Each of these rocks possesses a distinct suite of characteristics that makes them highly valued as building stones:

• Marble: Primarily esteemed for its aesthetic appeal, marble takes a beautiful polish and exhibits attractive veining and patterns. Its moderate hardness allows for easy carving and sculpting, making it ideal for decorative purposes, flooring, and intricate architectural elements. It also has reasonable compressive strength, suitable for internal structural and cladding applications.

• Sandstone: Valued for its durability, moderate strength, and attractive natural textures and colours. It is relatively easy to cut and shape, making it workable. Sandstones often have a good porosity which allows buildings to "breathe," reducing moisture issues. Its naturally slip-resistant surface is ideal for paving, and its excellent weathering resistance ensures longevity, especially for external cladding and landscaping.

• Granite: Considered a premier building stone due to its exceptional hardness, high compressive strength, and excellent abrasion resistance. Its interlocking crystalline texture results in very low porosity, making it resistant to water absorption, staining, and chemical weathering. Granite takes an exquisite, long-lasting polish, offering both high durability and aesthetic appeal for structural components, countertops, and exterior cladding in high-traffic or exposed areas.