Travertine Tiles: The Best Natural Stone Paver

Travertine is a type of limestone that's found in many parts of the world. It's known for its striking, almost cathedral-like formations. Travertine tiles are one of the most popular natural stone pavers for floors and walls, and for a good reason. 

Travertine tiles are environmentally friendly, durable, and attractive. Plus, they come in a variety of colours and styles that will perfectly complement your home or business. If you're looking to add a touch of luxury and natural beauty to your home or commercial building, travertine tiles are the perfect solution. 

Read on to learn more about this beautiful flooring option.

 

What are Travertine Tiles?

Travertine tiles, also known as travertine marble, are a type of natural stone tile that is made from mineral deposits from natural springs. 

When the water in rivers, lakes, and springs changes in temperature or acidity, it evaporates, forming travertine, a type of limestone. It can also be created by very alkaline groundwater; however, it is typically deposited by acidic hot springs or in the cooler waters of limestone caverns.

Typically, travertine is a white rock that turns darker with time. However, other hues of yellow, pink, orange, green, and brown can be produced when living bacteria and microorganisms like cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are present in the water. The tiles and pavers made of travertine stone feature some of these hues.

Travertine tiles have a beautiful sheen and are very durable. They can be used in any area where a natural stone tile would be appropriate, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Why Choose Travertine tiles?

1. Travertine and Its Unquestionable Natural Beauty.

Even though every individual has their own unique preferences, there is nearly always a stone tile that speaks to someone. While there are a huge number of stones to choose from, people choose travertine due to its worldwide appeal, thanks to its warm tones and variety of both dramatic and subtle tones. 

 

Travertine is a relatively resilient stone while not being as hard as marble or granite. It resists foot traffic well and is unlikely to crack in extreme weather conditions, yet a tile might crack if it is struck by something heavy. 

Although many homeowners prefer to leave travertine—especially travertine used in outdoor settings—unsealed to allow weathering, frequent sealer applications can keep your stone appearing new if that's your desire.

 

Following quarrying, travertine is often polished in one of four ways for decorative use in buildings such as homes and offices.

• Polished travertine - The most sophisticated and modern finish is on polished travertine. It has a high-end, opulent appearance that is ideal for bathtub surrounds, worktops, and backsplashes.

• Tumbled travertine - Tumbled travertine tile has a matte, highly textured surface that makes it suitable for wall insets, outdoor flooring, shower or tub surrounds, and fireplace surrounds. However, because it is so rough, this finish is unsuitable for indoor floors or countertops.

• Brushed travertine - The least popular treatment is brushed travertine, which has been somewhat smoothed with a wire brush. This gives the stone's surface more roughness than honed travertine but less texture than tumbled travertine. 

• Honed travertine - The most prefered finish for residential applications is honed travertine. It creates a smooth, nearly matte appearance. Honed travertine can be used for walls, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, countertops in the kitchen or bathroom, and flooring throughout the house. 

 

4. A Travertine Tile Backsplash is a Charming and Low-maintenance Addition to a Kitchen.

Travertine's warmth and organic appearance can give your kitchen a Mediterranean feel. In fact, it can accentuate the rustic charm so well that you can expand the backsplash to span a bigger space, even an entire wall. 

Overall, maintaining travertine tile is simpler than maintaining marble or granite. In fact, weathering can make travertine look better.

Travertine is more affordable than some comparable materials and comes in a variety of colours and treatments that enable buyers to design magnificent focal points or cosy backdrops. 

 

Since travertine is porous, it readily absorbs liquids, grease, and oils, creating stains that deface the surface of the stone. Additionally, acidic things like wine and other alcoholic beverages, vinegar, coffee, tomato juice or sauce, and citrus juices have a tendency to etch or erode the stone, which is a chemical process that eats away at the stone. 

By selecting the proper finish and sealer, you may utilise travertine in your bathrooms while keeping it secure from damage. 

If you desire something sleek and elegant, choose the honed travertine tile. If not, you might select tumbled travertine tile, which has a naturally rough and rustic appearance. These two coatings perform better in damp places. 

Once the finish has been decided upon, the tiles should be thoroughly sealed using a high-quality sealer. This will offer sufficient defence against travertine's absorbing qualities.

Hence, travertine may be utilised in bathrooms with ease if it is installed correctly and the appropriate finish and sealer are applied.

Maintenance Requirement of Travertine Tiles

Travertine tiles are a great option for anyone looking for a natural stone tile. They are maintenance-free and can last for many years with proper care. However, here are some simple tips to keep travertine tiles in good condition for decades:

• To prevent the stone from being scratched, sweep travertine tile floors at least once a week. If desired, use a cleanser made specifically for stone floors while mopping spills using a barely wet microfiber or cloth mop on a weekly basis or as needed.

• When necessary, wipe off the counters with a slightly moist microfiber cloth. Use a stone-specific product if a little additional vigour is needed for cleaning.

• Use coasters, heated pads, or trivets to shield travertine countertops from spills. 

• Natural stone countertops should never be cleaned with vinegar, bleach, or ammonia.

• To prevent the charcoal from settling into the stone, routinely dust your travertine fireplace and wipe away any soot that has accumulated there with a stone cleaner.

• Immediately clean up spills on any travertine surface.

Travertine tiles are one of the most popular natural stone pavers on the market today. They come in a variety of colours and patterns, and they offer a beautifully textured surface that can be used both indoors and outdoors. 

If you're interested in finding out more about travertine tiles or wish to buy these cheap floor tiles for your residential space, reach out today.