Hey people,
In a couple of weeks I'm laying my first natural slate paving patio. I've laid sandstone and limestone countless times but I thought it may pay to see if anyone has had a different experience with slate? Does it cut the same? Is it harder/softer than sand and lime stone?
What I also need to know is does slate need to be sealed? If so any product suggestions? The last thing I want is for it to fade as its an expensive product and I want it to look its best!
Would appreciate any tips/advice anyone can give.
Thank you!
Comments
hi
we laid a slate path & patio last autumn; our main issue was the quality of the slate;
long story short: the client chose the slate company/ product and although it was substantially cheaper than others, the slate itself had a tendency to flake, and the difference in depth was noticable, making laying harder.
as regards cutting, yes, you need to remember how slate naturally breaks, so a clean cut can be trickier to achieve.
we used welsh blue slate, (I'll tell you the actual quarry/ company privately if thats ok) with a coloured mortar for pointing
there will always be the potential for some discolouration with a natural product, minerals seeping through, etc some areas whwere slate is quarried are more prone than others
the slate we had was welsh slate, but not the best quality welsh slate;having uad experience of it as a client many moons ago, believe me it can be spectacular and i think generally out performs imported slate on many levels.
the finished patio & path did look good and the clients were very pleased; we have ghad request to design & lay another slate patio as part opf a re-design - but this time I'm insiting that I choose the Welsh quarry source!
The photo is before we swept up so excuse the dirt!
When laying slate the most important thing to consider is that slate is a lot less porous than sandstone and limestone. This makes adhesion between slate and bedding layer much more difficult. I would always advise using a bond bridge. This is a layer of SBR & cement slurry painted on the back of the paving. It takes a bit longer but it is worth taking the extra time.
Slate can also be a bit chippy when its cut, so its important to have a good quality diamond blade. Slate does not fade so there is absolutely no need to seal it, unless you want to achieve a glossy look.
I agree with Marie about Welsh slate being of superior quality. The problem is that costwise, it is beyond the budget of most people. Brazilian slate is the best imported slate. Chinese slate is also good quality as well. Dont touch Indian slate with a barge pole, its rubbish