Slate floor tiles are an excellent choice for a hard flooring type. They are very stain resistant and durable, and they give you a more secure walking surface than does ceramic tile. Ceramic tile can get slippery when it's wet. Slate also has a look that is unique to this flooring type. Slate's face has a natural texture that forms when it breaks away from the rock face where it formed. This makes it a unique and beautiful flooring product.
When you choose slate stone floor tiles for your home, determine what shade or color that you would like, the size of the tiles you wish to use, and whether you want a design made from simple squares or a repeating pattern. The repeating pattern looks uniform, but is actually made from different shapes and sizes of tile.
If you're laying your slate floor over concrete, you won't need an underlayer if the concrete is free of damage, drop offs or cracks. When you install on wood, use a backer board based with cement first. This will give you a good surface for your slate and mortar to adhere to.
Thinset mortar will be used to secure your slate tiles to the underlayment. Check before you lay the underlayment to make sure that it will work effectively with your slate tile. You will want to use spacers to make sure the tiles are equal distances apart. A sealer will increase the stain resistance and the life of your tile, so plan to seal it occasionally. The instructions on the sealer packaging will tell you how often slate floor tiles need to be resealed.
Before you start prepping your floor, check your slate flooring materials. Open the boxes and make sure there is no damage. Make sure that the store who sells the slate tiles will allow you to return any tiles that you find damaged or broken. If you need to exchange due to broken or damaged tiles, be sure that the replacement tile is from the same lot as the tile you already have. Slate is a natural product, so there can be color and hue differences in different lots.
Porcelain slate tile will prove to be a durable and beautiful flooring for your home. It can be combined with many types of décor, from traditional to contemporary to rustic. The colors are earth tones with a warmth that reflects the beauty of the landscape they come from.
You can use mortar slate tiles for other areas besides floors, too. It makes an excellent tile for showers, fireplaces and backsplashes. The various sizes can give your installation a truly unique look. Flagstone made from slate makes lovely patio or deck projects.
The colors available in slate tiles vary from one retailer to the next, but generally will include African gold, Indian Autumn, California Gold and multicolor. Select the color that best highlights the area where you plan to use it. The textures and colors of slate floor tiles have made them a natural favorite for builders, contractors and homeowners who want to increase the beauty and value of their homes.