Whether you’re looking to enhance the beauty of your home or add a touch of sophistication to a commercial space, slate is a fantastic choice. Honister Green Slate, also known as Westmorland Green Slate or Lakeland Green Slate is a true gem in the world of construction and design with its unique spectrum of colours, durability and deep-rooted connection to the Lake District National Park where it has been mined in the last working slate mine in England since 1643.
When it comes to versatility, Honister Green Slate takes the spotlight. This natural stone has found its way into a wide range of applications, showcasing its magnificent strength and stunning aesthetics. From slate roofing and slate flooring to slate worktops and slate hearths, this metamorphic rock has proven to be a reliable and timeless choice for a wide range of indoor and outdoor projects.
So, ‘what is slate used for’ you ask? Read on to find out about the myriad of uses of this remarkable natural material.
Popular Uses of Slate in the Construction Industry
Due to its enduring properties, our world-renowned Westmorland Green Slate has a long tradition as a construction material in the Northwest of England and beyond, most commonly used for slate flooring tiles, slate walling tiles, slate roofing, slate lintels, sills and steps and decorative aggregates. Slate is naturally pollutant-resistant, fireproof and waterproof meaning that it is truly unmatched by any other building material in terms of a performance perspective as well as aesthetic appearance.
Slate Flooring & Slate Walling Tiles
Slate flooring tiles are a popular choice for porches, bathrooms and kitchens as they are the perfect option for heavy traffic areas in the home. They are considered a more upscale flooring material and can add real estate value to your property and are even compatible with below-surface coil heating systems which are a luxury often found in bathrooms and kitchens.
Slate Roofing
Commonly used in the construction industry for making slate roof tiles, our Westmorland Green Slate is weather resistant and has good insulating capability, making it the ideal material for protecting homes from harsh weather and pollution for years to come. Perhaps the biggest selling point of slate roofs is their unbeatable strength and durability, easily lasting 100 years or more.
Slate Walling
Another popular use of Westmorland Green Slate is exterior slate walling and slate cladding. With its’ unique texture and colour variations, Westmorland Green Slate creates visually stunning exteriors for the home or public buildings. Not only does slate walling offer a timeless look and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your property, but it provides excellent protection against the elements.
Slate Lintels, Slate Sills & Slate Steps
If you are looking to take your home’s architectural details to the next level, slate lintels, slate sills and slate steps are the way to go, providing a sleek, stylish finish that compliments the overall design of your home. Not only does our Westmorland Green Slate look stunning, but slate lintels and slate sills offer structural support to doorways and windows in your property.
Slate in the Garden
Whether you’re revamping your outdoor patio or creating an eye-catching garden feature, slate is a fantastic choice for adding a beautifully contemporary look to any outdoor space. Not only is slate incredibly practical and durable, the unique colour of our Honister Green Slate creates a unique look that compliments any landscape. Unlike other materials, slate will not lose its colour over time meaning it will maintain its beautiful finish for years to come.
Slate Paving
Slate paving offers a practical hardwearing surface for outdoor paths and patio areas because it is resistant to weathering and slip resistant, making it perfect for outdoor use. Slate is known to be resistant to cracks, breaks and chips and requires very little maintenance so it is an excellent option for heavy traffic outdoor areas. Flat slate tiles can even be laid in a decorative design to enhance the look of your garden and optimise the space you have available.
Slate Aggregates
Slate aggregates, also known as garden aggregates or slate chippings, are small, flat pieces of slate that can be used for a number of outdoor landscaping projects. Slate chippings add colour and texture to any outdoor space and are often used for paving paths, surrounding swimming pools and ponds and as a top layer in planters. They are weather resistant, pollutant resistant and allow drainage, so are more than ideal for all outdoor spaces.
Slate For the Home
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or looking for a modern addition to your kitchen, slate provides a sleek and stylish finish to any space, complementing the overall design of your home. With a focus on craftmanship and quality, Honister Slate specialise in creating stunning, unique slate products for the home which will take your interiors to the next level and are as functional as they are beautiful.
Slate House Signs & Slate House Numbers
Honister Green Slate is the perfect material for slate house signs and slate house numbers because it is naturally waterproof and can withstand outdoor conditions all year round. Providing a traditional look, a slate house sign can be engraved with your house number or name in the font of your choice, are easy to install and will add a touch of sophistication to your house’s frontage.
Slate Worktops
Bespoke and custom-made slate worktops are both visually impactful and incredibly tactile, providing any kitchen or dining area with an element of luxury. Due to its properties, slate worktops are very low maintenance, with an easy wipe clean surface and slate seal can be applied if required. Honister Slate Mine have 20+ years of experience and a passion for supplying the best natural stone worktops to both private and commercial customers.
Slate Hearths
A slate fireplace hearth is a safer alternative than tiles as a foundation for wood burners due to slate’s resistance to heat. Our slate is highly durable, heat resistant and fully compliant with building regulations, giving you peace of mind that your showpiece slate hearth with last a lifetime. They are made to measure and can be finished to give a rustic or polished look to meet your requirements.
Slate Tableware
Slate tableware is a stylish way to accessorise and protect your dining table. From slate dining sets and slate coasters to slate bowls and slate salt and pepper pots, slate offers outstanding tableware accessories that will withstand the test of time. Our gorgeous slate tableware will add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your home and will simply never go out of style!
In this blog we have covered some of the most popular uses of Honister Green Slate but in reality, its uses are endless. Check out the Honister Slate Shop website to discover more unique ways to use slate and browse our range of beautiful slate products that have been hand crafted by the talented stonework artisans at Honister Slate Mine.