In the world of interior design, the use of natural elements is prevailing. Everyone wants to have a touch of nature in their homes through these natural elements. In this day and age, people prefer natural stones for their kitchen countertops. If you are reading this, you must also be considering some sort of stone for your countertops. But, there are a range of different stones in the market. They differ from one to the other and each have their own set of benefits and disadvantages. Let’s explore slate countertops.
If you are in the market for a natural stone, it is necessary for you to conduct detailed research before buying one. To help you, our team is going to discuss one of those countertop options for you.This analysis will be all about “Slate Countertops”. In this article, we are going to discuss its advantages and disadvantages to help you to make an informed decision. So, let’s delve into the details of it.
What are Slate Countertops?
First of all, what are slate countertops? These are made of metamorphic stone slates. These slates are made by different movements deep in the Earth. The stone is made of shale, clay, and quartz.
This stone originated from Brazil and Spain. But, the United Kingdom, China, the United States, and Africa also contribute to its existence.
The countertop is made of different thin pieces of slate stone which are composed together in the form of a countertop.
These countertops are much more natural and textured than its competitors, like granite countertops. Its natural cleavage gives it a unique look. Moreover, it is much more similar to soapstone countertops.
Slate countertops’ natural hues and texture give your kitchen and bathroom a natural and rustic appearance. They are also ideal to use for sinks, backsplashes, and wet bars.
This is a brief introduction. Now, let’s discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Slate countertops.
Advantages of Slate Countertops
You should know the advantages of slate countertops so that you can make a better decision about your kitchen countertops.
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1. Easy Maintenance of Slate Countertops
The best thing about this type of kitchen or washroom countertop is that you don’t need to spend much time cleaning or maintaining it.
This stone is non-porous which means that water or any other type of liquid doesn’t penetrate it. So, you will not get any water stains, oil stains, ketchup stains, or other types of stains on it.
Moreover, harsh chemicals will also not penetrate it. So, your food will remain hygienic and safe on this countertop.
To clean it, you just need a soft microfiber cloth and a pH-neutral stone cleaner. Make sure that you clean it once a week so that dust and water stains don’t penetrate it.
With it, you should also make sure that you don’t use any harsh chemicals, wax, or abrasive cleaners to clean your slate countertops. Also, make sure not to use an oil spray or mixture of lemon and vinegar.
These all are harsh on this countertop and can cause your stone to age and chip easily.
2. Heat Resistant
We have already discussed that slate stone is created in the depths of the Earth when there are drastic temperature differences. So, this means that this stone is highly heat resistant.
With advancements in technology, there are a vast amount of different kitchen applications and cooking pots that are making people’s lives easy. For example, there are Kitchenaid and Thermador companies which provide different countertop appliances. These appliances make our kitchens more aesthetically pleasing. With that, you want to make sure that you have a countertop that complements the appliances. You also want to make sure that these hot appliances aren’t burning your countertops.
Luckily, slate countertops have a heat-resistant property so they can bear the heat of these appliances without getting any scratches. So, you can put hot hair tools, hot pans, and even small countertop appliances on it without the fear of damage.
This is one of the reasons why this stone is used in different places such as kitchens and bathrooms.
3. Non-Porous Nature
A lot of other countertops are porous. The unique thing about slate countertops is that they are non-porous.
That is why they are easy to maintain. Also, this feature ensures that bacteria wont harbor in it. So, it is safe from a health point of view as well.
4. Durability
Slate countertops are unique because they are hard, durable, and have a long life. They don’t chip or crack easily. They also don’t get scratches. That’s why you can use it without the fear of damaging them.
Moreover, they don’t penetrate acidic liquid so they will not erode easily. The shifting of coloration of slate countertops is less in comparison to granite ones.
So, they will look good in your kitchen and bathroom for a long time.
5. Can be Used in Different Places
The stone can be cut and drilled according to your countertops. It can be cut in different shapes. That’s why it is suitable for various places such as kitchens, bathrooms, sinks, and other moisture prone areas.
