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Slate Natural Stone Tile Flooring

Slate has been a popular choice through centuries and across continents for both practical and decorative uses. Slate is formed by means of tremendous pressure and heat from deep in the earth, and found most commonly along continental coasts all over the world. The harsh beginnings which formed the slate give way to a rock that stands up to wear as well as one that reveals a singular beauty. Slate flooring is typified by earthy color variations that make each tile unique.

Slate is often installed as flooring for use in foyers, hallways and bathrooms as well as for poolside surfaces, due in large part to its characteristic slip-resistance, a common consideration in these areas. One of the most popular textures available in slate is that of the "split face" variety, which is particularly effective when looking for this slip-resistant feature. With a range of colors that vary from orange, to beige, to greens and purples, slate offers a distinct aesthetic dimension as well, adding to its value as a decorative natural stone tile as well as a practical one.

Because slate is made from a natural stone, you can expect a certain level of color variation from tile to tile. This is because of the fluctuation of the amounts of minerals and other compounds unique to each individual tile. Although this can be seen as a disadvantage if you’re looking for a monochromatic effect, it can really work in your favor when laying your slate with a more diverse design approach in mind. These natural color variations allow you to be creative when it comes time to laying out each tile, making a unique statement with the individual slate tiles you have at your disposal; let your imagination run wild! No other slate floor will look exactly like yours! For this, a good idea is to open all of the boxes of slate you’ve purchased to see the full spectrum of the natural stone in unique to your batch. This will allow you to plan out how you wish to design your floor in a dry run, much like you would do with ceramic tile or granite tile.