How to Transport Granite or Marble Slabs Without Cracking or Chipping

Fabrication is full of all kinds of tough jobs, from installation to transportation. Although transportation of fabrication materials may seem simple to some, any fabricator—seasoned or new—understands that transporting fragile materials (such as granite and marble slabs), is not an easy feat. So, here are some good practices and tips of granite and marble slab transportation to show you how to transport fragile slabs (raw or finished) without cracking or chipping them.

Transportation Equipment You May Need

Transporting slabs is one of the most basic steps, and yet also one of the most difficult. This is because granite and marble (and other material) slabs are extremely heavy and fragile. This makes it prone to cracking or chipping, which is more likely to occur during handling and transportation. Considering this, for safe and efficient transportations, as well as reducing the risk of cracks and chips, having the right tools is an essential step.

• Tools for Lifting & Moving

• Dollies & Carts: These are essential for moving heavy slab materials safely, especially if they need to be moved over distances that can’t be lifted safely. Having a cart can also help with moving slabs across strange terrain, like stairs. At Omni Cubed, we provide a variety of carts and dollies designed for a variety of slab materials, sizes, and tasks. Such as the Pro-Cart AT1 and AT2 which are specially designed for rough terrain, or the Pro-Lift Automatic which can raise and lower slabs automatically as well as transport materials.

• Lifting Cups & Clamps: A cart can only do so much, a lot of slab transport involves a team lifting the material, from moving it onto your truckbed to bring it to the shop, or taking it off a dolly to install it. Having the right lifting tool is essential for this to go smoothly and safely. At Omni Cubed, we carry a variety of lifting tools like clamps and cups to meet your slab handling needs.

• Heavy Duty Lifts: Sometimes, for especially large or heavy slab materials, you may even need a forklift or some kind of crane, in order to lift materials safely as they may be too heavy or big for even a team of professionals to lift.

• Tools for Securing & Protection

• Straps: The proper, high quality straps can help secure slabs during transportation, especially to an A-frame or vehicle.

• Padding: Having padding materials, like foam, bubble wrap, or even moving blankets can help cushion the material’s surfaces, edges, and corners to prevent damage during transport.

Key Practices and Techniques

Along with having the right tools, following the right practices is just as important  for safe transportation, and reducing the risk of slab cracking and chipping. So, here are some practices that are good to implement for general granite or marble slab transportations. 

For loading and securing, there are a few especially important rules to keep in mind:

• Keep granite/marble slabs vertical: Always transport slabs by keeping them upright on A-frames or other transport frames. 

• Use the proper racks: Be sure that the frame you're using allows the slab to lean at an angle (ideally on an A-frame). Horizontal slabs are more likely to crack or break under flexural stress, while keeping them vertical prevents this since it aligns with the slab’s natural grain.

• Secure slabs tightly: Always be sure to secure granite and marble slabs to the proper racks with high quality, adequate straps. Make sure that the straps wrap all the way through the frame’s base, not just the top. Make sure the slabs are secured tightly, with the straps, and with the proper clamps (when lifting).

• Use proper padding: Always be sure to use good padding materials (like foam, felt, etc.) in order to protect a granite or marble slab from all possible points of contact in order to prevent scratches and chips. In other words, be sure to pad everything—just to be safe.

• Keep balance in loads: Distribute the slabs evenly on both sides of an A-frame for more stability. This reduces the risk of cracking, chipping, and even shattering, as well as reduces the risk of injury to yourself and those around you by keeping the slab from falling and shifting.

Whenever it comes to the route and travel step in transportation, there are also a few practices to follow:

• Use the proper vehicle: Always make sure to use a flatbed truck or another specialized vehicle that can handle the load you're carrying.

• Equipment inspection: Be sure to check all equipment (A-frames, tools, vehicles, etc.) for any damages or wear that may affect their performance.

• Plan your route ahead of time: Be sure to choose the smoothest route possible before you transport materials, to reduce risk of damage from bump roads or uneven terrain.

Finally, some good techniques to follow when it comes to handling and unloading:

• Use Proper Tools: Using the proper tools and equipment is just as important as following the other practices.

• Frequent Inspection: Be sure to check the slab before and after transportation for any damages.

• Train your team: Make sure you and your team are properly trained to handle the transportation, and be able to work together smoothly.

• Stay safe: Always follow the proper safety practices throughout the entire transportation process, in order to avoid injuries as well as avoiding damages to the materials.

Moving Raw Slabs vs. Finished Slabs

Although general practices are universal when it comes to transportation, it’s important to understand that different states in a granite or marble slab can bring different risks and require different practices to meet them accordingly. More specifically, the way you handle a raw granite/marble slab is a bit different than how you handle a finished granite/marble slab due to the difference in their levels of fragility and preparation.

Raw Slabs

When transporting a raw slab, such as moving a raw slab straight from the supplier to your own shop, it’s important to understand that raw granite and marble slabs are heavier and less processed than a finished slab. Because of this, it makes them more likely to crack from internal flaws. So, a major focus for raw slabs is making sure to prevent large breaks and fractures from their inherent weaknesses, such as in the veins and fissures. 

• Be sure to use the proper handling and transport techniques (like always keeping it vertical and use proper padding). 

• Focus the protection on preserving the slab’s structural integrity during hauls. Always remember the risks of major structural breaks are more likely to happen for raw slabs, which can make the entire slab useless for a job once they happen.

Finished Slabs:

However, when transporting a finished slab, such as moving a finished slab from your shop to install it at a jobsite, it’s important to understand that finished slabs look more complete, and more prone to smaller damages like chipping and cracking which can damage its aesthetic appeal and integrity. So, a major focus for finished slabs is protecting the polished surface from scratches, chips, and cracks. This means finished slabs require more gentle handling to preserve their surface, while raw slabs focus on their entire structural integrity.

• Be sure to be extremely careful and gentle when handling, using more specialized tools and techniques to avoid rough handling.

• Be sure to use more protection for the slab’s surface, such as more packaging and padding on all surfaces, edges, and corners to prevent surface damages.

Conclusion

Overall, no transportation job is going to be risk-free, however, all fabricators can significantly decrease the risk of material damages and possible injury by following the proper practices and techniques, as well as having the proper equipment. By following the best practices during transportation, using the best possible materials throughout the process, you can prevent granite and marble slabs (and other materials like stone slabs) from breaking, scratching, cracking or chipping during transportation.