Slate Flooring – An Excellent Flooring Choice

November 13th, 2009 by granitestonemarble

Since slate has a very fine molecular makeup, it has been proven to have many advantages over other residential flooring such as its affordability and low maintainence. Because of its fine material attributes it is very resistant to moisture or spilling accidents, so that if an accident does occur it will be easy to clean up. It is also extremely resistant to dirt and stains. Slate flooring is very easy to keep clean and maintain.

Slate is so abundant in the natural world, a wide variety and extensive selection of slate flooring can be found in many shapes and colors. Color ranges from red to charcoal and anything in between can be bought.Consumers enjoy a very broad selection of patterns to select from when it comes to slate flooring, giving each floor a unique appearance. The cleft texture of slate flooring makes it very tough, resisting scratches and wear. 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 on the market. In addition to its affordability, slate flooring has the advantage of several unique patterns to select from. Glosses can also be applied to slate flooring, adding another dynamic to its uniqueness. Installation of slate flooring can be accomplished without professional assistance, but it requires a good deal of time as well as tools. A diamond bladed saw provides the sharpness to cut through slate. 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 a an existing hardwood flooring installation, or broken up concrete, an underlayment of concrete will be required to begin the installation properly. It is essential that the right thinset be used with particular 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 large bucket and something to clean up mortar that spreads across tile surfaces.

After purchase you should carefully check the contents of your product to ensure that none of the tiles are broken. Tiles can often time be broken during shipment from the manufacturer to the retail store. If you do find any broken tiles make sure that replacement tiles are available that will match the original tiles.

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