Slate roofing tile as a back splash?

Brenda H
by Brenda H
I love the idea of re-purposing and working on a budget to make some changes to my home. We have a local reuse/recycle building material center and they have old slate roofing tiles. I think that would be so cool as a back splash in my kitchen. Do anyone have any experience on this or thoughts?
  11 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 08, 2012
    Slate is fine for a back splash...it is a bit harder to keep clean but if you a tidy person most back splashes stay pretty clean already...just be sure to caulk the bottom edge.
  • Brenda H Brenda H on Jul 08, 2012
    Thanks KMS, Do you think it should be sealed?
  • Yes I would seal the slate. It will not only help prevent staining but make it easier to keep clean.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 09, 2012
    When working with slate I like to seal the tile before I grout...this makes grout clean up easier...after the grout cures I seal everything again.
  • @.Brenda H..My boyfriend lays tile and all kinds of surfaces , for a living.. and he said you can use this for your backsplash, but as noted earlier in a comment, it must be sealed...he said seal the slate first before you grout, otherwise the grout color will penetrate into the slate. He also said to use two coats of sealer. ..put one coat on and let dry, then do the the next coat.
  • Barbara Lowell Barbara Lowell on Sep 14, 2015
    I covered my old formica countertops with slate tile and it came out great, just used a stone sealer. On a counter the sealer wears off so I clean and reseal it every 6 months or so.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Sep 15, 2015
    I know nothing about roof slate and would love to see the finished project...so please send photos when you get finished!
  • Saline Bischof Saline Bischof on Dec 01, 2015
    Would love to see it also. Sounds like just what I'm looking for, for backsplash.
  • Gabrielle Lange Gabrielle Lange on Feb 29, 2016
    great idea, might do that too!!
  • Jen Jen on Mar 03, 2016
    I am thinking of doing the same thing! I would really like to seal it just once or twice, not every 6 months for eternity...
  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Apr 01, 2016
    I'm with the other ladies.....would love to see the finished project. Thanks.