Can you post a picture?

You will have the option to pick materials that are 'equal value' when your insurance company looks into the material costs.

Choose what you like. And because it is so small a space, I would recommend you be willing to add your own money to ensure you get the shiny metal-look floor you want.

SJ, s/he already has the new floor. That s/he hates.

Sasha's right, we need photos. I don't see your proposed copper leaf solution working.

Is your bathroom lighting a lot different from the showroom lighting?

I would, at least, call the company and see if they have anything product to cover or darken the slate. Look up painting slate, that might work.

You are all awesome. I wish I knew how to post a photo. The copper leafing would be just a way that I could live with the slate. Of course it would not look anything like the brochure or sample in the store. The lighting might explain the sheen but there is a huge difference but the color not so much. The sample iand what is in the show room does not look like what I got.

Do you have any extra slates that you could take to the tile store to compare with their sample? Also, did you open, examine, and approve the slates before the tiler started setting the floor? The pandemic has upended a lot of in-person discussion with workers and store staff.

You could practice painting on any leftover slates, too.

I guess I poorly worded my situation. NO NO NO. This is the new upgraded chosen floor. It just doesn't look like the sample. Lacking the sheen, irredescent quality and way too matte copper/terra cotta not the dark greys, greens and browns. The flooring company won't budge using all s orts of excuses saying that I am way over on my hardwood floors (They got caught in lies because the slate was four dollars cheaper a sq foot than the original tile i picked (luckily I got to go to the store and found it was not the same as the photos. But the slate was a sample in the store; it just doesn't look like it.I even said I would do the epoxy and leafing if they could confirm it was okay to epoxy slate tile.

One way to prove it is 'different' than the store sample: bring the store sample HOME with you. Photograph the floors together in your lighting. And the turn the sample over and take photo with one of your extra boxes showing the DETAILS are correct/incorrect.

To add a photo: it most be in jpg format. You then start an answer and click on the 'photo' button below. Then you load the photo completely. It can take up to 5 minutes. Don't do anything else until the upload is finished.

If this is actual natural slate, as with any natural stone, it can be different than the sample. If it is a manmade product than you have a case. Otherwise, it is what it is. As far as epoxy, find a floor epoxy and then call the manufacturer and see if it can be applied to slate . Personally, I think you are creating a uglier issue by doing that. And if it is terra cotta in color, not seeing how adding copper or gold leaf is the solution. It may be better to work with the floor as it stands by taking the eye else where in the room.

If it makes you feel any better, most of us have been disappointed in choices we made. It can also take time to adjust to change. So take a deep breath and know this problem can be resolved.

As has been suggested, the first step is determining if you actually got what you selected. Did your contractor, for financial or other reasons, install a different product than you selected.

Assuming you got the right flooring, do you want to pay from your own pocket to change it? Don't need to decide this right away.

Next, can you make what you have look better? Changing your light bulbs or wall paint is an easier and cheaper way to update your bathroom than replacing the flooring.

Don't rush into "fixing" the tile before fully considering your options.

have you looked at Rub N buff metallic wax. available on amazon. I have seen it used on a number of things

chris also for posting a photo, if you have a camera phone, take a pic and send it to your email. save the photo and then when you want to access it just click on the photo button , choose the photo and it will go into the post