They are naturally non-slip which makes them ideal for wet areas such as bathrooms, shower rooms and pool sides, both water and fire resistant and require very little maintenance (just regular sweeping and mopping).

Natural slate tiles are available in a variety of finishes such as riven (natural riven slate tiles with a very flat surface), honed slate tiles (completely flat finish), tumbled slate (giving the natural slate tile a slightly rough texture) and brushed slate tiles in which the roughness of the tile is reduced by a brushing process in the factory).

 Brazilian slate is possibly the most popular choice on the market for natural slate tiles and available from Mrs Stone Store. More durable than Italian slate and cheaper than Welsh slate; it is a smooth riven finish and comes in a variety of colours.

The black slate tile is the most popular choice for natural slate flooring and ranges from a dark charcoal to a blue-grey colour, whilst Brazilian multicolour slate tiles are probably the most eye-catching, with a background ranging from black to blue-grey and inlaid with many different reds, oranges, yellows and greens.

Before laying natural slate tiles it is advisable to make sure that the surface is even, the tiles are clean and both are dry. Start from the centre and work outwards and in one direction.

If laying on to a sand and cement screed (or a sand and cement render if tiling walls) make sure that it is fully dried before the natural slate tiles are laid, otherwise any cracks that develop in the drying process of the screed may also cause movement in the tile adhesive which can cause cracks in the tiles.

Whilst this risk is not present with a Gypsum or Anhydrite screed it is advisable to call in a builder to test the moisture content as it is a process which requires specialist equipment and declare it ready for use before laying the natural slate tiles.

If tiling on to a wood floor with natural slate tiles it will need to be over laid with 15mm exterior grade plywood fixing every 150mm, this is to stop any movement in the sub base. It is always recommended to use a flexible adhesive with wooden floors.

Different surfaces and screeds will require different adhesives so it is important to make sure that the appropriate one has been purchased.

For slate tiles with tumbled edges use joints of at least 5mm, for straight edge tiles a joint of at least 3mm should be used.

All natural slate tiles should be sealed prior to grouting as this ensures that when grouting takes place the grout can easily be removed from the surface. All Natural stones are porous to some varying degree and will require sealing. The best method is to apply 1 coat of sealer to natural slate tiles prior to grouting and another coat of sealer once the tiles have been grouted to give a final finish.

When it comes to supplying Natural Brazilian Slate Tiles to the consumer, Mrs Stone Store is definitely leading the way with their brand new online store and is certainly showing how it should be done with their new website featuring product information videos about Slate Tiles.

The videos give a brief description of each of the Natural Slate Tiles that they currently stock and also discuss where it is practical to use each option such as bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles, floor tiles etc.

Libby Lloyd-Jones, managing director goes on to say “We now feel the time is right to show products in live view and a good explanation rather than by photo’s or small images. Our industry needed to be shown a new way forward & we feel we have certainly made a difference on presentation & information with regards to our slate tiles.”

A credible business will always push the boundaries in giving the customer that little bit extra information and advice they would need to make an informed decision when purchasing any slate tiles.

Libby goes on to say “The slate tiles and stone flooring industry has seen an explosion of new companies over the last few years due to the internet so we feel we had to be different to stand out from the rest. This is why we have made a significant investment in slate tiles video product demonstrations and future video article information products to show we are a truly professional caring company.”

Why not take a look for yourselves and you will clearly see that this is the way forwards in the supply of beautiful, natural, slate tiles and stone flooring.

Visit us today to see our Natural Calibrated Slate Tiles videos

Libby Lloyd Jones, director, explains:  “Mrs Stone Store is a family business which was set up in November 2007, building upon our 15 years’ experience in the natural stone trade.  Three years on we have a large stock of products to ensure swift turnaround for our growing list of retail customers.”

Mrs Stone Store recently invested in a move to Hilton Business Park in Derbyshire, which offers easy transport links to the A38, A50 and national motorway network, a significantly improved working environment for its staff and 25,000 square feet of warehousing.

Here, the firm processes orders for thousands of tonnes of stone for a range of customers. Demand has increased of late. Libby and her husband believe this is attributable to the growing number of  homeowners and landlords who – finding themselves in negative equity as the average value of houses continues to drop – are investing in their properties rather than selling them.

Mrs Stone Store’s programme of investment also includes an interactive, online presence which Libby believed would be helpful to the business, its customers and suppliers. The site www.mrs-stone-store.com not only acts as a 24/7 global shop window but also offer practical fitting advice, best for purpose information, best methods of installation and lots of other really useful functionality.

“Customers can visit www.mrs-stone-store.com at 0830 GMT and see our real-time stock levels and place orders online, either from stock or as a future shipment from overseas,” says Libby.

