• Is there any difference between slate from ASC and less expensive stores?
• I have heard slate may be porous - is it?
• Is slate slippery?
• Should I seal slate?
• Will slate stain?
• How do you clean slate?
• Is slate easy to install?
• Are slate colors consistent?

Is there any difference between slate from ASC and less expensive stores?

Yes, there certainly is. The quality of slate depends on how it is selected and processed from slate quarries around the world (see the History of Slate). American Slate Company follows a strict policy of quality control and inspection. Our inspectors visit each and every quarry from which our products are mined. Other stores may purchase slate which has been mined from surface layers, which can be composed of inferior shist or stone that has been weatherworn over centuries. Surface layers of slate lack the strength and integrity of slate from deep within the earth, the source of all ASC products.

Since 1978, ASC has built an impressive program for quality control. Our products are inspected to be of sound material and:

• milled to exact sizes
• milled to even thickness
• delivered intact, without broken edges or corners

You can be sure that slate from American Slate Company will be of the highest quality, and be of uniform thickness, which makes it as easy to set as ceramic tile. Slate from ASC will remain beautiful for years and years.
 
You can find slate offered at lower prices, but remember the old adage that "you get what you pay for."
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I have heard slate may be porous - is it?
Good quality slate as supplied by ASC is non-porous. This means you can use it ideally in a bathroom, shower or kitchen and it will not absorb spills or stains. It also means that water will not seep in and degrade it. It will look beautiful for years and years.
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Is slate slippery?
It is non-slip. Slate's natural surface has great advantages of being non-slip, non staining and longlasting.
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Should I seal slate?
Slate's natural surface does not require a sealer but you can use a water-based stone penetrating sealer to seal the grout, enhance and make it easier to clean.
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Will slate stain?
Slate will not stain. Its non porous surface does not allow absorption of water or dirt.
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How do you clean slate?
Simply use a wet mop and mild dishwasher solution.
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Is slate easy to install?
Slate tile supplied by ASC is even thickness with a machined, flat back and can be thinset saving labor costs.
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Are slate colors consistent?
Each one of our products comes from only one quarry source. If you select Cherry Plum Roof tile, it comes from one location, and if you select Strata Purple floor tile, it comes from another. The colors are a result of the earth's natural minerals present at each quarry. There are some variations in color, because slate is a natural product.
Other company's agent importers may purchase non-selected materials from many sources and mix them. This practice cannot assure the same level of quality as products from ASC.
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