When I took over purchasing for our office renovation project in early 2023, one of the first challenges was sourcing the right material. The architect specified Daltile Continental Slate in Indian Red for the main lobby. It's a bold choice—not everyone goes for that deep, earthy red—but it had to be right. I quickly learned that 'sourcing' isn't just about finding the tile. It's about the whole ecosystem: the slab, the shower valve compatibility (if it's going in a restroom feature wall), and even mundane details like what adhesive remover to use without damaging the stone.
First, let's address the elephant in the room. There's no single 'best' way to buy Daltile Continental Slate. It really depends on your project scale, your timeline, and how much hand-holding you need. After going through this process for a 400-person office with three locations, I've broken it down into three common scenarios.
Scenario 1: You Need to See It and Touch It (The Showroom Visit)
This was my situation. The Continental Slate in Indian Red is a natural stone product. The color variation in a photograph versus a full-size slab is dramatic. The Daltile Stone & Slab Center in Tempe was my go-to. If you're local to the Phoenix area, it's worth the drive. But here's the thing—it's not just about picking the tile.
The Shower Valve Issue. One pitfall (which I'll get to) almost derailed our timeline. We were using this tile for a dramatic backsplash in a high-traffic restroom. The plumber's spec for a shower valve was fine for drywall, but the depth of the natural stone meant the valve trim wouldn't sit flush. We had to buy a shower valve extension kit. The standard, off-the-shelf valve from a big-box store wouldn't cut it. So, while you're at the showroom, grab a sample of the tile and check the thickness. You'll want to take that measurement back to your plumber or GC. I would say this cost us an extra $150 in parts and two hours of coordination (ugh).
Scenario 2: You're on a Tight Deadline (The Online Ordering Gamble)
Saved $80 by skipping expedited shipping on a small sample order. Ended up spending $400 on a rush reorder when the standard delivery missed our deadline for a client walkthrough. This is the classic penny-wise, pound-foolish scenario. If you're ordering Daltile Continental Slate online—especially for a smaller project where seeing it in person isn't possible—do these two things:
- Order multiple samples. The Indian Red has a lot of variation. I ordered three samples from different online retailers. Two were 'Indian Red' but looked completely different (one was much more maroon, the other more rust-toned).
- Ask about the lot number. Natural stone varies by batch. If you're ordering 500 square feet, you need to ensure it's all from the same run. A vendor who can't tell you the lot number is a red flag. That unreliable supplier I used for the samples made me look bad to my VP when the main order arrived and didn't match.
Wait, what about the adhesive remover?
This is a weird one, but think about it. If you screw up the installation (and let's be honest, someone might), using the wrong adhesive remover on a natural stone like slate can be a disaster. Standard solvents can etch the surface or leave a residue that changes the color. I remember reading a post from someone who used a generic remover on a slate floor and ended up with a patch that looked like it was water-stained. Total cost of that mistake? Probably about $300 for a professional cleaning company to fix.
Scenario 3: The 'We Need a Lot' Bulk Order
If you're outfitting a whole building, the game changes completely. You're not paying retail. You're going to a distributor like the Tempe Stone & Slab Center directly. But here's the counter-intuitive tip: Don't just negotiate on price. Negotiate on the waste factor.
The standard recommendation for a floor installation is a 10-15% waste factor. For a large-format natural stone like slate, I'd argue for 15-20%. Why? Because you need to 'book-match' or 'randomize' the patterns. You don't want all the same shade of red in one corner of the lobby. Having extra material means you can shuffle the pieces for a more natural look. I went back and forth between the project manager and the distributor for a week. I wanted 18% waste; they offered 10%. Ultimately, I settled on 15%, which felt like a compromise—though I should note we only used about 13% of the waste, so we had some extra pallets left over. (That's a storage issue for another day.)
How to Decide Which Scenario Fits You
It's pretty simple:
- Go to Tempe (or a local showroom): If the project is in a high-visibility area (like a lobby or a client-facing room) and color is mission-critical. You need to see the stone, and you need to feel the texture.
- Order online: If you're confident in the color from the website, you're on a budget, and you have a schedule buffer of 2-3 weeks. Always use samples.
- Go bulk (distributor): If you're ordering more than 500 square feet. You'll get a better price and better support for logistical issues.
At the end of the day, the Daltile Continental Slate in Indian Red is a stunning product. But like any good material, it demands respect. Treat it like the artisan product it is—check your shower valve depths, buy the right adhesive remover (I recommend a water-based, non-toxic one for slate, by the way), and don't be afraid of the local showroom. It might save you a painful reorder.
