FAQ
Q:
When are your showrooms open? Do I have to make an appointment?
A:
All of our showrooms are open:
Monday – Friday: 8 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
Appointments are not necessary to visit the showroom but in order to provide you with the best possible service and attention, appointments are strongly encouraged. Walk-in customers will be helped on a first-come basis depending on salesperson/designer availability.
Q:
How can I set up an appointment with a salesperson/designer?
A:
You can call any one of our store locations to set up an appointment. Or, you can also email us at: customerservice@allnaturalstone.com or reach out to us on our contact page if you know specifics for your project. We can arrange a meeting with one of our salespeople to help guide you in your tile and countertop choices.
Q:
Should I bring anything with me to my appointment with a salesperson/designer?
A:
The following information is helpful, but definitely not necessary to bring in order to meet with our staff:
- floor plans, square footage measurements, photos that provide an idea of spacing and lighting, and inspiration photos.
Q:
What are your return policies?
A:
- Returns must be made within 30 days from the date that ANS receives the materials from our vendors.
- All returns have a 20%- 50% restocking fee (plus shipping and handling costs) depending on the supplier.
- All returns must be approved by the vendor before a refund is issued. Please do not return materials to ANS until you receive approval for the return.
- There are no returns on any custom, fabricated, or installed materials.
- There are no returns on partial orders.
- All materials must be in their original, unbroken packaging.
- Refunds will only be issued after the materials have been returned to the vendor. Refunds can take up to 30 days.
Q:
Do you stock tile and other materials?
A:
- ANS stocks over 40 series of tiles in ceramic, porcelain, Saltillo, outdoor pavers, and glass. Visit our stock materials page to see our wide selection of tiles.
- We also stock over 50 different styles of porcelain and quartz slabs which can be seen on our porcelain and quartz pages for further information.
- These stock materials are housed in our local distribution center and are available for pickup very quickly.
- All of our stores carry a variety of sealers, cleaners, grout, and caulking as well.
Q:
What are the lead times on your materials?
A:
- Stock Tile: 2-3 business days
- Stock Porcelain and Quartz Slabs: 3-5 business days
- Stone Slabs: Available for pickup immediately after purchase. Slab delivery timing varies based on location.
- Tile from Other Vendors: generally 5-14 business days
- Custom Work: Varies according to vendor
- All lead times are estimates and further information will become available once an order is placed.
Q:
Does ANS carry man-made materials?
Q:
What is the difference between quartz and porcelain slabs?
A:
- Quartz slabs are man-made and are composed of over 90% of crushed quartz and other minerals with the other main component being resin. The slabs are then fired at a high temperature. Quartz is scratch and acid resistant but it is susceptible to high heat and discoloration is possible when it is placed outside. Quartz slabs are non-porous and generally do not require sealing which makes them a virtually maintenance-free surface.
Best uses: interior countertops Mohs Hardness Scale: 7
- Porcelain slabs are man-made and are composed of ceramic materials that are fired at a high temperature. They are virtually identical to their smaller porcelain tile counterparts. Porcelain, in some cases, uses ink-jet technology to mimic the designs of natural stone, wood, or concrete. The benefits of porcelain slabs are that they have a scratch-resistant surface and are impervious to chemicals meaning that they will not etch or stain.
Best uses: interior, exterior, countertops, exterior walls, shower walls Mohs Hardness Scale: ~7
Q:
What is the best way for me to compare slabs?
A:
Our sales staff is happy to lay out a couple of options next to each other to help you find the slab you are looking for. We cannot rotate slabs for safety purposes.
Q:
Do you fabricate and install materials?
A:
No. But, we do have recommended Fabricators and Contractors that we can offer you.
Q:
Should I seal natural stone and other materials? What type of sealer should I use?
A:
All natural stones should be sealed prior to and after installation. You should also consider sealing light-colored quartz as well. While most tile does not need to sealed, ceramic tile with crackle finish, and handmade, concrete, and Saltillo tiles should be sealed after installation.
Different materials require sealers that are specific to their needs. One size does not fit all. Our stores sell a wide selection of sealers and our salespeople will be more than happy to direct you to a product that suits your needs.
Q:
What is ANS Manufacturing?
A:
ANS Manufacturing is our production facility where we have the capability to create custom water jet mosaics, cut tile to specific sizes, or create custom floor vents to fit seamlessly into your floor. ANS Manufacturing can also change the finish on a slab. For instance, if we have a polished slab in stock but you would like it honed, that can be done at ANS Manufacturing. Any one of our salespeople are able to make arrangements with ANS Manufacturing to work on your project.
Further information can be seen here.
Q:
How can I get photos of my installation on our website?
A:
Contact us at marketing@allnaturalstone.com for inquires about having your photos featured on our website.
We also offer free photography services of recent installations with credits noting designers, fabricators, and architects when photos are used. We also offer designers, fabricators, and architects the use of all images.
Q:
How can I set up an appointment with a salesperson/designer?
A:
You can call any one of our store locations to set up an appointment. Or, you can also email us at one of our four locations: Berkeley, Burlingame, Dublin and San Jose, or reach out to us on our contact page if you know specifics for your project. We can arrange a meeting with one of our salespeople to help guide you in your tile and countertop choices.
Q:
Should I bring anything with me to my appointment with a salesperson/designer?
A:
The following information is helpful, but definitely not necessary to bring in order to meet with our staff:
- Floor plans
- Square footage measurements
- Photos that provide an idea of spacing and lighting
- Inspiration photos.
But, if you are just curious, just stop by and we can guide you through the whole process.