Protect Your Home From Hell or High Water With Slate Tile Cladding

Slate Tiles Offer a Durable and Beautiful Option to Protecting Your Home From The Elements
Slate is a fine-grained, homogeneous material, a metamorphic rock derived from shale-like sedimentary rock originally composed of clay or volcanic ash. It is commonly used in decorative applications, roofing, flooring, and wall cladding.

Slate cladding prevents water from seeping into the structure and damaging it. Slate tiles are particularly good cladding materials for weatherproofing exteriors. Certain chemical treatments are used on the tiles to improve its stain resistance, durability, appearance, and texture.

Here are some pointers to help you get the best slate cladding for your home:

• Size - slate cladding tiles are available in many sizes, and it depends on other factors: The type of stone selected, the finish, and texture, among others. Do consider the size of your building when choosing what size slate tile cladding to purchase. Make sure the look fits with other exterior elements.

• Thickness - generally around 1 ¼" thick, it can vary depending once again on the type of stone used, its finish, and size, among others. Slate tiles for cladding are of nominal thickness. We will be able to help you choose what's best to use for your home.

• Finish - Slate cladding tiles have different finishes, depending on the type of stone used to make the slate tile. The different finishes you can choose from are: Natural cleft finish, honed finish, hammer-milled finish, machine-gauged finish, and sand-ribbed finish. It is best to see samples of the slate tile with these finishes when choosing which slate tile cladding to use for your home.

• Weathering - this is an important thing to consider if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions. Some slate tile cladding will retain their original color even after years of use in exterior settings. Some slate tiles are termed weathering or semi-weathering, meaning their color will change when used outside. Though the addition of finishes can ensure that your slate tile cladding will remain in its original color for years to come, you might want to check into this. Some people actually want that weathered look (slate tiles usually weather to a dark brown over time). The change of color, however, does not affect the durability of the slate tiles.

• Cost - slate tile cladding is available at price points for every budget. Have your trusted supplier or builder show you your options with regards to price and what you get for it.