Terms & Technical Guidelines

Every order placed on intmarble.com undergoes automated and manual verification at our Kilkeel facility to confirm batch consistency and transport route availability. While digital payment processing occurs immediately at checkout, a legally binding contract of sale is established exclusively when goods are physically dispatched from our warehouse.

If an order cannot be fulfilled due to quarry batch exhaustion, regional carrier access restrictions, or automated storefront pricing glitches, International Marble reserves the absolute right to cancel and fully refund the transaction prior to dispatch.

Operating from Kilkeel, County Down provides International Marble with a unique trade position. Under active commercial protocols, we deliver seamlessly to both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland / EU (32 Counties) with zero cross-border tariff friction.

• Retail Transactions (B2C): Public prices displayed across intmarble.com are fully inclusive of statutory UK VAT at the standard applicable rate.
• Trade Accounts & Custom Quotes (B2B): Custom architectural pro-forma quotes issued by our sales desk display net rates with VAT itemized separately. Manually issued quotes remain locked for 30 calendar days.
• Pallet Freight Tariffs: Product pricing excludes heavy freight cargo shipping. Pallet tariffs are calculated dynamically at checkout based on gross material weight and regional destination postcodes.

Natural stone is heavy architectural cargo (single crates routinely weigh 800kg to 1,000kg). Consignments are routed via specialized national pallet networks using 18-tonne Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) equipped with hydraulic tail-lifts and manual pump-trucks.

• Kerbside Offloading Standard: Deliveries are strictly kerbside drops. Cargo is lowered to the nearest flat, solid hardstanding surface (tarmac or concrete kerb). Drivers cannot roll pump-trucks over gravel, grass, steep hills, steps, or uncompacted ground, and are not insured to handle tiles indoors.
• Failed Delivery Redelivery Fees: An adult signatory must be present during offloading. If a delivery attempt fails due to customer absence or unnotified narrow access restrictions, a mandatory carrier redelivery charge of £49.00 per pallet will be applied before a secondary run is scheduled.
• Transfer of Risk: Absolute physical risk transfers to the buyer the moment the pallet is lowered from the tail-lift. The Purchaser assumes full responsibility for weather protection and site security immediately post-handover.

All marble, limestone, travertine, and slate tiles supplied by International Marble are 100% natural geological materials extracted from quarry faces worldwide. Organic tone shifts, background shading changes, mineral veining, micro-fissures, and surface pitting are inherent natural features, not manufacturing defects.

Due to border trimming, diagonal cuts around fixtures, and natural edge handling, ordering exact room dimensions will result in project shortages. Additional material must be ordered up front to guarantee tiles come from the same quarry batch:

• Standard Bond Layouts (10% Extra): Add a minimum of 10% over net measurements for standard straight-lay or brick-bond patterns.
• Complex Patterns (15% Extra): Add 15% extra for Herringbone, Opus Romano, or intricate room layouts requiring extensive edge cutting.

Natural stone installation must be carried out by a specialized tiler adhering to British Standards (BS 5385) and TTA guidelines.

• Anti-Fracture Decoupling: Install an uncoupling membrane (e.g. Schluter Ditra) over screeds or timber subfloors prior to tiling to neutralize lateral expansion movement and prevent tile cracking.
• Underfloor Heating (UFH) Commissioning: Stone is an exceptional thermal conductor. When turning on UFH for the first time post-tiling, increase the water/heating temperature gradually by a maximum of 1°C per 24-hour period after adhesives have fully cured (minimum 14–21 days) to prevent thermal shock.
• White Flexible Adhesive Mandate: Translucent and light marbles (Carrara, Calacatta, Crema Marfil) must be fixed using white flexible C2 S1/S2 thin-set adhesive. Grey adhesive bleeds through porous stone structure, causing permanent dark shadowing. Spot-bonding ("dot-and-dab") is strictly forbidden.

Because genuine stone is porous, it requires deep penetrating sealer protection against water marks, oils, and domestic spills.

• Two-Stage Impregnating Sealing: Apply a breathable impregnating sealer (e.g., Lithofin MN Stain-Stop) first before grouting (preventing grout pigment absorption into tile pores) and apply a second coat after grouting once joints have fully dried.
• pH-Neutral Aftercare: Clean stone surfaces exclusively with pH-neutral stone wash maintenance products. Acidic supermarket cleaners, bleach, or vinegar will etch polished stone surfaces and dissolve protective sealers.

Transit Damage Window (24–48 Hours): Inspect cargo immediately upon tail-lift arrival. Record visible crate breakage on the driver’s delivery docket and email clear digital photos of damaged tiles and box batch labels to cs@intmarble.com within 24 to 48 hours for fast replacement processing.

Voluntary Returns & Deductions: Full, unopened crates in resalable condition can be returned within 30 days of delivery under the following terms:

• Customer-Organized Transport: The Purchaser is fully responsible for booking, wrapping, and funding palletized return transport back to our Kilkeel depot.
• 30% Restocking Deduction: A 30% handling fee is deducted from returned stone material value to cover mechanical forklift unloading, un-crating, and warehouse stock calibration.
• Freight Recovery Clawback: Outbound delivery tariffs are spent immediately upon haulage dispatch. Orders that qualified for Free Shipping will have a flat £99.00 freight recovery clawback fee deducted per returned pallet structure.

International Marble Ltd operates strictly as a material supplier. Under no circumstances shall the Seller be held liable for indirect site costs, tiler wait-time day-rates, developer completion fines, or floor stripping/re-laying labor expenses. Maximum financial liability is strictly capped at the net purchase value of the supplied goods.

All sales contracts established via intmarble.com are governed by the Laws of Northern Ireland, with exclusive jurisdiction granted to the Courts of Northern Ireland. Registered Office: International Marble Ltd, 67 Newcastle Street, Kilkeel, County Down, BT34 4AQ.