Wholesale Marble Tile FAQ

Stone Tile Depot offers many materials: marble (the most preferred and stylish), porcelain (second-most demanded), limestone (an affordable alternative to marble), ceramic (popular in bathrooms and kitchens), travertine (a cozy, affordable natural look), pebble mosaics, terracotta, granite, terrazzo, slate, cement and basalt (ideal for wet areas). Each has its own look, properties and best uses.

Most stones are mined in mountains; some are supplied from riverbeds and seas. Premium-quality natural stones come from Turkey, Italy and Spain, the most important and famous natural stone suppliers in the world.

Each stone type contains different minerals that give the stone its various properties — those minerals are what create the shiny flakes you see.

Each natural stone is unique and comes with its own characteristics. The best choice depends on the application: marble suits high-traffic flooring, while limestone serves wall applications well even though it is less durable. Consider the application, wetness resistance and whether it's for interior or exterior use.

Natural stones come from nature as raw materials. It is the manufacturing process that brings out their beauty — state-of-the-art facilities produce high-quality products regardless of the country of origin.

Finishing is similar to sanding: smaller grit produces a shiny, polished look, while less sanding creates a more natural appearance. Polished surfaces suit modern interiors but require delicate care. Antiqued/tumbled surfaces have a natural patina and withstand wear better. Travertine's natural holes can be left unfilled or filled and grouted.

Edge finishes are a design preference:

• Straight cut (SC): sawn tiles with sharp edges, preferred in the Southeast/Southwest for seamless floors without grout joints.
• Bevelled (chamfered): eases installation and eliminates sharp leveling differences between tiles when grout is used.

Exotic stones come from very remote parts of the world and require extra care in production and handling. Weather, seasonal limitations and transportation restrictions all limit their availability.

Natural stone keeps its beauty indefinitely and creates a unique atmosphere. Man-made alternatives look repetitive and artificial, wear easily and quickly lose their appeal. Natural stone in landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the Pyramids remains beautiful after millennia.

Common tiles range from 4×4 to 24×24; size is a design preference. Interior tiles are typically 12×12 or 18×18, with a standard thickness of 3/8" for 12×12 and ½" for 18×18. Thicker tiles require concrete floors and cement-mud installation.

Decorative stone tiles accentuate surface coverings. Mouldings frame artwork, and borders clarify the distinction between spaces. Mosaics, mouldings and borders offer immense design possibilities.

Natural stone retains heat and cold and registers cooler than room temperature. Your installer can advise on heated-floor options.

Not necessarily. Price depends on quarry capacity and production volume — higher production lowers cost. Renowned stones like Carrara marble or travertine cost less thanks to their enormous reserves.

This is strictly a matter of taste. Lighter colors tend to work better in spaces with limited natural light.

Travertine offers a warm, old-world look at an affordable price with easy maintenance. If you dislike the holes, your installer can grout them.

Marble is a limestone-type stone and its density varies by where it was mined. Dense marbles form a natural sealant that resists stains, while porous types stain easily. Prolonged spills can etch the surface regardless, so sealing marble tiles is recommended.

Granite is remarkably dense and strong and naturally resists stains. Liquids cleaned within minutes don't penetrate, and water-based stains evaporate. Non-water-based stains such as cooking oil can eventually absorb; a poultice paste draws the oils back out.

Like marble, travertine is a limestone-type stone, but it is highly porous and less dense, so it stains easily. Acidic liquids such as fruit juice or soft drinks can stain and etch within minutes. Sealing is recommended, and kitchen-countertop use is not advised.

Limestone forms grain-by-grain over millennia. Dense limestone resists staining, but most types are porous and absorb liquids easily. Acidic solvents like lemon juice stain and etch within minutes. Sealing is highly recommended, and kitchen use is discouraged.

Onyx is a crystallized stone with silica-quartz mineral bands — highly delicate, with surface scratches that can cause flaking. It is naturally porous and absorbs liquids easily. Sealing is highly advised; onyx is unsuitable for high-traffic areas and spills should be cleaned immediately.

Slate is a dense metamorphic rock and not terribly porous, so it resists easy staining. However, its softness makes it susceptible to stains, particularly oil-based ones, and water can soak in. A non-glossy sealant and immediate cleanup of spills are recommended.

