Slate Floor Tile

How To Select Slate Flooring

Slate Flooring – Its Ancient Beginnings can be a great addition to your home. Millions of years ago, sediments that collected on the bottom of our planets oceans and riverbeds gradually became compressed and heated creating huge deposits of slate and shale that we quarry today. Slate makes a very durable flooring product and is very popular today.

Each piece of slate has its own unique markings, texture and color and there are no two pieces exactly alike. For this reason you should not expect that your new slate floor will be of uniform color or texture. Slate is very durable but is not as hard as ceramic tiles or granite. Slate can be scratched if heavy or sharp objects are scraped or dragged over it and it can be cracked or chipped if not installed properly on a solid substrate of exterior grade plywood or a concrete slab.

Slate is available in many colors including black, Gray, Blue gray, Green, Purple and Red.

Slate is a good choice for Kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, walkways and patios. Slate is naturally stain resistant, water resistant and is has a non-slip surface.

Slate should be sealed with an acrylic sealer to protect the surface from stains, increase water resistance and reduce color fading.

Slate tiles come in a variety of sizes including squares ranging from 12” to 24” wide and rectangles ranging from 12” x 6” to 16”x 8”. Thickness ranges from 7/16” to ¾”.

Grout joints should be 3/8" for the 12"x12" and 1/2" for the 16"x16". A sanded grout is recommended for 1/8" to 1/2" joints and a Saltillo Grout for joints widths of 1/2" to 1 1/4".

Slate tiles come in a variety of sizes including squares ranging from 12” to 24” wide and rectangles ranging from 12” x 6” to 16”x 8”. Thickness ranges from 7/16” to ¾”.

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Looking to buy new carpeting but feeling overwhelmed by all the choices, options and potential scams? The Carpet Professor's website is a free unbiased carpet information resource and buying guide for consumers. Alan Fletcher is a retired 30-year industry expert and consumer advocate. He maintains a special hand-picked list of locally-owned carpet and flooring stores to recommend to his readers. Articles by the Carpet Professor →

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