When you decide to install slate tiles all over your floor, you will want to understand all of the factors involved in the project. This is very important when you are deciding to prepare for a change in aesthetic and overall beauty.
Where in your home do you want to install the tiles? Do you want them to be placed in your bathroom, your kitchen, or your hallway? Do you know how often the floor will be walked on, (as in foot traffic)? This will be a good factor to consider when deciding where you want the slate tiles to go.
By this time, you will want to take into consideration the average climate of the living area. And by climate, I mean the foot traffic, the fluctuation of heat (as in a kitchen), etc.
Be sure to be “in the know” about the varieties of substrates available for your slate tiles, as they are the literal foundation upon which you will place the tiles in the first place. The more knowledge you have, the better guidance you will have in your substrate and tile choice.
You may be wondering what the heck a substrate is. It may be safe for me to say that as beginners to the world of home improvement, you may not know what that is.
When I think about the word “substrate” I think of science television shows where chemistry lab experiments take place, but when the word is applied to home improvement it is actually a different story. Substrates are subfloors for the main floor you will be placing your tiles onto. Substrates are your main floor’s foundation.
Many variations of substrate exist. They range from particle-board, to thin concrete slabs, to plywood.
In the case of slate tile flooring, it is usually recommended to place a thin-set cement substrate onto another substrate, such as plywood. But, ultimately it is up to you and how you want to take on this endeavor.
After you have gathered all of your information, knowledge, and variables, you can pick out the right combination of substrate and slate tiles. They can be ordered online, or they can be ordered in person at a brick and mortar shop.
Ben Dziga provides experience on tile flooring, namely slate tiles.