Name the conditions first
A kitchen counter, a hotel lobby and an exterior stair demand different things from a stone. Write down exposure to moisture, food acids, foot traffic, weather and cleaning products before choosing a trade name.
Marble is commonly calcite-rich. Acids can etch its surface, changing the finish. Sealing may reduce staining but does not make a calcite-rich stone acid-proof. Ask for a care plan that separates staining from etching.
A sample is a starting point
Trade names can cover more than one source or material. Ask for the geological description, origin and relevant test reports for the actual stone being supplied. A hand sample cannot establish the variation across a complete block.
For any critical use, have the project’s designer or qualified stone specialist review the specification and suitable test evidence. A supplier’s description should support that decision, not replace it.
Approve the finish in context
Review a representative finished sample under the intended lighting, with adjacent materials. For wet areas and external paving, specify the required performance and evidence rather than relying on the words honed or flamed alone.
Agree the cleaning and maintenance process before installation. Keep an approved control sample and record the accepted range of colour and veining.