Q. How long will Slate last?
A. With most domestic applications your slate floor will last a lifetime. You have no replacement costs after 5 to 10 years and can look forward to many years of trouble-free wearing from your slate floor.

Q. Is Slate difficult to clean?
A. One of the greatest attributes of slate flooring is the minimum amount of maintenance required with the material. Slate can be swept, vacuumed or and if when necessary mopped with warm water using no detergents.

Q. Where can Slate be used?
A. The use of slate is limited only be the imagination of the user. Slate unlike most other flooring materials can virtually be used anywhere inside or outside the home, with its most common applications including all inside flooring, bathrooms, feature walls, hearths, splash backs, bench tops, steps, table tops and outside: on paths, patios, balconies, barbecue areas, swimming pools and finally on the roof.

Q. What about Slate maintenance and resealing?
A. The maintenance of slate floors is very minimal, however to cater for those who wish their floor to be kept at its optimum or with commercial usage, we provide a slate maintenance service to keep your floor looking its best at all times.

Q. Slate rather than Ceramics?
A. The main advantage of slate over ceramics is their natural colours and rugged beauty that can never be imitated by manmade manufactured products. Slate stabilises temperature variations and being a natural insulation is soft to walk on.

Q. Will Slate flake?
A. While slate is a laminated material and as a requisite of a good slate it must have a regular clevage, once laid however, it should not flake. any loose particles will normally be removed by the tiler during laying or within a few days of use.

Q. Is Slate slippery?
A. No, one of the greatest advantages of slate is its non-skid characteristics.

Q. Is Slate very heavy and would my floor support the weight?
A. While slate weighs approximately 26-40 kg per square metre the majority of floors will easily take the weight. Slate when laid can even strengthen your floor. If you have any doubts about the load your floor will take, consult an engineer.

Q. Is Slate cold in Winter?
A. Slate being a natural stone it does not vary greatly in temperature and assists in stabilising temperature variations.

Q. How do I arrange to have Slate installed?
A. Should you wish to lay it yourself our distributor offers a free advisory and quoting service.

Q. Can I lay my own Slate?
A. It is easier to lay slate than ceramics due to its very nature. As you are using a natural stone, if you make a mistake, it may even enhance the overall appearance. We supply all the necessary materials for the handyman.

Q. How high will the level of my floor increase?
A.On an average 18-20 mm (").

Q. What will the slate look like where it meets the carpet?
A. Slate laid with adhesive and carpet with underlay are about equal in depth.

Q. What do you use to stick the Slate down with?
A. Two materials are commonly used: (a) Adhesive or (b) Sand and Cement with a bonding agent.

Q. Can Slate be installed using sand and cement?
A. Slate, unlike quarry or ceramic tiles does not have a key back therefore making it difficult to successfully lay in sand/cement mortar.

Additionally with sand/cement mortar there is a shrinking on setting which can often cause crummy tiles. We suggest and recommend that all slate layng be carried out with adhesives which will give you far greater tensile and strength than alternative sand cement methods together with a certain amount of flexibility.

The ease of application with adhesive provides a cost saving of labour and for the do-it-yourself it is far easier and quicker.

Q. When would you use sand and cement?
A. When the surface you are fixing slate to is too uneven to use adhesive or when you are required to correct the uneven level in a floor at time of fixing.

Q. How long before I can walk on recently-laid floor?
A. At a minimum, 24 hours after it has been laid. Ideally 6-8 hours after it has been grouted.

Q. Why buy Grout rather than using sand and cement?
A. We use properly prepared grout exclusively as slate grout is designed to expand as it sets and saves cracking, also the fine grit rate contained in this product allows a clean exposed face to the slate after washing off.

Q. Can Fibro or A.C. sheeting be used?
A. Yes it can as previously stated. Timber must move and it has been our experience that fibro or A.C. sheeting when nailed or even screwed can come loose as the nails work in the timber.

Suppliers will give no specific guarantee and in 2 to 3 years if the fibro or A.C. sheeting moves up will come the tiles.

Q. Why use a membrane on timber floors?
A. Timber floors continually move with differences in humidity and temperatures. This movement is natural and should not be prevented. Membrane penetrates the timber and allows the natural movement to take place unhindered. The membrane is compatible to the cement-based adhesive. Combined they provide a permanent bond.

Q. I wish to use 300mm x 300mm or 400mm x 200mm slate in my bathroom, is that OK?
A. As fall is required in the floor of most bathrooms, it is wise to select the smallest tiles, i.e. 200mm x 200mm or 300mm x 150mm. It is difficult for the tiler to build in correct fall with large tiles.

Q. Can I seal Slate easily myself?
A. Yes - simply apply with a Squeezy Mop or Nylon Bristle Broom, spreading evenly and as thinly as possible.