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Brazilian Slate Tiles FAQs

I've been emailed so many questions about Brazilian Slate Flooring Tiles, from suitability, installation, to sealing & cleaning that I decided to create a FAQs page so people can find answers quickly and easily.

I have put together below just a few of the most commonly asked questions. This is also an interactive page to where questions that are not featured here can be posted by visitors.

Below the Slate Flooring Tiles FAQs list of questions and answers you'll find the really easy to fill out form where you can post your questions.

We will do our best to try to answer them ASAP.

Click below to find answers about Brazilian Slate Flooring Tiles

Why choose Slate flooring tiles

Why should you choose natural slate tiles

What are the benefits of natural slate tiles

Is slate flooring more expensive than other types of flooring

Will slate tiles add value to my house

Why are some slate flooring tiles more expensive than others

What is slate

What is a riven finish

What is a honed finish

What is the difference between real natural slate tiles and imitation slate

Are slate tiles easy to maintain

How should a natural slate floor be cleaned

Are natural slate floors practical for families and pet owners

Do you need to reseal a Slate Floor every 6 months

How often should a slate floor be resealed

How easy is it to reseal a natural slate floor

Will the sealant wear off

Should a slate floor be sealed with Linseed Oil

What would happen if red wine or cooking oil is spilled on my slate tiles

Is it possible to tell if natural slate tiles are sealed properly

Can slate tiles be used in bathrooms

Can the same slate tiles be used on the wall as on the floor

Are natural slate floor tiles hardwearing

Are slate floor tiles porous

Are natural slate tiles cold

Can I lay natural slate tiles over wooden floor boards

Can slate be laid onto any surface

Is this a DIY job

Is it the same technique used as laying ceramic tiles

Why choose slate flooring tiles
Natural Slate flooring is beautiful and will add a stunning feature to any home. Slate Stone is the only material that improves with age, it lasts a lifetime and its natural variation adds character. It is hardwearing, very practical and gains its own patina over time. It is worth investing in natural slate as it lasts for years and will enhance the value of your home.

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Why should you choose natural slate tiles
A Brazilian Slate Floor is durable and will stand the test of time. It is easy to clean, practical yet stylish. Once the preserve of royalty, the price of natural stone has decreased in recent years making it a luxurious yet affordable floor covering.

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What are the benefits of natural slate tiles
Natural slate flooring comes in many styles and can suit both a traditional and contemporary setting. It is a very adaptable material that is at home in a country cottage as well as an urban townhouse or apartment. Ideal for hallways, kitchens, dining rooms, conservatories, bathrooms and patios and is increasingly being used in living areas and bedrooms. Brazilian slate goes well with other natural materials such as wood and works particularly well with underfloor heating. Brazilian slate flooring is unique as every tile is a one off and this look cannot be recreated by man-made material.

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Is slate flooring more expensive than other types of flooring
It is worth investing in a brazilian slate floor, as they last much longer than carpet or laminate. Slate is very cost effective. The price of some slate floor tiles can be very similar to that of solid wood flooring. The initial outlay for a brazilian slate floor may be slightly more but it is very cost effective in the long run because of the longevity of the material. Once laid, it will be there to be enjoyed for many years.

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Will slate tiles add value to my house
Yes, many estate agents agree that investing in this luxurious and long lasting natural high specification material will reflect in the asking price of your property.

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Why are some slate tiles more expensive than others
The price of slate depends on several factors, including where the slate comes from, how unique the source or colour is, and how hard it is to cut and make into tiles. The more expensive slates tend to be very rare or have special characteristics.

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What is slate
The stone industry describes slates as stones with a riven texture, which is produced because the stone splits naturally. In geological terms slate is categorised as a metamorphic rock.

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What is a riven finish
Slate naturally has a riven surface, where the stone splits due to a natural cleavage. This textured surface is great for grip. For ease of laying, the best quality slates are calibrated, which means they are completely flat on the underside.

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What is a honed finish
Honed slate has a smooth flat finish, thousands of tiny diamonds on a polishing head create this process by rubbing/polishing the surface of the tile so in the end you have a nice matt smooth finish.

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What is the difference between real natural slate tiles and imitation slate
Man-made tiles will never match the beauty and individuality of real natural slate floors. Ask for a sample and you will easily see and feel the difference between the real and the fake stone. Reconstituted Stone is NOT natural stone. Replica stone or reconstituted stone is made from cement and aggregate with added artificial dyes. Porcelain tile manufacturers have tried without success to recreate the natural variation and beauty of real stone floors but even their best copies are more expensive than the real thing! Natural stone floors have been tried and tested over the centuries, who knows how well these new man-made products will perform in years to come.

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Are slate tiles easy to maintain
Yes, all natural slate is easy to keep clean, once it is fully impregnated with the right penetrating silicon sealer. The tiler applies the sealant at the installation stage. We recommend a silicone-based sealant that impregnates into the stone and gives it a protective layer which helps prevent staining. This sealant is a clear solution therefore it does not change the colour or appearance of the stone and will not change the surface finish. The sealant will cover both the grout and the stone, so that hygiene will not be a problem in kitchens or bathrooms. Any liquids such as water, wine or oil will rest on the top of the stone, ready to be wiped away with a paper towel or damp cloth.

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How should a natural slate floor be cleaned
Once the slate is sealed thoroughly, then ongoing maintenance is simple and easy. General cleaning only requires sweeping the slate and mopping with warm water and a stone soap or alternatively you can use a mild PH neutral liquid detergent. To prolong the life of your slate floor it is best to avoid the use of bleach, acidic or abrasive cleaning products.

