Slate; Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, by default, when anybody thinks of a slate, their mind is programmed to gather images of Slate roofs and Fireheaths. But even after about two hundred years later, slate roof tiles remain highly valuable and on demand for their strength and beauty.
What is a Slate Stone?
Slate is a highly-grained metamorphic rock that can be easily divided into thin slabs and plates but does not exhibit significant compositional stratification. It typically results from mudrock undergoing low-grade regional metamorphism. The rock produced by this modest metamorphism has a distinctive slaty cleavage, in which the fresh cleavage surfaces seem dull, and the individual mineral crystals are still minute in size. In contrast, the second grade of metamorphic rock made from mudstone, phyllite, has silky cleft surfaces. Any sedimentary structures present in the initial mudrock have no bearing on the direction of cleavage, which instead corresponds to the direction of regional compression. Check out these slate slabs.
Why is Slate Used?
Slate has been one of the most used construction materials since centuries for some of its brilliant characteristics like:
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Fire Resistant Slate
Slate is much more fire resistant and able to sustain temperatures higher than many metals. It works well for surfaces like floors and roofs because it can withstand extreme temperature changes.
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Can Withstand Heat
Due to its resilience to heat and fire, it is also a perfect choice for the kitchen counters where hot objects often come in contact.
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Safe from Frost Damage
Slate is especially well suited for roofing because it has a very low water absorption index—less than 0.4 percent—which makes it resistant to damage from frost. The embodied energy of natural slate, which needs no processing, is comparable favourably to that of other roofing materials.
ITALIAN BLACK SLATE HONED
£327.50 Italian black Slate's dark grey/black look is renowned for being consistent and stunning. Among the many uses for natural Slate are roofing, flooring, kitchen countertops and islands, wall cladding, snooker tables, tombstones, fire hearths, ornamentation, and even tub and shower… read more |
BRAZILIAN BLACK SLATE RIVEN
£309.68 Brazilian Black Slate Riven is a dark charcoal grey colour with black and blue undertones. The colours are only for reference, and due to the natural stone's nature, there may be slight colour variation with tones and patterns. Read More:… read more |
SAVERNAKE GREEN SLATE
£261.35 Savernake Green Slate offers a unique green slate material in a range of sizes and finishes, making it ideal for kitchens, fire hearths, bathrooms, and gardens. The 30mm thickness provides superior durability and fire resistance, while the polished finish ensures… read more |
Where do I Use Slate in a Commercial Setting?
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Snooker Tables
Slate is smooth and reasonably priced, and it resists deformation due to moisture or absorption. Slate naturally separates into even, wider pieces, and it can also be sanded and polished to a smooth flat surface, making it excellent for snooker tables. Many manufacturers will offer a lifetime guarantee because of its durability. The slate is typically larger than the playing area and extends beneath the rails in a high-quality product, giving the surface more robustness. To enable stretching and stapling of the baize, it is typically inside a wooden flame.
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Slate Garden
Slate chippings can be used for a variety of outdoor elements, such as ground cover, mulch, garden borders, and birdbaths. The spaces between slabs can also be filled with slate chippings.
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Retail Floors
Uses of slate have increased rapidly in recent years, from retail stores to greenhouses. This is not surprising, really, as the blend of a traditional material with contemporary styling makes them a stunning and alluring option for both modern and traditional gardens or porches.
ITALIAN BLACK SLATE
£289.70 Italian black Slate's dark grey/black look is renowned for being consistent and stunning. Among the many uses for natural Slate are roofing, flooring, kitchen countertops and islands, wall cladding, snooker tables, tombstones, fire hearths, ornamentation, and even tub and shower… read more |
OCEAN BLACK SLATE
£276.20 Ocean Black Slate is an extremely durable Slate Stone. Their amazing black slate stone with a clouded pattern. It is not completely black, but its dingy black slate can be an extraordinary choice for commercial, residential, and industrialized projects. The… read more |
ITALIAN BLACK SLATE RIVEN
£297.31 Italian black Slate's dark grey/black look is renowned for being consistent and stunning. Among the many uses for natural Slate are roofing, flooring, kitchen countertops and islands, wall cladding, snooker tables, tombstones, fire hearths, ornamentation, and even tub and shower… read more |
Is Slate for Home?
Without any pause, yes, slate is definitely for homes. Slate is a very robust and inexpensive material to use in your home in a variety of places like:
Fire Hearths
Slate tile is the perfect material for your fireplace hearth if you favour a sleek, contemporary appearance. The rough slate is typically polished to a smooth surface and cut into exact squares to give it a more refined appearance.
Slate Floor
The same attributes that have made slate so suited for roofing also make it an outstanding choice for floors, particularly in spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and occasionally swimming pools. Slate is strong, watertight, and stain-resistant.
Slate Wall Tiles
It makes sense that slate is suitable for walls if it can be used for floors. It can be used for chimney breast, low-maintenance splashback, and elegant panels to build the wet room of your dreams.
Slate Table
We advise going all out and choosing a full slate table with matching seats if you've already fallen in love with the look and feel of slate placemats or placemats.
Kitchen Worktops
Slate worktops combine the visual appeal of those options with the assurance that staining and discolouring won't be a problem, thanks to slate's non-porous surface, making them a popular alternative to natural stones like granite and marble for kitchen work surfaces.
Although some users claim that you may place hot pans directly on a slate worktop, we always err on the side of caution and use a trivet or heat pad.
Slate Window Sills
Slate window sills are preferred because of their lovely aesthetics and durability. It's a great material for window sills in older buildings, but a straight-cut slate windowsill would look equally at home in a contemporary home and create a lovely rustic look. The slate can have drainage channels carved onto the underside to direct any run-off water, and they can be utilised both indoors and outside.
Slate roofs, Slate pathways, Slate Garden walkways, Fireheaths, and Floors.
If you are looking for a variety of natural and engineered stones for any of your projects, these collections will be really helpful.
P.s. The readers are informed that none of the content available on any of the pages of Work-tops.com should be taken as legal advice and that Work-tops will not be held accountable for your use of the information contained in or linked from these web pages.
