Tips Reference

Slate Flooring for Residential and Commcercial Establishments

Posted on 28. Apr, 2009 by Mark Coleman in Flooring

Slate flooring is a wonderful option for both home and business, giving designers a unique and flexible material to employ in their home. Slate has many benefits, including its affordability and resilience. Slate flooring has a very fine molecular structure, giving it a resistance to moisture. Spills should be very easy to clean up, as slate will not absorb the moisture. Slate is also exceptionally resistant to stains and dirt. Simple care should keep a slate floor clean without too much trouble.

Due to the wide range of sources for slate in the natural world, it can be found in a spectrum 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 unique 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 good stain resistance and anti-slip properties make slate one of the greatest all around kitchen appropriate flooring materials available. As well as to its affordability, slate flooring benefits from a wide range of unique patterns to choose from. Glosses can also be added to slate flooring, bringing another dynamic to its uniqueness. Laying out slate flooring can be done without professional assistance, 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 particular 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 large bucket and something to clean up mortar that spreads across tile surfaces.

Before laying out slate flooring, check out the packaging of the slate. Tiles can frequently end up broken after arriving at the store. If any are broken, be sure that replacements match the original tile.