Slate flooring is a wonderful choice for both home and business,

giving decorators a unique and flexible material to employ in their home. Slate has many benefits, including its affordability and durability. Slate flooring has a very fine molecular structure, giving it a resistance to spills. Spills should be very easy to clean up, as slate will not absorb the moisture. Slate is also very resistant to stains and dirt. Simple maintenance should keep a slate floor clean with a minimum of effort.

Because of the wide spectrum of origins for slate in the natural world, it can be found in a spectrum of shades and colors. Slate flooring is available in everything from dark charcoal shades, to bright reds or greens. Consumers also have a wide range 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 highly durable, resisting scratches and wear. The slate texture also provides a great anti-slip surface, making it a great choice for in the kitchen or work areas.

The combination of good stain resistance and anti-slip properties make slate one of the greatest all around kitchen appropriate flooring materials on the market. As well as to its affordability, slate flooring benefits from a wide range of unique patterns to choose from. Glosses can also be added to slate flooring, bringing another dynamic to its uniqueness. 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 provides the sharpness to cut through slate. 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 required. With hardwood subfloors, or cracked concrete, an underlayment of concrete will be required to begin the installation the right way. 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 eventually begin shifting. Be sure to have a sizable bucket and something to clean up mortar that spreads across tile surfaces.

Before laying out 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.