Faqs

Natural stone tiles can be used just about anywhere – kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, living rooms – even patios! Our natural stone tiles have been used in numerous different places around the home. Please ask a member of the sales team for advice on the practicalities of installation in different locations.

All our tiles are suitable for use on walls and floors. Natural stone tiles are heavy — It is the wall construction itself that will determine suitability for instance, it is better to tile straight onto new plasterboard than it is onto plaster. The surface to be tiled must be free from any loose material and be strong enough to take the weight of the tiles. Speak to one of the sales team for more information and seek expert advice from your installer about suitability.

Stone tiles are a natural product and as such each one will vary in colour, tone & pattern. The pictures on the website are a good guide but everybody's screen displays colours differently. The samples we send out are cut from the current batch of tiles we are selling from. They are intended as a guide and are generally representative of the product itself. Please use the sample itself coupled with the product description on the website to make your judgement. Natural stone tiles are not "homogenous" i.e. each one will be different — they are a natural material and nothing like man made ceramic/porcelain tiles that will all be the same as each other.

At Stone Superstore we offer the very best value for money for every product we sell. Nobody can beat us "like for like", guaranteed! This said it is prudent to be realistic about your expectations when it comes to choosing your stone. The glorious Italian marble you might have seen in a local shop for £100/sqm cannot be bought for £30/sqm online or for that matter anywhere else.

Yes, we can only accept orders of 6 sqm or over.

Once you have measured your room, you should add at least 10% onto the exact room measurements for cuts & wastage. There may be some tiles with slight imperfections that you do not want to install – these can be used for “cuts” (tiles that are cut to go up against a wall) – this is standard practice. Please bear in mind that if you run out of tiles before finish your room we can dispatch more to you as quickly as possible but the carriage charge will be charged at 1 pallet space as per our standard delivery charges.

Call the number at the top of this page and ask to speak with a sales representative. Please have to hand the quantity of tiles you require, along with their size(s), and any requirements for adhesive grout and sealer. Somebody will either give you a quote on the spot or if none of the sales team are available, give you a call back usually within 1 hour. We keep a record of all quotes so you can call back with confidence once you have made your decision.

We are able to offer some discount on large orders. The sales team will quote you according to your requirements.

We have many trade customers who benefit from discounts at different levels. If you are a tiler, builder, developer, architect etc, please let the sales staff know when you call. Please note we do not give credit under any circumstances.

All orders are dispatched on pallets and are delivered through the “pallet network” – these are outside companies working on our behalf. Our nationwide delivery service is competitively priced and we can get your order to you next day if required (orders must be placed before 11.30 the day before). For a more economical delivery, orders can be delivered three working days from order. Alternatively you can choose a day of your choice and we will deliver on that day. Deliveries are between 9-5pm unless a “timed” delivery has been specified where we will deliver your tiles at a specific time on a specific day. Saturday deliveries are also possible in the morning. There is an extra charge for both timed and Saturday deliveries (please see main deliveries section).

Natural stone is very heavy and as such deliveries are made using large lorries. We must be notified of any restricted access details prior to dispatch as we can request a smaller vehicle if necessary.

Each pallet will be delivered to the nearest and safest point of entry to the property. Deliveries on drives etc will be at the discretion of the delivery driver – they will do their best to assist you in getting the goods to the nearest desirable point. Pallets are offloaded on a “tail lift” using a manual pallet truck. This truck will not move across gravel or rough ground. The delivery driver cannot help handle the goods so it is essential for you to arrange for a responsible individual to be present

All orders must be examined on delivery and any shortages, damages or other discrepancies must be noted on the delivery note and reported to Stone Superstore within the specified time period (see Terms and Conditions).

Collections can be made from our Manchester warehouse by prior arrangement. Please ensure that a suitable vehicle is used whereby goods can be mechanically loaded. Collected goods are transported at the individual’s own risk.

Please call us and ask to speak to one of the sales team. If you have already been given a quote, have these details to hand. A member of the team will take all the necessary details from you and discuss any specific requirements.

Remember to take a wastage factor into account for each project prior to ordering. This is normally 10% which should allow for cuts to walls and any minor tile imperfections.

