Podcast Episode Summary
Slate Flooring
Have you ever seen a floor that you fell in love with? That's the way some people feel about slate flooring. It's a natural choice for homeowners that live in rustic locations but others may find that it meets their flooring needs, as well.
What is it?
Slate tile flooring is a great choice for homeowners that are trying to make their homes more environmentally friendly. Slate is a natural stone product that is durable and will provide beauty for years to come. Add in the fact that they help reduce slipping and are stain resistant and they may be the perfect choice.
Choosing the Right Flooring
Maybe you've never thought of slate flooring for your home; perhaps it's time to start. Slate tiles can be found in a variety of sizes, colors, and finishes to match nearly any decor. Consider using them in rooms that are high traffic and need a water-resistant floor.
How Much Does it Cost?
How much you spend for slate tile flooring depends upon a number of factors: size of the tiles, finish, and thickness. You can expect to pay between $3 and $9 per square foot, so know your room's dimensions when determining how many tiles you'll need. Professional installation can add $5 to $10 per square foot to the price.
If you have small children, slate tile flooring may not be a good choice for some rooms of your home because there is no padding like carpeting or rubber flooring. They are, however, very durable, slip-resistant, and provide a beautiful finished look. Maintaining the grout is one of the biggest complaints of homeowners with slate floors as the grout is not as stain-resistant as the tiles.
Can I Install It Myself?
Choosing to install this flooring can reduce the cost of your new floor dramatically. Start with a level, solid under-flooring. Get any tools you may need and then follow the manufacturer's instructions. You'll have a beautiful tile floor before you know it!
Caring for your floor
Slate tiles should be easy to care for if they were properly installed. Even though they are naturally resistant to staining, you may want to seal them to help maintain them. Basic care will include cleaning up spills, dust mopping, and damp mopping with warm water. What could be easier than that?
Slate tile flooring is one of the most durable flooring choices for homes today. It is available in varying sizes and colors to match nearly any decor. If properly installed, it will add beauty and value to your home.
Ezra says: The two pictures above show the best cheap slate flooring on the internet. Vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, and ceramic tile can be made to closely resemble slate ( See Marazzi Tile Imperial Slate at South Cypress Floors, for example ), so read the specifications carefully if you want the real stone material.
To check on the cheapest prices for other slate tiles, you can use the links at the top of the page. But to make it easier for you, here are some other webpages to help you in your search.
- A page at FastFloors
 where you can easily search all 74 slate flooring products by price, or various other criteria.
- The search page at South Cypress Floors
 includes other types of tile and has 694 products. Since it cannot be broken down by any further criteria, here are the links to all of their seven lines of slate tile, which should save you some time if you want to browse to see what's available.
Here are some more examples for your perusal. They all show South Cypress Floors products, since FastFloors has no room views for slate flooring.
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