I’m building a new master bath, and would like to use slate on the floor (appropriately sealed) and extend it into the shower and up the shower walls. One of the tile suppliers warned against using slate vertically where water will hit it because it can “bleed” certain minerals, leaving it streaked and nasty-looking. He said it was not an issue on horizontal surfaces, like the shower floor or bench, or where it would only get steam and condensation. Is this a valid worry? The last thing I want to do is chisel it all out in three years, but it is the material I would like to use, if it will work. My builder says the stone should be fine if it is sealed on the edges as well as the face. Who is right?
Thank you!
BTC
Replies
Your builder is correct
Hi--thank you for your concise response. I'm intrigued by the range of responses I have had to my question. As a person knowledgeable about slate, do you think I am letting myself in for headaches down the road to use slate (or stone in general) in a wet location? Do you install slate in these types of locations yourself? If so, do you take any particular precautions beyond sealing the stones? I really like the texture and rich colors of natural stone, and it seems like it would be pretty skid-proof, even sealed; but one respondent says it is higher maintenance (I can deal with some maintenance, but if it's constant, that would be a nuisance) and one chewed me out for even thinking to question the tile guy.Thanks again,BTC
Contact John Tatko of Sheldon Slate in Monson Me.
He'll be able to provide and advise you which way to go.
Best wishes, Walter
slate comes from compressed dirt from lakes eons ago. it is proven for years on roofs. a-z sealer is an exterior product and it is absolutely bulletproof. it makes it look a little wet/shiny but not like most sealers. i put slate and soapstone every where and this will stick to soapstone when nothing else does.
I was wondering if your water wouldn't be a factor. Lots of minerals etc. Is that more of a problem with slate even if it's sealed?
Slateman has more slate knowledge in his little finger than I have all over, but last fall I had a nightmare experience with slate floor tile. Nightmare was mostly because of a picky client, but the material was a little weird. It was Brazialian slate, and had what looked just like white paint overspray on parts of it. Installer said it would go away with a coat of sealer, and laid the floor (250 sf). Well, it didn't go away, and the client was not happy.
Intaller washed the floor down with a strong solution of hydrochloric acid, which ate away most of the white (lime) deposits, but not quite all. When he washed and re-sealed they were still kind of there.
Then there was the grout issue....
Anyway, if you want a very regular, uniform color and surface, and no maintenance, you might want to consider another material. Personally I love slate and all its irregularities.
Walter, any input on what went wrong on the tile install?
Mike,
A lot of the foreign quarries are producing substandard stone products.
My experience is more with roofing- but I can't understand why a vertical surface could see more water than the floor or bench he describes.
Talk with John Tatko in Monson- he's the expert with those types of products.
Are you still in Harpswell on Thurs.- or do you have time for lunch?
Walter
I do have time for lunch Thursday--man time flies!
Not in Harpswell--actually out of the field and back in the office designing. We had a backlog of design work and a shortage of field work so I thought it was a good time (given the weather!) to make the change--
So, I'll be in Yarmouth, I can come to Portland; what time/location would work for you?
You can call me on my cell at (207) 272-0235 or email me through the site--
Mike,
I'll call tomorrow- My appt. is in Falmouth so we can meet at your place if you like.
I'm buying !
Oh no you don't, you're the guest, it's on me--
Well if you're buying, count me in.
Wait a minute ... might be a bit too far to drive. Can I just have the money instead?"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
You could always fly--- in a plane of course !!!
One of the tile suppliers warned against using slate vertically where water will hit it because it can "bleed" certain minerals, leaving it streaked and nasty-looking. He said it was not an issue on horizontal surfaces, like the shower floor or bench, or where it would only get steam and condensation.
What will you do, or who will you blame when the install goes south. You have allready been advised against it by folks who sell it, yet you wish to take the word of your builder.
Go look for some slate look porcelain. There is a lot of good looking suitable materials available.
[email protected]
My local tile supplier has had a 30-40 square foot wall water fountain running constantly for the last 5 years (she may turn it off at night). I assume she sealed it, but the point is water has been running constantly over both the horizontal and vertical surfaces with no mineral runs, or streaking of any kind. It looks great - you can't beat the look of natural slate.
I have had green Vermont slate in my two showers in my house for over five years.
Yes it will effloresce and mineral and soap scum will accumulate along the bottom where it is constantly absorbing soapy water and that water is drying by evaporation leaving nasty stuff behind.
It isn't that big a deal for me, I just squirt some high acid anti-lime toilet cleaner on it and let it sit for an hour or so with the bath fan running and clean it up with a scrungy pad and some soft scrub. I do this once every six months or so. (when I clean the rest of the bathroom...)
But for a client I will recommend stone look porcelain over slate but still install slate if they really want it. It's a bit of a maintenance issue but not that big a deal if you stay after it.
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Hi--thanks for relating your experience. Is this buildup thing going to be the case with all stone, even sealed? Or just slate? I like the texture and "stoniness" of natural stone, and the one I found that would look good in this bathroom happened to be slate. I can try to find another stone, or just settle for tile, or clean the slate, like you say, every several months. But you don't think it will streak where the water runs down it?Thanks again,BTC
Ny thing porous will tend to effloresce. Some stone is more porous than others. Some sealers work better than others. If you like the look use a good sealer before during and after you install it and be prepared to spend a little more time on maintenance. All the bestM------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Thank you very much! I appreciate your answering.BTC
Best source for info may be the forum at John Bridge (http://johnbridge.com/). Lots of true experts there.
Bill