BBS Granite Concepts, are able to offer almost every type of natural stone from around the world. Currently importing from China, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal and Italy. In addition Granite Concepts can now offer genuine Scottish Whinstone. BBS Granite Concepts is staffed by individuals who all extensive experience of the natural stone industry. This wealth of experience is invaluable when considering the now often complex jobs, how they should be planned, detailed, quality controlled and administered. Natural Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Natural granite has a medium to coarse texture, occasionally with some individual crystals larger than the groundmass forming a rock known as porphyry. Granites can be pink to dark grey or even black, depending on their chemistry and mineralogy. Outcrops of granite tend to form tors, and rounded massifs. Granites sometimes occur in circular depressions surrounded by a range of hills, formed by the metamorphic aureole or hornfels. Granite is nearly always massive (lacking internal structures), hard and tough, and therefore it has gained widespread use as a construction stone. The average density of granite is 2.75 g/cm3 and its viscosity at standard temperature and pressure is ~4.5 • 1019 Pa·s [1] . The word granite comes from the Latin granum, a grain, in reference to the coarse-grained structure of such a crystalline rock. BBS Granite Concepts have put together a gallery of the most widely used Portuguese and Chinese granites for you to view. There are numerous mortar systems currently on the market and our products have been laid using most of them. Instarmac Group plc is a multi award-winning market leading company, a specialist in the manufacture and distribution of cement, bitumen and resin based products to the world market for over 30 years. We have built a solid reputation based on the research, development and manufacture of innovative products for use in the highway maintenance, concrete repair, streetscape, tiling and commercial flooring industries. All of our products are manufactured under the Quality Management System BS EN ISO 9001.We are committed to delivering high specification, rapid strength, fast-track products and systems to ensure high standards of quality and resilience. We offer everyone expert customer service, technical advice, site support, comprehensive bespoke training and RIBA CPD accredited seminars. Innovation, Research and Development are stimulated by the relationships with our customers – listening to needs and providing real solutions.

1. Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaija
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Th
Hong Kong
Hungary
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Iceland
UK
India
Indonesia
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Iran
Israel
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Italy
Ivory Coast
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Jamaica
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Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
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Kenya
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Korea
Kuwait
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Kyrgyzstan
Laos
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Latvia
Lebanon
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Lesotho
Libya
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Lithuania
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Luxemburg
Macau
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Macedonia
Madagascar
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Malawi
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Malaysia
Malta
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Mauritania
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Mauritius
Mexico
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Moldova
Mongolia
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Morocco
Mozambique
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Namibia
Nepal
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Netherlands
New Zealand
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Nigeria
Norway
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Pakistan
Panama
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Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
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Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Ireland
Reunion
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Romania
Russia
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Rwanda
Samoa
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Saudi Arabia
Senegal
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Singapore
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Slovakia
Slovenia
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South Africa
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Spain
Sri Lanka
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Swaziland
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Thailand
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Tunisia
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Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
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Vietnam
Yemen
Yugoslavia
Zambia
Zimbabwe

