Stonemason if I supply stone for benchtop?

The other issue is what happens if they crack it? They may claim the stone was defective.

Who will be responsible to replace it?

I think it's easier if they supply and install.

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Originally Posted by METRIX

Stonemasons don't like you to supply stone, too many risks for them, either damaging it while cutting it, damaging while installing it, who is to blame, who is going to get it delivered to the stonemasons place for them to work on it ?.

Surely it can't be such a rare stone that you can source it cheaper than a place that specialises in this, saying that my mate picked up some pre cut / polished slabs at an auction very cheap, ho managed to get them home and found a guy who came and installed it, making basic cuts for cooktop and sink without any issues.

That is exactly the case - my dad has seen some really cheap stone at an auction and I just want to get a quote on cut/install to see if it is worth my time or if I should just get them to supply+install.

Originally Posted by riccishell

Does anyone have a contact for a good stonemason?
I am investigating supplying my own stone (rather than going through Ikea).

I would be able to get two stone slabs that can but cut into the bench top and will need install as well - I would like to get the potential cost to see if it is worth buying these slabs as is, or if it is better to just go through a company.

I am in Brisbane

As the above posts, but from a stonemasons perspective you will not find a qualified stonemason that will do it for the following reasons,

a) Stone being supplied is usually junk, its cheap for a reason.
b) transportation of stone is specialised requiring a specific way to transport, carry etc without damaging the surface or breaking the stone... how are you going to get it to the stone shop?
c) Cutting and polishing stone that is from builders warehouse etc is a nightmare.
d) Second hand kitchen stone is as the above.
e) It would be cheaper to buy new, something like trendstone etc if you are in Bris.
f) No good stonemason will touch supplied stone.

If you do find someone the horror stories and what we have seen is not worth the stress.Our advice is don't bother with cheap auction or builders warehouse stone

Ikea is Silestone and a very good product.
To answer Sir Stinkalot about the mark up, yes there use to be a healthy mark up, but there is next to none now. The likes of Caesarstone are the ones that charge the premium to use their stone, why the aggressively market to designers and end users as a lifestyle product that is on trend. Just look at the last season of the block and all the glossy home magazines. In the last 8 years cabinet makers, or anyone with a few dollars to by a bridgesaw can set up a stone fabrication shop hence why it is so competitive, though to do it properly you need to be qualified to understand how to do it correctly.
Just note that not all stone fabricators are even stonemasons or qualified, why we run around just fixing benchtops now for the last 7 years.

Just a simple thing of what information they give clients on how to clean or remove stains keeps us busy, as it is always something that damages the stone.

Originally Posted by StoneGuys

Ikea is Silestone and a very good product. Our advice is don't bother.

typo

Which way is the typo, good or bad!

re read the above post, it has been fixed

I am using GMG Stone in Melbourne at the moment and their main office in in Brisbane. They are doing 500 x 100 Grey Tundra floors, slab walls, benchtops, stone sinks, plinths , splashbacks, stairs etc all with stone that we have supplied.

There was no shortage of suitors when I was having it priced.

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