Slate a stone for all surfaces - home - interior design - Brief Article

* Slate is the Robert Redford of the stone world: Its rugged good looks and versatility allow it to play a wide range of roles; its mood can be rustic and casual or sleek and contemporary. This metamorphic rock works equally well for floors, hearths and fireplaces, backsplashes, counters, and patios.

Slate's many virtues make it a popular choice. It has a less formal look than marble or granite. It's extremely durable, slip resistant, stain resistant (a penetrating sealer makes it more so), and fireproof. It also retains and radiates heat (for use in passive solar homes).

The true elegance of slate is in its colors, from solid hues like black, red, green, gray, and purple to mottled and mixed tones that resemble earthy abstract watercolors. A well-stocked showroom will offer more than 60 variants. The distinctive colors result from the presence of different minerals, such as graphite (blacks), chlorite (greens), and hematite (reds). Slate also has a characteristic patterning--a telltale trace of its formation from layers of shale.

Sizes, textures, and prices

You can buy slate in rectangular and square sizes that range from machine-finished pieces about 1/4 inch thick, which are best for counters and walls, to hand-split ones about 1/2 to 1 inch thick, which are most suitable for floors and terraces. Slate is either gauged or ungauged. Gauged slate has gone through a grinding machine, usually to smooth out one side, leaving the other (cleft) side alone. The machine finish guarantees a uniform thickness for ease in setting. Ungauged tiles are uneven on both sides, vary in thickness, and are best used as patio paving.

Price varies with type and source, but you can figure on $4 to $7.50 per square foot (some slates are more rare than others)--much less than marble, granite, or limestone. You can often find a limited range of 12-inch tiles for about $2 apiece in the tile section at home improvement centers. Slate is also available in slabs (the price range per square foot is comparable to that for marble and granite slab) for kitchen counters or tabletops, as tiles for roofing, and in random shapes that are suitable for patios. Some manufacturers are beginning to offer tumbled slate in small pieces and etched slate, which can be used to create ornamental details.

The most popular texture for slate is the roughened surface that results from the cleaving (splitting) process. It's wonderful for floors and patios, as it reduces the likelihood of slipping. The color and irregular pattern of the natural cleft gives each tile a singularity that, when grouped with others in a broad surface, achieves a one-of-a-kind appearance. You may have to purchase more than you need for covering to get consistent color. Slate is commonly sold at home centers, tile shops, and stone yards.

Wine-colored slate forms an elegant accent wall in this contemporary kitchen. Under-the-cabinet lighting adds to the warm glow. By Brukoff Design Associates

The sand-hued slate tiles covering this tub platform complement the natural wood trim of the windows and help set a tranquil mood. DESIGN: SkB Architects, Seattle (206/903-0575)

RELATED ARTICLE: TIPS

* The handy homeowner will find slate tile is surprisingly easy to work with. The only real challenge is cutting it. Since you cannot score and crack it like ceramic tiles, your best bet is to rent a wet saw.

* Gauged tiles can be thin-set to plywood or concrete backerboard; ungauged ones need to be set in a deeper mortar bed.

* If you have cleft-surface tiles, it's a good idea to seal them with a penetrating sealer before grouting, so the grout can be cleaned off the tile surface. In regions prone to treezing, sealing slate that's outdoors will help avoid chipping (or "spalling").

* Vacuuming and a light wet mopping should keep most slate floors clean, but a thin coat of wax will help mask wear marks in areas of high foot traffic.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group