Buying guide
Stone Wall Cladding Mistakes to Avoid Before You Order
Compare Palimanan, Paras, black lava and andesite for stone wall cladding, and learn what to check before you order.
Natural Stone and Construction Blog
Practical guides on choosing, installing and importing Indonesian natural stone for walls, floors, pools and landscaping.
The Nurstones Blog
Short, Practical Guides for Stone Buyers and Builders
14 guides written by the Nurstones team for importers, designers and contractors. Each guide shows its published and updated date.
Featured Guide
Latest Guides
Buying guide
Stone Wall Cladding Mistakes to Avoid Before You Order
Compare Palimanan, Paras, black lava and andesite for stone wall cladding, and learn what to check before you order.
Product guide
Black Lava Stone: 7 Things to Know Before You Buy It
What black lava stone is, where builders use it, which finishes and sizes exist, and how to care for it.
Buying guide
Andesite Paving: 7 Things Importers Check Before They Pay
A checklist for importers buying andesite pavers, from finish and thickness to samples, packing and documents.
Export guide
Importing Natural Stone? Do Not Ship Without These Documents
A plain guide to the invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and other stone import documents.
Installation
Pool Surround Stone: 7 Things to Get Right Before You Order
What to look for in stone around a pool: grip when wet, finish, heat, drainage and cleaning.
Glossary
What Is Paras Stone? The Soft Limestone Behind Bali's Carvings
Paras stone is a soft cream limestone, also known as Bali limestone. See what it is used for and how to care for it.
Glossary
Honed, Flamed or Bush Hammered: Which Stone Finish Fits You?
A short glossary of honed, flamed, sawn cut, bush hammered, rough face and carved finishes.
Export guide
FOB, CFR or CIF? The Shipping Term That Changes Your Bill
What FOB, CFR and CIF mean for a stone order, and who pays for freight and insurance under each.
Product guide
Green Marble or Sukabumi Green Stone? Know Before You Buy
Green marble, green granite and Sukabumi green stone look alike at a glance but are different stones. Here is how they differ.
Product guide
Limestone Color: Why It Is Not Always White
Limestone is not one colour. Learn why it ranges from white and cream to yellow and grey, and what that means when you order.
Buying guide
Stone Stair Treads: Why Some Steps Wear Out Faster
Grip, thickness and wear decide which stone suits steps. Compare andesite, black lava and limestone before you order.
Product guide
5 Green Countertops That Make a Kitchen Look Expensive
Five green countertop ideas, from deep marble veining to speckled granite, plus what to check before you buy.
Product guide
5 Green Granite Colors Worth Seeing Before You Choose
Green granite comes in more shades than most buyers expect. Compare five, and learn how to judge a slab.
Buying guide
Green Stone Countertops: 5 Costly Mistakes Buyers Keep Making
Green stone countertops are a long-term choice. Avoid these five common mistakes before you order.
Buying Guides
Guides to help you compare stone, finishes and suppliers before you order.
Stone Wall Cladding Mistakes to Avoid Before You Order4 min readBlack Lava Stone: 7 Things to Know Before You Buy It3 min readAndesite Paving: 7 Things Importers Check Before They Pay3 min readGreen Marble or Sukabumi Green Stone? Know Before You Buy3 min readLimestone Color: Why It Is Not Always White3 min readStone Stair Treads: Why Some Steps Wear Out Faster3 min read5 Green Countertops That Make a Kitchen Look Expensive3 min read5 Green Granite Colors Worth Seeing Before You Choose3 min readGreen Stone Countertops: 5 Costly Mistakes Buyers Keep Making3 min read
Installation Guides
Notes on using natural stone around pools and in construction.
Import and Export Guides
Explainers on documents and shipping terms. See also our export process.
Natural Stone Glossary
Short definitions of stone and trade terms such as honed, flamed and FOB.
The Stones We Write About
All six stones are supplied factory-direct from Sukabumi, West Java.
Sukabumi Green Stone
Quartzite (zeolite) in green shades, used for pools and wet areas.
Black Lava Stone
Dark basalt for pavers, wall cladding, landscaping and pool coping.
Andesite Stone
Grey volcanic stone for driveways, pavers, walkways and wall cladding.
Palimanan Stone
White or golden sandstone for wall cladding and facades.
Pebble Stone
Natural river stones for garden paths, mosaic floors and ponds.
Paras Stone
Cream soft limestone for carving, wall reliefs and cladding.
How We Write
Guides are written by the Nurstones team from our product specifications and export process. We keep to what we can state clearly: sizes, finishes, shipping terms and documents come from our own listings, and general building advice is marked as general. Each guide shows a published and an updated date.
Installation methods differ by project, so always follow the advice of your installer and the local building rules.
Blog Questions
How often do you publish new articles?
We add guides about choosing, installing and importing natural stone, and update existing ones when our listings change. Each guide shows its published and updated date.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes. Send your question through the contact page and we will consider it for a future guide.
Are the guides general advice or specific to your stone?
Specifications such as sizes, finishes and shipping terms come from our own stone listings. Building and installation advice is general, so follow your installer's instructions.
How do I get a price quote?
Fill in the contact form or message us on WhatsApp with the stone type, size, quantity and destination port. We reply with a factory-direct quotation. Samples can be arranged before a large order.
Looking for Natural Stone, Not Just Advice?
Send us your requirements for a quotation.