page 97

Slate

Slate was first introduced in New Zealand in 1978 and since then has become widely used as a flooring material.

It is a natural product with a timeless durability, low maintenance and a lovely, rustic appearance. Colours are mainly grey/black but can also be green, purple, brown or a combination of all these colours.

Apart from colour, it differs in type according to the way it has been cut. Chipped edge or hand-cut slate is cut at the quarry face using a hand operated guillotine or a machete. This method produces a rough or chipped edge to the sides of the slate which is generally unsuitable for flooring, except for very light traffic areas, as it is too thin. Sawn-edge slate tiles have been selected in the quarry, transported to the factory and cut to an accurate straightedge size with a diamond saw. These are the common flooring type.

Slate lasts forever. It is easy to care for and will blend happily with any style of existing decor. It is, of course, a natural product — a metamorphic rock formed over millions of years by the deposit of mineral rich silt. The sedimentary deposits undergo a dramatic change due to pressure and are pushed into sheet-like layers called cleavages. Slate comes from Africa, Europe, China and India and varies in colour according to its origins.

A good slate has a regular cleavage which is tight and not flaky. The thicker and tighter the cleavage, the better the quality.

Like ceramic tiles, it should be laid on an even, rigid surface. Surface sealing is recommended for slate that is laid indoors.

page breakpage breakpage break