| Every slate tile in the world is unique, due to the | | | | one having different colors and patterns. In this case, it |
| naturally occurring chaos which creeps into its | | | | is important to balance the various stones, light against |
| appearance during formation. This gives the material a | | | | dark, subdued against wild, to create an effect which |
| certain amount of power, and makes every installation | | | | has a strong center. |
| a one of a kind experience. | | | | When laying out slate it is also important to dampen |
| When putting natural slate into a floor, countertop, or | | | | the tiles. This will give you an idea of what they will |
| backsplash, it is important to lay the tiles out first, to get | | | | look like once the stone has been sealed. The moisture |
| a sense of the overall picture that will be formed in the | | | | from the water seeps into the stones pores, much like |
| final installation. Each tile is a unique portrait that will | | | | a sealer eventually will, bringing out a variety of colors |
| have to be coordinated with all of the others, to | | | | and contrasts which were invisible before. |
| develop a montage which is complimentary and fits | | | | Once you have decided on the layout of your tiles, it is |
| the overall ambience you are trying to achieve. | | | | often helpful to label them with small numbers on the |
| Like laying out a giant puzzle, where you determine | | | | back or sides, to help with laying them out. Markings |
| what the outcome will be, you should rearrange the | | | | should be done in pencil, so that any stray markings or |
| tiles several times to get a feel for your different | | | | exposed edges can easily be washed clean. You |
| options. If you are lucky, your contractor will have had | | | | should also be certain to make a note of how the |
| the foresight to order a couple of extra tiles. This will | | | | sequence is supposed to be laid out, whether vertically, |
| allow you to choose the absolute best, discarding any | | | | horizontally, backward, or forward. |
| which you don't like, or which don't fit in with the overall | | | | It is helpful to have a contractor or installer that has an |
| scheme the rest of them create. | | | | artistic eye when dealing with natural stone. When |
| Often slate tiles which come from the same box will | | | | choosing to hire someone, you should try and get a |
| have come from the same quarry, and may have | | | | look at their portfolio to see some of the work they |
| even been cut from the same original slab. If this | | | | have created. Since stone is such a unique medium, it |
| occurs, you can lay them out sequentially, and try to | | | | is also often helpful to give your own feedback on |
| recreate the original appearance of the stone as it lay | | | | installations, and to try and incorporate your own vision |
| within the mountain. | | | | into the project. |
| Other times the tiles within a box will be erratic, each | | | | |