The tile guy that I am using has never worked with stone, so I am worried. Can you please give me some insight on some things I should know about using stone (slate) for wall tile in a shower/bath.
You would use cement grout. If its in your house, i would consider then laquering it to make it nice and shiny and stop water sitting in cracks and creating mould.
Use Hardibacker and seal the seams with tape and thinset. Use thinset to set the tile using 1/4 spacers. I have used and recommend that you use a tile sealer to seal the slate prior to grouting and to use epoxy grout. The grout is more difficult to install but requires no sealers which need to be redone at least once a year in a shower and is well worth the initial time and effort. Be sure to read and follow the directions on the grout bags to ensure a uniform color and good grout set. MT C
I have to ask is the Slate Milled, or like field stone. 1/2 inch concrete backer board on studs is sufficient. I'd also use a vapor barrier, perhaps even double wall backer board. Vertical installs shouldn't be attempted by someone unfamiliar with the tile species, but I have to assume theyd' like to learn, at least. As an installer he should know the properties of various mortars and mastics used for many species of wall tile, and perhaps apply those to slate, unless it isn't milled. Then it would be more like building a stone facade on a structure. Certainly slate would be more porous, since it's likely unglazed, but glazing it yourself will probably turn into a life long career in maintaining. If this happens to be SLATE in the form of tile, install and grouting will be much easier. If this is to be a more rustic effect, with mosaic shapes in some rough slate, I'd make sure the installer had some better level of knowledge. Steven Wolf Just my 2 sense
