Slate Flooring

Slate flooring is a great choice for both home and business, giving decorators a unique and flexible material to employ in their home.

Slate has many advantages, including its affordability and durability. A slate floor is made out of extremely fine material, giving it a resistance to moisture. Spills should be very easy to clean up, as slate will not absorb the water. Slate is also exceptionally resistant to stains and dirt. Simple maintenance should keep a slate floor clean with a minimum of effort.

Due to the wide range of origins for slate across the natural world, it can be found in a range of shades and colors. Slate flooring is available in anything from dark charcoal shades, to vibrant reds or greens. Consumers also have a wide range of patterns to choose from when it comes to slate flooring, giving each floor a personalized look. The cleft texture of slate flooring makes it incredibly tough, resisting scratches and wear. The slate texture also provides a safe surface that won't become slippery, making it a great choice for in the kitchen or work areas.

The combination of a safe work surface and stain resistance make slate one of the greatest all around kitchen appropriate flooring materials on the market. In addition to its affordability, slate flooring benefits from a wide range of unique patterns to choose from. Glosses can also be added to slate flooring, adding another dynamic to its appearance. Laying out slate flooring can be done without professional help, but it requires a good deal of time as well as tools. A diamond bladed saw will be required to cut the tiles. Thinset must also be purchased along with the tile, which is used to fasten the tile to the underlayment.

With a smooth concrete surface, no underlayment may be needed. With hardwood subfloors, or cracked concrete, an underlayment of concrete will be needed to begin the installation properly. It is essential that the correct thinset be used with certain tile sets. The thinset bonds the tile to the underlayment, and if done badly the floor can eventually begin drifting. Be sure to have a big bucket and something to clean up mortar that spreads across tile surfaces.

Before laying out slate flooring, make sure that the slate tiles are unbroken. Tiles commonly end up broken after arriving at the store. If any are broken, be sure that replacements match the original tile.