SLATE and SOAPSTONE
A traditional use of slate and soapstone was the laboratory table top in chemistry labs. That application alone should serve as a great testimonial to the chemical resistance of these materials.
Being of the softer varieties of dimension stone types, neither of these materials is known for particularly high abrasion or scratch resistance, yet they are both used as a flooring and countertop product.
Soapstone is highly heat resistant, and has been used in fireplace surrounds frequently to take advantage of this property.
Slate, being of laminar construction, has the ability to be processed into thin sheets and still maintain serviceable strength and rigidity. This property makes slate the only dimension stone having been used for blackboards and roofing shingles. It was also traditionally used as the cloth-covered playing surface of billiards tables.
The vibrant colors and unique textures make slate appropriate for interiors as well as exterior applications. Because it is formed in layers, it can easily be split to expose beautifully textured surfaces. The unusual colors of slates are earthy (various shades and mixes of browns, beige's, yellows), black, dark-grays, and greenish-gray but shades of pinks, purples, and copper are all found. They usually exhibit lots of variations amongst the pieces quarried from the same pit.
Slates, depending on their individual hardness, are used for floor tiles, roof tiles, cladding and landscaping.
This stone is the quintessential choice when striving for a visually exciting floor. Colors and textures are so vivid they almost leap up at you. Rugged cleft surfaces invite you to kick off your shoes and experience the rough texture beneath.
With its deep saturated color palette and high relief surface, slate is more suitably used where it is not in competition with rival elements. If you love the qualities of this stone, but wish to redefine its image, try a solid shade with a calibrated honed finish. This will provide you with an even surface whose muted tones reflect an earth-like foundation, on which to build any style.
This durable giant will add appeal to any space. Any size floor tile, rectangles, patterns, and multi-colored designs can be created for you by your designers or architects. Slate tile has a natural high-low cleft surface giving a busy commercial restaurant or hotel a great looking surface that is easy to clean and maintain. Unnatural engineered stones do not give you the desired appeal that real natural slate can give you or your project.
Durability and distinctive beauty has allowed slate to be acclaimed for generations as the ultimate roofing material, but also excels as cladding and natural stone floors. It is a natural stone that has the remarkable ability to be manufactured into thin tiles of uniform thickness. A slate roof simply has no equal in durability, and its natural beauty enhances the aesthetic design of nearly any building with its rich natural color and texture.
The many benefits of slate tiles include longevity, beautiful appearance and energy conservation that's etched in stone.