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Are natural slate floors practical for families and pet owners
Yes, Brazilian slate tiles are great for everyday wear and tear caused by animals, muddy dog paws can easily be mopped cleaned & with slate flooring there is no more hours of scrubbing carpets to clean up your pets “little accidents”. Natural brazilian slate floors are excellent for pet owners, as dog and cat hairs become easy to sweep up. In addition, many common childhood allergies are greatly improved by replacing carpets that can harbour dust mites with hard flooring such as natural slate.

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Do you need to reseal a slate floor every 6 months
No, It is not true that you have to reseal slate tiles every 6 months, providing you use a silicone-based sealant as recommended from Trade Price Stone Ltd. On average brazilian slate flooring may need to be resealed every 6-8 years.

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How often should a slate floor be resealed
It depends on how much wear and tear a natural slate floor has under gone. On average, it may need resealing after 6-8 years, providing the stone was fully saturated on installation and that the stone has been well maintained and cleaned with a stone soap.

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How easy is it to reseal a natural slate floor
Very easy and can be done by almost anyone by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Just give the floor a thorough clean, wait to dry and reapply the silicone sealant with a small sponge roller or clean cloth. Open the windows for ventilation, while you are doing this and leave to dry. Repeat until the stone is saturated. This process should only take an hour or so for an averaged size room.

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Will the sealant wear off
No, sealants that impregnate the slate do not wear off because they penetrate deep into the stone and do not just rest on the surface. If you have slate in your house in a room that is used intensively, then you may wish to top up the sealant and reseal brazilian slate more often than 6-8 years, but this is very easy to do.

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Should a slate floor be sealed with Linseed Oil
No, modern silicone-based impregnating sealants are much more effective than old-fashion treatments such as Linseed Oil or bees wax. Modern silicone sealants do not leave a greasy film over the stone nor do they change the colour or texture.

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What would happen if red wine or cooking oil is spilled on my slate tiles
Don't worry – a properly sealed slate floor will repel the liquid. The silicone sealant will buy you time as it protects the stone with an invisible barrier which means that any liquid will appear as droplets on the surface of the stone. Wipe off the wine or oil immediately and then wash it with warm water and some soapy water. If wine, vinegar of food acid is left on the floor for a period then it may start to penetrate the sealant and etch the stone’s surface. However, any etching normally disappears in time as the stone is walked over.

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Is it possible to tell if natural slate tiles are sealed properly
If you pour an egg cup of water on to your brazilian slate floor or any natural stone, it should pool on the surface in a large droplet. Leave the water for ten minutes, when you return, it should remain on the surface of the stone. If the water has absorbed into the floor and left a dark patch then the floor requires additional sealant. To test stone wall tiles, splash water onto your tiles and the liquid should run down the tiles like rain drops running down a window pane.

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Can slate tiles be used in bathrooms
Brazilian slate tiles are good value and make a real design statement. A natural finish slate surface is slightly riven and textured and has a natural grip when wet. Honed natural stone can often be less slippery than old-fashioned lino floors and shiny laminate flooring. Unlike wood or laminate slate tiles does not warp easily when exposed to water and humidity. Slate surfaces for bathroom flooring are obviously hardwearing, they work in both traditional and modern settings and will give a timeless appeal.

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Can the same slate tiles be used on the wall as on the floor
Yes, you can use the same brazilian slate on the floors and walls. Trade Price Stone Ltd has a range of wall tiles, which are the same thickness to match larger stone tiles. Ensure that the builder has checked that the walls can accept the extra weight of the natural stone tiles.

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Are natural slate floor tiles hardwearing
Brazilian slate is one of the most durable materials with some of the lowest abrasion values for floor coverings. As the stone is very hard, a diamond tipped blade is required to cut it.

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Are slate floor tiles porous
Yes, all natural stone is slightly porous to different degrees. Brazilian slate is one of the hardest & dense slates on the market today so spillages & accidents are easily wiped & removed. Luckily, today’s modern silicone sealants help protect the stone very effectively for future years.

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Are natural slate tiles cold
No, slate & other stones are not inherently cold. On the contrary, slate tiles are wonderful at heat transference and retains heat for long periods. If you have a well-insulated house with modern central heating then a slate floor will normally be a few degrees below the ambient temperature of the room. The floor temperature will also depend on what is underneath the floor (i.e. the subfloor) and how well insulated it is. If you are laying brazilian slate flooring onto a concrete screed it may be worth considering the now affordable luxury of underfloor heating. For that added comfort, electric underfloor warming systems radiates a gentle heat across a slate floor as well a providing warmth for bare feet.

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Can I lay natural slate tiles over wooden floor boards
If you are installing slate tiles over sound floorboards, then you need to create a very firm base by laying 15-18mm WBP (Water Boil Proof) Plywood over the top and screw it down every 30cm. In some circumstances you may wish to use 2 layers of 9mm WBP Plywood, which are cross-laid and screwed down every 30cm centres.

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Can slate be laid onto any surface
A concrete base is perfect for laying natural slate tiles onto, just make sure it is level and flat. For floating floors, timber floors, tongue & groove floors & also chipboard floors we recommend overboarding with a min 15mm WBP Plywood.

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Is this a DIY job
Yes this can be a DIY job as long as you follow the rules, we have put together a step by step guide on how to install a natural stone floor. Laying a natural slate floor requires specialist equipment such as a diamond wheel tile cutter, this can be purchased between £20-£30 from any local DIY chain.

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Is it the same technique used as laying ceramic tiles
No. Natural slate floors must be laid on a solid bed of adhesive. An even layer of adhesive should be applied and then furrowed with a notched trowel. Each tile needs to be “bedded in” which means that all of the back of the tile is in contact with the adhesive. A wet wheel diamond blade is required to cut the tiles. It does take a little more care to install and seal brazilian slate or any other type of stone flooring but in the end the results are definitely worth it.