We are considering slate floors for the bathroom remodel we are doing. Are they difficult to maintain and are they a good choice for the bathroom?
have slate floors in my bathroom-love them. they're pretty easy to keep clean. the guys that did the work are unbelievably messy, so after they were done with all of the other stuff, it took me forever to get the grout that they dropped all over the place up! but they are really pretty. another nice alternative is mexican terra cotta tile. you can find them wholesale at lots of places, but you have to seal them yourself. the beauty of tc tile is that you can tweak th ecolor by adding wood stain. i love the slate tiles, though.
I used recycled 'chalk board' slate in my kitchen and bathroom. If I don't keep it sealed it gets chalky, other than that I love it. I did something different in the bath. Before I put the slate down, I layed down tubing for radiate heat. I don't have a boiler so I ran the hot water to the shower through the floor, and a towel rack. Now when I finish a bath or shower my floor and towels are toasty warm. RScott
Depends on the type of slate that you get. Some has iron in it that will oxidize when it rises to the surface and look like rust(even if you've had it sealed). There are some good porcelain look-a-likes that are around the same price. Gives you the look without the worry! If you do get any type of slate, make sure it gets sealed well and have extra sealer on hand to reseal every two years if area is used a lot. If it's only used once in awhile, like a guest room bath, reseal it once every 3-5 years.
Slate is a nice looking and durable natural material, yet I would hesitate to put it as flooring in the bath or kitchen due to the moisture inherent in those rooms, and the possibility of fissures in the slate. The risk may be slight that you would install a slate tile with a natural crack or fault. Yet if one or more were installed in an increased moisture area, there is the pathway for moisture to intrude into the sub-floor and or framing. There are many products available that mimic the appearance and character of slate, that are made of ceramic or composite which would have no natural fissures. If you are set on natural materials, and slate is the answer for you, I would recommend a good sealant overcoat as a preventative to future possible water damage. Hope this didn't mud up the picture for you. And being only my opinion, you may wish to speak with a flooring contractor or two for their recommendations on the matter prior to your final decision.
Slate floors are not difficult to maintain but hard to install. Make sure you do your homework if you are installing them yourselves. They are gorgeous floors and definitely worth the money! Good luck with your project. Also check out Travertine.
