Installing Slate Tile
If instructions given by the supplier are followed, installation of slate floor tile can easily be a do-it-yourself project. A hand masonry saw with a coarse teethed blade must be used to slate floor tile. One needs to simply draw a line on the tile and cut as desired. If a very complicated design is chosen and many different size tiles are used, one can consider a professional installation.
One must ensure that the area to be tiled is structurally sound and dry. If the surface is not sound then there is a strong possibility of problems either immediately with the installation or down the line once the floor is used. If plywood has been used as a sub floor then sheets of plywood should be laid to give the area the rigidity it needs for the slate floor tile.
Once the slate floor is laid in place, no sealant is required. However, if required, one can choose a matte or shiny finish available at any stone dealer. One must not try and put a sealer over a floor that has been oiled or waxed unless it has already completely cured and the sealer dried. If the floor is walked upon before this time, marks will occur that shall be not just difficult but also costly to remove.
Slate Cutting
In comparison to other stones, Slate is a fairly soft stone. A masonry blade in a portable circular saw will cut it. Diamond blades are now available for these saws that will cut any stone without needing water to protect the blade from overheating. However, one must make sure that a good-quality dust mask is used, since stone dust is bad for the lungs and dry cutting makes a lot of it.
When cutting stone slabs, it is advisable to use a plywood straight-edge with a guide attached for the saw base to run against. The saw glides on top of the straight-edge, which stops just short of the blade. This prevents the saw base from scratching the stone, as well as guiding the cut. Slate doesn't take a polish well, and is too soft to hold a polish for long but it can be sealed with various proprietary organic sealers.
Precautions
FStone-cutting quickly fills up an indoor space with dust- if its done indoors, in no time. One must isolate the working area with plastic sheeting to minimize clean-up.
Slate Cleaning
A decorative container for a plant or small tree is generally referred to as a planter. Slate stone, is an ideal medium for making garden ornaments as it ages very slowly, while imparting an antique or rugged look to the artifacts. Slate stone can withstand all kinds of variation in climate and is hence preferred for making planters.
Being a soft stone, slate stone can be easily carved with intricate designs that enhance the beauty and appeal of the planters. Garden stone planters are made in many sizes and can be custom-made to match individual preferences. Skilled craftsmen churn out a mesmerizing range of slate stone garden planters, which have found a lot of patronage among connoisseurs of art.
Useful Links for Slate Stone:
