For several years, homeowners have realized how valuable stone can be as a building and decorating material. From granite table tops and window sills to countertops and hearthstones, they add granite, slate or marble features into their homes. All are beautiful, but even more important, they are durable. Slate and granite are often used as roofing materials too, following the example of some slate roofs that have lasted for hundreds of years. And another trend in recent years has been the increasing use of flooring slate.

Slate is formed under extreme pressure, so the molecules of the stone develop in parallel lines. This means both slate floor tile and roofing slate tile products are easy to produce because the rock splits readily into flat chunks. Some slate fades very little, while other types have a higher percentage of iron and calcium, and will therefore weather and turn slightly brown over time. Unlike the wide range of granite colors, slate is generally restricted to black, and shades of green, brown and red. But that isn’t really a problem for slate flooring, since homeowners don’t want their floors drawing all the attention, and are not likely to want elaborate colors.

The natural flat split of slate can be refined and shaped, so flooring slate can appear differently depending on the context. If slate chunks are left unpolished and slightly rough, they can be used as flagstones in a yard or garden. A slate tile wall, used for example in a bathroom, may use tiles cut uniformly, with sharp edges to create tight joints and the surface honed flat and smooth. In the same way, slate flooring tiles might be cut and placed uniformly, or they might remain in variable shapes and fitted together to form a pattern.

One distinct advantage of flooring slate is that it is such an environmentally friendly material. It’s a natural product that doesn’t need a lot of repair or frequent replacing. Both roofing slate and slate tile flooring have a long life expectancy with a certain minimum standard of maintenance. The stone is fire-resistant, which adds to the safety of the home, potentially reducing insurance costs and increasing the value of the home itself. With its cleanliness, durability and natural beauty, slate is one of the wise, environmentally friendly possibilities in current home construction or renovations.

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