We measure on site before cutting

A rough measurement is enough for a first quote, but the real cutting starts from a measurement we take on site: the run of each worktop, the depth from wall to cabinet edge, the number and width of steps, and the sink and hob openings.

In a flat still being finished we prefer to measure once the cabinets are in or at least marked out, because a few centimetres change where a joint falls.

Kitchen countertops: joints, edges and cut-outs

A long run needs at least one joint, and the right place for it is a corner or beside the sink, where the line breaks naturally. We agree the edge profile with you, the height of the upstand if you want one, and whether the sink sits under or on top of the stone.

Inner corners of cut-outs are rounded wherever possible, because a sharp corner is where a slab first cracks in use.

Stairs and floors

For stairs we agree the tread and riser thickness, the front edge profile and the side skirting, and we order the pieces so the colour runs evenly from the bottom step to the top rather than jumping between slabs.

For floors we plan the vein direction before cutting, and lay the slabs out in the showroom so you can see the arrangement when the stone is strongly veined.

Access and narrow stairwells

Many Alexandria buildings have narrow stairwells and small lifts, so a full slab cannot reach the flat. We ask about the floor and the way in before we cut, and plan the pieces and joints around what actually fits, instead of discovering the problem on fitting day.

After fitting

We clean up, and explain how to look after the stone you chose: whether it needs sealing, and what will mark it. If a floor loses its shine unevenly later, grinding and polishing bring the surface back instead of replacing the stone.