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The UKs leading supplier of natural stone from around the world >

www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com

BBS was established 1990, full name BBS Brick and Stone, since then it has

supplied natural stone from UK sources, principally sandstones from Yorkshire

and Derbyshire. In 2007 a new Company was formed by the principals of BBS.

The Directors were getting frustrated that they could not offer imported stones

at competitive rates thereby limiting their ability to win a large number of

projects. Principally those consisting of a mixture of UK and imported materials.

The new Company, BBS Granite Concepts, are now able to offer almostevery type of natural stone from around the world. Currently importingfrom China, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal and Italy. In addition GraniteConcepts can now offer genuine Scottish Whinstone.

Granite Concepts is staffed by individuals who all have extensiveexperience of the natural stone industry. This wealth of experience isinvaluable when considering the now often complex jobs, how theyshould be planned, detailed, quality controlled and administered.

From the outset, especially when involved at specification stage Granite Concepts will try and offer advice on finding practical solutionsto often encountered problems, assisting with writing sensiblespecifications and value engineering projects where possible. GraniteConcepts have access to technical data if required and can provide furtherspecialist input if needed.

Granite Concepts take great care in the detailing of each new order. Once an order is received and all details agreed this will be placed withthe factory setting out what is needed and when it should be shipped.Any special quality control or packaging requirements will also bedetailed at this stage.

For special items, usually anything more complex than a paving slab orsett, GC will produce shop drawings. Whilst GC can accept, detail andissue information on CAD the most successful way of dealing with thesespecials is by isometric sketches, either in lieu of two dimensionaldrawings or to compliment them. To ensure that no mistakes are madeeach factory order will be double checked by one of GC’s experienced

members of staff. Firstly against the customer’s order then GC’s ownwritten order against detail drawings. At the same time that the ordergoes to the factory it is acknowledged to the customer with a request forany details to be “signed off”.

Service levels are very important to Granite Concepts and as part of thiseach customer is provided with a regular up-date. Three weeks after anyorder is placed with a Factory in the Far East or one week in the case ofEurope an up-date is given on progress. Should anything occur that mighthave an effect upon the progress of any project it will be highlighted, tothe customer, within the order up-date.

A lot of time and effort is spent on improving the quality of crates andpackaging and the manner in which GC deliver in different ways to variouslocations. Each crate is clearly labelled with everything cross referencedagainst a detailed packing list. The label gives a crate number, our orderreference, the material, size and quantity. Any specials will have referencenumbers marked on the units as well as the label.

In addition to sending regular up-dates GC’s transport department makecontact with the customer during the period the goods are on order toascertain exactly how deliveries will be dealt with. Further contact is madea few days before the shipment is expected to arrive in the UK to makefinal arrangements.

Following delivery the Granite Concepts team is available, withrepresentatives throughout England, Scotland, Wales and NorthernIreland should a site visit be necessary.

The UKs leading supplier of natural stone from around the world >

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BrixtonBarking

Inverness

Glasgow

GRANITE

Granite is an igneous rock occurring in many regions throughout theWorld, formed by the slow cooling of pockets of magma, trapped beneaththe earth’s surface. It is therefore present as massive raw deposits.Because of its excellent technical characteristics Granite is widelyacknowledged as one of the premium hard landscaping and constructionmaterials available today.

Granite is available in various colours, shapes, sizes and textures. It canbe manufactured either by the traditional ‘Hand Hewn’ method or by moremodern and dimensionally accurate processes using state of the artmachinery. At BBS Granite Concepts, we are able to source Granites fromEurope, South America, Africa, India and the Far East, with the result thatwe can satisfy the requirements of even the most complex projects. Formore details of the products which we can offer, along with case studiesof projects previously supplied, please visit our web site. BBS GraniteConcepts have put together a gallery of the most widely used Portugueseand Chinese granites for you to view at www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com

These images combine to show you some of the colours and texturesavailable in our industry, although you may prefer a sample of yourchosen stone to be sent to you.

SANDSTONE

Sandstone was formed in excess of 300 million years ago; it is asedimentary, carboniferous rock, created by the actions of wind, pressure,heat and water which combined quartz, mica and feldspar, together withnatural bonding agents such as silica, calcium carbonate, iron oxides andclays to create it. The resulting stone, has been a large part of theconstruction industry for centuries.

Sandstone paving was traditionally produced by splitting layers from a blockextracted from the quarry. Split or riven paving remains a popular choicetoday mainly for commercial conservation projects, although the domesticmarket is taking a greater interest in this product. More recently, sandstoneor “York”stone paving has been produced by the process of diamond-sawingblocks of stone into slabs and then into paving flag and sett dimensions, ina variety of sizes and finishes. Some sawn sandstones can be textured byflaming the surface whilst others are shotsawn, sandblasted, picked orchiselled to achieve a slip resistant surface finish. For a greater in depthdescription of how sandstone is manufactured and quarried, please contactour BBS UK sandstone sales team on 0044 1924 241100.

