Information About Slate Flooring
January 30th, 2009 | by How To |Check out Floor Options for more information about stone flooring and an updated version about slate flooring.
Slate flooring is a fantastic option for both home and business, giving designers a unique and flexible material to use in their home. Slate has many advantages, including its affordability and durability. Slate flooring has a very fine molecular structure, giving it a resistance to spills. 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 care should keep a slate floor clean with a minimum of effort.
Due to the extensive spectrum of origins for slate in the natural world, it can be found in a spectrum of shades and colors. Slate flooring can be purchased in everything 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 unique appearance. The cleft texture of slate flooring makes it highly durable, resisting scratches as well as general wear and tear. The slate texture also provides a safe surface that won’t become slippery, making it a wonderful choice for in the kitchen or work areas.
The combination of good stain resistance and anti-slip properties make slate one of the best all around kitchen appropriate flooring materials available. In addition to its affordability, slate flooring benefits from a wide range of unique patterns to choose from. Glosses can also be applied to slate flooring, giving another dynamic to its appearance. Laying out slate flooring can be done without professional assistance, but it requires a significant investment of time and a set of 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 required. With hardwood subfloors, or broken up concrete, an underlayment of concrete will be required to begin the installation the right way. It is crucial 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 start drifting. Be sure to have a big bucket and something to clean up mortar that spreads across tile surfaces.
Before laying out, check out the packaging of the slate. Tiles commonly end up shattered after arriving at the store. If any are broken, be sure that replacements match the original tile.
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