How to choose a sintered stone supplier in Indonesia
Short answer: ask to see the actual slab, request the technical sheet for that pattern, and make the supplier write down what the quotation includes. A supplier who can do those three things is usually a supplier. One who cannot is usually a broker.
The seven checks that decide it
| Check | What a real supplier shows | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Slab access | Full slabs you can stand in front of, not only photos | Only renders or catalogue images |
| Technical data | Sheet for the specific pattern: thickness, format, absorption, hardness | "Same as everyone else" |
| Sample | A piece you can take away or photograph | Sample only after payment |
| Quotation scope | Cutting, edges, freight and installation listed separately | One figure, no breakdown |
| Slab count | Counted from your cutting plan | Per m2 only |
| Delivery | A date in writing, and who unloads | "Ready soon" |
| Installation | A named fabricator or contractor | Assumed to be included |
Ask for the same seven answers from every supplier you compare, otherwise the figures are not comparable.
Most buying problems in Indonesia are not caused by the material. They are caused by a quotation that left out the cutting, or by a pattern that was confirmed from a screen and arrived different. Both are avoidable at the enquiry stage.
Start with the slab, not the brochure
Sintered stone is printed and fired in batches. Two slabs from different runs of the same design can read differently in tone and vein movement, and a photograph on a phone screen shifts the colour again. Before committing to a pattern, look at the physical slab, or ask for a photo of the slabs that will actually be reserved for your order, with a ruler or a hand in the frame for scale.
At the Kapuk gallery the slabs stand upright at full size, which is the only reliable way to judge how a vein will run across a three metre island. Patterns rotate, so the pattern you saw last month may not be the one on the floor today. Confirm the reference, not the impression.
The documents you should be able to request
A supplier working with a real factory can answer with numbers, not adjectives. Expect a technical sheet that states thickness, slab format, water absorption, surface hardness, heat resistance, stain grade and whether the surface is UV stable for exterior use. For the ALTARA range that means 6 to 20 mm, absorption below 0.2 percent, Mohs 6 to 7, heat to about 1,200 degrees Celsius, and stain resistance Grade 5.
If those figures cannot be produced for the exact pattern you are buying, treat the pattern as unspecified. A generic sheet that covers the whole catalogue is a sign that nobody has checked the specific batch.
What the quotation has to say
Ask for the pattern reference, the format and thickness in millimetres, the number of slabs, the included scope, the delivery point and the date. Then ask what happens if a slab arrives damaged, and who is responsible for measuring the site. Those two questions separate a material supplier from a project partner faster than any price comparison.
Two quotations are only comparable on the same basis. A per square metre figure that excludes cutting, edge profiling and freight can look cheaper than a complete quote while costing more at the end. Put both on one page, line by line, before deciding.
Verify before paying a deposit
Visit the premises or ask for a live video walk through the racks, check that the business address matches the invoice, and keep the written quotation with the pattern reference on it. Pay against a document that names the material, not against a chat message. In Indonesia it is normal to visit the gallery before ordering, and a supplier who resists a visit is telling you something.
What ALTARA can and cannot do
ALTARA supplies material from a 2,500 square metre gallery at Jl. Peternakan II No.21C in Kapuk, Jakarta Barat, open daily from 10.00 to 18.00 WIB. We supply slabs, confirm pattern and quantity against a cutting plan, and coordinate project quantities. Fabrication and installation are carried out by the fabricator or contractor on your project.
There is one gallery. We do not claim warehouses, stock or installation teams in other countries, and we do not publish prices for work we have not measured. If a project needs a site survey, that is arranged before the quotation, not after.
Related: delivery and inspection · price per m2 · all guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers for buyers comparing suppliers and projects.
How do I choose a sintered stone supplier in Indonesia?
See the physical slab, get the technical sheet for that specific pattern, and read the quotation line by line. Then check who handles fabrication and delivery. A supplier who can answer all four without deferring is worth a second visit.
What documents should I request from a supplier?
The technical sheet for the pattern, the slab format and thickness, the surface finish, and a written quotation listing cutting, edge work, delivery and installation separately. For projects, ask for packing and delivery terms in writing as well.
How can I compare two quotations fairly?
Put both on the same pattern, format, slab count, edge work and delivery point. Add whatever each quote left out. The cheaper headline figure usually becomes the more expensive order once cutting and freight are added.
How can I verify a supplier before paying a deposit?
Visit the premises or ask for a live walk through of the slabs, check that the address matches the invoice, and pay against a written quotation that names the pattern and quantity. Keep the document, not just the chat.
Do I need a local fabricator?
Yes for installation. The supplier provides material and the fabricator measures, cuts, profiles and installs. Some suppliers coordinate a fabricator, but the site responsibility should be named in writing before work starts.
Can I buy a single slab?
Yes, slabs are sold whole and a single slab is a normal order, especially for a table or a vanity. The format decides the coverage: a 1600 x 3200 slab covers 5.12 square metres.
What if the pattern I chose is no longer produced?
Ask before you commit. Patterns rotate, and a supplier should confirm that enough slabs exist for your cutting plan, not just that the design is in the catalogue. If the quantity is tight, reserve it in writing.
Is a lower price per square metre always better?
No. A low figure often excludes cutting, edge profiling, delivery or installation. Compare the total cost for the same finished result, including offcut waste from the cutting plan.