Slate is a natural stone, an extremely fine-grained natural metamorphic stone that not only gives your home a subtle, pleasant look but also is very practical.
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Slate Flooring Advantages
It has a surface that is not slippery and is ideal for use in high humidity areas such as bathrooms, showers, pool edges, if it is perfectly sealed. Slate is also fire resistant and requires minimal maintenance (a regular moping). More than that, slate resists very well chemicals, abrasion and fading. It is virtually impermeable to freeze and thaw cycles.
It is extremely durable, keeping the same glorious appearance as on the first day for many years. In fact, if it is correctly installed slate flooring can last forever.
Slate is also fire resistant and requires minimal maintenance (a regular moping). More than that, slate resists very well chemicals, abrasion and fading. It is virtually impermeable to freeze and thaw cycles.
It is extremely durable, keeping the same glorious appearance as on the first day for many years. In fact, if it is correctly installed slate flooring can last forever.
Slate is highly recommended for both exterior and interior floors and not only.
This versatile material can also be used successfully as tabletops, countertops, cladding and stair treads.
Slate Flooring Disadvantages
However, like any natural product, and not only slate has some disadvantages. It is a material very porous that requires a regular and permanent sealing. Therefore, it is not recommended for interior or exterior floors that are exposed to intensive moisture and grease..
Slate comes in various finishes such as natural slate (with a uniform surface), mat slate (with a completely smooth surface), Antique Slate (with a stone, rough look), brushed slate (the rough appearance of slate is reduced by brushing).
Slate Flooring Installation
Black slate flooring is the perfect choice and varies in color from black to blue-gray. Before installing a slate flooring make sure that the surface is perfectly flat and mounted slate tiles are perfectly clean and dry.
Ensure that the surface that will be mounted slate is perfectly dry. If the surface is not completely dry then any thin cracks that occur during the drying process will cause movements of the slate tiles that can crack and break.
For the grouting of these natural stones it is used a special grout for stone, which is a cement-based mortar with synthetic resin content. It is resistant to abrasion, easy to apply and clean and is a non-toxic product.
All types of slate must be waterproofed before grouting. Generally natural stone surfaces have different degrees of porosity and must be waterproofed. It is recommended to apply a waterproofing layer on the surface of the slate before grouting and a second coat after the plates were installed and grouted to preserve their splendid natural finish.
Slate is highly recommended for both exterior and interior floors and not only. This versatile material can also be used successfully as tabletops, countertops, cladding and stair treads.
Slate Flooring Disadvantages
However, like any natural product, and not only slate has some disadvantages. It is a material very porous that requires a regular and permanent sealing. Therefore, it is not recommended for interior or exterior floors that are exposed to intensive moisture and grease..
Slate comes in various finishes such as natural slate (with a uniform surface), mat slate (with a completely smooth surface), Antique Slate (with a stone, rough look), brushed slate (the rough appearance of slate is reduced by brushing).
Slate Flooring Installation
Black slate flooring is the perfect choice and varies in color from black to blue-gray. Before installing a slate flooring make sure that the surface is perfectly flat and mounted slate tiles are perfectly clean and dry.
Ensure that the surface that will be mounted slate is perfectly dry. If the surface is not completely dry then any thin cracks that occur during the drying process will cause movements of the slate tiles that can crack and break.
For the grouting of these natural stones it is used a special grout for stone, which is a cement-based mortar with synthetic resin content. It is resistant to abrasion, easy to apply and clean and is a non-toxic product.
All types of slate must be waterproofed before grouting. Generally natural stone surfaces have different degrees of porosity and must be waterproofed. It is recommended to apply a waterproofing layer on the surface of the slate before grouting and a second coat after the plates were installed and grouted to preserve their splendid natural finish.
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