Search thousands of topics on CostHelper

BROWSE ALL TOPICS >> babies & children  cars  consumer electronics health & personal care home & garden personal finance  pets  schools small business sports weddings
CostHelper > Home and Garden  > Flooring, Painting & Remodeling > Slate Floor

Slate Floor Cost


How Much Does a Slate Floor Cost?

 
low costSlate Floor Tiles: $1-$35 a Square Footaverage costDIY Installation: $1-$11 a Square Foothigh costProfessional Installation: $6-$20 a Square Foot

Slate is a durable natural stone with a unique, rustic texture. When properly sealed, slate can be both slip resistant and stain resistant. Slate can be used in any room, but often works well in foyers/entry halls, kitchens and bathrooms.

Typical costs:

  • Like most natural floor tiles, slate ranges in size from small mosaic pieces to the more standard 4"x4", 6"x6", 12"x12" and 16"x16" squares, up to large slabs. Slate can also be cut into specific patterns that give the illusion of being random but simply repeat the same fit-together sizes and shapes over and over.
  • Slate can start as low as $1-$3 a square foot for basic floor tiles. Depending on size, finish, thickness and color, higher quality slate tiles can cost $4-$10 a square foot, while mosaics and other specialty tiles (usually used as accents) can be $8-$35 a square foot for just the tiles. For example, FastFloors.com[1] sells slate tiles starting around $1.60 a square foot, ranging up to $29.85 a square foot for mosaics.
  • Depending on local rates, the quality of the slate tiles and the complexity of the installation (square, diagonal or a random-appearing pattern), professional installation brings the total for labor and materials to about $6-$13 a square foot for basic slate tiles, or $600-$1,300 for a 10'x10' entryway or bathroom, and $3,000-$6,500 for 500 square feet. Installed costs for better quality tile can run $9-$20 a square foot, or $900-$2,000 for a 10'x10' room, and $4,500-$10,000 for 500 square feet for a large room and kitchen.
  • Do-it-yourself installation is possible, but can be challenging. Grout, thinset (adhesive mortar), sealant and other supplies can bring the total cost of materials to $1-$11 a square foot, depending on the price of the tiles, or $100-$1,000 for 10'x10' and $500-$5,500 for 500 square feet.
Related articles: Limestone Floor, Travertine Floor, Marble Floor, Terrazzo Floor, Tile Flooring

What should be included:
  • Slate floor tiles must be cut using a wet diamond saw or a hacksaw. The subfloor must be level and strong enough to bear the weight of the stone. Grout can stick to the surface of slate, so many installers paint the tiles with a grout release liquid, making it easier to remove any excess or stray grout after the installation is complete. AskTheBuilder.com[2] estimates that it takes four times longer to grout a slate floor than a ceramic tile floor.
  • DoItYourself.com provides detailed instructions[3] for installing a slate floor and LuxuryHousingTrends.com outlines the pros and cons of a slate floor[4] .
Additional costs:
  • Online retailers like StoneLocator.com[5] sell stone flooring samples for $6-$10 each, depending on the number of samples ordered.
  • As with any flooring project, there can be extra installation-related charges for furniture removal and replacement; ripping out and disposing of old flooring material; and removing and then re-hanging doors. For example, a Conneticut installer[6] charges an extra 20 cents per square foot to remove old carpet, another 20 cents per square foot for moving furniture, $15 per appliance moved and $35 per toilet.
  • Slate sealer costs $10-$30 a gallon. For a shiny or matte finish or if the slate is relatively porous (tending to stain), the slate should be sealed before and after installation, and then every one to two years, depending on the amount of traffic and wear on the floor.
  • Most experts recommend against waxing slate, and synthetic sealers are available that dry clear and are non-yellowing. Slate sealers can cost anywhere from $10-$30 a quart.
Shopping for a slate floor:
  • The Marble Institute of America explains types of natural stone flooring, including slate, and provides a directory of natural stone distributors and suppliers[7] . Many of these companies provide installation within a certain area or referrals to local installers.
  • Slate flooring tiles are available at some home improvement stores like Home Depot[8] , with installation or referrals to installers also available. Slate tiles are also at flooring stores; the World Floor Covering Association provides a directory of retail floor stores[9] by zip code. Most retail stores provide installation or referrals to installers. A few online stone flooring suppliers include BuildDirect.com[10] , FastFloors.com[11] , South Cypress Floors[12] and StoneLocator.com[13] .
  • Get several estimates, asking about the installers' training and experience, the materials to be used, performance warranties and time required to complete the project. The Marble Institute of America offers tips for selecting a natural stone contractor.
post Post    
CostHelper News


7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013


7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013

‣ All CostHelper Blog Posts


What People Are Paying - Recent Comments


 

Comment On Your Experience With a Slate Floor
 
Subject:  *
Amount Spent:  *
Square Footage : Size of Tiles: 
Contractor:   
Comments: 
Purchased:  Year: 
City:  * State:  *
 
Information about you:
Email:  * Email addresses are not displayed.
Name:  This is the name we'll display with your post.
me on this computer
*=required field.
 



External Resources:
  1.  www.fastfloors.com/_library/search.asp?qcat=Tile+%26+Stone&qtxt=slate&sort=pricea
  2.  www.askthebuilder.com/slate-flooring-installation-and-sealing/
  3.  www.doityourself.com/stry/layaslatefloor
  4.  www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/home_improvement/slate-floor-pros-cons.htm
  5.  www.stonelocator.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=stone&ID=3732&refFuse=basicSearch&StoneT...
  6.  wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_installation_cost_for_flooring
  7.  www.marble-institute.com/directory/index.cfm
  8.  www.homedepot.com/Flooring/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xglZaq7r/Ntk-All/Ntt-slate%2Bflooring/h_d...
  9.  www.wfca.org/FlooringStoreLocator.aspx
  10.  www.builddirect.com/Slate-Tile.aspx
  11.  www.fastfloors.com/_library/search.asp?qcat=Tile+%26+Stone&qtxt=slate
  12.  www.southcypress.com/Flooring?search=slate
  13.  www.stonelocator.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=basicsearch&StoneType=6
More Home and Garden Topics
Check Out All Costs for Home and Garden How Much Does Garden Service Cost? How Much Does a Kitchen Remodeling Cost? How Much Does a Propane Tank Cost?

Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com

 
Today's Featured Cost Articles

About CostHelper
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit
Paid: 147.00
Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
-nervouschomper
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Cost
Spanish Medical Interpreter
Paid: 150.00
I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
-Gregory Richardson
Interpreter Cost
Dat
Paid: 495.00
This is how much I am paying... [more]
-Calista Christian
Dental Admission Test Cost
Shingrix
Paid: 48.00
... [more]
-Not that BB
Shingles Vaccine Cost
Skin prick allergy test
Paid: 573.00
Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]
-D’s mom
Allergy Testing Cost
Estimate for Teeth Cleaning Cat
Paid: 0.00
13 year old cat …teeth extractions, X-rays, blood work, anesthetic, cleaning estimate 2 to 3 thousand... [more]
-Terrimarie
Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost