Due to its dark, sophisticated looks, slate tiles are becoming
a very popular option for kitchen floors. Slate is basically a
hardened volcanic stone with sedimentary layering. It's quite
flaky, which you can glean by splitting a slate tile in half.
Despite this internal flakiness, slate stone tiles are quite
durable and can hold up to the daily needs of your kitchen.
This has to do with the natural design and formation of slate,
which causes the surface to have a smooth surface while
rendering it stain resistant.
The color palette for slate tile is mostly cold and ranges from light to dark grays, with deep blues, greens. But you can also finder warmer colors, such as browns and rusty reds. You'll also find deep charcoal colors of varying intensities, which are especially popular for kitchen floors.
Slate floor tiles are available in several finished, including cleft, honed and sanded. The natural cleft finish is unique to slate tile and is best when it comes to flooring since it provides you with a slip-free floor. The honed and sanded variety also have good slip resistance, and are especially effective in outdoor floor applications.
Consider This
Slate tile is fire resistant, but not scratch resistant so you should be weary of using abrasive cleaners if you don't want scratches. However, if your application is into a rustic theme, scratches or chippings will only add to the charm and integrity of the stone, giving you that weathered look for added design authenticity.
If you don't prefer the scratches, they can be eliminated, or at least, hidden with liberal applications of mineral oil preceded by light sanding.
Over time, those same applications of mineral oil will darken the slate tile and provide a deeper, richer color.
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