Quality stone products are not inexpensive, but they are cost effective. The initial cost of stone products may be more than the initial cost of man-made materials, but stone products are more enduring and they are more aesthetically appealing. Stone products require little maintenance and their useful life is forever.
But even among stone products, prices vary. Demand, availability, cost of production, transportation, import duty, taxes and handling, all contribute to cost. One very important variable in the cost of stone products is the availability of particular stones.
For instance, Carrara, Italy is known throughout the world for the Carrara Marble quarried there. But the Carrara quarry is a big mountain. The marble is taken from different parts of the mountain. The different parts of the mountain yield marble, which differs slightly in their physical characteristics. These differences have differing appeals to different people. Each class, grade or group of Carrara Marble has its different applications. That’s why the market price of Carrara marble varies.
Those stone characteristics which are the most highly desired and valued are those that cause the same stones to be more expensive.
Those characteristics, which are more common, or are less appealing, can be found in the less costly products. No one should be amazed at this phenomenon, but rather, they should take this into account when the variations in price of stone materials are considered. The most desirable, the most appealing, the most beautiful, durable, the most beneficial stones, will always be the most costly.
Please contact The Stone Gallery, inc. for more information at (800) 504-6518.