Slate Tile Flooring
Check out this fabulous 24 x 24 slate tile floor we saw at a local restaurant (you can click to enlarge). As we continue to work towards our basement gameroom, we’ve been thinking about what tile or stone floor will give us the right atmosphere with a rich, natural look. Slate is high on our list for its durability, stain resistance, timeless look, and brilliant coloration.
These tiles caught my eye immediately for their perfect color variation and large size. They filled a large restaurant hall and bar area well without making the floor look like a sheet of gridpaper.
Slate over Radiant Heating
Our electric radiant heating system requires a flooring material that will conduct heat to the surface. Just like all natural stone tiles slate is a very poor insulator, making it highly desirable for this type of installation. When heated, the slate will feel warm to the touch, making the best use of the radiant heating investment.
Large Tiles for a Large Area
At 1000 sq. ft., our room demands a large tile to give the space an open and flowing feeling. While 24×24 tiles are about 30% more expensive per sq. ft., we think the large tiles are worth it to give the space the right look. We’ve also considered a patterned tile (where the tiles are different shapes designed to work together in a pattern) to break up the room. Either would work well for our application, and the decision will likely come down to price.
Neutral Coloration and a Flat Surface are Essential
There’s no doubt we love slate. But not all slate. Some slates have too much color variation or have a strong green hue. We think these slates will look dated over time, and are more difficult to incorporate into a decorating scheme. Slates also vary in how much they have been grinded or planed to a flat surface. Almost all slate tiles will have some variation (+/- 1/32 inch), but some slates can vary as much as 3/16 inch across a 1 sq. foot area. These will feel bumpy and uncomfortable in bare feet, and we think they should be avoided for indoor installations.
What do you think? Do you like slate? Have you used it in your own home?
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9 Responses to Slate Tile Flooring
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February 18th, 2009 8:00 am
Fred – We had slate tile in our foyer in the first house and loved it. However, you’re right about the variation in thickness and comfort. I wouldn’t recommend it for a “family room” type of area. It’s better suited for outdoors and entry ways.
When we finished our basement in our first room I ended up buying ceramic tile. We were lucky and found a color we liked that was a close out at Home Depot and paid $0.69 sq ft for it! That’s the way to save some serious money!
February 18th, 2009 9:50 am
You have to be careful with slate in the long run. We had slate in our old house (built in the 1970s) in the foyer and it started to come apart in small thin layers. I would walk barefoot across the slate on a summer day and find small thin pieces stuck to the bottom of my feet.
Not sure why it was doing that, but just a warning.
February 18th, 2009 9:57 am
Todd, thanks for the thoughts. This particular slate was surprisingly uniform and felt more like ceramic than slate. We did extensive research on slate for a good friend’s kitchen and found a very uniform black slate with little variation. Feels just the same as ceramic.
Tom, I very much appreciate this insight and will definitely discuss this with any manufacturer before laying their tile if we go with it. There would be nothing more distressing than a slate that’s just chipping away underfoot.
February 18th, 2009 12:16 pm
I have considered slates for our basement as well.
But I was told Slate will require maintenance (sealing?), and also the color will fade over time especially with sun lights. Which means, if you have rug or furniture sit in the same place for a long time, the color underneath will be somewhat different from the other area which was exposed to air & sun.
I guess it should not be too much of problem in basement, but our basement is half-lit, and we decided to use porcelain tiles (I agree with larger tiles in larger space even in our 500 sqft space!).
February 18th, 2009 2:02 pm
I love slate for flooring. Not only is it natural looking but the wear is natural too and just adds to the charm of any home no matter where you install it. It’s a plus in my book!
February 20th, 2009 3:02 pm
I used slate in the bathroom, and I got it for around $2.25 a foot from Home Despot. It was almost all black (check out the pics on the blog), and it was honed so there wasn’t much thickness variation at all. We decided not to seal it as we like the matte finish. The honed finish would be fine for a living area as there isn’t my variation.
In the kitchen we used a ceramic tile that looked like slate – crossville, nero was the type. It offered the look of slate but a bit more durability.
February 20th, 2009 11:58 pm
Corey – left a comment on your original post (which is here for anyone who wants to look). Those are the same tiles we installed in a friend’s house. Very uniform. Although I think he paid about 3/sq ft. for his, so you got a very good deal at 2.25.
February 23rd, 2009 6:22 pm
We have a slate floored bathroom. We used honed slate in a dark grey/blue with beige streaks. There are slight variations, but nothing that bothers our bare feet after baths or inthe middle of the night. I do wish we had sprung for the electric floor heat, though!
April 3rd, 2010 1:58 am
Does anyone know of a source for honed dark grey or black slate in large sizes?
Thanks so much.