Saturday, January 3, 2009

Some facts about slate flooring

By Adam Peters

This article talks about the various features of slate flooring. It gives a realistic picture of the numerous benefits of this flooring and also throws light on the problems of installing slate flooring.

Slate flooring is a kind of flooring that is made from rock. In case you are tired of the hardwood floors that are normally used in houses, you can always opt for slate flooring. This kind of flooring resembles hardwood flooring in that it is a natural product and can be found in various colors and styles to complement the home.

The only problem with slate flooring is that being made of rock, water is soaked in or absorbed due to which they lose their beautiful look at a rapid pace. What you need to do is get a waterproof resin that will keep the floor intact. In other words, slate flooring needs sealing to maintain its look. If you have no idea about the products that should be used for sealing, all you need to do is to go to a hardware store and ask them for advice in this area.

When it comes to installation of slate flooring, you need to be particularly careful about the adhesive used. You need glue that has the capacity to firmly hold the boards to the surface. This will ensure that the tiles do not develop cracks when heavy furniture is placed on it. If you have doubts about the type of glue that you should use, it is better to approach a hardware store in your locality for help. Another option is to go to the store from where you got the slate flooring. Usually, slate flooring has patterns so when you install it, you have to make sure that the design of the flooring is being maintained.

Slate flooring has many advantages. First of all, it is not slippery as it is made from rock. Also, if it is maintained well it does not develop stains easily. Apart from this, sealing will ensure that the floors are resistant to water. This will make cleaning of the slate floors a very smooth task. A great thing about slate flooring is that it can be used in kitchens or bathrooms that have a lot of moisture. Wood flooring does not provide this kind of comfort with bathrooms and kitchens.

However, there are some disadvantages while using slate flooring. Since this kind of flooring is made from rocks, you may not always get regular patterns which make it very difficult if you are looking for symmetrical designs. Again, as mentioned above, if the flooring is not sealed properly it will take in water very easily. If you get inexpensive slate flooring, they develop cracks and you will have to change the flooring all over again. If you live in a cold climate, it is advisable not to go for this kind of flooring as it tends to give an even chillier feel to your house. It is also better to avoid slate flooring if you have a lot of kids in the house because slate flooring can be a bit noisy. Finally, slate flooring is a costly option, so if you want to save up on money then this is not the flooring that you should choose. To outweigh these disadvantages, though, slate flooring can be very sturdy and attractive so you do not have to be discouraged from trying out this option. It is far better than marble flooring, if given due consideration. - 15252

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