Slate is a 100% natural material which imparts beauty and character to your home wherever it is used. There are three main areas where slate is used in the home – for the roof, for flooring and for landscaping.

Slate Qualities

Slate is a tough, hard rock material formed within the earth’s crust and quarried in a slate mine. It is capable of being cut into thin sheets and tiles which make it ideal for use creating roofing tiles or for flooring tiles, but it can be very brittle across the plain of the leaf so it is essential that the correct grade of slate is used for a particular job. Slate is also completely fire proof and it does not burn, so it is ideal for use in areas at risk of fire. Slate is totally impermeable to water and is unaffected by rain; slate is a non-slip material and is fairly safe to walk on when it is wet. It is also resistant to mold and mildew because it does not hold water and provides no habitat or food source for mold and mildew – it does not need treating to prevent these pests developing.

Slate is also one of the most durable building materials in common use today and is extremely low maintenance; this means that while it may be initially expensive to source and install, it is also one of the cheapest overall materials to use when you consider the long life cycle and exceptionally cheap ongoing maintenance costs.

Slate Roofing

Slate is a popular roofing material because it is the longest lasting roof material available and needs virtually zero maintenance. A slate roof will last for at least 80 years and frequently for more than 100, so despite the high initial cost it remains the cheapest roofing material when total cost of ownership is considered.

Slate provides excellent thermal, water and fire protection for your roof and it is exceptionally robust though care needs to be exercised when walking on it because the tiles will crack. Installation needs to be handled by a roofing professional and the roof will need to be strengthened to take the additional weight of the slate.

Slate Flooring

Slate flooring is ideal in high traffic areas or where there is the risk of the floor becoming wet, such as in a bathroom, kitchen or entry way. Slate flooring does not provide a slippery surface when it becomes wet, and indeed it is impermeable to water which makes it ideal for flooring basements.

Slate is graded according to quality and strength and you should take care that you are using a slate grade which is appropriate for the use to which it is being put. Slate tile is relatively easy to install and a home improvement enthusiast can achieve good results, though for the very best effect you should use a professional.

Slate Landscaping

Slate has a variety of uses in outdoor landscaping from providing tiled pathways and patio flooring, exterior cladding and sheathing and when chipped, it is used to create decorative beds which are weed resistant

Author Bio: Find quality Slate Tile from Virginia Slate

Category: Home Management
Keywords: flooring construction materials, slate florring, slate roofing, ceramic floors, wood floors