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Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Slate tile and abrasion

canoehead2 | Posted in Construction Techniques on November 4, 2008 02:42am

I have a bunch of slate tile left over from a bathroom remodel that I’d like to lay down in a entrance way.

I realize that slate is very soft so I am wondering what experience people have using in an entrace way.

I don’t expect it to not get scratched at all – just wondering if, over time, the scratches will begin to look terrible or not.

Any particular brand of sealer that might be tougher the others?  I’ve only ever used TileLab but since I got it a Home Despot I figure it is about the cheapest stuff around.

Reply

Replies

  1. BJC | Nov 04, 2008 04:57am | #1

    What kind of slate is it? I installed some unfading green slate from Vermont in my entryway 4 years ago and it still looks like new. Any time the tile got scratched, I was able to remove the scratch with a wet cloth.

    I have heard that some tiles from India are much softer though.

    1. canoehead2 | Nov 04, 2008 10:26pm | #2

      I have no idea if it is from India or not.

      Maybe I'll put one down on my subfloor with double sided tape and see how it looks in a couple of weeks when I'm done drywalling ;)

    2. RobWes | Nov 05, 2008 12:30am | #4

      I have black Monson slate (from Maine) and it wears fine. Don't put a finish on it. It looks like #### now but I'm waiting for it all to wear off as we want it to be a flat finish over the gloss that is still there in places.

  2. User avater
    observer | Nov 05, 2008 12:26am | #3

    I've had Indian slate (Multicolour Peacock) Treated with the Tilelab product down in my entrance hall for three years or soand just laid more in the utilty room. The very few minor abrasions disappear with a localized application of the sealer.

    Pick your tiles with a little care if it is from India. A few of them delaminate fairly easily but they are easy to spot.

  3. jesse | Nov 05, 2008 01:07am | #5

    I have installed loads of even the cheapest "slate" (supposedly actually a mudstone/sedimentary rock of some sort?) from Home Depot and it wears and looks great. If you get a scratch you absolutely can't live with, it's easy to buff out.

  4. splintergroupie | Nov 05, 2008 01:16am | #6

    More Indian slate here in the entry and the solarium, with about eight coats of Thompson's bec that's what i had. It's been a couple years with lotsa dogs and looks just perfect on the rare occasions i mop it.

    1. mackzully | Nov 05, 2008 04:08pm | #7

      Are old roofing slates too thin for use as flooring? A building salvage has a ton of salvaged roofing slates for cheap and I could probably get them even cheaper as they've been sitting in their yard for over a year...Z

      1. theslateman | Nov 05, 2008 04:16pm | #8

        They will work fine if they aren't soft Penn. slates

        1. FastEddie | Nov 05, 2008 06:40pm | #9

          Could you use roofing slates for a counter?  I'm thinking that a wet saw would be used to square up the edges and maybe cut them into consistent sizes."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

          1. theslateman | Nov 05, 2008 11:14pm | #12

            Actually recycled slate makes great countertop coverings -- either with or without the holes.

            Mc's idea would have more friction I think

          2. FastEddie | Nov 06, 2008 12:44am | #14

            Mc's idea would have more friction I think

            I guess I don't see the difference, I thought he and I were both talking about roof slate."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

          3. theslateman | Nov 06, 2008 01:15am | #15

            I thought he was spoofing -- talking about archy asphalt shingles .

          4. User avater
            McDesign | Nov 06, 2008 01:22am | #16

            Me?  Spoof?  At a time of such national crisis?

            Forrest - very afraid

          5. theslateman | Nov 06, 2008 01:58am | #17

            The only thing you need to fear is fear  itself

          6. FastEddie | Nov 06, 2008 02:40am | #18

            Well, now, in that case you're correct, nothing would slip off the counter. "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

        2. User avater
          McDesign | Nov 05, 2008 08:02pm | #10

          How about archetectural shingles as countertops?

          Forrest - just wonderin'

          1. FastEddie | Nov 05, 2008 09:35pm | #11

            I think I already asked that.  But that's ok, go ahead and make my question seem insignificant ... doesn't bother me ... oh no ... now where's my blankie ..."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

          2. theslateman | Nov 05, 2008 11:16pm | #13

            You need to get back to contracting  -- you've got way too much time on your hands !!!

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