“Mrs Stone Store specialises in the import and retail of Brazilian slate and Portuguese limestone, holding approximately 30,000m2 and 10,000m2 respectively at any one time. We offer a variety of slate finishes, including brushed and honed, and have recently imported a new range of uniquely designed mosaics.”

Asked to explain the popularity of Brazilian slate, Libby’s husband, Simon, says that it is much less expensive than Welsh slate and far superior to slate from China.  “Brazilian slate is also much easier to package and pallet because it has a flat surface unlike Chinese slate which often has ridges or clefts,” he adds.

“We also offer a range of calibrate slate which is a consistent 10mm thick so that there is no need to sort the product into different thicknesses prior to fitting or tiling, thus saving time and effort.

Thinking about why they are bucking the trend, Simon goes on: “We offer a very unique approach to our customers.  We provide our amazing ‘Concept to Completion’ support and I am pleased to say that many of our customers think of us as a project manager.  , shipping product – from one unique piece of material, such as a hand-split slate tile measuring up to 1200mm x 900mm, to a few tiles or a few crates.”

“We continue to consider all avenues to make trading with us as straightforward as possible which, combined with our knowledge of natural stone and reputable supply chain, may explain our success to date and optimism about the future.”

Below we will highlight some of our recommendations to you based on years of experience supplying these materials & passing on to you the types of slate paving it is best to use or generally avoid.

Chinese Slate Paving:

Generally Chinese slate paving is not always a good choice, initially once installed they look great but this appearance can soon deteriorate. This slate paving has a high lime & salt content within the slate & over time white blooming will show itself on the surface as efflorescence. It may start off as small patches appearing, but over time as water soluble salts move through the material they carry the salts to the surface. The water then evaporates and leaves the white powder behind. While efflorescence can become a problem it can be removed but it can take a very long time for this process to fully develop & long term the overall look is disappointing. Iron Pyrite (also known as fools gold) is also very common in some slate paving especially in Chinese slate paving. The form of iron pyrite found in these slate pavers can once wet, rust very heavily & cause bleeding patches of rust to appear over the surface. Fault lines in slate especially coloured slates can often indicate iron oxidization, this slowly shows itself as red veining or veins. While mainly harmless when installed indoors can when installed externally cause moisture to rise to the surface of the slate & during the process rust internally similar to what happens when iron rusts, it will become brittle & over time break

Indian Slate Paving:

Indian slate pavers are a good choice, again more so in the darker colours especially black pavers. Light coloured slate from India has a tendency to be quite soft & over time its layers can delaminate easily so you should stick to a dark coloured slate. Again iron pyrite is evident in these slate slabs but to a lesser degree and in much smaller quantity. Overall Indian Slate Pavers are a good economical option.

Brazilian Slate Paving:

Some of the best slate paving on the market has to be Brazilian slate paving. These slate pavers are very flat with no large clefts & can be hand split to almost any thickness. Brazilian Slate Pavers tend to be very clean and free from high lime and minerals and iron pyrite is not evident in this slate paver, overall the Brazilian slate paving is considered to be the best material available for using externally.

Things To Consider

Low Absorption Rates:

When using stone of any kind outdoors it is important to have a low absorption rate. This means that the pores found within the surface of the stone will not soak up moisture. When water gets into these pores, it can freeze, which causes it to expand, and which can shatter the stone. Slate is generally a good stone to use outdoors because it has a very low absorption rate, often as low as 2% compared to other materials such as sandstone which can be as much as 10% absorbent. Then again the actual absorption level varies somewhat between different types of slate, for this reason to get optimal long life you may want to research the materials you have chosen.

Layers:

When choosing a material try and get a few samples so you cans see exactly how it behaves. If the material flakes apart along highly visible layers, it may have trouble maintaining its integrity while suffering from weathering over the course of several years. Ideally you want slate pavers that are relatively no directional in the way that it breaks, and which shatters in chunks rather than lines.

Weathering:

When installing anything outdoors, it is important to be aware of the fact that this installation will be subject to the full power of the weather 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With natural slate paving, this means that some weathering may occur to the colours in the stone. This is not necessarily an unattractive thing. Many people love the rustic patina that slate develops over the years, which can give a project a classic, aged look.

Correct Slate Paving Installation:

It is extremely important that your slate pavers should be fitted correctly when used on an external application. If your builder fails to provide a compact even subsurface for the slate paving to install on top of, voids may appear underneath the slate paving, into which water could creep. This rain water may then freeze, expand, and consequently sabotage the work. Full bedding whenever possible is critical to minimize this type of occurrence from happening.

Sealing For Protection:

There are sealer’s which should be applied to any natural slate project that you are creating outside, which will offset many of the negative effects that weather can have on your material. At the very least a water barrier sealer should be applied to the stone after installation. If you want to enhance the colours and protect the stone from weathering, then you can apply a non yellowing protective finish to the surface, every few years.