2. 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 almost members of staff. Firstly against the customer’s order then GC’s own
every type of natural stone from around the world. Currently importing written order against detail drawings. At the same time that the order
from China, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal and Italy. In addition Granite goes to the factory it is acknowledged to the customer with a request for
Concepts can now offer genuine Scottish Whinstone. any details to be “signed off”.
Granite Concepts is staffed by individuals who all have extensive Service levels are very important to Granite Concepts and as part of this
experience of the natural stone industry. This wealth of experience is each customer is provided with a regular up-date. Three weeks after any
invaluable when considering the now often complex jobs, how they order is placed with a Factory in the Far East or one week in the case of
should be planned, detailed, quality controlled and administered. Europe an up-date is given on progress. Should anything occur that might
have an effect upon the progress of any project it will be highlighted, to
From the outset, especially when involved at specification stage the customer, within the order up-date.
Granite Concepts will try and offer advice on finding practical solutions
to often encountered problems, assisting with writing sensible
A lot of time and effort is spent on improving the quality of crates and
specifications and value engineering projects where possible. Granite
packaging and the manner in which GC deliver in different ways to various
Concepts have access to technical data if required and can provide further
locations. Each crate is clearly labelled with everything cross referenced
specialist input if needed.
against a detailed packing list. The label gives a crate number, our order
reference, the material, size and quantity. Any specials will have reference
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 with numbers marked on the units as well as the label.
the factory setting out what is needed and when it should be shipped.
Any special quality control or packaging requirements will also be In addition to sending regular up-dates GC’s transport department make
detailed at this stage. contact with the customer during the period the goods are on order to
ascertain exactly how deliveries will be dealt with. Further contact is made
For special items, usually anything more complex than a paving slab or a few days before the shipment is expected to arrive in the UK to make
sett, GC will produce shop drawings. Whilst GC can accept, detail and final arrangements.
issue information on CAD the most successful way of dealing with these
specials is by isometric sketches, either in lieu of two dimensional Following delivery the Granite Concepts team is available, with
drawings or to compliment them. To ensure that no mistakes are made representatives throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
each factory order will be double checked by one of GC’s experienced Ireland should a site visit be necessary.
The UKs leading supplier of natural stone from around the world >

3. www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com
Products > Granite GRANITE
Granite is an igneous rock occurring in many regions throughout the
World, formed by the slow cooling of pockets of magma, trapped beneath
the earth’s surface. It is therefore present as massive raw deposits.
Because of its excellent technical characteristics Granite is widely
acknowledged as one of the premium hard landscaping and construction
materials available today.
Granite is available in various colours, shapes, sizes and textures. It can
be manufactured either by the traditional ‘Hand Hewn’ method or by more Barking Brixton
modern and dimensionally accurate processes using state of the art
machinery. At BBS Granite Concepts, we are able to source Granites from
Europe, South America, Africa, India and the Far East, with the result that
we can satisfy the requirements of even the most complex projects. For
more details of the products which we can offer, along with case studies
of projects previously supplied, please visit our web site. BBS Granite
Concepts have put together a gallery of the most widely used Portuguese
and Chinese granites for you to view at www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com
These images combine to show you some of the colours and textures
available in our industry, although you may prefer a sample of your
chosen stone to be sent to you.
Inverness
Glasgow

4. www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com
Belfast
Products > Sandstone & Slate
SANDSTONE
Sandstone was formed in excess of 300 million years ago; it is a
sedimentary, carboniferous rock, created by the actions of wind, pressure,
heat and water which combined quartz, mica and feldspar, together with
natural bonding agents such as silica, calcium carbonate, iron oxides and
clays to create it. The resulting stone, has been a large part of the
construction industry for centuries.
Sandstone paving was traditionally produced by splitting layers from a block
extracted from the quarry. Split or riven paving remains a popular choice
today mainly for commercial conservation projects, although the domestic
market is taking a greater interest in this product. More recently, sandstone
or “York”stone paving has been produced by the process of diamond-sawing
blocks of stone into slabs and then into paving flag and sett dimensions, in
a variety of sizes and finishes. Some sawn sandstones can be textured by
flaming the surface whilst others are shotsawn, sandblasted, picked or
chiselled to achieve a slip resistant surface finish. For a greater in depth
description of how sandstone is manufactured and quarried, please contact
our BBS UK sandstone sales team on 0044 1924 241100.
Belfast White City Historically, sandstone has been sourced in the UK, mainly from the Pennine
areas of northern England, this is how the name Yorkstone was originated.
As the popularity and demand for natural stone products has grown in the
UK, suppliers have had to look to other countries with a view to importing
sandstone to keep up with the needs of this constantly growing market.
BBS Brick & Stone and BBS Granite Concepts have been able to source a
technically and visually equivalent material to the two colour Yorkstone
currently used in the UK for commercial applications. This new stone can
be viewed opposite. It is available in sawn, flamed and sandblasted finished
and can be manufactured into tactile paving if required.
SLATE
Slate is a a fine-grained metamorphic rock that forms when shale undergoes
metamorphosis. Slate splits into thin layers with smooth surfaces. It ranges
in color from grey to black or from red to green, depending on the minerals
contained in the shale from which it formed.
Slate has been used in construction for hundreds of years in applications
as diverse as roofing to paving, and walling to garden decoration. This
material can be easily worked as its layered make up allows easy splitting.
Slate is available in a range of colours, finishes and sizes.

