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Slate Countertops
Slate is an attractive and traditional choice
for countertops in kitchens, laundry rooms,
and mud rooms. Readily available in many
parts of the United States, it is usually
less expensive than other types of stone.
It has a warm, more rustic and textured appeal.
Slate comes in shades of gray, green, purple
and black. There is even a rare, but more
costly, shade of red. Slate is durable, dense,
and heat resistant. Although it is relatively
soft, scratch marks can be buffed out with
fine steel wool. Slate is nonporous and usually
requires no sealing.
Consider the following if you
want to install
slate countertops:
- Slate comes in smaller slab sizes than granite,
usually about 6 feet by 30 to 40 inches.
It is available in various thicknesses. These
stone countertops are heavy, so make sure
the cabinets you are using can support their
weight. The slabs are usually installed by
gluing them to the top of the cabinets with
silicone or epoxy or by securing them to
a plywood substrate.
- Slate can be purchased in two different textures:
natural or polished to a silky
feel.
- Know the geographical area your slab was
mined in. Some slate, such
as that from Vermont,
will not need to be sealed
and needs no maintenance,
but slate from other regions
can be somewhat
more absorptive.
- Be aware that slate is formed in layers.
It will occasionally delaminate.
Remember that slate is also available in
tiles. |
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