Slate for Home Construction

• Builders like to work with slabs of slate rock for flooring and stairs because slate stone is unaffected by weather and temperature changes. It's a widely used roofing material for the same reasons, as well as its low absorption and fading properties. Slate is very popular for application as kitchen tile due to being repellent of acids, ethanol and harsh chemicals found in cleaners. It also makes for a great fire-retardant rock surface around fire places.
  
  

Slate in Landscape Design

• Slate rock is often used in walking paths.George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images
  
  Slate can be used in various sizes and styles to create a naturally appealing border for garden and lawn areas. It can also be utilized to construct walkways, walls and natural stone patios. Slate rock is a popular choice for rock gardens, as well, as it can easily be layered and stacked for decorative use with plants and shrubs acts. It is also a natural barrier for preventing soil erosion. It is a suitable option for all kinds of landscaping projects, as it is permanent and requires little maintenance.
  
  

Slate for Aquarium Use

• Fish like African cichlids love to hide in sturdy caves constructed from slate rock slabs.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Slate is one of the best rocks for use in a fish tank, because they are solid and free of minerals or substances poisonous to fish that could leak into the aquarium water. Slate can be layered, leaving larger gaps, to create hiding spaces and provide nesting grounds for egg-laying fish. They can also be stacked to separate territories within a tank. Rocks like slate will also provide a rough enough surface to grow algae for fish that prefer it as a food source.
  
  

Miscellaneous Uses

• It's a little-known fact that newer billiards and snookers tables have a smooth playing surface made from natural slate rock.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  The playing surface of billiard tables is made from one or more slabs of slate rock, as it will not warp like the traditional wood surface. Home accents, such as slate fountains, have also become popular in recent years. Thicker pieces of slate are used for tombstones.