Can you help identify stone tiles?

We bought a new build house in December 2015.

The kitchen walls are tiled in what the building specification describes as "slate river 10x10". To my untutored eye they appear to be porous and so absolutely not suitable for use around the kitchen hob when fat, oil, sauces are frequently splattered.

I am using normal kitchen cleaning sprays but am afraid that the tiles will at some time become discoloured.

Opinions/views/advice gratefully received.

Thank you. 

Hello Maureen

If you could send a photograph of the tiles both as a general view of the area and a close up of the tiles to becky@mrs-stone-store.com, we can take a look at the stone and advise you further from here.

As all of our products are natural stone, they will all be porous to varying degrees, provided stone surfaces are sealed correctly at installation and maintained with the correct cleaning products i.e. LTP Waxwash, slate tiles are perfectly fine for use as kitchen splash-backs and around hob areas. General household cleaners will not usually have an undue effect on natural slate provided it has been sealed but they will have a degrading, adverse effect on the sealer, so these cleaners are not recommended.

If you would like to forward those photographs over to Becky, we'll have a look and get back to you with advice for you Maureen.