419 Floor Cover: Slate
Slate is a granular stone that may be split into thin layers and applied over
either a mortar bed or a thin-set application. It is graded in two categories:
1) clear stock which has no ribbons but has veining in the stone itself, and
2) ribbon stock which has bands of darker color running through it and is the
less expensive of the two. In the application, the mortar bed is about 1/4"
thick, and on top of that, a mastic material is applied to about 1/8" thick. The
slate flooring is then laid in the mastic. The slate flooring generally used
for heavier-duty floors is between 1/2" and 1" and is set on a 1" mortar bed
(either on a slab or wood floor system). When applied over wood floors, it is
commonly applied over a felt and lath base.