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slate: tile and flooring

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Slate floor tiles are available in many surface finishes, textures and colors. Slate flooring is hard, durable, attractive, and typically more affordable then other stone tile flooring.

Rustic and earthy slate with its vivid colors and textures can be interpreted as a log-cabin rustic or sleek contemporary depending on the surrounding elements. The durability of slate and its ability to withstand wear makes it an excellent choice for many surfaces around the house: entryways, hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, patios, and other spaces.

Slate flooring and slate tile on the walls was employed in this contemporary bathroom with an Asian touch.

In this vividly colored contemporary bathroom multicolored slate tiles were employed on the walls and flooring. Natural cleft surface finish that is unique to slate gives the bathroom floor a desired non-slip characteristic. The earthy colored palette of slate creates a beautiful subtle backdrop for the bright colored accents and light colored granite vanity top.

Slate Finishes: Tumbled, Flamed, Riven

Slate is a fine-grained, homogeneous, sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash which has been foliated in layers.

Slate is available in several surface finishes including smooth and non-reflective honed finish with a matte satiny texture.

Tumbled finish is achieved by placing slate tiles in a tumbler (machine that smoothes the surfaces). The tumbling process smoothes out the edges and gives the tiles a rustic, weathered character that suggests the patina of age.

Pictured on the left: A tumbled slate and glass trim in combination with tumbled slate tiles is employed on this simple yet sophicticated backsplash. Tumbled finish adds character to the backsplash and suggests a patina of age.

Flamed surface finish is achieved by passing a nozzle emitting a high-temperature, high-speed flame over the surface to be treated. As a result the flamed surface becomes rugged and irregular with no sharp edges.

Riven is a finish that is unique to slate. Riven finish is achieved by natural splitting of slate along well-defined cleavage lines that are present in stone due to the formation process. Riven finish gives slate a rich, unique texture. Slate flooring with riven texture assures a non-slip surface.