By: Stefra
Submitted: 2010-03-03 15:33:10 | Word Count: 589
Granite and slate, both are igneous rocks. Both exhibit some common characteristics that make these suitable as bathroom flooring materials. These include impervious nature and good resistance against corrosion, which are both quite important for bathroom flooring. Besides, these materials do not become slippery too easily, even when wet. However, there are some differences between the two types, which can cause some customers to prefer one over the other. Here are the major differences:
Granite
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Being an igneous rock, granite provides close to 100 resistance against buildup of mildew and fungi. So, this is probably a very good choice if you have kids in your home. Granite floors are also resistant to most chemicals used as cleaning agents, thus making it a very viable choice as flooring material. Besides, the milky white color goes well with most types of bathroom decor.
The stone is not without its own share of drawbacks, though. First off, the white color makes it prone to getting stained by chemicals, although it is not likely to get corroded easily. This makes it necessary to clean the floor frequently, which can be quite a hassle.
Apart from that, granite tiles are extremely hard, and require special care while cutting to ensure that the tiles do not get chipped around the edges. The complicated process of preparation of the tiles also makes the resulting products cost more than other varieties. Thus, the price tag of granite tiles is thus pretty hefty, making it a rather expensive choice as flooring material. Besides, the tiles can be rather large in size to be used in smaller bathrooms comfortably. These drawbacks cause some customers to prefer other types of flooring material over granite, in spite of the obvious benefits that the latter one provides.
Slate
Slate is an igneous rock, just like granite, and likewise, has zero tolerance for fungi and mildew. A bathroom floored using slate tiles will certainly be fungus and pathogen free. Also, slate does not become slippery easily even when wet, thus making it quite a safe choice for houses where toddlers or senior citizens live. The matted black or beige color of slate also makes for a good base that goes well with varieties of bathroom decor.
The slate floor will, however, not be free from its own set of drawbacks. First of all, care should be taken not to spill oil, or oily substances, on the floor. Oil sticks to the surface of the stone, and makes it quite slippery, which will be further increased when the stone gets wet afterwards. This makes for a dangerous situation, especially for unsuspecting persons, who may not have noticed the oil spill. Apart from these, slate tiles are quite large in size compared to those of mosaic, wood, and the like. The large tiles make it difficult to use slate ion bathrooms of smaller sizes, and tiles with the correct size can be almost impossible to find in some cases.
Thus it is clear that both granite and slate have their own set of drawbacks, which can become crucial when making a choice between the two. However, the susceptibility of slate against oil spills certainly makes it lose some ground to granite. If price is the deciding factor, though, slate would certainly emerge victorious, as granite can cost up to twice as much as slate, per square inch of flooring. So, when making a decision, it is up to the buyer to decide which one he requires more; maximized durability, or a balance between durability and price.
