There are many reasons for – and a few against – using travertine countertops in your kitchen. Travertine is a very affordable and popular kitchen countertop, and is similar to marble, in beauty and durability. You can find travertine in many soft and earthy colors, including delightful shades of ivory, beige, cream, gold and walnut. The colors are formed by the iron content and other earthly impurities. The stones add a pleasing touch to your decor, and can be used as flooring or wall tiles and countertops. They are available in tumbled, brushed, matte and polished finishes.
Travertine tiled countertops show off a porous and smooth natural stone that has a creamy, rich hue. Used on countertops, they can be durable and lovely. They are resistant to heat, and they give your home a well-decorated look.
Travertine can be used for backsplashes, showers and fireplace panels. They are fairly easy to cut and shape, compared to porcelain tiles, so it’s easy to fill small or oddly shaped spaces. Travertine kitchen and bathroom countertops are sturdy, somewhat like marble. They resist cracking, and you can buy them in tile or slab form. They can be as small as tiny tiles or as large as 36 inch tiles. Various patterns that are created by the stone’s natural veining give your house an interesting look. They have a warmth that appeals to most homeowners.
There are also reasons to be careful when creating travertine countertops for your bathroom or kitchen. Travertine is very reactive, and is easily etched by citrus juices or acids. Even a minor spill can lead to a staining of the stone. It’s not a good idea to install travertine as a kitchen countertop, if you do a lot of cooking, and they don’t react well to many different kinds of spills. You will need to buy special products to maintain and clean travertine when it’s used as a countertop. The tiles need to be sealed and polished properly to avoid staining.
Travertine can be found in four types of finishes, some of which are usable for countertops. These types are polished, honed, tumbled or brushed. The surface of the stone you use will be an indicator of how shiny your countertops will look. To clean the tiles, be sure to remember that they are porous. The entire area should be sealed, in order to protect it. This will also help to fill in the pores in the stone, to help it repel spills until you wipe them off.
You will need to dust off countertops made of travertine, using a dry, untreated rag. Dirt, grit and sand can be damaging to the surface of natural stone, as they are quite abrasive. So can various types of acid, including citrus. You can use a dirt buster to vacuum off bathroom countertops made of travertine, but be careful not to scratch the surface. The use of a proper sealant will work wonders in keeping your travertine countertops looking smooth and lovely.
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