6. Appearance
Slate countertops also have a unique appearance as all slabs are different from each other. No slate slab is identical to the next so they will give a unique appearance to your kitchen and bathroom.
Moreover, it has unique styles and different color shades which enhance the look of your home. Due to its different styles, you can use it in classic and rustic kitchens.
Slate countertops are available in different neutral tones. These include white, black, charcoal, brown, gray, and blue.
They also has some unique colors as they are mined from different locations. If your slate stone is from an exotic location, it can have different shades too.
These color shades include red, green, purple, or gold. But, these unique colors are a bit difficult to find and are a bit more costly than the neutral-tone slate countertops.
7. Affordability
The best thing about slate countertops is that they are more affordable than granite, quartz, marble, crushed glass, and concrete. The price of it ranges from $40 to $70 per square foot.
This factor makes it a popular choice among homeowners because this stone provides a lot for such a small price. You can have an aesthetically pleasing look in your kitchen or bathroom for a really small price
The price of this countertop varies because there can be quality differences from slab to slab. Cheap slate countertops don’t provide many features or variations as compared to the ones that have a more expensive price tag.
So, before buying one, you should ask which features your slate countertop has.
Its highest price is still relatively low when compared to other natural stone countertops, so we suggest you go for the expensive slate countertops. It will give you all the amazing features of this stone.
We just mentioned some of the advantages of slate countertops. But, just like every other material, it has various downsides too.
Disadvantages of Slate Countertops
1. Sharp Edges
Slate countertops have sharp edges which can cause injuries. Moreover, these sharp edges can also cause your countertop to get scratched and brittle over time.
So, if your design demands sharp edges, this countertop is not for you. Installers recommended having rounded-off corners for this slab. So, you should keep its corners round for safety.
2. Brittle and Fragile
The slate countertop is brittle and a bit fragile. It can get scratches if you don’t keep it maintained. So, you need to be extra careful while using this countertop.
3. Not Suitable for Outside
This countertop is fragile so it can’t withstand the weather outside. Rain, sunlight, and other extreme weather in your area can impact it badly.
So, you need to use it in the house only.
4. The quality varies Dramatically
As we have told you earlier, there are various price ranges of slate countertops, so this means its quality also varies dramatically.
A low price means that your countertop is prone to scratches. It will promptly erode, flake, chip, and etch. So, you will not get the desired qualities of the countertop you want.
Moreover, every dealer provides different types of slate countertops. Some will have more good qualities and some will have less. So, you need to do thorough research before buying one.
5. Limited Color Option
Though slate countertops are stylish and have various designs, their color options are limited.
You can find neutral colors easily with this countertop, but you can’t find unique colors easily. These neutral colors may not match with the interior of your house so they will not be suitable for you.
Moreover, it can happen that you can’t find many available colors of it in your area. So, finding the available colors for this countertop is also very tricky.
Analyzing both advantages and disadvantages, we came to the conclusion that slate countertops are still a good option to have. They are affordable, have unique features, and are easy to maintain.
Be careful while buying them and if their colors match your interior, you should go for it.
Moreover, you need to take care of their maintenance too so that they will have a long and happy life.
Maintenance Tips for Slate Countertops
We know this countertop has low maintenance but still, you need to take care of its maintenance. It will enhance the life of it.
The two main maintenance tips are:
- You should use a sealer on it. There are different sealers in the market so you should choose one that will penetrate your slate countertops. These will save the interior and exterior of your countertop. We suggest you have it as soon as you install the slate countertops.
- There are different cleaning gadgets and solutions that are appropriate for cleaning slate countertops. You should only use them. Some suggestions are Easy Oxy countertop cleaner, MB Stone Care Marble, Stone Care International Granite sealer, and TriNova Granite sealer.
You should follow these two maintenance tips so that your slate countertops last longer. It will help you in avoiding the weak aspects of this countertop too.
For any repairs, installations, builds, or questions; We recommend you to hire a professional. Find A Pro Near You Here!
