Friday, November 13th, 2009
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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Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
by Steven Tikas
Slate kitchen flooring is a type of natural stone material that is available in many shapes, colors, and styles which allows it to blend seamlessly with most decors. Slate is a perfect material for the kitchen for many reasons among which are its durability and its natural slip resistant trait in comparison to many other materials on the market today. Also when sealed properly, which includes yearly sealing, it also resists moisture and stains which is another huge plus in the kitchen area.
Black and white are the two most common color of slate stone but you can find it in many other colors so it will match just about anything you are trying to blend it with. If you are going for a one-of-a-kind look you can mix and match varying colors, shapes, and sizes to create a truly unique kitchen floor. Also because slate can also be used for kitchen counter tops you will be able to blend the two together and get a more uniform look which will help blend your kitchen together nicely.
If you live up north or in a colder climate then slate is a perfect choice because it is an ideal material to use with radiant heating systems. Radiant heating will keep the flooring material warm during the cold winter months and the natural properties of slate make it ideal for this type of home heating. A little softer then most of the other types of stone materials which can be good or bad depending on what you want and how much you are in your kitchen. On the plus side is that it is a little bit easier on the joints and body if you fall (plates and breakable will still be no good if you drop it in on slate). The downside to it being softer is that it is more likely to get damaged if something is dropped on then other types of stone.
Pros of Slate Kitchen Flooring:
Resistant to both slipping and stains (stains resistance when properly sealed and maintained)
-Easy to match to any decor and blends well with many countertop materials that are popular today
-Very durable and able to withstand rough day-to-day use
Cons:
-Most be sealed yearly to maintain its look along with its stain and slip benefit
-Expensive in comparison to other kitchen flooring materials
Slate kitchen floors range from between $14-35 dollars a square foot. Slate, like other types of stone, are not a DIY most people can do unless they are very experienced and also have some experience working with different types of stone.
On top of the cost of the materials themselves figure on adding about $5-7 dollars a square foot for installation cost. If you can get past the cost of slate flooring it does truly offer many benefits along with a beautiful look that can last you decades if properly taken care of.
About the Author:
Steven Tikas has dedicated himself and his website to helping to inform and educate people about the potential horrors involved with kitchen remodeling. For more specific information about
Slate Kitchen Floors or general
Kitchen Flooring Materials Options available for your kitchen visit my website.
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Slate flooring is a great 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 resilience. 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 very resistant to stains and dirt. Simple maintenance should keep a slate floor clean, without too much trouble.
Because of the extensive spectrum of sources for slate in the natural world, it can be found in a range of shades and colors. Slate flooring can be purchased 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 appearance. The cleft texture of slate flooring makes it incredibly tough, resisting scratches and wear. The slate texture also provides a great anti-slip surface, 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, adding another dynamic to its appearance. Installation of 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 secure 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 improperly the floor can eventually start shifting. Be sure to have a sizable bucket and something to clean up mortar that spreads across tile surfaces.
Before installing slate flooring, 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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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Slate flooring is a excellent option for both residential and business, giving designers a unique and flexible material to employ in their home. Slate has many advantages, including its affordability and resilience. Slate flooring has a very fine molecular structure, giving it a resistance to moisture. Spills should be very simple 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 without too much trouble.
Because of the extensive spectrum of sources for slate in the natural world, it can be found in a variety of shades and colors. Slate flooring can be purchased 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 appearance. The cleft texture of slate flooring makes it very durable, resisting scratches as well as general wear and tear. The slate texture also provides a great anti-slip surface, making it a wonderful choice for in the kitchen or work areas.
The combination of a safe work surface and stain resistance make slate one of the best 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 applied to slate flooring, giving another dynamic to its appearance. Installation of 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 secure the tile to the underlayment.
With a smooth concrete surface, no underlayment may be needed. With hardwood subfloors, or broken up concrete, an underlayment of concrete will be required to begin the installation the right way. It is essential that the correct thinset be used with particular tile sets. The thinset bonds the tile to the underlayment, and if done improperly 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 installing 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.
Posted in Flooring | No Comments »
Saturday, May 30th, 2009
Slate flooring is a fantastic option for both residential and business, giving designers a unique and flexible material to use in their home. Slate has many advantages, including its affordability and resilience. A slate tile floor is made out of extremely fine material, giving it a resistance to spills. Spills should be very simple 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 with a minimum of effort.
Due to the wide range of sources for slate across the natural world, it can be found in a range of shades and colors. Slate flooring can be purchased in everything from dark charcoal shades, to powerful 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 highly durable, resisting scratches as well as general wear and tear. The slate texture also provides a great anti-slip surface, making it a wonderful choice for in the kitchen or work areas.
The combination of a safe work surface and stain resistance make slate one of the best 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 applied to slate flooring, adding another dynamic to its appearance. Installation of 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 used in the installation, 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 needed to begin the installation properly. It is important that the right thinset be used with certain tile sets. The thinset bonds the tile to the underlayment, and if done improperly the floor can gradually begin shifting. Be sure to have a sizable bucket and something to clean up mortar that spreads across tile surfaces.
Before installing 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.
Posted in Flooring | No Comments »