A usable specification names the stone, the finish, the thickness, the edge treatment, the tolerance and the inspection light. For cut-to-size work it also includes the setting-out drawing. Anything left out becomes a question the factory answers by assumption.
Approve a sample of the exact item
Approve the stone and the finish together, and where an edge or a joint is critical, approve that too. A colour family sample does not establish what a honed finish looks like on the delivered block.
Inspect against the agreed rule
Inspection compares production against the approved sample and the stated tolerance — dimensions, thickness, flatness, surface defects, colour range, and for fabricated items the position of cutouts and edges. Photographs of the actual bundles, tied to the batch reference, are the record the buyer keeps.
Pack for the journey, not for the factory
Slabs travel in A-frame bundles, tiles in crates, and fabricated pieces in individual frames with edges protected. Packing is specified with the order because the loading plan and the container type follow from it. Wood packaging must meet the phytosanitary rules of the destination country.
Agree what happens if something is wrong
The cheapest moment to settle remedies is before production: what counts as a defect, who inspects, what evidence is required and what the remedy is. A purchase order that is silent on those points leaves the decision to whoever holds the goods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fabricate to my drawings?
Yes. Fabricated items — countertops, stairs, columns, sills and bespoke pieces — are made from the drawings and setting-out information supplied with the order. The drawing should carry the dimensions, the edge detail and the tolerance, because the factory produces to what is issued.
What is the difference between a slab and a tile order?
A slab order is a natural-format purchase: the slabs come as they are cut from the block, and the buyer plans the cutting. A tile order is cut to dimension at the factory, so the sizes, the calibration and the packing are part of the specification.
How do I specify thickness for paving and steps?
Thickness follows the load and the fixing method rather than appearance. Paving and steps must carry traffic and sit on a prepared base; cladding panels are governed by the fixing system. State the thickness and the tolerance, because a nominal figure and a calibrated one are different purchases.
What should be in the inspection record?
The batch reference, photographs of the bundles before loading, the measured dimensions and thickness against the stated tolerance, and any test reports that apply to that production batch. The record matters most when a later phase of the project has to match the first.
How is the stone packed for export?
Slabs are normally packed in A-frame bundles, tiles in crates and fabricated pieces in individual frames with protected edges. Wood packaging must meet the phytosanitary requirements of the destination country, which is why the packing method is agreed with the order.
Where do I start if I do not yet know the format?
Start from the material pages to settle the stone, then choose the format from the application: paving and steps are cut thick, wall panels are thin and fixed mechanically, and countertops are fabricated from slabs. The buying guides cover the quantities and the standard items for each case.