What mood are you in? Whether you’re feeling subdued and relaxed or downright fiery, there is a slate for you. Emerging from mountain ranges like the Appalachians, slate is an earthy stone with a trendy feel. And because it comes in colors that can vary greatly, yet with a consistent overall look and feel, slate has become one of the most popular stones available.

From blue and gray hues to copper and rust, slate serves as a backdrop to your life. The stone casts a trend-setting ambiance and an old-world atmosphere, while bringing out the best in furniture and artwork. But most of all, it captures the elegance and comfort of a place called home.

What is slate?
Slate is a metamorphic stone that forms in sheet-like structures deep below the surface of the earth. After it is pushed to the surface by internal processes, slate is quarried by cleaving it into parallel sheets. It is then gauged to a specific thickness and cut into tiles.

Why is slate so popular?
Because of the variety of colors available—from subdued and subtle to bold and fiery—slate has seen resurgence in trend-setting restaurants, clubs and homes. The variation of slate colors—sometimes even within the same box—give every room a unique look.

What finishes are available?

• Cleft slates are gauged to a specific thickness and size, but are not ground evenly. The natural variation in the stone gives cleft slates a contemporary appearance, drawing out the naturally vivid color of the stone.
• Polished slates are smoothed and ground down, creating a shining, durable surface. This finish mutes the deep colors prevalent in cleft slate.
• Slate Enhancer can have a dramatic impact on slate as well, by drawing out the full vibrancy, color variations and visual textures contained in the stone.

Rush River Slate
At The Tile Shop, we know the people who quarry your slate. Working directly with them ensures that you get the lowest prices possible, and more importantly, that you get the highest-quality stone tile in the world and the most beautiful mosaic, trim and accent pieces to accompany it. Rush River is the brand that makes it possible by offering only hand-selected stone with strict calibration and quality control standards, quality packaging, and unique decorative design options available only at The Tile Shop.

Suggested applications for slate:
Slate with a fine texture and consistency (“honed” - ground to a smooth, matte finish) is often used for fabricating fireplace surrounds and tabletops. However, in today’s decorating, the heavier, natural texture of slate (“cleft”) has become extremely popular to add “relief” to any room setting.

Because of its physical characteristics and its cleavage, slate is also ideal for use in high traffic areas such as foyers, entryways, interior floors, basements, three season porches and sunrooms.

Some slates are practically non-absorbent due to their density and are frequently selected for floors where resistance to acids is an important factor.

Caring for your slate surfaces:

Floors:
Frequent sweeping is the easiest way to protect flooring surfaces. Soil is abrasive and it can get ground into and scratch stone. Use a broom with a bristle that matches your surface, a soft broom for smooth finishes and medium soft for textured surfaces. Damp mopping with water picks up microscopic abrasive soils and potential staining agents. This is recommended for most smooth surfaces on a regular basis.

Aqua Mix® Antibacterial Cleaner is The Tile Shop’s recommended cleanser for slate tile. Thoroughly vacuum, sweep or wipe the stone surface, and apply Aqua Mix® Antibacterial Cleaner per label instructions to thoroughly clean, enhance and protect slate floors. Aqua Mix® Antibacterial Cleaner removes soil and grime from natural stone products without rinsing and dries streak-free.

For a Natural Finish:
Water-based Premium Gold Granite is The Tile Shop’s recommended sealer for slate tile. Premium Gold is a penetrating, natural-looking sealer formulated for maximum stain resistance on natural stone tile and on grout. Premium Gold is fast curing, allowing foot traffic within 2 to 5 hours of application.

After using Aqua Mix® Antibacterial Cleaner on the tile surface to properly cleanse the area (allowing ample time to dry), apply two coats of Premium Gold sealer using a clean sponge or dry cotton towel. After each coat, buff the surface dry using paper towels or dry cotton dry rags. DO NOT permit excess sealer to dry on the surface. Permit the stone tile to remain dry for 72 hours until the Premium Gold sealer has achieved a full cure. Follow label instructions.

For a Color-Enhanced Finish:
Water-based Enhance And Seal Slate is The Tile Shop’s recommended sealer for deepening enhancing the color of natural stone. Apply in an inconspicuous spot to test this finish before applying to entire surfaces! Enhance and Seal is a penetrating solution designed to protect while providing an enhanced look to the natural stone. Enhance and Seal forms a moisture resistant barrier while still allowing complete vapor transmission. DO NOT permit excess sealer to dry on the surface.

Always protect your finished stone floors against dirt, sand or any abrasive substance that might scratch or harm the tile finish. Please follow manufacturer's instructions for proper usage of all care products. Never use acids or chemical cleaners for cleaning natural stone tile.

All other surfaces:
Frequently wipe surfaces with a soft, damp rag.

To remove fingerprints, food residues, grease and all the most common dirt from your countertops, walls, fireplaces, or vanity tops, spray Aqua Mix® Antibacterial Cleaner on the surface, rub it and wipe it dry. Aqua Mix® Antibacterial Cleaner cleans, enhances and brightens your surfaces, helping to maintain their natural beauty for decades.

Additional tips for keeping your stone tile looking like new:

• Keep your stone surface clean from dust and dirt.
• Blot up spills immediately.
• Always use coasters under drinks and food containers.
• Use placemats under dishware and flatware to prevent scratching.
• Never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads to clean the surface.
• Use a felt-bottomed tray for cosmetics and toiletries stored on the limestone surface.
• The Tile Shop carries items like Stone Clean, a concentrated alkaline cleaner, to help clean tougher dirt and grease, or Stone Poultice to lift deep stains in your slate.