Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, granite is made up of plutonic rock which is predominantly composed up of 35% Quartz, 45% Feldspar / Potassium and is incredibly dense. There are many different quarries on every continent around the world and this gives the variety of colours. Much of the granite available today was formed about anywhere from a few million years to over a billion years ago – prior to life on the planet. It makes up over 70% of the earth’s crust. It typically measures 6 to 6.5 on the Hardness Scale of rock. Diamonds measure 10 on the same scale.

Marble is crystallised limestone, made up primarily of calcium and dolomite. It measures 3 on the hardness scale of rock. Care needs to be taken with marble benches as they can mark or etch with acids such as lemon juice.

Both Granite and Quartzite are very hard, but on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness (with 10 being the hardest), quartzite has the slight edge. It measures around 7 – 8 where granite is around 6 to 6.5. While quartzite is slightly harder than granite, it’s important to understand that it’s not bullet proof.

One of the main features that sets quartzite apart from granite is that quartzite slabs are denser. This density gives quartzite slabs an unmatched durability when comparing natural stone benchtops to one another.

Quartz (also known as Engineered stone) is made from 91-95% natural quartz chips and fillers, with a 5-9% resin binder. These are combined together and “cast” and then cured to produce sheets of stone. Several different trading names are used, and the stone supplier will have detailed specifications of testing. The main advantage of engineered stone is that it has a more uniform look, especially in lighter colours and Replica’s of the Marble look are becoming amazingly accurate.

Stones may be finished in polished, honed or leathered finishes. All are professionally sealed with the latest specification sealers for maximum durability and stain resistance.

Honed provides a matt low sheen finish. Reduces reflections & easy to maintain.

Polished surfaces are smooth, emphasising the brilliant colours and grains of natural stone.

Leathered enhances it’s natural movement. Reduces reflection as per honed.

Benchtop pricing will vary depending on the stone chosen. The fabrication costs include cutting, polishing, templating and installation. Therefore we treat every job individually and will quote specifically for your design or plan.

We choose the best quality granites from around the world.

There are a variety of edge types. The most popular and cost-effective is the Pencil Arris. All showing edges are polished.

Once your quote is confirmed and template booked in, it will generally take around 10 days from templating to installation. In some cases we can do a quicker turnaround.

Under normal conditions, no. Granite, quartz and quartzite are largely scratch resistant. However, diamond or tungsten implements can scratch the surface.

Your natural stone benchtop/s have been treated with a sealer matched to the type of stone and type of surface you have chosen. In most cases sealer will not need to be re-sealed again however this is not an impervious coating and care is required to keep your top from damage.

Engineered Stone (Quartz) does not require re-sealing.
Quartz is a resin based product which has been pre-sealed.

For a deep clean, use hot water with a mild PH neutral soap, then dry off with a towel.

You can use Lithofin Easy Clean for use on benchtops in all materials. This is available from any branch of Tile Warehouse or Tile Depot.

We Advise
Use a board or trivet for hot pots.
Do not stand on your benchtop.
Do not use abrasive or citrus based cleaning products.
Always clean up spills immediately – prevention is key!

Standard slabs are 20mm and 30mm thick. Not all types of stone are available in both 20mm and 30mm.

This is when two pieces of stone are cut on an angle and joined together. Very thick edges can be achieved by laminating or mitre-laminating along the front edges of the bench top. In this way, drop-apron fronts of 40-200m deep bench edges can be achieved, giving the appearance of a much thicker block

As a rule of thumb, granite slabs are just over 3 metres long by 1.8 metres high. Quartz is generally 3200mm long by 1800mm high. Anything bigger than this will require joining. Different brands of engineered stone do vary in size slightly, with Jumbo slabs available from some brands.

This depends on the slab size and the location of hobs, sinks and the design of your kitchen. We will attempt to place any join where it will have the least impact both aesthetically and functionally.

Our joins are 1-2mm wide. They are filled with a matching coloured epoxy to make them unobtrusive.

Any defects that detract from the appearance or quality of the stone will be removed at cutting. However, being a natural product, slight occlusions and veins may occur on the stone, which we feel enhance the natural beauty of the product. At times, slight colour variations can occur between batches and shipments. If you are concerned, you may call us and inspect your slab of stone before we start cutting it.

Our showroom Opening hours are:

Monday – Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday – 9:00am to 1:00pm
Sunday – 9:00am to 1:00pm

No. Standard kitchen joinery will support a stone bench top. However, special support maybe needed for overhangs of more than 300mm.

We provide service from the top of the North Island right through to Rotorua.

Terms and Conditions: Stone Warehouse 33rd Anniversary Promotion June 1st 2026 – September 25th 2026

Promotional Period

The promotion commences on June 1st, 2026, and concludes at 5:00 PM on September 26th, 2026.

Eligibility

• Residency: The promotion is open to New Zealand residents aged 18 years or older.
• Eligible Participants: Homeowners, Trade Partners, Designers, and Builders are all eligible to participate.
• Entry Criteria: To qualify for the draw, participants must place a minimum of a 50% deposit for an upcoming project between the promotional dates.
• Exclusions: Jobs initiated before June 1st, 2026, are not eligible. Employees of Stone Warehouse, their immediate families, and associated suppliers are ineligible to enter.
• Director’s Discretion: The Director of Stone Warehouse reserves the right to determine the eligibility of additional entries outside of these standard criteria.

How to Enter

To enter, simply book a project or place a qualifying deposit during the promotional period, Prize 2 or Prize 3.

To be eligible for the Grand Prize 1 draw, participants must spend $6,000.00 or more (inclusive of GST) by booking a project and placing a 50% deposit during the promotional period.

The Prizes

• Prize 1: A $3,300.00 (inclusive of GST) rebate to be applied to a Stone Warehouse invoice for a benchtop project. This prize is not redeemable for cash.
• Prize 2: One (1) Weber Family Q 3100N+ Gas BBQ LPG Black (New)
• Prize 3: 33 bottles of selected wine.

The Draw & Attendance Requirement

The draw will take place on Monday, September 28th, 2026,at the Showroom of Stone Warehouse.

Important Note: To be eligible to win, all entrants must be present at the anniversary event held at the showroom during the draw.

Legal & Privacy

• Publicity: By entering, winners agree to the use of their names and photographs for promotional purposes related to this campaign across Stone Warehouse marketing channels.
• Liability: Stone Warehouse is not responsible for technical issues preventing entry submission, nor for any injury or damage resulting from the use or transit of the prizes.
• Privacy: Personal information collected will be used solely for the administration of this promotion and will not be shared with third parties, in accordance with the Privacy Act.

We would love you to join us on social media platforms, by either following us or sharing your projects.

Stone Warehouse Trading Hours
Monday – Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
NEW: Saturday 9.00am – 1.00pm
NEW: Sunday 9.00am – 1.00 pm

Stone Warehouse Showroom 11 Cowley Place, Rosedale Auckland 0632 Phone: 09 415 0715 – Email: sales@stone.co.nz