Montauk Black Ashlar Pattern Slate Tile

An Ashlar pattern sets several tile sizes together in one repeating layout, so a floor or wall reads as stonework rather than a grid. This page carries Montauk Black slate in that pattern, gauged, and a honed 12x12 tile. Gauged means the back of each tile is machine-flattened to an even thickness, so the tiles sit level and are easier to set; the face keeps its natural cleft texture. Honed is ground smooth to a low sheen instead. The pattern runs about 0.39 inches thick and the honed 12x12 about 0.34 inches.

A black surface gives a room its anchor, setting off marble whites, brass, and greenery with gallery-grade contrast. As a mosaic, the joint pattern is part of the design; grout color choice changes the whole read of the sheet.

Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic stone that splits naturally into layered sheets, giving each tile its characteristic cleft texture and deep mineral coloring from charcoal and rust to green and multicolor blends. The textured face provides natural slip resistance, which has long made slate a choice for entries, patios, and wet areas. Color runs through the full body of the stone, so wear does not expose a different tone.

Seal slate at installation; an enhancing sealer deepens its color while a natural-look sealer keeps the matte face. Re-seal roughly once a year in high-traffic or outdoor settings. Sweep regularly, since the cleft texture collects grit, and mop with pH-neutral cleaner. Some slates shed thin flakes at first; this spalling settles after initial wear. Use a polymer-modified thinset and account for thickness variation between cleft tiles when setting.