All Entries in the "Slate Fireplaces" Category
Slate Fireplace
The beauty and strength of natural surfaces make them a great choice for high end decorating. The natural spendor is strong and durable and will last for years to come. Stones such as granite and marble have been making a lot of press in the decorating world, but now folks are finally catching on to the wonders of slate.
Slate is a metamorphic rock. If you think back to geology class this means a rock that formed from another rock due to changes in temperature or pressure. Nature creates slate by adding temperature and pressure to shale. Shale is produced when sediment from earth and clay get buried and after a long time period the pressure of being in the earth forms it into a soft rock called shale.
Intense pressure and heat from the earth eventually transform the soft shale into the much harder slate. Slate is mined all over the world, there are slate mines in the US and Brazil among other places. Slate is a non-porous rock that doesn’t absorb water. It can also easily be split into sheets. A common use of slate in the past has been for roofing tiles as slate is particularily resistant to water and frost damage.
Depending on the mine where the slate comes from it can come in different colors such as a dark purple or gray. A common modern use of slate is to make paving stones for the yard. The slate can easily be split and broken to create the perfect walkway. It is also a popular material for tileing kitchen and bathroom floors and countertops. The beauty of slate is becoming more wll known and it is being used in more decorative applications, as well.
The slate fireplace is becoming one of the new most popular fireplaces. If you have a wood burning fireplace that needs a facelift slate can be the perfect option. You can cover the old drap brick with slate tile, using thinset, grout, and sealer. Once you are finished you have a brand new natural stone fireplace. This can be quite the facelift. Slate is stone and in spite of the layers being easily split into sheets, it is non porous and can easily be cleaned with soap and water. A sealer can also bring out the natural beauty of slate exposing lines and colors and sometimes even small fossils.
Slate often comes in tiles, slabs, stone strips, and slate chips. Some of the uses for slate are countertops, backsplashes, roofing, flooring, paving, and of course in decorative furniture, such as tables, slate fireplaces, and slate outdoor firepits. When it comes to pation accents slate can make the perfect accent. It is often combined with marble and copper to create the perfect functional piece of art.
Because of the beauty of slate and the flame resistant properties of slate it is the perfect fireplace material. There are kits available for refacing your fireplace in slate. Or you can just use regular slate tiles like I previous stated. You can also purchase mantles and premade fireplaces made from slate. There are even electric fireplaces and gel fireplaces made from slate. You can also find faux slate designs that just emulate slates natural beauty, but are less expensive.
If you are interested in a fireplace that looks like slate and doesn’t require venting or power, Southern Enterprises makes makes a faux slate gel fireplace. There are also choices of faux slate electric fireplaces. SEI makes an electric fireplace that has real slate insets. Which really create a unique look. If you can afford it you can even buy and entire fireplace pre made of slate. Of course, this would cost you in the thousands, not including installation.
Bottom line slate is a beautiful and versatile material and can really add style and grace to a room or outdoor area. It combines perfectly with heat and water and is weather resistant. Whether you go all out and get an entire slate fireplace or just get an electric fireplace with slate accents, you can’t go wrong with this beautiful stone.
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