Everything You Need To Know About Your Slate Floor - KleanSTONE

What Is Slate?

To properly understand slate floor cleaning and to maintain slate tiles for floor use, it helps to first understand what slate is.Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock formed when shale or volcanic ash is exposed to low-grade metamorphism.

Because of its structure, slate is highly durable, naturally fire-resistant and frost-resistant. This makes it a reliable option for both roofing and flooring. It is also low maintenance, which is important when choosing materials for busy areas of the home.

Slate is mined across the world, but one of the largest sources is Wales, where Welsh slate is known for its strength and colour of the slate. Large slabs are cut from the earth and then shaped into slate tiles for slate floor installation.

Before being laid, many slate tiles go through a process called gauging, which smooths the back of the tile for easier fitting. Tiles that are not gauged are often used outdoors, such as for stepping stones in garden areas.

The design and colour of the slate titles depend on its mineral content. Slate is most commonly found in shades of grey, but other colours are available depending on where it is sourced.

Thanks to its natural strength, slate flooring is perfect for high-traffic areas where the durability of the floor is important.

Other Uses for Slate

Other than slate floors, this material has a lot of different uses around the world.

Slate was famously used to write on in school in the Victorian era and as a blackboard. Slate is also used for memorial items, such as plaques and gravestones. This is due to its low porosity and frost resistance, which makes it easy to withstand outside temperatures.

In modern restaurants, slate is often used in food presentation. The dark composition is a fantastic contrast for displaying food. Although slate is perfect for the food industry, it is worth noting that due to its aesthetic appeal and heat resistance, it is not microwavable due to the trace metals in its composition.

Fireplace hearths are another common use for slate tiles. Read on to gain knowledge of this popular material and tips on how to clean the slate hearth.