How to Install Slate Flooring

Slate Tile Flooring

Slate tile is a great option when choosing a tile to install in your home. It can add to the rustic feel of a country home, or it can enhance the modern flare of a contemporary home. No matter what your style is, slate will complement it beautifully. When shopping around for slate tile, ask for multicolored slate. The sheer beauty of the natural color variations will captivate and astound even the most style-conscious consumer.

Things You'll Need

• Undercut saw Level 1/4-by-1/4-by-3/8 inch trowel Mixing paddle 5-gallon buckets LevelQuik self-leveling compound CustomBlend thinset 1/4-inch cement backer board Drill 1 1/4-inch backer board screws FlexBond thinset Floor-grade tile Tile spacers Grout float Grout Tile and grout sealer

Instructions

1. Figure the square footage of your room(s) (length by width) and add an extra 10 percent of the total square footage [(length by width) x 0.10] to find the grand total amount of tile needed to complete your project.
   For example, if your room measures 12 by 15 feet, the square footage of the room equals 12 feet x 15 feet = 180 square feet x 0.10 = 18.
   180 + 18 = 198 total square feet needed for the project.

2. Check to see whether your floor is level. If not, use LevelQuik self-leveling compound to make it level (follow the directions on the package).

3. Remove all baseboards and undercut all adjoining door jambs (a door jamb is the frame that a door opens and closes in). This will allow you to install the backer board and the tile under the door jambs for a cleaner, more professional-looking tile floor.

4. Clean the floor to remove all dirt and debris by sweeping, vacuuming and, possibly, mopping the floor.

5. Pour a 50-lb. bag of thinset in a 5-gallon bucket. Add water and mix a bag of CustomBlend thinset with a mixing paddle and a drill until the thinset is a peanut butter consistency.

6. Using a 1/4-by-1/4-by-3/8 inch trowel, spread 15 square feet (backer board comes in 3-by-5 sheets) of thinset over the subfloor. One 50-lb. bag will cover 75 to 80 square feet with that trowel size. After spreading out the thinset, lay a sheet of backer board over the thinset and screw the backer board to the subfloor. Make sure the backer board remains level while screwing it to the subfloor. Allow the thinset to dry for 24 hours.

7. Be sure all screws are level with the backer board before installing tile. Screws that are too high can cause tile to crack.

8. Mix a 50-lb. bag of FlexBond thinset in a 5-gallon bucket. Begin laying the slate tile at the point farthest away from the doorway that will be your ending point. Follow mixing and spreading instructions on the package. When the slate tile is installed, do not touch it for 24 hours.

9. Begin installing the grout after 24 hours. Mix the grout in a 5-gallon bucket until it reaches the consistency of peanut butter. Using a grout float, spread the grout over the tile and force it into the grout lines. You should hold the grout float at a 45-degree angle to the floor and at a 45-degree angle to the grout lines. Spread the grout in multiple directions to force the grout in the grout lines from many angles to ensure the spaces are filled.

10. Allow the grout to dry for 24 hours before it is exposed to normal traffic. Wait 72 hours before applying a high-quality penetrating grout and tile sealer so the grout has time to fully cure.

Tips & Warnings

• Slate tile is extremely porous and may absorb the dye contained in the grout if it is not sealed before installation. Therefore, consider applying one coat of high-quality penetrating grout and tile sealer over the tile before installation. Many people like the wet look of slate tile. This is achieved by adding a gloss sealer to the tile when the installation is complete. Apply 2 to 3 coats of a high-quality penetrating grout and tile sealer to the slate tile and the grout before applying a glossy tile sealer to fully protect the slate tile, as the glossy sealer will wear off quickly in high-traffic areas.

• Slate tile is extremely porous tile and will absorb stains easily if it is not sealed properly.