Replace rustic slate floor? Honed quartzite or soapstone?
juddgirl2
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (22)
dretutz
9 years agorobo (z6a)
9 years agoRelated Discussions
How well does Soapstone/Slate do as countertop??
Comments (30)We are in California and bought our slate countertops from a company in Maine that I heard about on this forum (Sheldon Slate) and had them installed by a local stoneworks co. The kitchen was completed in Spring 2008 - and I just love them! They are a soft greenish grey with some black flecks, honed. I hated busy shiny granite. I can't tell you how many people have complemented them. They do not need to be sealed - they absorb nothing. They will scratch, but rubbing with a wet sponge brings it back to normal. Love, love love the look with our shaker style cherry cabinets. Thought about soapstone but didn't want to go so dark and also heard they were more porous and needed sealing....See MoreSlate or slate look-a-like on kitchen floor
Comments (28)Hi, I just found this thread, I don't know if you've made a decision yet but thought I'd offer my two cents. While building our home my husband and I debated heavily over real slate, he wanted it for the "look" of natural stone and I didn't want it because of the maintenance, and the problems (flaking, staining, and the variations in thickness of the tile, etc...). After a lot of serious consideration we chose to go with the real slate because it fit the style of the house. I have not regretted it. It looks great and after having moved in a year ago has been holding up well. We went with Brazilian multi color slate that I found through a local tile distributor. It was professionally installed and my tile guy used an impregnator to seal it. I believe the impregnator is available at home depot. While shopping for the slate I found a huge price difference between two local distributors for what was essentially the same thing, one offered ungauged and unsealed 16"x16" tiles for around $5.50/sf and the other offered the same size tiles but gauged and sealed for more than double the price. I opted for the ungauged and unsealed knowing my tile guy would apply sealer anyway. The tile turned out to be extremely consistent in thickness, very durable, and was easy to install. We've had no flaking as of yet. I have since learned that Brazilian multi-color slate is a favorite of architects because it is much more even and less prone to breakage than many other types. As far as cleaning, it hides the dirt very well. I've found sweeping with a soft broom the best way to keep it clean. If you are quick to clean up spills with hot water and a little dishwashing liquid it will hold up against staining however it is porous and will tend to absorb spills that are left on it. That is all part of the look and also gives it character with age. It is installed over radiant heat which is quite comfortable. We have about 500 square feet of it on our first floor, I don't find it hard on the feet at all, and I rarely wear shoes in the house. I don't know how to upload pictures to this forum but if you'd like to email me I'd be more than happy to send you some photos of it. Good luck with your decision!...See Moreslate vs. soapstone countertop?
Comments (25)Vermont slate is not the be all and end all. Upstate NY is big slate country. Back when we were planning our kitchen, we thoroughly investigated slate countertops. Discovering online, the Sheldon Slate Company, we took a 5 or 6 hour drive to visit the fabrication showroom. The people were patient, friendly and ever so helpful. We had a tour of the site. Very impressive. The slate was gorgeous. We went home with a spiral book, with actual samples attached. Yes, the book was a bit heavy. Lol. Upon returning home, I tested the samples for several days. Ketchup, oil, mustard, vinegar, butter, hot sauce...you name it. The only sample that showed some porosity, was the black. The other colors, grey, green (just gorgeous), red, purple and mottled purple (both surprisingly very pretty), showed absolutely no staining or etching. Slate is incredibly dense and strong. The owner’s son, a very large guy, hopped onto a slate overhang on one of the counters, to no ill effect. Here’s the link to Sheldon Slate. They ship everywhere! https://www.sheldonslate.com/specifications/index.php In the end, we chose to go with soapstone from M.Teixeira, their NJ/NY location. We got a very hard variety, Belvedere, which has held up beautifully. We didn’t have to oil, but chose to do so for the first 6 weeks. At first, everyday, then once a week. Haven’t oiled them for several years now. To answer your question, grease splatters no longer change the appearance of the stone. Many people on this site, have chosen not to oil. They just let the stone do it’s thing. Soapstone is non porous. It neither stains or etches. Rather it naturally darkens by oxidation. As another poster said, if you want to keep the natural light grey color, a little soap and scrubby will achieve that....See MoreWhat shower tile with this slate and pebble flooring?
Comments (22)Wow - I came home from work to find such wonderful ideas and photos! Thank you! MtnRdRedux - we already bought the RH medicine cabinet last year (this has been a very long DIY project) so I'm hoping we don't have the same problem you experienced. They are not inexpensive so that's disappointing to hear. I love the limestone and saw some today that could work. Also love slate for the walls and lukkiirish's photos but I'd like to stay lighter for this bathroom. The fireclay tiles are very interesting - I might need to look into those for a kitchen backsplash if not the bathroom. Not sure about metal panels, although that sounds very cool. The good news is I went to Arizona Tile today and might have found some tumbled marble 4x8 tiles that could work with my other selections. I need to pick up the slate and pebble order this week to be sure because I didn't take home the samples but I'm really liking this tumbled Carrera and Manhattan marble. The Manhattan has less pattern and some pieces are almost solid white while others seem a bit warmer with grayish blue or green undertones. There was also a larger 16x24 honed Soto marble piece that might work for the shower seat and curb/threshold. I also looked at the crema marfil, which seemed more ivory than pink - but the salesperson did say this stone could have pink undertones depending on what's in stock. (Thanks for the warning, cpartist!) Slate and Pebbles Carrera and Manhattan Tumbled Marble Soto Honed Marble Crema Marfil Tumbled...See MoreLARemodel
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years agoVertise
9 years agofeisty68
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years agoVertise
9 years agopalimpsest
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years agoVertise
9 years agoVertise
9 years agoleela4
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years agoCEFreeman
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years agoUser
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years agonosoccermom
9 years agojuddgirl2
9 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNSoapstone Counters: A Love Story
Love means accepting — maybe even celebrating — imperfections. See if soapstone’s assets and imperfections will work for you
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPS10 Top Backsplashes to Pair With Soapstone Countertops
Simplify your decision-making process by checking out how these styles work with soapstone
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Counters: Durable, Easy-Clean Soapstone
Give bacteria the boot and say sayonara to stains with this long-lasting material that's a great choice for kitchen and bath countertops
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESInspiring Materials: Slate Tile
Texture, Color and Strength Makes Slate a Go-To Material for Inside and Out
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Sinks: Slate Surfaces Rock for Strength and Style
Go for a sandblasted pattern or keep it simple — slate sinks show quality and promise durability no matter how you roll
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN12 Rustic Touches That Add Warmth to a Kitchen
Exposed beams, chandeliers, farm tables or just a key accessory or two can bring some coziness to the heart of your home
Full StoryFARMHOUSES15 Modern-Rustic Farmhouses Celebrate Simple Pleasures
All the charm, no-fuss style and wide porches might have you heading for the countryside
Full StoryMOST POPULARPros and Cons of 5 Popular Kitchen Flooring Materials
Which kitchen flooring is right for you? An expert gives us the rundown
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNBathroom Workbook: 7 Natural Stones With Enduring Beauty
Not everyone wants a marble bath. Bring organic warmth to counters, walls or floors with these hard-wearing alternatives
Full StoryENTRYWAYSGet a Mudroom Floor That’s Strong and Beautiful Too
Learn the flooring materials that can handle splashes and splatters with ease and still keep their good looks
Full StoryColumbus Area's Luxury Design Build Firm | 17x Best of Houzz Winner!
nosoccermom