Having slate tiles in a bathroom will definitely provide a high-end and upscale look compared to what other tile flooring choices can provide.
Slate tiles are an excellent choice because they are naturally slip-resistant and provide an elegant textured finish.
SLATE TILE IN A BATHROOM GALLERY
Formed from shale, slate has gone through the process of low-grade metamorphism (extreme pressure under heat) to become a very durable rock (like terrazzo tiles). This makes slate a great material for a bathroom tile.
The primary ingredients in slate are quartz, muscovite or illite and it can have pyrite, hematite, chlorite, and biotite. Some slates also have low quantities of zircon, tourmaline, magnetite, kaolinite, iron, graphite, feldspar, calcite, and apatite.
It comes in a range of earthy colors because of its chemical make-up. Most slates are based off of a grey color but it also comes in shades of green, purple, red, brown, and black. There are also what appears to be copper and tan colored slates.
Slate is a waterproof stone and it is fire resistant. It has less than 0.4% water absorption index, making it an excellent surface for walking on it in bathrooms.
When first laying slate, and periodically (every year) thereafter, you want to be sure to seal the surface to prevent stains from occurring on it, but other than that, it is relatively easy to maintain.
Designs with slate tile can be simple, but elegant when laid straight out of the box, or made classic, timeless and elegant by laying the slate in the shape of a rug within a wooden floor surrounding it.
Slate tile in a bathroom can be used on the floors and the walls, both the shower walls and the remaining walls.
It is resistant to scratches (not scratch proof), cracks, chips and breaks. Slate rates a 5.5 out of 10 on Moh’s Scale of Hardness, meaning it will scratch steel and glass, but can also be scratched by other harder materials.
You would want to keep a couple of spare pieces just in case there ever was a violent impact and a break does occur. In that case, the broken tile can be removed with care and the replacement tile can be laid.
Where other types of flooring would need to be replaced several times in two or three decades, a slate floor in the bathroom will last for decades without a problem and it is likely to increase the value of your home.
Slate, being a natural stone, will be cool to the touch. If you live in a warm climate, that may be why you are considering it. You can use, with success, radiant heat beneath slate flooring, or you can use floor rugs to warm your feet.
For installation, it is best to use professionals, unless you have the special equipment needed to cut slate. It is not as easy as cutting ceramic tiles.
Price on slate can vary from $2 to $10 per square foot. The cheaper prices are for slate that is mined closer to the ground surface and the more expensive is for slate that is mined from beneath the surface (higher quality and durability).
We hope that you now have a better idea of why slate tiles are a great option for your bathroom floor and walls. Let us know in the comments below if you are looking into using slate tiles in a bathroom for your next project…
