Multicolor Slate Floor Tile

by Darren
(Minneapolis)

Here is the slate floor tile we put in the front entryway of our 1902 farmhouse. We chose this particular slate because of the great colors and the rustic look it has.

It's very durable in a high traffic area, dogs & kids, and fits well with the old world feel of the home. I can even tell you which colors we liked the best... the rust reds, emerald greens, and the blacks.

We used a water tile saw to do the cuts and tried to vary the tiles as much as possible so the same colors were not to prominent in any one area.

The one thing we did that made a huge difference was lay out the tile first. We measured the front entry way and then laid out tiles (outside the front door) to mimic how the floor would look.

It was easy to look at the finished product before it was actually finished. We could pick up tiles and move them around until the colors and tile lay out meshed.

We used a light charcoal grout (Dove Gray) which was actually a little too light. I would definitely go with a darker gray next time.

After we finished installing and giving it plenty of time to dry we decided we wanted to bring out the colors more. Sometimes slate is a little dusty looking.

My wife installed a couple of coats of MB-6 Color Enhancer and the project was complete.

The enhancer intensified the colors and gave the stone a slightly darker, wet appearance. It also darkened the grout a little more.

We love how it turned out!!