5. www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com
Products > Limestone & Porphyry 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. Limestone
is formed close to earth’s surface capturing fossilized plant and
animal life. Limestone is used in a wide range of interior and exterior
building applications.
Hard limestone can be manufactured to produce a polished, honed or
flamed finish. Limestone creates a tough but sophisticated surface that
appeals to many and varied construction applications which require
durability and character.
There are many varieties of limestone ranging from whites through
beige, blues and black, although some may be suited to one application
better than another. Should you be unsure on which type to use please
contact us.
PORPHYRY
Porphyry is a volcanic rock and is formed during a slow cooling process
of igneous material, giving it high compressive strength and density.
Porphyry can be sourced in various colours in particular earth tones of
grey, brown, rust, buff and violets. Porphyry can be sourced from various
countries around the world although Italy has become the main attraction
with areas to the north of the country most popular. Other countries able
to supply Porphyry include China and Argentina.
Over recent years Porphyry has become a popular architectural stone with
Planners and Specifiers alike, in particular for projects needing an edge St. Andrew’s Cathedral
of quality or a subtlety of tone. It is an ideal surfacing material for
walkways and town regeneration schemes, but also lends itself to
domestic applications.

6. www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com
Case Study > BBC White City
Historically London has often been paved using UK two colour sandstone,
bringing warmth and colour to the city. This type of paving is still fully
embraced by Borough Councils including Westminster, Kensington and
Chelsea, Richmond and Hammersmith and Fulham to name but a few.
With UK supplies of this type of sandstone at an all time low London has
had to look to imported material to ensure demand is met by supply.
BBS Granite Concepts Ltd have been at the forefront of sourcing these
materials, and can boast a range of imported sandstones which include
our buff/grey two colour sandstone which is being laid throughout
London as an alternative to the UK supplies. This economically viable and
aesthetically pleasing alternative carries a technical specification in line
with the UK materials and is held in stock at our UK depots.
With selected areas around the Westfield Shopping Centre, the new Wood
Lane tube station and the frontage of the BBC studios, our two colour
sandstone has been the material of choice to complement the existing
UK sandstone previously supplied.
Visit www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com for more case studies.

7. www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com
Audits > AUDITS
Along with BBS Brick & Stone, BBS Granite Concepts Ltd have already
built a proud reputation on Ethical Trading, brought about by a strict
policy. Continual visits throughout the year ensure welfare and working
conditions in overseas operations are of the highest standards possible.
Trading with potential suppliers cannot commence until our expectations
and standards of supply have been discussed and agreed. All our
suppliers are keen to show their high health and safety standards,
their onsite training programmes and the health and welfare available to
their workforce. Having been independently audited by varying
UK interests, our suppliers sustainability has shown an extremely high
standard in all areas of manufacture and supply of natural stone.
This topic is increasingly discussed and is high on our agenda when
promoting our products.
Granite Concepts were recently tasked with carrying out a full quarrying
and manufacturing audit on behalf of Transport For London. On site visits
and photographic/video diaries were kept with a full written report
submitted on our return from China. The report was well received, and
showed the safe working conditions for the granite workforce, coupled
with extensive and full use of PPE by the workers.
Granite Concepts has always had the supply workforce at the forefront of
our minds, believing a fair price paid by us will increase the standard of
the working conditions for the suppliers. As a company we invest in
supplier development ensuring H&S, PPE and general working conditions
are as high as possible.
The Ethical Trading Initiative is a ground-breaking alliance of companies,
trade unions and voluntary organisations. We work in partnership to
improve the working lives of people across the globe who make or grow
consumer goods - everything from tea to T-shirts, from flowers to footballs
and granite to sandstone. BBS GRANITE CONCEPTS LTD are proud to be a
member of the alliance, and add our own best wishes to the group for its
future success world wide. For further information on how our alliance is
working to make a difference please visit www.ethicaltrade.org

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