Travertine Tile

Travertine tile has traditionally been used to create decorative flooring, whether it is located in an office or a home. This type of tile is available in such lovely colors as cream, walnut, ivory and gold. In addition to making an excellent flooring choice, these tiles can also be used as counter tops and wall coverings.

Travertine is a natural stone, formed under the surface of the earth, so each tile has its own unique appearance. They are polished so that the tiles are elegant, and you can choose various finishes, like tumbled, matte, brushed and shiny. These tiles are useful in kitchens and bathrooms, although some professionals don't recommend it for use in busy kitchens. With modern techniques, travertine flooring materials can be found in well-polished finishes.

Travertine floor tiles are very popular due to their durability and exquisite appearance. If they are properly installed, this type of tile will give you great satisfaction. They are cheaper than marble or ceramic tile, and offer a lot of the same enhancements as marble tiles do. When selecting your tiles, keep the colors and décor of the room in mind, so that your tiles will accentuate your style.

Once you have selected the travertine tiles you want to install, there are various ways to have it prepared, such as polishing, which gives your tiles a shiny look, and filling, which shows a more solid surface. Brushing gives your tiles a textured, worn surface.

Using travertine tile is an affordable way to showcase natural stone in your home. It can be used either outdoors or indoors, and it affords you a natural, affordable, low maintenance, rustic, non-skid flooring option. You can find these tiles as small as an inch square and as large as three feet square. In addition to flooring, it is often used for walls, borders, accent pieces, travertine tile backsplashes and shower floors.

Travertine tiles are rectified, meaning that they can be installed with almost no grout at all. This makes your floor more smooth, without obvious grout lines. Travertine tiles give you a beautiful and natural look with minimal interference from grout lines.

Since travertine tiles come from natural sources, they do have interesting variations, that can make your floor different from everyone else's. The beauty comes from variations that aren't man-made, so if you happen to chip one, you'll see the same color and pattern as you find on the surface. Travertine is also stronger than porcelain that is made by man.

Installing travertine tiles should be left to professionals. Once travertine is installed, it needs to be sealed. Use a quality seal product that will protect your floor for a long time. Hand soap and warm water will be enough to do travertine tiles' cleaning, with no acids or chemicals required. Travertine tiles are harder than limestone or marble tile, so they work wonderfully in high traffic areas, outdoor areas, homes and commercial buildings.

Travertine tiles are available in most parts of the country, and the original stone is generally imported from Turkey. Travertine Tile flooring with chiseled edges is ideal for contractors and homeowners alike, who wish to upgrade from vinyl or linoleum to natural stone.

If you'd like to add an elegant look to your home, use tumbled travertine tiles on your bathroom, living room or kitchen floors. Travertine can be purchased in many different finishes and colors, from neutral, natural colors like reddish brown, tan, gold and creamy white. The color of the stone you end up with is largely dependent on the iron content and impurities of your stone.

Travertine is a member of the limestone family, and will turn into marble over time. It is sometimes even called travertine marble. It is made up of calcium carbonate, and can sometimes be found in deposits near hot or warm springs.

Travertine tiles make excellent natural stone pavers, since they can withstand extremely cold conditions, and many thawing and freezing cycles. Travertine pavers also work well in humid and tropical climates. Their coolness is natural, which is a great walking surface for bare feet in warm climates. They also repel mildew and mold, so you don't need to worry about dousing them with bleach, like some stones may require.

Travertine tiles are stronger than either asphalt or concrete when used for paving, and their surface resists cracking. They are appealing visually too, which adds to your home's value. Also, if you lay travertine and then later wish to move it, you can remove it and lay it again elsewhere. Of course, tumbled travertine tiles are also very earth-friendly since they are 100% natural stone.

If you compare brick pavers to travertine pavers, you'll learn that travertine pavers resist heat, so they won't cause burns to bare feet in the summer, and they won't freeze even in bitter cold. They also won't crumble in a few years, like brick pavers may. And since travertine is natural, each piece is unique, so your project will show off a look that is different from anyone else's. Travertine has occurred in nature for thousands of years, so you're sure to enjoy them in or around your home.

You can find travertine for your home as easily as just clicking a mouse. Or you can shop locally, in landscape company lots or home improvement stores. There are various companies online that sell travertine, so even if you plan to buy locally, you can see the many different and unique features of travertine online first.

As you may find with any stone material, travertine has the benefits of aesthetic appeal and durability. There aren't many stones that are more beautiful, regardless of what texture you are shopping for. Travertine is not invincible like marble or granite when it comes to wear or staining, so you'll want to be aware that spills should be wiped up right away or they'll etch your travertine tiles.

Make sure that you never use citric acid or vinegar based cleaners on travertine, since they can stain and erode the surface. Be sure to apply a good sealant when you lay a travertine floor, if it will be in contact with water at all. If you polish the surface of tumbled travertine tiles, they will be more fully resistant to water and oil damage than stone that is unfinished.