Slate Floor Installation

When we purchase a house, there are so many things which we have to think about! Basically planning out the interiors is a tricky business and we always want everything to be perfect! One of the important aspects of interiors is the floor installation. Surely! Well, it wouldn't be fair to comment which one is the best since almost all of them have their share of pros and one such option are the slate tiles. I wouldn't say these are the best bets, however, these look aesthetic and if you wish to know more, then keep reading. The thing that is unique about them and perhaps what has made them popular is that they are made of quartz, chlorite, mica and calcite. Apart from this, these are highly durable and resistant to abuse which makes them a reliable choice for sure. Many people go for expertise when it comes to installing slate floor, however, let me tell you that it is a do-it-yourself project which clearly means it is easy to go about. So, let us see how to install a slate floor by yourself.

To start off with the flooring, you would first have to gather all the materials which would be required for complete installation of the slate tiles. See the steps given below to understand better.

Step #1
As I stated, you need to first make sure that all the materials are handy. Measuring tape, chalk like, bucket, thinset or slate adhesive, trowel, rubber mallet, slate tiles, slate tile sealer, spacers and grout are the materials you need to buy from the nearby store.

Step #2
Now that all these are handy, empty the room which you want to tile. This includes removal of the appliances or any other furniture so that the floors are empty and available for the installation. Say you have decided to slate the kitchen floor, here.

Step #3
Make sure that the sub flooring is hard and even. If not, then place hardwood planks on the floor so as to make them suitable for the further steps.

Step #4
Now measure the width and the length of the room so that you can make a center point from where you can start off the tile installation. What you could do is make an "X" by joining the corners of the room with the help of a chalk line; this would be simpler for you.

Step #5
Now comes the time to choose and arrange the tiles on the floor prior to the actual installation. Slate tiles generally come in 2 types; Indian and Chinese. The tiles vary in length, width and breadth since these are not manufactured manually. So, you need to arrange the pattern which you want beforehand which would help you later in the slate tile flooring.

Step #6
When you are done, take the thinset in a bucket and mix water in it as suggested to form a thick consistency paste or you can use the slate adhesive as well. Take out one tile and with the help of a trowel, apply the thinset on the floor as well as on the back of the tile. Next, place the tile where it is positioned and repeat this step for rest of the tiles. Here, you would have to remember to keep half-inch spacing between the tiles for the grout installation. As soon as you are done with all the tiles installation, tap the tiles with the help of the rubber mallet. This would ensure efficient floor installation. Keep the tiles for about 12 hours for the thinset or the adhesive to dry.

Step #7
The last step is grouting slate tiles which ensures them to fix properly as well as fills the spaces between them. The most preferred are the sanded or Saltillo grout. You would have to apply the grout mixture according to the directions given on the pack and let it dry for around next 12 hours. However, you would have to clean the tiles off the grout using a grout remover, later. Lastly, what you could do is apply a slate sealant which helps prevent discoloration of the tiles as well as protects them. This is it - the end of slate floor tiles installation!

If you are not doing-it-yourself, then the cost would come up to $10 to $20 per square feet. So the entire cost would largely depend on the area which you want to tile; basically the room size. I hope the steps given above would help you if you are planning to slate floor your house. Good luck!