Why Slate Flooring Is a Good Choice

You have a lot of options for flooring, even if you've already narrowed down your choices to natural stone. While granite and travertine have a lot to offer, slate is a unique choice with beautiful shades that complement any design. Slate is one of the most forgiving types of stone when it comes to spills and accidents, and it offers a natural anti-slip texture that makes it the perfect choice for a bathroom.

5 Advantages of Slate Flooring

Here's why slate should be on your short list for your new flooring.

1. Low Maintenance

Hardwood floors are long-lasting, but they need to be sanded and refinished occasionally. They're also sensitive to water and scratches. Natural stone is a great alternative that still brings a natural element into your home without the type of maintenance hardwood requires. As long as slate flooring is cleaned and sealed regularly, it can last a lifetime. Make sure to clean slate floors with a stone-safe cleaner such as Granite Gold Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner® to keep them looking their best.

2. Pet-Friendly

If you have pets, you need flooring that can stand up to toenails and the occasional accident. Unlike some types of stone, slate is not as sensitive to acids. Slate is very forgiving when it comes to pet urine as long as you clean the urine right away and have made sure to seal the stone regularly. With stone like marble, pet urine could cause permanent etching and other damage, even if the accident is cleaned quickly.

3. Anti-Slip Texture

Slate has a texture you won't see with other types of stone. It has a layered clefting when it's quarried and split. This distinctive surface offers natural anti-slip benefits that make slate a good choice in areas that get wet, like a bathroom. This is important because there's often concern about installing a slippery stone floor that may be dangerous when wet. However, you don't need to worry that the stone will feel rough. Its clefted surface will feel very comfortable even on bare feet.

4. Difficult to Stain

Marble floors are gorgeous, but you need to be careful to avoid staining when something spills. Slate is highly resistant to staining, especially green and turquoise varieties. All types of slate have low absorption rates compared to other stones.

5. Comes in Many Colors

Most people think of the traditional black and gray shades when they think of slate, but this type of stone comes in many other colors. If you want a monochrome look, choose a sleek black slate with virtually no veining or pattern. You can also choose something that makes a statement with green, turquoise, copper, gold, white, blue, or even an attractive lilac. Slate flooring can be paired with nearly any style of bathroom or kitchen, whether you want an ultra-modern look or something warm and inviting.

Protect Your Slate with Granite Gold®

At Granite Gold®, all of our products are safe to use on all types of natural stone, from slate and limestone to marble and granite. We are the Stone Care Experts. If you’d like tips on how to clean granite and natural-stone floor, get in touch with us at 1-800-475-STONE.