Payment is typically by Bank Card - We accept all major credit and debit cards. Payment can also be made by BACS or CHAPS and even by cheque. Please note that no goods will be dispatched until cleared funds have been received.

You must check the goods thoroughly when they arrive. In the unlikely event that any are damaged, simply write “DAMAGED” on the delivery note and nothing else. You must notify StoneSuperstore of ALL damages within 24hrs of receiving your goods. No claim will be entered into after this time.

There are a numbers of things that will ensure a smooth installation. The most important one is this - NEVER take one tile at a time from the crate. Always empty the crate or if you have a number of crates, empty them all of tiles after delivery or just prior to installation. Imagine the tiles as a pack of cards and “shuffle” them - this mixes them up. This will ensure that they are laid randomly – if this isn’t done you might get whole patches of tiles that are the same as each other but slightly different to another patch that they adjoin. Remember, every tile is different. Some are lighter and darker than others in the same batch – laying them randomly produces the best effect.

This is standard tiling practice – please make sure whoever is doing your tiling does this.

We recommend that you seal ALL the tiles you purchase from us with the appropriate sealer listed in the “Adhesives, Grouts & Sealers” section. These are the best products for the job. The sealer will provide an invisible barrier to help protect your tiles from staining, marking and water absorption and keep them looking good for years to come. What they won’t stop is “acid erosion” which in extreme cases can affect the finish of the tiles. This can be caused with highly acidic (or alkaline) fluid making contact with the tiles for instance lemon juice or bleach.

In most instances no. The sealer is also known as an “impregnator” which means it soaks into the surface of the tiles. The colour of honed & polished tiles is slightly enhanced with the use of sealer. The colour of brushed and tumbled tiles can change to a deeper, richer colour when sealed.

All types of under-floor & under-tile heating can be used with a natural stone covering. You must use flexible adhesive and grout with under-floor heating. We only sell flexible products specifically formulated for use with under-floor heating.

You should use natural stone cleaning products (available in most DIY stores) or use soap based cleaning products to clean your tiles. Scrubbing shouldn’t be necessary! Never use anything abrasive!

DO NOT use bleach based products as they will remove the sealer and mark the tiles.

There are often misconceptions that certain types of stone are ‘better’ or ‘more hardwearing’ than others. This is generally not the case. The look of the stone you want is essentially more important than the type.

1. Surplus tiles:
We operate a ‘no returns policy’ for surplus tiles and cannot be held responsible for surplus goods as quantities are estimates only. It is your responsibility to ensure you have ordered the correct amount. This is typically wall/floor area plus 10%. Remember, it’s better to have more than less as ordering more will incur extra delivery charges.

2. Unwanted Orders:
Under certain circumstances, we will accept back unwanted orders. They must be packed as they arrived as they will have to travel back to us without being damaged. The courier that delivered them will also collect them. We regret that we are unable to accept returns if the courier is unable to get the order back onto his vehicle with the use of a manual pump truck. None of our delivery vehicles have “fork lift” or “hiab” (long arm) capability. When the goods arrive back at our warehouse, they will be checked for damage and shortages. Once everything has been confirmed OK, you will be refunded the value of your order LESS any delivery/collection charges and a one off £40 admin charge.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock. It is made up of layers of calcium carbonate formed from the accumulation of organic matter in shallow seas, which is then turned to stone by millions of years of pressure. Limestone comes in a variety of density and hardness. For flooring, ensure you buy a hard limestone.

Travertine is also a sedimentary rock, which is made up of layers of calcite formed from the accumulation of organic matter in hot springs and spa areas. The stone has a natural honeycomb structure, where water has flowed through the material. It is a very strong stone, which when cut into tiles exposes the small holes on the surface. These holes can be left unfilled to leave a natural texture or they are pre-filled with a very hard resin and honed smooth. Small holes may appear on the surface of the tiles over time; this is part of the charm of this ancient stone. The best quality travertines have a high density, which means the holes in the honeycomb structure are smaller.

Marble is a metamorphic rock and started its life as limestone, which is then crystallised by immense heat and pressure. Marble obtains its different colours from the minerals and chemical elements in the stone. The quality of marble can vary so we import our marble directly from the quarry.