Natural Cleft

Unique to the slates, the natural cleft finish has an uneven surface, but is still usable for flooring. A natural cleft finish is a natural finish that comes from the layers of slate when quarried. However, the backside can be gauged to facilitate ease of thin-set installation. Some marbles, sandstones, and limestones are available as well with heavy clefting for wall applications. Heavy cleft finish is not recommended for slate because it can often be a tripping hazard. Most slates are lightly clefted and are frequently used in kitchen flooring, bathrooms, and patios. A palette of slate may contain a few tiles with very heavy clefting. It is advisable for the installer to check for these heavily clefted tiles and not use them because the uneven surface on floor can result in tripping