Slate Flooring - A Popular Flooring Choice

Slate tile flooring is a popular choice for homeowners because it can be used in nearly every room of the house, as well as outside. It also offers a natural slip-resistant surface in areas that are expected to get wet such as a kitchen or bathroom. Besides being a safe surface, slate tile flooring is also beautiful. It's no wonder this medium is so popular.

What is it?

Slate tile floors are a great choice for homeowners who are trying to make their homes more environmentally friendly. They are a natural stone product that is durable and will provide beauty for years to come. Add in the fact that they help reduce slipping and are stain resistant, and they may be the perfect choice.

Choosing the Right Flooring

Choosing the right flooring can be a fun activity, if you let it. When you start looking at local do-it-yourself stores, go prepared with swatches or photographs. This will enable you to choose tiles that match your decor. If possible, go to the home improvement or flooring store to visually see and compare tiles.

How Much Does it Cost?

As with any other type of flooring you may be considering, the prices will vary. You can expect to spend at least $2 per square foot. If you're having the tile professionally installed, you'll probably need to add $5 or more per square foot to the price.

What are the Pros and Cons of Slate Flooring?

Slate tiles are similar to ceramic tiles in many ways. The advantages include being durable, naturally slip-resistant, and having a distinctive finish. The disadvantages include difficulty in maintaining grout between the tiles, and the grout not being as stain-resistant as the tiles. Another disadvantage is that it doesn't have any padding like carpet or rubber flooring.

Can I Install It Myself?

Choosing to install this flooring can reduce the cost of your new floor dramatically. Start with a level, solid under-flooring. Get any tools you may need and then follow the manufacturer's instructions. You'll have a beautiful tile floor before you know it!

Caring for your floor

One of the easiest things you can do to keep your slate flooring beautiful is to take your shoes off at the door; shoes can grind in dirt. Dust mop the floors often and then clean the floor with a damp mop, using warm water. Be sure to follow manufacturer's instructions if you choose to seal the flooring.

Choosing a new floor after remodeling a room is a big step. Your floors are an important design element, and slate tile flooring may be the right choice for your home. With the variety of tiles available, a beautiful slate tile floor is something you'll love.

--------------------------------------

Every month we feature natural stone flooring at deep discounts.
Featuring: Vermont Shadow grey Slate
We offer the absolute best prices for high quality natural stone flooring for
kitchens and baths. The featured stone is only available while supplies last.
info@slateatlanta.com

Slate Atlanta

Powered by Marketing Atlanta

Why Use Stone For Your Flooring?

Everybody wants his home to be well furnished not only for the sake that it will be pretty to show off to your colleagues but for the reason that you want it to be comfortable to you in relevance to your personality. There is a choice of a wide selection of materials to be used for your wall and house flooring. You can try out wood or a wide variety of ceramics. However there is a growing preference for stone because of its durability and timeless elegance. Granite, sandstone, granite, slate, limestone, and stone finishes are the commonly used to decorate homes.

Among these, natural limestone is the most preferred as it gives a more matt finish which suits the English home. Stone has traditionally been used for hundreds of years in English homes. It is common to see Georgian terraced houses in our great cities made from Portland Stone or fireplaces in rustic pubs made from Bath stone. Anyone who has been to the centre of London will have noticed the House of Commons which is made from Cotswold Stone sitting next to Westminster Abbey which is built of Portland stone. These materials have been quarried in this country since pre Roman times and it is a way of keeping a link with the past in current and contemporary buildings.

Natural limestone has the natural elegance and durability that fits designing not only a home but the most prestigious buildings. Most infamous buildings and homes are built from limestone. Aside from the elegance that natural limestone can give, this stone type can be polished, honed, brushed or antiqued. Moreover it signals individuality and luxury of style. Stone is also very durable and will be easy to maintain for any household. Stone can also be cut into cabochans to give the classic black and white hallway floors.

Unlike what most people believe, natural limestone varies in colour aside from the clean and common white colour depending on where it is quarried from. Common colours in the UK are the sandy golden colours of Lincoln, Cotswold and Bath. Also prevalent are Israeli stones and French materials. Of late Egyptian and Turkish stones have become more prevalent especially for use in bathrooms. Each of these materials have a different texture and detail.

It is now possible to age or antique stone to replicate the appearance of traditional flagstone floors. There is an entire industry in France which deals with reclaiming antique limestone and terracotta floors and importing them to the UK. In the UK reclamation is more difficult due to the level of preservation that exists on older buildings. It is also possible to stencil on stone and cut it to bespoke sizes for fireplaces, staircases etc which would add a touch of individuality to any project. Stone can also be used externally and is a practical material for any terrace / garden / patio. Due to the cost issues Indian sandstones are a particularly good choice for any external stone. However some people choose to use riven slate or other non slip materials.

(by Charles Margetts)

-----------------------------------

WILD-WEST GREEN GRANITE KITCHEN COUNTER.
Incredible, rich colors.

info@granitecountertopatlanta.com
Granite Countertop Atlanta

Powered by Marketing Atlanta