huge range of tiles and surfaces in all locations including:
What is Travertine?
Travertine is a form of limestone, and is related to marble, actually falling somewhere between marble and limestone in terms of its development over thousands of years, deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs, underground rivers and other water sources.
Travertine, a construction mainstay borne of the Roman Empire, consists of crystallized minerals and limestone. Its beautiful polish adds classic beauty to any room. Roman Travertine from Italy or Ivory Travertine from Turkey bring functionality and elegance to your floors. Mexican Durango Travertine is also one of the most versatile stones to furnish your home.
We provide specialised cleaning & sealing solutions for Travertine floor and wall tiles
To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 1300 771 201 or use our online enquiry form.
One might think that since stone can withstand the ravages of weather and outdoor elements, it is unlikely to be damaged when used in the home. Aside from its obvious beauty, durability is one of the elements that lead people to choose natural stone for home building and home improvement projects. The truth is that unpolished travertine is highly susceptible to heat, scratching, staining and acidity, including citric acid, so it should only be cleaned with special products designed for use on natural stone.
Travertine tile often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot spring or in a limestone cave. In the latter it can form stalactites, stalagmites and other speleothems. It is frequently used in Italy and elsewhere as a building material.
The resulting stone is a smooth and very hard substance further characterized by its porous surface. These pores are the result of gases escaping as the travertine is formed.
Where does Travertine come from?
By the time it is quarried, travertine is naturally beautiful - a smooth, dense stone that exhibits a notable creamy color that evokes a certain old-world refinement.
Extensive deposits exist at Tivoli, Italy, near Rome. In fact, travertine derives its name from this town. Tivoli was known as Tibur in ancient Roman times. The ancient name for the stone was lapis tiburtinus meaning tibur stone, which has been corrupted to travertine.
Where can you use Travertine?
Travertine tiles are stunningly stylish and long-lasting building product and can be both functional and aesthetically striking. The durability and attraction of Travertine as a natural stone is just unmatchable. Travertine is one of the strongest natural stone tiles available and is a beautiful building material for both flooring and walls, whether indoors or outdoors. Travertine is very popular choice as pavers and swimming pool surrounds. Travertine tiles create a natural look for any area as no two tiles are similar. Travertine tiles ensure a unique and exciting look for your entire home along with being enduring for several generations.
Types Of Travertine
Honed Travertine: The surface of the tile is sanded to create a matte finish
Tumbled Travertine: Travertine is tumbled with gravel and bearings, giving it a rough, aged appearance
Brushed Travertine: A wire brush is used to give the surface of the travertine tile a worn, textured surface
Filled Travertine: The pores in the Travertine are filled with colored resin or cement to produce a solid surface
Polished Travertine: The Travertine is sanded and polished, producing a shiny look
Is Travertine Right for me?
People can purchase travertine tile in a number of finishes. Filled tiles have been filed down and filled so that the holes in the rock are smoothed over, creating an even surface, while unfilled tiles have holes which are left open. The rock can have a glossy, shiny, or matte surface, depending on how it was processed, while honed travertine tile tends to have a matte look, while brushed or tumbled tile has a rougher, more natural appearance.
Travertine tile is available in different colors and finishes, from natural, neutral colors such as creamy white and beige to tan and reddish brown. The color depends quite a bit on the impurities and iron content of the stone. The different finishes include honed, polished and tumbled. Honed travertine is smooth, but unlike polished, it has a matte finish. Polished travertine is smooth, but buffed and polished until shiny. Tumbled travertine has a rougher, textured finish and often has rounded corners for an antique look.
Travertine tile is also available in a cross-cut style known as saturnia. Saturnia is cut against the grain, rather than with the grain as travertine tile is traditionally processed, creating a very distinctive appearance. Regardless as to where the stone comes from, the quality tends to be very consistent, with the key quality issue being how it was processed.
Because travertine is natural stone, no two pieces are the same. It is important to look over the material carefully and select only those pieces that you find the most beautiful. While you can save money by buying bulk parcels, you may not be able to examine individual pieces for pattern and color tone preference.
Different cleaning and maintenance instructions and methods should be used on Travertine depending on its finish and wether it's sealed or left in its natural state. In General, Travertine tiles should be cleaned and maintained with non acidic products, and it is recommended to get them professionally cleaned every few years to help make them last longer and bring up the fresh look after the tiles start to look tired daily use.
Is travertine suitable for a kitchen floor?
Some would argue no as the natural voids are perfect for harvesting debris. At Tile Cleaners ® we would argue that as long as a good quality travertine sealer is used, then you should not have a problem.
We provide specialised cleaning & sealing solutions for Travertine floor and wall tiles
To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 1300 771 201 or use our online enquiry form.
Client Range
huge range of tiles and surfaces in all locations including: