What To Look For In A Cast Stone Supplier

March 31, 2025

Introduction

When it comes to enhancing the beauty and value of your property with cast stone products, choosing the right supplier is crucial. Selecting a cast stone provider should not be taken lightly, as it can impact various aspects of your project, ranging from the look to your overall experience. In this blog, we will explore the key factors to consider when looking for a reliable and reputable cast stone supplier.

Why It Is Important

The significance of finding the right cast stone supplier cannot be overstated. Not only does it ensure that you receive high-quality cast stone products that will impress and get the best value for money, but it also plays a vital role in enhancing your overall buying experience.

Factors to Consider:

Here are our top 11 factors to consider when choosing a cast stone supplier. From evaluating experience and customer reviews to assessing bespoke capabilities and delivery times, each factor plays a vital role in ensuring that you receive high-quality cast stone products that meet your exact requirements.

1) Experience

When it comes to selecting the right cast stone supplier, experience is a key factor that holds significant weight. Experience demonstrates reliability, industry knowledge, and the ability to deliver quality products and services consistently. It also helps in identifying and addressing potential risks pre-emptively, leading to a more reliable and efficient building supply chain.

At Acanthus, we understand the significance of experience when it comes to providing top-quality cast stone products to our valued customers. Our journey began in 2006, but our roots extend back to around 1998. Combined with Acanthus’s extensive 45+ years of connections in the cast stone industry, we bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project we undertake.

2) Reviews

When searching for the right cast stone supplier, reviews play a crucial role in establishing credibility and trustworthiness. These testimonials offer valuable insights into a company’s products and services, helping potential customers make informed decisions based on real experiences. (1)

Customer reviews provide honest opinions from individuals who have had dealings with the supplier, giving a snapshot of customer satisfaction and service quality. The star ratings often indicate the supplier’s reputation and overall customer feedback. To access reviews for firsthand experiences with products and services, you can check out popular review platforms such as Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Yelp. These platforms provide a transparent view of customer feedback, enabling you to make an informed decision when choosing the right cast stone supplier.

While star ratings are important, it is equally vital to carefully read the comments left by previous customers and assess whether the company responds to feedback and how they do so. Understanding how the supplier interacts with customers, resolves issues, and demonstrates a commitment to excellence can provide valuable insights into their overall dedication to customer satisfaction.

3) Customer Service

When seeking the ideal cast stone supplier, prioritising exceptional customer service is paramount for a fruitful partnership. Here are key factors to consider as you navigate the landscape of cast stone suppliers:

Customer Engagement:

The hallmark of excellent customer service lies in regular communication and engagement with customers. Suppliers who proactively seek feedback and insights to tailor their services better demonstrate a commitment to meeting evolving customer needs.

The Calibre of Team:

The quality of customer support provided hinges on the expertise and dedication of the team behind it. A knowledgeable and proficient team can not only address customer queries effectively but also offer valuable insights and recommendations to enhance the overall customer experience.

Resource Accessibility:

The breadth of resources available to support customer service initiatives is pivotal in ensuring timely and effective responses to customer needs. Having the necessary tools and facilities in place streamlines the process of crafting tailored solutions and meeting customer demands efficiently.

4) Accreditations

Accreditations such as BS1217 and compliance with the UKCSA Specification are crucial for maintaining quality in cast stone products. Our items are fully frost-proof and go beyond the performance requirements of BS1217, the UKCSA Specification for Cast Stone, and NBS clause F22, ensuring high-quality standards and durability.

5) Location

When it comes to cast stone production, manufacturing location holds key implications for both product quality and environmental considerations. At Acanthus, we are committed to manufacturing our cast stone products in Derbyshire, a strategic choice that allows us to maintain a high standard of quality while also minimising our environmental footprint.

By sourcing aggregates exclusively from within the UK, we ensure that the materials used in our cast stone production are locally and sustainably obtained. This not only supports the domestic industry but also helps in reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

6) Cast Stone Range

When searching for a reliable cast stone supplier, the range of standard product designs offered is a significant factor to consider. A diverse and versatile selection of standard products shows the supplier’s ability to cater to a wide range of customer needs and preferences. A good supplier should provide a comprehensive range of standard designs that encompass various styles, sizes, and functionalities to meet the diverse requirements of customers.

7) Bespoke Options

In a market with various cast stone suppliers, finding the one that best fits your project needs can be a challenging task. Custom-made cast stone products are highly sought after for their ability to provide a unique touch and seamlessly match existing details on extensions or neighbouring properties.

Many cast stone products require custom-made elements to precisely match existing features or align with architectural drawings. Our team includes skilled CAD draftspersons and a well-equipped patternmaking and joinery department ready to create custom solutions tailored to your specific requirements.

8) Lead Times and Delivery

The ability of the cast stone provider to meet delivery deadlines is of course crucial to the smooth running of the project at your home. Contractors do not want to be disrupted by lead times that cause delay, and most definitely they would not appreciate delivery delays. It is therefore important to consider this when appointing your supplier as effective delivery scheduling can impact project timelines and operational efficiency. (2)

9) Proactiveness of the Supplier

When searching for the right cast stone supplier, the proactiveness of the supplier cannot be overstated. This is because having a proactive cast stone supplier means having a partner who not only meets your needs but also looks for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Collaborating with an initiative-taking supplier can lead to smoother processes, cost savings, and a successful project outcome.

We are always keen to help clients keep costs to a minimum and we often find that slight design tweaks enable the moulds or products to be made more easily or quickly and therefore more cost-effectively. If you let us know what you are looking for, we will happily look at the details to see if savings can be made without compromising on the overall design.

10) Colour Options

When selecting a cast stone supplier, having a variety of colour options is essential. The colour of your cast stone can significantly impact how well it blends with its surroundings or stands out to make a statement. At Acanthus, we recognise the importance of colour choices and provide a wide range of options to cater to your preferences.

Picking the perfect cast stone colour is important for achieving the desired look and feel of your project. Whether you aim for a seamless blend with your surroundings or want to make a bold statement, the colour of your cast stone can make a big difference. To help you make the best choice, we have created a practical guide here.

At Acanthus, we offer a diverse selection of cast stone colours to ensure that you find the perfect match for your project. With options ranging from subtle neutrals to bold hues, we have the variety you need to bring your vision to life.

11) Free Samples

When it comes to selecting the right cast stone colour for your project, seeing is believing. At Acanthus, we recommend requesting our free samples to help you visualise how each colour option will look on your property and coordinate with your existing brickwork or render. These samples are not only useful for decision-making but also come in handy for planning meetings. You can request your free samples here.

Conclusion

In summary, selecting the right cast stone supplier plays a crucial role in the success of your project. Factors such as experience, customer reviews, bespoke options, delivery times, accreditations, location, product range, lead times, proactiveness, colour options, and free samples are all key considerations to keep in mind.

Why Choose Acanthus

“We aim to excel in all the factors that are essential when selecting a cast stone supplier. Our experience, positive customer reviews, bespoke options, efficient delivery times, top-notch accreditations, strategic manufacturing location, diverse product range, proactive approach, wide range of colour options, and provision of free samples are all designed to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
Gavin, Project Manager at Acanthus

The items we supply are completely frostproof and exceed the performance requirements of BS1217, the UKCSA Specification for Cast Stone, and NBS clause F22.

If you require any further information or would like to get a quote on our range of cast stone products, contact one of our friendly Acanthus team or call us on 01773 540704.