Slate Tile Floors

Slate tiles have become a very popular flooring option in many residential and commercial constructions and renovations. Using slate flooring outdoors is also very popular due to its longevity, versatility and aesthetics. Slate tiles create a unique and distinctive walking surface with many colour and pattern variations. It is naturally slip-resistant and is a very good choice in high traffic and high wear areas. Of course, one can't say all this without talking about how it looks! Beautifully rustic with many wonderful shades to choose from slate tiles are the perfect way to finish off a room.

Slate Tile Options

Slate tile manufacturers, for the most part produce tiles that a uniform 1/4" thick. They usually come in a wide range of colours and shades ranging from blues and greys to brown and reds. Tiles can be found that will match almost any room colour scheme. Slate tiles are most usually sold in 1 foot squares (12"x 12") but can also sometimes be found in 6 inch squares or 12"x 24" sizes. A good flooring store will have most basic colours on hand and will usually let you take a sample from a chipped or broken tile for colour matching. This is an especially good idea if you are planning to paint the room or furnish the room to match the tile colours.

Some things to Consider Before Buying Your Slate Tiles

Slate tiles come in a variety of colours, but you should also expect to see a fair amount of variation in the shades of those colours. Greys can be anything from almost black to almost beige and everything in between. This is normal and is part of the 'look' that state tiles will give you.

Layout all your tile before actually starting the installation. This will ensure that various colour shades are spread evenly over the whole flooring space and will also catch any tile shortages before the work starts. You will also be able to check tile thicknesses especially at doorways to ensure that the door will still open and close properly. In some cases, the door may need to be trimmed to allow enough clearance over the new flooring.

When ordering slate tiles, make should to order extra for breakage. There will always be some broken upon arrival and others will be broken during cutting and installation. This is normal and cannot be avoided.

Choose proper slate tile sealant. There are several options when it comes to tile sealers - high-gloss which give a wet look to no sheen which is the most natural look. Plan which sealer to use by the room or area that you are tiling. Outdoor tiles might look great with a high-gloss sealer while say a kitchen installation would look better with a no sheen, natural sealer. Choose the sealer as carefully as you choose the tiles themselves.

Slate Tile Installation

Finally, you should consider the actual installation process. If you are removing an old floor, you should go right down to the bear floorboards ensuring that the floor boards are solid and tight. Then a proper sub-floor must be laid down. This will ensure a flat floor and will provide a solid base that the tiles can be adhered to. Use a proper cement that is made specifically for slate tiles. Other cements may not hold the tiles properly or may actually cause cracking. Finally choose a proper slate grout. Grouts come in a variety of colours, so once again, be sure to match the grout colour to the slates that you've purchased.

A slate floor will add both value and longevity to any flooring space and is a great option to consider in any room in your house. Slate tiles can be installed easily by the do-it-yourselfer or there are any number of professionals who can install your tile floor quickly and easily.