Why a sample is useful
Three things determine how a surface covering will look: light, the surrounding colors and the texture of the surface. None of the three is visible on screen. The same marble can look cold gray in a north-facing bathroom and warm beige in a sunny kitchen. A sample removes this uncertainty.
How to evaluate the sample
- Take the piece to the room where you will use it and look at it at different times of day. Morning and evening light change the color noticeably.
- Place your cabinet door, countertop piece or paint swatch next to it. A color gains meaning not on its own but together with its neighbor.
- Run your hand over the surface. The difference between honed, polished and tumbled is best understood by touch.
- In natural stone, a sample represents a single slab; the tone and veining in the boxes you order will be different.
How to request a sample
The Add Sample button appears on the page and collection card of products for which we send samples. Press the button to add it to your cart; the sample is sent as a single piece. If you do not see the sample button, it means there is no sample service for that product.
When deciding
Once the sample reaches you, we recommend placing your order in one go. In natural stone, tone lots change; in ceramics, production batches may differ. Completing a few missing square meters later may not match the batch you first bought exactly.
Sales unit and calculation
Measuring after the sample
Once you have decided with the sample, it is time to measure. Calculate the wall and floor areas separately, take window and door openings into account, and enter the resulting square meters in the calculator on the product page. The calculator adds the waste allowance and tells you how many boxes you need; this way you avoid ordering too little or too much.
Tiles are priced per square meter and sold in boxes; mosaic sheets, borders and accessories are priced per piece. Enter the square meters you need in the calculator on the product page; it finds how many boxes you need and adds the waste allowance. The allowance we recommend is between 10 and 15 percent.
