Better known as the gray colored stone and which is difficult to clean, slate is much more than that. It is found in several colors and, contrary to what most people believe, it is easy to maintain. And it can also be found in several textures, such as polished, brushed, sanded, aged or, of course, used in the natural.
In the past, it was even used as a blackboard. The most common ways to find slate is with the stone applied to the floor, walls, floors, facades and tops of sinks. Next, check out other information about slate and an inspiration list to fall in love with the stone!
Slate: characteristics
According to interior designer Patrícia Covolo, slate is a very common stone in Brazil, used in the domestic market, but also for export. One of its main characteristics is the low cost, mainly because it is a stone easily found. In Brazil, the extraction pole is in Minas Gerais. From there, 95% of the Brazilian slate production leaves.
“Slate is a high quality coating at an affordable price and with low water absorption, which facilitates cleaning and makes it difficult to accumulate dirt, also allowing its use in various situations”, explains the professional. Today slate is considered an alternative in projects with elegant and timeless decor, and has become the darling in the world of architecture.
How to use slate in your home
Anyone who thinks that the slate serves only as a floor is mistaken. It can also appear on facades, table tops, sinks and counters, countertops, sills, tiles, fireplace coverings and even – amazing! – as a tombstone. There are endless possibilities of use. Check out some options:
Flooring
As it is easy to maintain, it is a great ally in cleaning and running from day to day. So it is very common to find it being used as a floor. Low porosity, resistant to weathering and abrasion, that is, it serves both the internal and external areas.
Like any other stone covering, slate has the ability to make the environment cooler, with a milder temperature. Therefore, it is welcome in any type of room, even in the bedrooms.
Walls
“As for the formats, the slate can be used in several options, such as large or irregularly shaped slabs”, says Patricia. Used as a cladding, the stone can appear in several different forms, and even in small squares (as in the image above), forming a mosaic or, in even smaller pieces, as fillets.
Today the market already offers some slate boards, as if they were tiles, only in a worked version. For example: it is possible to find a tile with slate fillets, which facilitates – and greatly – the application and drawing on the wall.
Facades
Used on facades, it gives a certain grandeur to the property, since its colors (regardless of which one is chosen) always highlight the space. In addition, as it is resistant, there is nothing to worry about appearance. Even with the passage of time, the stone will remain beautiful and give presence to the construction.
Outside the house, it has a contemporary feel. It will give even more prominence to the residence if used in only part of the project, be it covering a wall or a block, as suggested in the image above. They can be applied to railings, walls and even pillars.
Fireplace
As it is a dark stone, indoors it is necessary to redouble the attention to lighting. “Care must be taken so that the environment does not become ‘heavy’, so it is worth investing in lighting and, if possible, combining it with other lighter materials”.
An alternative, according to Patricia, is to combine slate with wood. The greater the color contrast of stone and wood, the better the result of the visual. As it is a “cold” material, it is perfect for the fireplace, to balance temperatures.
Countertops
Slate is also indicated for use on countertops, “since it has good heat resistance and low absorption of liquids and fats”, says Patricia. Then, it can appear on the toilet counter, bathroom, kitchen and even laundry.
It can appear both in the more rustic version, with protruding veins, and in the polished version. The different colors and finishing options combine with all types of decoration, whether in the countryside or in the city, in a simpler or more sophisticated design.
Ladder
As it is weather resistant, it can receive rain, sun, cold or heat, without losing its beauty. In outdoor areas, it can appear in the yard, balcony, in the garage, around the pool, and even on stairs, since it is not slippery.
However, to maintain the beauty of the stone in outdoor areas and, especially, safety, “avoid using a polished finish, so that the environment is not slippery in contact with water,” says Patricia.
Table
Because it is heat resistant, it can also serve as a support to support hot pots and pans, in the kitchen or at the table. Slate does not absorb liquids either, so it may very well serve as a tray for the milk jug, juice, coffee maker and even the wine bottle.
Tray
Trays, cutting boards, appetizer boards, souplast, plates, nameplates … The slate definitely arrived in the universe of the set table! It offers a different and original surface. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, which is already achieved at first glance, it is still possible to indicate what is being served in it, writing the name of each item with chalk.
Like any other stone, slate is sold in large pieces, called special sizes. But it can also be found in traditional sizes of floors, flagstones, tiles, tiles and even fillets, being ideal for a continuous floor or details on the wall, such as a decorative strip, for example.
