Slate is an extremely durable natural stone product. This durability is a byproduct of its origin. Most rocks have a medium or coarse texture. You can see crystals, fossils, or sand grains. Slate is very smooth, somewhat like plastic laminate. Very small silt and clay particles bonded together under high temperature and pressure give slate this monolithic texture. This ultra fine texture makes it tough for liquids (stains) to penetrate slate.

Three unique characteristics set slate apart from other flooring materials: color, texture and available shapes and sizes. Minerals and impurities in the silt and clays create a wide range of colors in natural slate. You can choose from a dark charcoal black, rust red, greens, grays, maroons, and mottled mixtures of these colors.

The most popular texture for flooring is the natural cleft. This surface is moderately rough giving the slate fantastic slip resistance and a unique one-of-a-kind appearance. Slate can be sanded or honed as well. These two finishes are smoother giving the slate a soft sheen look. 

Slate is very stain resistant. However, some foods can cause stains. You can purchase penetrating sealers that give slate a beautiful 'wet' look but that do not cause a glossy built up finish.