Flooring: Slate - laying cost.

[Groggy]

Does anyone have a rule of thumb for the cost of laying and sealing slate? The slate itself will probably cost $35.70 per metre.

[woodcutta]

Groggy,

I got quoted some time back - Laying cost per Sqm same as slate cost per Sqm.

woodcutta

[Groggy]

I've heard that and wanted to confirm it. (ouch) Any idea why that is?

[Eli]

Well, it might be that they're insulating themselves against having to lay non-gauged slate. In the US, there is slate that is a uniform thickness (gauged), and the other kind, random thickness. Gauged is more expensive to buy but cheaper to lay. You obviously have to take more care to ensure non-gauged is level and not too many proud edges. It has to be bedded in thicker mortar/adhesive as well. I'm assuming that is an expensive price for labor, I haven't had anyone bid a job like that for me yet here.