Historically, sandstone has been sourced in the UK, mainly from the Pennineareas of northern England, this is how the name Yorkstone was originated.As the popularity and demand for natural stone products has grown in theUK, suppliers have had to look to other countries with a view to importingsandstone to keep up with the needs of this constantly growing market.BBS Brick & Stone and BBS Granite Concepts have been able to source atechnically and visually equivalent material to the two colour Yorkstonecurrently used in the UK for commercial applications. This new stone canbe viewed opposite. It is available in sawn, flamed and sandblasted finishedand can be manufactured into tactile paving if required.

SLATE

Slate is a a fine-grained metamorphic rock that forms when shale undergoesmetamorphosis. Slate splits into thin layers with smooth surfaces. It rangesin color from grey to black or from red to green, depending on the mineralscontained in the shale from which it formed.

Slate has been used in construction for hundreds of years in applicationsas diverse as roofing to paving, and walling to garden decoration. Thismaterial can be easily worked as its layered make up allows easy splitting.

Slate is available in a range of colours, finishes and sizes.Pr

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LIMESTONE

Limestone is a sedimentary rock made up mainly of mineral calcite, with the other main constituents being silica, flint, sand and clay. The main source of calcite is most commonly marine organisms.Limestone is quarried and extracted from regions which originally formed the beds of shallow seas millions of years previously. Limestoneis formed close to earth’s surface capturing fossilized plant and animal life. Limestone is used in a wide range of interior and exteriorbuilding applications.

Hard limestone can be manufactured to produce a polished, honed orflamed finish. Limestone creates a tough but sophisticated surface thatappeals to many and varied construction applications which requiredurability and character.

There are many varieties of limestone ranging from whites through beige, blues and black, although some may be suited to one applicationbetter than another. Should you be unsure on which type to use pleasecontact us.

PORPHYRY

Porphyry is a volcanic rock and is formed during a slow cooling processof igneous material, giving it high compressive strength and density.Porphyry can be sourced in various colours in particular earth tones ofgrey, brown, rust, buff and violets. Porphyry can be sourced from variouscountries around the world although Italy has become the main attractionwith areas to the north of the country most popular. Other countries ableto supply Porphyry include China and Argentina.

Over recent years Porphyry has become a popular architectural stone withPlanners and Specifiers alike, in particular for projects needing an edgeof quality or a subtlety of tone. It is an ideal surfacing material forwalkways and town regeneration schemes, but also lends itself todomestic applications.

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Historically London has often been paved using UK two colour sandstone,bringing warmth and colour to the city. This type of paving is still fullyembraced by Borough Councils including Westminster, Kensington andChelsea, Richmond and Hammersmith and Fulham to name but a few.With UK supplies of this type of sandstone at an all time low London hashad to look to imported material to ensure demand is met by supply.

BBS Granite Concepts Ltd have been at the forefront of sourcing thesematerials, and can boast a range of imported sandstones which includeour buff/grey two colour sandstone which is being laid throughoutLondon as an alternative to the UK supplies. This economically viable andaesthetically pleasing alternative carries a technical specification in linewith the UK materials and is held in stock at our UK depots.

With selected areas around the Westfield Shopping Centre, the new WoodLane tube station and the frontage of the BBC studios, our two coloursandstone has been the material of choice to complement the existingUK sandstone previously supplied.

Visit www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com for more case studies.

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AUDITS

Along with BBS Brick & Stone, BBS Granite Concepts Ltd have alreadybuilt a proud reputation on Ethical Trading, brought about by a strictpolicy. Continual visits throughout the year ensure welfare and workingconditions in overseas operations are of the highest standards possible.Trading with potential suppliers cannot commence until our expectationsand standards of supply have been discussed and agreed. All oursuppliers are keen to show their high health and safety standards, their onsite training programmes and the health and welfare available totheir workforce. Having been independently audited by varying UK interests, our suppliers sustainability has shown an extremely highstandard in all areas of manufacture and supply of natural stone. This topic is increasingly discussed and is high on our agenda whenpromoting our products.

Granite Concepts were recently tasked with carrying out a full quarryingand manufacturing audit on behalf of Transport For London. On site visitsand photographic/video diaries were kept with a full written reportsubmitted on our return from China. The report was well received, andshowed the safe working conditions for the granite workforce, coupledwith extensive and full use of PPE by the workers.

Granite Concepts has always had the supply workforce at the forefront ofour minds, believing a fair price paid by us will increase the standard ofthe working conditions for the suppliers. As a company we invest insupplier development ensuring H&S, PPE and general working conditionsare as high as possible.

The Ethical Trading Initiative is a ground-breaking alliance of companies,trade unions and voluntary organisations. We work in partnership toimprove the working lives of people across the globe who make or growconsumer goods - everything from tea to T-shirts, from flowers to footballsand granite to sandstone. BBS GRANITE CONCEPTS LTD are proud to be amember of the alliance, and add our own best wishes to the group for itsfuture success world wide. For further information on how our alliance isworking to make a difference please visit www.ethicaltrade.org

www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com

BBS Granite Concepts Ltd.

Manor Farm

57 Main Street

Frolesworth

Leicestershire

LE17 5

EE.

Tel. 0044 1

455 2

01 7

60

Fax. 0044 1

455 2

01 7

69

Email: enquiries@bbsgraniteconcepts.com

Website: www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com

Visit our website for the latest products, specifications and case studies >

Derry

Inverness