Whether you’re remodeling your home or just trying to add a patio or replace your existing patio, you might also want to think about choosing a durable material apart from hiring the right patio builder. Slate is a unique patio material Here is everything you need to know about slate and how it is as a patio material.
Slate As Patio Material
Slate is a very beautiful material and if you like darker colors, then this is the material you want to choose. Slate is mostly composed of clay and mud, and it hardens under high pressure and temperature.
The high pressure turns the runny and clumpy clay and mud mixture into large and thin tiles, which are smooth and dark in color. Slate is also a material that looks and feels wonderful. It is not gritty at all and because of its appearance, it looks borderline glossy.
Slate has been used for a long time in many things and now it is slowly entering the world of patios and pavers because they are really good for outdoors (ask any roofer).
Slate comes in a lot of varieties. It can either be 100% slate or it can also be available in different compositions. The type of slate you choose boils down to how much use you will get out of the material.
You want to keep things like foot traffic, the weather, the maintenance as well as the general wear and tear in mind. This is going to lead to you choosing a great material for your patio, because it is going to be exposed to outdoor elements all the time, so you might as well choose something that is strong and durable.
Pros And Cons Of A Slate Patio
Well, now that you know how this dark clay paver material is made and what makes it unique, the next thing to go over is to figure out all of the things about it. Whether it is good for the outdoors or not, and how it can be justified for the price. You want to know everything before you make a decision.
It Looks Amazing
The bluish gray look of slate is seriously to die for. Something about darker patios looks so beautiful and mysterious, and they’re also very modern, crisp, and chic, so if you’re looking for a material that is different from your usual stones, then you want to go for slate.
It is going to change the way your patio looks and it is going to be amazing. You will not regret installing this material as your patio flooring.
It Can Scratch
Slate is a natural material, but it is definitely not a stone. Even though it is classified as a natural stone, it doesn’t possess the same strength as other stones. It can scratch really easily and this can ruin the look of the patio.
If you want to go for slate, then you need to keep in mind that it is a soft material. It is made out of clay, so it is definitely not as strong as other materials and stones that can be used for patios. So, if you want to go for slate, then this is something to keep in mind.
It Doesn’t Fade Away
One of the most common problems with patio materials is that they tend to look faded after a few years. Thanks to the sun exposure, the rain, and all of the other things that wear the material out, it is only natural for materials to fade away and lose their original appearance over time. Well, this is not the case with slate.
Slate is an amazing material and even though it is naturally dark, that doesn’t mean that it fades away and becomes lighter. It stays pretty much the same, which is amazing if you think about an outdoor patio material.
Sealing Is A Must
This is something that is really common with natural stones and it is the fact that you need to seal them. Natural stones are porous and if you’re not sealing them, then, well, you’re not going to like how things go.
When it comes to patios, sealing slate becomes even more important because you don’t want the water or any moisture to creep into the material and ruin it for good. This is why you want to make it a habit to seal the slate slabs whenever you think that it is wearing out or are getting damaged by water.
It’s Slip-Resistant
A lot of patio materials are fine and all that, until you introduce water into the equation. Suddenly, you’re slipping, losing your foot and landing on your back or face. This is not how you want things to go. Well, thanks to slate and its unique composition, it is essentially slip-free.
Even though it looks pretty smooth and there is little to no gritty texture in the surface, it still does a wonderful job when it comes to saving yourself from slipping like you’re on ice. It will do an amazing job even with water and if you go for textured slate, then that is even better. The more texture, the better the friction is and the less you’re likely to slip.
It Can Absorb Heat
One of the major disadvantages of slate is that it is extremely heat-absorbent. If you walk barefoot, then walking on the slate patio, especially when the sun is throwing daggers down, will be an excruciating trip. Since the color is dark too, slate becomes even more prone to absorbing heat.
So, if you want, you can either keep it covered with rugs or at least not forget your shoes when you’re going to the patio. That will save your feet from third-degree burns.
Frost-Resistant
An amazing thing about slate is that it is perfect for that snowy, frosty weather. Even though everyone loves snow and it’s magical, frost is not, and it can be pretty troublesome to deal with.
Frost can form a very thin but slippery layer on top of the surface and then it can turn into a disaster if you step on the ground the wrong way. Well, this is what makes slate amazing, because it doesn’t let anything settle on the surface, so it won’t lead to frost either.
It’s Costly
Even though slate is a pretty well-rounded material and can be a great addition to your patio, it is going to cost you a lot. This is really something that people are bummed about because slate is an amazing material, but its price – not so much.
So, if you really want to get your hands on slate, then you need to bite the bullet, because it will thin out your wallet faster than any impromptu shopping trip. It is definitely worth the splurge, but it does require some thinking ahead.
Conclusion
Slate is a good material to choose if you’re looking for something chic and classic at the same time. If you’re not completely sure about which material to select for your patio, consult a patio contractor Long Island for advice and patio installation.