Slate Kitchen Flooring

Can I use random natural slate that was used outdoors for my kitchen floor ? Worried about weight of slate ?

Hi Donna,
You could I suppose, so long as your floor joists can support it, if in doubt, it's best to beef them up a bit. How thick are the stones? Are they in good condition? You'll have to figure on cleaning them I would think, and it'd be a good idea to seal them before laying them (added bonus: makes it easier to get grout oopsies off of them!) and of course seal well afterwards. The main thing I'd be concerned about is the 'ouch factor' if the stones aren't the same thickness, you're most likely going to have stones that are taller than others.

What colour of granite counter could I use for a peacock slate floor?

Hi Janice,
That's really a tough one to answer since you haven't described the colors in your post. Seriously, the best thing to do is take a sample or piece of the slate with you and go shopping for a complimentary countertop.

Hello. I am re-doing my floors in my entire house except the bedrooms. I was going to go w/slate throughout including the bathrooms and fireplace (all the same color). Do you think that is too much slate in a home? We recently got water from hurricane Ike and it ruined my hardwoods so we don't want to go back with hardwoods in case we get "wet" again. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Shannon,

Sorry to hear that you were in Ike's path. I can't really judge if it's *too much* slate in a home - I can't see your home! ;~) If you're worried about that, you can always use throw rugs to accent the floor - just be careful that they don't stick to the floor!

Word of caution: Slate is porous and water doesn't help it any. You really, really have to seal it well, both before and after you lay the slate.

Do a search on the upper right-hand side of the page using the words seal slate - you'll find lots of things to read and what the benefits are to sealing before and after - it'll save you a lot of heartache!

I am putting in peacock slate tiles in my kitchen with black granite countertops and dark cherry shaker cabinets. I had my fireplace redone in the peacock slate and its beautiful and picks up any color you paint areound it.I am debating about what kind of sealer..gloss or matte as I am going with a high gloss absolute black granite countertops. I am wondering if that would be too much shine to go with my mission/shaker style house.

Hi bobbielee,
I'm inclined to think that it might be too much high gloss, but then again, it's really hard to visualize since I can't actually see it. It might actually compliment it really well! If you try the high-sheen and don't like it, you can always use a low-sheen or satin finish on top so long as it's the same type of sealer or compatible finish.

I wanted to use slate for a kitchen floor, but I have been told that it is difficult to properly seal and clean. Can you comment on ease of maintenance, stains and cleaning problems vs. alternative kitchen floor coverings? Can you recommend a sealant? Preferably a specific brand and type. Thanks

Bob

Hi Bob,

In my opinion, the best products for slate flooring are those made by AquaMix. Click on the link, read over what each product is used for and what it does. That should help a lot.

Slate is a wonderful flooring option, but people often have trouble with it either because the proper steps weren't followed during installation because of lack of knowledge or trying to cut corners. Do your homework first and don't try to go with the cheapest materials.

Be sure to seal the slate before you lay it. Be sure to clean off the excess grout super well and make sure there is no grout haze. If you seal the floor and you have some grout haze/residue, you'll really see it after it's sealed -- at that point, the only thing you can do to remove it is to strip the finish to clean the grout haze and then reseal/refinish. Obviously, taking your time and doing each step properly is going to save you a lot of headaches and heartache down the road.

Using the proper cleaners is important too - only use cleaners that are recommended for the kind of sealer/finishes you use. A weak vinegar/water solution works well too. The most important thing is to keep your rinse water clean so that dirt isn't deposited back onto the floor - you won't see it when it's wet, but it'll sure be noticeable when it dries.

I'm installing dark gray 8" slate tiles for a garden type room which is mostly all glass windows. The views are spectacular (tree covered hills). I also want to incorporate plants into this room & have 1 long solid wall to paint. Would I be best to use a lighter green with gray tones so I don't have a bright color to compete with the plants & view? I don't want to go with a bold color for fear it will compete with the views & plants; may look too distracting.

Hi Joan,
Well, it's really up to you whether you want your wall to be subdued or not. I do like your idea thoug and the reasoning behind it is sound. Some people might want their walls to be more vivid, but it seems that this could be a bit distracting from the subject (the view & plants), especially if one were to want the room to be a relaxing and inviting place.

I am interested in a product I that can be used to "sweep" a slate floor - I have the right cleaning solutions, but I would like an opinion on a good-quality product to use to sweet/vacuum the dirt up first. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi Jamie,
I would suppose it would depend a bit on how much higher the slate is above the dirt as well as how much dirt actually gets where the grout is. I good softer broom should be sufficient or even a good dust mop, though if the slate has been well sealed you could even use a vacuum.

