Buyer guide
A Buyer's Checklist for Imported Sandstone
A sandstone order should begin with the drawing and the project requirement, not with colour alone. Walling, bricks, tiles and slabs have different dimensional, finish, packing and performance needs. Clear documents help the supplier quote the correct product, and help the buyer inspect it before shipment.
ZZ Stones supplies several sandstone forms and finishes from factory in China. Final suitability remains project-specific: the buyer's architect, engineer or importer should identify the required standards and tests before production begins.
Issue a controlled drawing or size schedule
List length, width, thickness, permitted tolerances, quantities and units clearly. For custom pieces, identify profiles, holes, rebates and corners with dimensions rather than relying on a photograph. Add a drawing revision and approval date so production never works from an outdated instruction.
Define faces, edges and repairs
Terms such as natural face, mushroom face, honed and textured should be defined in writing before production. State which faces and edges receive the finish, how corners are treated, and whether filling, patching or repair is permitted. Review representative colour, grain and bedding variation, because sandstone is never visually uniform.
Identify performance requirements before purchase
Construction use may require evidence for strength, water absorption, freeze-thaw behaviour, slip resistance or another standard. The correct tests depend on the product, the jurisdiction and the installation. Ask the responsible project professional to specify them, then agree the test method and acceptance criteria before ordering.
Agree the packing and crate plan
Packing should protect corners, faces and edges while remaining suitable for lifting, container loading and unloading at destination. Confirm crate dimensions, gross weight, internal separation, moisture protection, marks and wood-treatment requirements, and review how the receiving team will open and move each crate safely.
Assemble a pre-production approval package
Combine the controlled drawing, finish reference, dimensional schedule, variation range, repair policy, test requirements, package marks and crate plan. Give every document a date or revision, and ask the production team to confirm the set before cutting begins — particularly where several similar or mirrored pieces could be confused.
Run a pre-shipment review
Select representative pieces from the production lot and check dimensions, thickness, face and edge finish, visible variation and repairs against the approval package. Inspect crate construction and marks, then reconcile piece counts with the packing list. Project-specific tests should follow the agreed laboratory procedure; a factory photograph is not a substitute for a required report.
At a glance
- Controlled drawings
- Dimensions and tolerances
- Faces, edges and repairs
- Tests and standards
- Crate plan and marks
Frequently asked questions
Can sandstone be ordered from photographs only?
That is not recommended. Use drawings, finish definitions, tolerances and the project requirements so both sides are working from the same specification.
Are custom sandstone sizes available?
They can be reviewed against drawings, quantity, material, production capability and packing requirements. Send the schedule and we will confirm what is feasible in writing.
Who should specify the required tests?
The buyer's architect, engineer, importer or other responsible professional should identify the standards applicable to the project and destination market.