Marble is the least porous limestone type but has a soft surface that scratches and chips easily, especially from metal knives and pots. Acidic materials like lemon juice, soda and coffee etch it easily. Tumbled/antiqued marble resists better; polished marble countertops are prone to scratches.

Granite is known for its strength — only granite or diamond will scratch it. It is excellent for high-traffic areas and kitchen countertops; a knife slip causes no damage (though the knife may chip).

Travertine is a highly porous, very soft limestone made mostly of calcite (about 3 on the Mohs scale), so a knife blade (around 5.5) easily cuts the surface. Acidic exposure causes etching. Kitchen-countertop use is not recommended.

Limestone is a soft, porous stone whose surface scratches easily. Its calcite composition (about 3 Mohs) means a knife slip leaves scratches, and it is weak against acidic liquids. Kitchen-countertop use is not recommended, though kitchen flooring is acceptable.

Onyx contains chalcedony bands (6–7 Mohs) within considerably softer surrounding stone, so it scratches easily and flakes. It is unsuitable for high-traffic kitchen-counter applications.

Slate is dense yet soft with an uneven surface, so it scratches easily from everyday items (dog nails, metal toys). Its density prevents acid susceptibility and etching. It is unsuitable for countertops but durable for kitchen flooring.

Generally, lighter-color stones work better in spaces where natural-light exposure is limited.

Stone tiles suit bathrooms, showers and backsplashes exposed to wet, slippery conditions. The surfaces clean easily and repel water.

Yes. Using materials from the same regions of the world keeps similar characteristics while letting you vary the colors.

Decorative natural stones accentuate tiles, floors and walls.

Stone mouldings enhance floors, adding a custom stone look and a deeper, three-dimensional feel to the room.

Yes. Nearly every five-star hotel uses polished marble in its bathrooms and showers.

Yes. Tiles and mouldings create natural-stone countertops with minimal grout joints at roughly a quarter of the price of a solid countertop.

All natural stone should be sealed with a quality sealer (such as Miracle Sealants). Once sealed, all stone becomes stain resistant. Follow the sealer's instructions for the proper procedure.

Different sealers affect stone color differently. Sealing usually produces a slightly wetter, cleaner appearance. Color-enhancer-free sealers keep the stone close to its original look.

Depending on usage, seal your stone tiles about once a year. Consult the sealer instructions. The Marble Institute of America also provides helpful stone-care information.

We offer competitive wholesale pricing by buying directly from selected manufacturers and selling direct-to-consumer online. The website is our showroom, updated daily, and nationwide pick-up warehouses reduce operational costs — savings we pass on to you on quality natural stone.

Current wholesale pick-up locations include Carlstadt (New Jersey), Miami (Florida), Fullerton (California) and Dulles (Virginia). Schedule a pick-up time with a representative to make sure your merchandise is ready.

Yes. Browse the collections and click the “Order Sample” button to automatically add 1 SF or PC to your cart. Samples ship via UPS; a 50 lb weight limit means orders are limited to roughly 8–10 sample items.

Sample orders ship the next day after they're received. UPS Ground, Next Day or 2nd Day options are available, and you can check status at ups.com. Every order is prepared with care.

Yes. Select the “None — Freight Collect Only” shipping method, then call a sales representative to schedule a convenient pick-up time at a warehouse.

Freight is calculated automatically for UPS and Common Carrier residential and commercial shipments. Better rates apply to New Jersey, Florida and Virginia destinations. Contact a representative for 1,000 SF+ orders for superior rates. Residential delivery uses lift-gate trucks (usually included) and is curbside only.

Orders ship within 24 hours on weekdays; weekend orders are prepared for the next business day. Materials are selected from the same sample batches to ensure color and vein harmony, and tracking information is emailed when available.

We wrap materials carefully to protect against shipment damage. If your merchandise arrives damaged, contact us immediately. Always inspect materials with the common carrier to confirm no tiles were damaged during shipment.

Commercial customers receive deliveries during business hours (8–5, Monday–Friday) without an appointment. A redelivery fee applies if the carrier cannot deliver because the business site is closed.

Estimated delivery is 2–10 business days, depending on the trucking company's schedule and space availability.