Enhance the Look of Your Home: 4 Tips for Repairing and Maintaining Your Slate Flooring

Slate flooring has become one of the most popular flooring material choices for homeowners due to its elegant design, durability and ease of maintenance. While slate is a sturdy and long-lasting flooring, accidents or wear and tear can still cause the occasional scratches and chips. The good news is that, with the proper tools and materials, it is relatively easy to repair and restore slate flooring to its natural beauty. Below, we share four valuable tips that will help you repair your slate flooring.

1. Fill In Small Cracks – Small cracks in slate flooring tile can easily be filled in with epoxy glue, which you can easily find at any hardware or home improvement store. For added authenticity, you can opt for either a clear or opaque colored epoxy to match you tile’s shade.

2. Restore Edge Chips – Chipped tiles are not only unsightly, but also prone to further cracking and damage. To minimize damage and restore your floor to its original beauty, use a rough sanding object to smooth down the exposed edges of the chip. Once done, apply grout around the edges to secure the chip. If the colors don’t match, you can use colored nail polish to color tint your grout and match the tile’s hue.

3. Replace Damaged Tiles – If the damage to your slate tile is too severe, you may have to remove the slab and replace it with a new one. When removing the tile, take precaution not to damage nearby slabs. Gently use a chisel and hammer to break the tiles into pieces for an easy removal.

4. Prep the Surface – Before embarking on any repair activity, make sure that the surface is cleaned with soap and water and completely dried. Furthermore, strip the affected area of any sealers, paint or grease with acetone to ensure proper adhesion of the mending material.

Whether you’re looking to fill cracks, replace slabs or simply restore the beautiful finish of your slate flooring, these four helpful tips will ensure that your flooring is restored to its natural beauty. With careful attention to the preparation and mending process, you’ll have your flooring looking like new in no time.