There are various type of Natural stones available in INDIA. Main categories are: GRANITE, MARBLE, TRAVERTINE, SLATE, QUARTZITE, SANDSTONE AND LIMESTONE.

We should choose the stone depending upon the area environment (Look of the area) and its usage.

SLATE STONE: These are the softest stone and can be pealed out with any regular pressure. These are recommended for wall cladding and low activity floors with proper sealing. Slate stones are available in Natural, Tumbled and polished finish, but the beauty of this stone is more visible in only Natural finish. These are available in Tile and small slab size.

QUARTZITE STONE: These are harder then slate, due to quartz particles in it and are mostly used for interior cladding and flooring. Used also for Table tops. Quartzite Stone are available in Natural, Tumbled, Polished and Brushed Antique finish. Natural, polished and Brushed all these types have there different look and pull out the beauty escaped in the depth of stone. Sizes available are Tile and small slab size.

TRAVERTINE STONE: It is a soft stone and mostly used to give an antique look to the wall. It look antique in the natural finish and mostly available in tile size.

SANDSTONE: It is a soft stone and mostly advised to use outside the building in Natural finish for Cladding and garden/pathway flooring. Interior walls in Natural, polished, sandblasted n brushed finish. It absorbs water very fast and it can take heavy hot and cold temperatures. Outside floors are recommended in Natural finish only. These are available in Tiles, Natural small slabs and medium size Gangsaw cut slabs.

LIMESTONE: Harder then Sandstone, used as sandstone but it is more brittle. The flooring interior is recommended in Polished/Honed finish and exterior in Natural finish. Cladding can be of Natural, polished or honed finish. Due to the smoothness of this stone, these are very much recommended in Natural Steps, Benches, Garden Table tops etc. These are available in Tiles and small slab sizes.

MARBLE: Marble is a type of Limestone, it is basically more smooth in Natural and give an attracting antique look to the floor, wall or any top. Polished and Brushed Antique finish is available. These the available in tiles and Gangsaw size slabs. Some of the Marble like Rainforest Green n Rainforest brown have a classic brushed antique finish.

GRANITE: Very Hard stone, Used in interior n exteriors. These are available in Tiles, small and gangsaw slabs. These have varies finishes, like, Honed, Polished, Brushed, leather and flammed. These are recommended based on the area of use.

Source by Nagendra Naruka

Before You Do Anything Else

• Research any local regulations that might affect your business, including truck traffic, industrial zoning requirements, etc.
• Do your local market research, including demand, competition, etc.

Location

• Make sure you have adequate shop space.
• Be sure that you have a warm water supply near your mixing and pouring area.
• Define a dry storage area for cement and coloring agents.
• Get storage containers for coloring agents.
• Set up a curing area in the shop to store molds for 12 hours.
• Be sure that you have adequate table and shelf space for working and storage.
• Have enough room in your “yard” for aggregate delivery.
• Define an aggregate storage area, build bins if desired.
• Locate an outdoors curing area to store product until cured.
• Provide an adequate loading/unloading area in your yard.

Locate and Acquire the Equipment Needed

• Molds–get quality, or you’ll have to replace them often.
• Vibrating table.
• Mixer–be sure it’s large enough for your projected workload.
• At a minimum, get a pallet jack–if you can afford a forklift, get one.
• Build racks for working with corner molds. –Dry scale–preferably digital.
• Make sure that your water hose has a storage reel and reaches your mixer and vibrating table.
• Stacking pallets–specially designed pallets for holding molds.
• Normal pallets for handling finished product.
• Mold storage solution (industrial wire baskets, etc.)
• Large, sturdy wheelbarrow.
• Misc. buckets, shovels, gloves, putty knives, etc.

Materials

• Determine availability and choices of lightweight aggregate
• Locate a wholesale lightweight aggregate supplier.
• Find a coloring agent supplier.
• Find an admixture supplier.
• Find a wholesale cement supplier.
• Set up accounts with the aggregate, coloring, and cement suppliers.
• Explore various packaging solutions (pallets, boxes, etc)

Misc.

• Will you be installing the product?
• Will you deliver the product to the customer? How?

Business Stuff

• Decide on a business name.
• Get a business license (may need state and local)
• Apply for a state tax number early in the process so you can purchase wholesale.
• Get a business bank account, even if you’ll be a sole proprietorship.
• Develop a marketing plan.
• Carefully research your costs and set several price points: wholesale, contractor, and retail.
• Set up a bookkeeping system.
• Design or purchase invoices, estimate forms, etc.
• Business cards and stationery.

Assembling all of the stuff and getting all of the paperwork done can be intimidating, but if you break it up into smaller chunks with a checklist, you’ll find the process much more manageable–and maybe even enjoyable!

Source by Dave Sharpe