DIY Network

Flagstone Floor for a Kitchen DIY's intrepid stone warriors tackle a kitchen floor using quartzite tile for a natural stone look. From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-312

The new flagstone floor

In this Rock Solid project, expert stone masons Derek Stearns and Dean Marsico revitalize a lackluster tile kitchen floor with a heavy dose of thin (1/2" thick) multicolored quartzite flagstone.

The flagstone comes with a mesh backing, which makes it as easy to install as tile. It may not be the first thing you think of for kitchen floors, but with a remarkably simple installation process and the benefits of natural stone, this irregular shaped flagging makes for a stunning — and affordable — kitchen upgrade.

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	Before
	After

Tools:

wet saw
chisel
hammer
notched trowel
shop vacuum
broom
mop
sponges
buckets
measuring tape
chalk line
pencil
transition strip
mask
safety glasses
rubber grout float
rubber gloves
small brush

Materials:

slate (California gold mounted on mesh)
thinset mortar (normal and quick drying)
grout release
grout (sanded)
grout sealer
color enhancer (optional)

Figure A

Design and Materials

Derek and Dean install an irregular slate floor indoors and give a kitchen a simple makeover, taking it from dated to dazzling. The stone they use is California gold mesh-mounted slate from Tiles by Perfection in Quincy, Massachusetts. It arrives pre-spaced in an irregular pattern for easy installation.

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Demolition

• First move out all furniture and appliances in the kitchen. Remove the ceramic tile using a chisel and hammer (figure A).

  Safety Alert: Remember to wear your safety glasses!

• Take the old tile to a gravel or aggregate yard where it can be recycled.

• Dean and Derek remove the tile up to the edge of the kitchen (figure B).

• The tile that continues into the next room will be replaced by wood.

• Once the old floor is out, clean up all the debris with a broom and vacuum the floor with a shop vacuum.

• Broken ceramic is sharp, so it's a good idea to clean up as you're working (figure C).

• Check the condition of the sub-floor. In this case, Dean and Derek can set the new slate on top of the old sub-floor (figure D). But you might need to replace your sub-floor before you begin setting stone.

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