Slate: a layered stone with many uses 

Slate has many uses, both inside your home and around it. In this post you can find out how this timeless stone forms and what its main properties are. See for yourself why slate is a natural stone worth considering.  

Properties and formation of slate 

Slate is a metamorphic rock made of different minerals. Its main feature is that it can be split into sheets. The word schist comes from the Greek word σχίζειν schízein, which means “to split”. So the name itself tells you that the stone splits. 

Most schists come from clay and silt that went through a series of metamorphic processes, with shale, slate and phyllite forming in the intermediate stages. Some schists come from fine-grained igneous rocks such as basalt and tuff.

It is found in many parts of the world, including Slovenia, where it is quarried on Pohorje. There are different types, named after the main minerals in each rock. For example:

• mica schist
• graphite schist
• chlorite schist
• garnet schist
• tourmaline schist
• glaucophane schist

 

Slate has always been a very popular building material, and its excellent properties also make it a common choice in modern design. It is very hard-wearing, resistant to weather and wear, natural looking, easy to look after and long-lasting.

Types of slate

Slate is an affordable, attractive option if you want to use natural stone both inside and outside the house. The layered stone is most often grey or brown, but there are also slabs in blue, green, gold and black. Some patterns even combine several shades. 

At Marnit, slate is available in black and brown, but on request we can source a pattern that goes well with the other elements of your home. 

Care and maintenance of slate

One of the main advantages of slate is that it is easy to look after. Homeowners want a simple lifestyle, and businesses look for simple, long-lasting solutions when they design their premises.

Slate is an excellent solution for both, as it needs no special cleaning, just regular wiping. It absorbs little, so stains usually do not get into it, and if you reseal the joints between the slabs regularly, you can enjoy its beauty for a lifetime.

Where can you use slate?

Natural slate slabs are very versatile. As they are very durable, attractive, long-lasting and slip resistant, you can use them in many places in the home – from the terrace, courtyard, hallway and around the fireplace to the kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom.

Would you like to know how you can use them?

#1 For floors or wall cladding in the kitchen and dining room

As it is resistant, durable and slip resistant, slate is a good choice for floors or walls in rooms with heavy use, such as the kitchen or dining room. Slate slabs suit both rustic and modern interiors. Their look brings a feeling of nature into the room and breaks up monotony.

Which pattern would go best with your kitchen units or dining table?

#2 Decoration in the living room

Pleasant, timeless and attractive slate decoration will enrich your living room. Clad one of the walls or use it on the floor. Understated, subtle slate slabs are also an excellent choice for a fireplace surround, as they do not burn, and they will create a pleasant atmosphere at the heart of your home.

#3 It also has its place in the bathroom

Slate works particularly well in the bathroom. You can use wall tiles in grey, green or gold tones on the wall around the shower or bath, and floor or mosaic tiles on the bathroom floor. For a more varied look, choose floor tiles in a different size from the wall tiles. 

#4 Use it indoors and outdoors

You can use slate both indoors and outdoors. The stone slabs are suitable for hallways, entrance halls or staircases, and you can also use them for a courtyard, terrace, driveway or pool surround. Choose the pattern that best complements the room or its surroundings.

There are many ways to use slate. Choose the one that comes closest to what you want.

Which property of slate surprised you most? You are welcome to visit our showroom at Miklavška cesta 53 B in Hoče, where you can see a wide range of stone and stone products in person, in a pleasant setting.

Stonemasonry Marnit – over 100 years of experience with natural stone.