Slate flooring is a great way to add class and elegance to a space. Slate tile flooring can be used anywhere – in the home, the bathroom, on the walls, and outside. Wool Rugs and round rugs always compliment Slate Flooring.
Slate is a finely-grained, metamorphic rock composed of calcite, chlorite, mica, and quartz. It makes an excellent flooring because of its hardness and durability. It is moisture, bacteria, and stain resistant.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Slate is an extremely hard natural stone. A slate floor will last a lifetime with proper care. Some slate flooring will need to be sealed while others will not. Sealing slate can create a whole different look by bringing out the textures and colors. Slate is hypo-allergenic and resistant to mold and bacteria. Once installed, slate is low maintenance.
Slate can be scratched, so hard furniture will have to be padded. Some floor tiles may be thinner than others and more likely to break. Others may flake and will need to be sealed. Certain colors may be damaged with aggressive cleaning and may also need to be sealed. Slate can feel hard and cold under the feet. It also does not absorb sound very well. As with other natural stones, installation can be more difficult than with porcelain or ceramic tile, especially for a novice.
Varieties
Slate comes from many countries. For the most part, most of the slate sold here comes from America, Brazil, China, or India.
Slate comes in rich, earth tones of almost every color. Each slate floor tile will have its own texture formed by peaks and breaks. Slate comes in many sizes including the standard 12″x12″ tile used for flooring. Larger sizes are also available for flooring while smaller sizes, such as 3″x3″, are available for walls, counters, or as accent pieces. Slate tiles can be gauged or un-gauged. Gauged tile have a more relative thickness than un-gauged tiles. Sometimes called earth-gauged, these tiles can have as much as 1/4″ of difference between them. For installations upstairs, slate may be too heavy. In this case, thin slate floor tiles will need to be used.
Pricing
Slate floors cost more than cheap laminate flooring, ceramic or porcelain floors, but less than granite or marble floors. Because of its durability and rich, distinct look, the investment is definitely worth it. Slate floor tiles can be purchased at specialty flooring dealers or at the local home improvement store. It is possible to purchase slate at a discounted price. The amount available may be limited, however, so be sure to accurately measure your room and add extra for cuts and mistakes (usually 10-20%) before you make your purchase.
Slate flooring is more difficult to work with than ceramic or porcelain tiling. A professional contractor may be the best person to install this flooring, but it is definitely possible for the at-home installer who does the proper research.