How large slabs, and are you on a slab on joists? If you are on joists the larger the stone slabs the stiffer and flatter the floor will have to be.

Slate has been used for centuries as flooring. ”Large slab” of any kind, not so much. The weight and logistics are much too difficult. Plus the really high cost. What real world experience does this decorator have with this? Or any flooring installation industry construction requirements?

Thanks ….think she was referring to large format slate….a whole different concept. Still uncertain about whether I would like it as opposed to real or engineered wood. Appreciate the responses

^^^ I am aware of all the above. None of which was asked about by the OP.

Large slab slate is unlikely. I was simply trying to decode the designer's statement.

Through the whole house? I'm getting to the age (50) that just the idea of standing and walking on hard slate/tile all day makes my knees hurt. It's too hard of a surface for me--we're sticking with the more forgiving wood in our current build. We are, however, using slate as our laundry room floor. It's not large slab, just 12x24, but still beautiful for a small area.

We had slate tile in one of our homes. It is beautiful, but it is like having a rock floor. Our socks were always dirty and torn up. Easy to clean because it is basically dirt so just wet mopped. We chose to put in slate look alike tile in the kitchen of our current home, but wood floors throughout the other areas with the exception of the bathrooms.

An online search for "large format slate tile" didn't yield much. The largest I saw was 24" x 24". Slate is rather brittle so I'm not sure if is suitable for larger pieces that would be thin enough to use as flooring.

We have 16" multi-color slate in a kitchen/family/dining area and love it. It has entries from the garage and pool deck and we don't worry about moisture or dirt getting tracked in. The rest of the house is wood except for one bathroom.