Slate Flooring

Eye Catching Beauty With Versatility

Extremely stain and water resistant, its versatility and ruggedness will fill a room with character and warmth...

When you hear "slate" mentioned you probably think gray and black, but there are many beautiful, subtle light and dark shades of beige, red, rust, blue, green, purple and brown, multiple and single shades available, and textures too!

Or if you prefer something more simplistic buy the single-color slate tiles. Either one, you can't go wrong!

Characteristics

Waterproof, rugged, durable and low maintenance make slate suitable where moisture may be a problem. Ideal as entry way, kitchen and bathroom flooring. Even semi-outdoor areas (porches & patios), basements if you like.

You may even see slate tiled driveways, that's how tough it is!

Tiles are square, rectangular, octagonal or randomly cut and come in many various sizes to suit your needs, from large flagstone to small inset tiles.

Riven (split) slates are rougher than cut tiles and offer some slip resistance. Thus, they are also uneven in thickness, so an adhesive build-up will need to be used on the thinner ones when installed.

Cut tiles are smooth surfaced with precise edges and may be slippery... so go lightly on the polish!

Square slate floor tile is used for a perfectly aligned, contemporary setting and are nearly grout-less.

If you are wanting a country-cottage effect, choose irregular shapes with wider grout lines.

The naturally wet sheen, or "gloss", of slate can be enhanced with finishing products...

But be extremely careful when polishing your floors not to make them too slippery!

Pros & Cons

This quality of natural stone doesn't come cheap.. but slate is less expensive than granite or marble. Whereas, granite tile or marble flooring require expertise to install, which adds to their expense, slate floor tiles are much easier to install and can be done by a non-professional.

Cold and hard underfoot and to the touch, one way to compensated for this is with area rugs, especially in a kitchen where things are more likely to be dropped and possibly broken. And you might consider underfloor heating ( radiant heating ) to make it warm underfoot. It is relatively inexpensive to install, and if done correctly inexpensive to use.

Tiles can be slippery and not the best choice for kitchens where there is apt to be spillage. BUT, a riven (split) slate would work well in this area because the rough surface gives it some slip resistance....

Cleaning & Care

Metal will permanently scratch slate, use only soft-bristled brushes or brooms to clean your floor...

Sweep or vacuum on a regular basis, and damp-mop when needed.

To give your slate floor maximum protection, keep it looking like new, and extend it's life, use only natural stone floor cleaning products recommended for slate.

Remember damp-mopping is all that is needed, not a lot of excess cleaning product. Don't forget those small characteristic pockets known to slate... They will need thorough cleaning from time to time.

Any acidic product will break down the finish on stone materials. Plain, warm water works well for mopping, too, but it offers no protection to the stone, so I advise not using it on a regular basis.

Although usually waterproof, it doesn't hurt to apply a finish to give your floor extra luster and protection. Do this every 6 to 12 months.

Slate flooring cleaning and finish products will give your floor extra protection against the unexpected while enhancing its beauty... Slate is an excellent choice for your floors. Check it out!

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