I am making slate candles, and would love to seal them so there is little to NO shine. Will all sealers deepen the colors?

Hi Raffie,
Most sealers will deepen the colors.

I am laying out the slate for my kitchen entry way. should I vary the direction of the veining/grain or should it all go in one direction?

Hi Bob,

That would be a matter of personal preference. I would suggest laying some of the tiles out beforehand and deciding which direction you prefer.

Hi, I have a problem regarding slate..I bought a kit..each box has various size(great)and color rage..it's called California Gold and the slate is gray with mixtures of gold, red ,rust brown..some dark purple..brown black..I like it..and am planning on sealing it to darken and enhance the color..I find though the random pattern a little too "colorful" I want to paint or tone down stain(?) some of the larger tiles in the repeat...Initially I was going for a gray darker gray with black look in the tile. I would like to move the tile colors I have closer to that color family by editing out the lighter tones. Is this possible to do?
Thanks
Amy

Hi Amy, I'm sorry, but there's no way to "edit" the color of the slate to a lighter shade. There are products to enhance or deepen colors. The variation in color is just something that comes with the nature of slate.

We are wanting to install natural slate, but I'm some reservation do to the edges of slate being jagged. This seems like it could cut your feet. I was also under the impression that slate was fragile...it would flake or chip if something was dropped on it?

Matt,

As I mention in the article.
Slate kitchen flooring is durable and able to withstand the harsh treatment that floors receive in the kitchen.

Slate also has a low absorption rate (in case you spill) which makes it perfect for a kitchen.

You can buy slate in a variety of finishes brushed, ground, and even polished down. The polished down version can lose the variation in color as well as become quite slippery. Brushed will take the harsh edges off the slate in high traffic areas.

I would recommend purchasing a few of the tiles and arranging them in your kitchen to see which finish suits your needs.

I have a sealed black slate floor in my foyer and I would like to know what to put in the water when i wash it? I have been told to use a little Ivory liquid. Is this good?

I'm doing some investigating for my sister. She wants to put down a new kitchen floor. Slate looks like her only choice. She suffers from extensive chemical allergies which eliminates just about everything else except slate. Is it necessary to seal slate? If so, this will, unfortunately, eliminate that as well. Thank you for considering my inquiry.

Christine,

What a wonderful thing to do for you sister! If you decide to leave the slate floor unsealed it is prone to stains and absorption of fluids. I normally suggest a penetrating sealer which I mention in the article.

Not knowing the type of allergies your sister faces, I suggest consulting the manufacturer of not only the sealer but the stone to guarantee it's free of the allergens that your sister suffers from.

Thank you for your timely response. I have sent your answer and your article to my sister. Hopefully, slate will be her "answer".

Thank you again for your help.

Christine

Christine, I'm becoming increasingly chemically sensitive, which is odd since I'm working to remove chemicals and plastics/petroleum distillates from my life. So my questions are for my benefit as much as your sister's.

Why is slate the only answer? There are so many natural stones -- marble, granite, sandstone -- to choose from. Stone doesn't have to be sealed, though it does present interesting challenges when it comes to cleaning up staining materials. What about concrete?

Can raw wood or linoleum work for your sister? Any of these flooring types can be installed with environmentally friendly materials and sealed with things like wax or other natural products.

Are porcelain or ceramic tiles a problem? There are environmentally friendly grouts, I'd think anyway, so she'd have a durable option there too.

Just curious about how you came to slate. And be careful of the slate you buy so you get quality, if that's the direction she goes.

What kind of material would I want to buy for a hard gloss shine on my slate floor.

Hi Michelle.

I would recommend the water-based Diamond Coat Varathane Polyurethane with a high gloss finish.

Hi,
We'd like a slate floor for our new kitchen. The cabinetry is a dark brown and the color we picked for the walls is an off-teal blue color. I've found several backsplash ideas I love, but I'm wondering how these other tiles (glass) might work with it. Can slate be paired with anything? Are there certain finishes that work with slate better? What goes with slate??? Help!

Gretchen,

When shopping for your items, the supplier may have a sample of slate on hand that you can use to pick the color and material that you like the best. If you cannot find anything you like that "matches" the slate, you may find something that "contrasts" with it, and looks nice.

I understand slate can come from many countries. Is any one origin better for a kitchen than others? I have been warned that some less dense sources are more prone to flaking? What about dragging a kitchen table chair over it? Thanks

Walt,

Slate floors are durable. However, it is recommended to be sure a slate kitchen floor is sealed well.

I am not aware of slate flaking more if it is from a different location.

Another article that may help is Slate Flooring.