I am considering buying 16x16 Chinese Slate tile for my kitchen . I know I have to seal it properly and I will have my floor plenty stiff, supported and prepped. I can get it for about $4.75 per sqr foot ($8.45 per 16x16 piece).

Any thots on this product and /or the price?

edward

Without knowing the specifics about your stone, I recommend you go ahead and do it if you want it.

I just did a flagstone ungauged (varying thickness) slate in our ensuite, and it looks great!

It was more work as we used Schluter Ditra over a Nuheat floor mat over the plywood subfloor, and then each piece had to be back buttered with a 1/2" notched trowel and leveled individually.

Nevertheless, now that it's all done, as I said, it looks great.

It was recommended to me to seal the stone before thinsetting it to the Ditra. Good advice, cause it was easy to clean off the slate as I installed it. Then when I grouted with a conventional float, I used a gentle brush to help remove the grout off the stone and then used the sponge. Again, the presealing greatly assisted.

All very labour intensive, but as I said...

Ralph.

u are talking my lingo

I ordered the Nuheat today and am picking up the tiles tomrrow. Did you have to wash or wipe down the back of the tiles before you back buttered them to clean off any dust or residue?

also did u do 2 coats of sealer and if so what kind of selaer did u use ?

No, I did not wash the backs of the tiles, as they were random shaped and glued to a plastic mesh to facilitate the repeating 3 sq ft pattern. Unfortunately, I had to cut each piece loose in order to back butter and level each piece. Not a problem, but more work.

I did clean the faces well though, and let dry thoroughly. I used a stone sealer from the tile distributor that goes on wet looking, but when dry, the stone looks natural (unsealed). Then when I was all done, I sealed again when I did the grout using the same product.

Today we turned on the floor for the first time, and man, is she sold. At first, she questioned the extra cost, but not now...

Good Luck!

Hi Edward

Most of those Chinese slate tiles will be dusty.Good idea to use a small broom to dust them off or wipe them off with a damp sponge as you're setting them.Also,it's good to skim the back of the tile tightly with the thinset mortar,before backbuttering or setting it.

Sealers?There are so many.Lately I prefer a solvent based colour enhancing "impregnator" made by AquaMix called "Enrich 'N' Seal".It's very,very expensive.I like it because it doesn't leave a finish on the tile and it really gets into the stone to darken it.Difficult to apply compared to other sealers.

You can also get cheaper sealers that will enhance the colours but many of them leave a sheen.The finish can and will eventually show wear.Or worse,stains can get into the stone and stay trapped under the finish.Once it shows wear in high traffic areas,you'll have to clean the whole floor and seal again.

The AquaMix Enrich 'n' Seal won't wear off.Their info sheet says 15 year life.I've used it a few times and I think it's a superior impregnator.