Articles | The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Slate Bathroom Countertop

Slate is by far a less common material used for bathroom countertops. There are many reasons that people do not choose slate. However, there are also many interesting reasons why slate may be a better choice for your bathroom. Consider the advantages and disadvantages in this article to determine if slate is a good choice for your bathroom countertop.

Slate is often viewed as an ugly material. Many people associate slate with chalkboards or even roofing. Slate does not provide the luxurious, shiny look that other materials such as granite or marble do. For that reason alone, many people do not use slate in their bathrooms. However, slate can actually provide a soft, sleek feeling for your bathroom when the project is complete.

Another reason many decide to go with materials other than slate is that there is not a wide variety of colors to choose from. If you are looking for a simple pattern in a plain color, slate may be the choice for you. However, if you prefer a wide variety of patterns, styles, and designs, you will not find this in slate. Slate is generally limited to shades of green, purple, black, and grey. Slate is not a popular choice when there are so many other colors to choose from in other materials such as granite and marble.

Additionally, many steer clear of slate countertops due to the fact that they are very easily scratched. Other materials such as granite and marble do not scratch easily; therefore, they are often chosen over slate. What people do not understand however, is that a scratch on a slate countertop can be very easily fixed. For deep scratches, you can buff them out using some steel wool. Furthermore, for light scratches, mineral oil can be rubbed on the scratch to diminish it.

Another problem with slate countertops is that they are a porous surface. This means that eventually, liquids such as water can seep into the countertop and ruin it. Keep in mind however, that the rate a liquid will seep into a porous surface such as slate is very slow. This means that if you clean up your spill in a reasonable amount of time, then the damage can be prevented.

A major advantage of using a slate surface is that it is heat resistant. For those who like to use curling irons and other heat related styling products, slate is the perfect material to use for a countertop. The slate surfaces are unsealed, which means that heat cannot cause any of the protective layers to melt away as seen in other materials. Leaving a hot curling iron on the counter for hours, (although not recommended), will not cause a spot or stain on a slate bathroom counter.

While slate does have many disadvantages, it also has many advantages that people do not realize. Consider both the pros and cons before your next bathroom countertop purchase.