I have several big sheets of blackboard slate from an old school and am looking for creative ideas for using it in our new home to be built. Does slate make a nice floor tile? Can it be polished with a shine? Does anyone have ideas for incorporating it as a chalkboard into a wall in a family room or den?
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If you use your Den as an office, a chalkboard can be a great utilitarian tool. And nicer looking than a whiteboard, IMHO.
I saw an exschoolteacher friend of mine in Vermont use one of those under his woodstove. It lent a much more refined look than the cement board it replaced, and his house never burned down either.
I go with Darrel. Keep them as chalkboards.
I have a 4x5 foot one in my home office and another in my workshop. It's almost a pleasure to write on them. They are miles better than those so-called chalkboards made of cheap masonite painted flat black; ugh!
As for slate tiles; it's probably cheaper to just buy slate tiles than to have the balckboards cut.
Jay
One of the prinicpal designers in our firm had the floor in his house finished with tiles cut from old chalkboards, installed as tile and polished. I've seen it, and it is nice- provided you are looking for a slick, pure-black floor. As a word of caution, however, he has complained to me about the floor showing dirt easily, and about the slickness of the finish (safety concerns). For these reasons he has said he would not use it in a similar application again.
You could use it to make a coffee table or end tables I bet.