Travertine Tile

Travertine tile is a luxurious natural stone that is used as a building material not just as flooring, but also for countertops, backsplashes, facades, and other decorative purposes. Travertine is a sedimentary stone, which, refers to stones that are formed by deposits of minerals and other materials (sediment), in contrast to igneous or metamorphic rocks. The sediments that make up travertine are usually found in geo-thermally heated hot springs and geysers, or limestone caves. Travertine is actually a type of limestone, which is also a sedimentary stone, whose sediment is made up of calcium carbonates such as aragonite and calcite, just like travertine. Travertine goes through an extra procedure, though, wherein hot and mineral-rich water flow through the limestone, and the carbon dioxide released creates the distinctive porosity of travertine. Most travertine tiles are about half an inch thick, and the surface of a travertine tile can come filled or unfilled. Most of today’s travertine comes from Italy, Turkey, and Mexico.’

The History of Travertine

Travertine has a long and prestigious history as a favored building material for everyone from Michelangelo to Richard Meier. Travertine stone has been a prominent building material going back to the Middle Ages, and even earlier than that. Italy is filled with travertine quarries, so it’s no surprise that the Romans made extensive use of travertine in structures as varied as baths, amphitheaters, flooring, aqueducts, and temples. The iconic Colosseum in Rome is constructed almost entirely out of travertine, in fact. The name of travertine also belays its Roman origins. Travertine’s Latin name is lapis tiburtinus, meaning Tibur stone, for the ancient Roman city where it was quarried, which is now known as Tivoli. Over time this name was slowly corrupted to the current version, ‘travertine.’ During the Renaissance, artists and architects attempted to revive the Classical era through their own use of travertine. Michelangelo used travertine in the construction of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Gian Lorenzo Bernini used Travertine to build the St. Peter’s Square Colonnade in the 1600’s. In 1732 Nicola Salvi chose travertine for his construction of the Trevi Fountain. But it’s not only in Italy that travertine was popular. The iconic Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris makes extensive use of travertine, and the lobby walls of the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) in Chicago are lined with travertine. Giving the Colosseum a run for its money in extensive use of travertine stone is the Getty Center in Los Angeles, whose façade is made up almost entirely of travertine. Up until about 10 years ago, Italy was the main source of travertine. Now there are plenty of other places from which to source travertine stone, including Mexico, Peru, Iran, and Turkey. There is also some domestic travertine production, and large travertine deposits exist in Yellowstone National Park.

The Look of Travertine

Travertine is known and appreciated for its distinctive, rustic, and classic look. Travertine is a light colored stone, so it will frequently be seen in shades of tan, white, gray, gold, and light brown, but can also come in darker tones of rusty red. The color of travertine is determined by its iron content. Travertine has a characteristically aged look, which accurately represents the long history of its use. The weathered look of unpolished travertine is one of its most desirable qualities. While this rustic travertine is the most common image of it, there are actually a wide range of potential appearances, depending on the finish. Travertine is a natural stone, so it’s important to keep in mind that no two travertine tiles will look exactly the same, and if you want an entirely uniform experience, travertine might not be the right choice. Pits and holes, which speak to its porous nature, characterize unfilled travertine in its natural state, and some travertine can feature minor veining that gives it a similar look to marble. Because travertine tiles can be cut to size, you can go for large slabs or small mosaic tiles, depending on the look you’re aiming for with your floors.

Travertine Tile Finishes

The first thing to consider is whether you want filled or unfilled travertine. We mentioned that travertine is porous and features many little holes throughout its body and surface. Filled or unfilled refers to whether or not these holes are filled. Generally filled travertine will be more durable. While our last section discussed the general appearance of all travertine, the look of your specific travertine floors will depend entirely on the finish applied. There are 4 main finish types for travertine, polished, honed, brushed, and tumbled. Polished travertine will be shiny and glossy and reflect light, and the colors will tend to be richer and pop more. Polished travertine is extremely smooth and flat, but can be slippery, especially when wet, although it is particularly stain resistant. Honed travertine is the most common type of travertine flooring. This means that the surface of the travertine has been polished flat, but not completely glossed. The surface of the floor will be matte and non-stick, and will more closely resemble traditional travertine. When most people think of travertine tiles, honed travertine is the finish that comes to mind first. Tumbled and Brushed travertine tiles have textured surfaces that reflect the least amount of light and have the most muted colors. Tumbled travertine has more texture than brushed travertine, and sometimes features rounded edges that give it a distinctive look. Tumbled travertine also looks distinctly more aged and weathered. A wire brush is used to abrade the surface of brushed travertine to increase its texture, and it features many of the same properties as tumbled travertine. Tumbled, brushed, and honed travertine might need a sealer to protect them from staining, as travertine is very porous. Another thing to consider is whether you want chiseled travertine or not. While the previous descriptions have all applied to the surface of the travertine floor tile, chiseled refers to the edges of the tile, and whether or not they have been ground straight and beveled. Chiseled travertine features a more rustic, weathered, and aged appearance.

Durability of Travertine Tile Flooring

Travertine, like most natural stone flooring options, is a very durable material that will stand up well to heavy traffic. Travertine is a very hard material, comparable to marble in its Measurement of Hardness (MOH) rating, so it’s perfect for high traffic areas. Travertine’s distinctive aspect of durability is its capability to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, so it can be used in outdoor settings and is frequently found by swimming pools or on patios. Filled and sealed travertine will be essentially water proof and stain proof, but unfilled travertine can absorb things like food spills due to its porosity.

Maintenance of Travertine Tile Flooring

Travertine will require more maintenance than some flooring options, although sealed and filled travertine will be a bit easier to manage. As with any flooring option, regular cleaning is key to keeping your floors looking beautiful for longer. Sweep often to make sure that dirt and grit don’t get a chance to build up on your travertine floors. Regularly damp mop or vacuum your travertine to keep them really spotless. As we’ve said, travertine is porous, and so can be susceptible to spills and stains. If you do spill something on your travertine tile floors, be sure to wipe it up immediately and don’t let it set in. Reseal your travertine floors every couple of years at the least in order to keep them resilient. Travertine is particularly sensitive to acidic substances and alkalines such as lemon, wine, juice, and coffee, so avoid acidic cleaners and be particularly wary of having these materials around travertine. If you want to use a stone cleaner, be sure to get one particularly meant for travertine, and discreetly spot test it first to ensure that there won’t be any nasty surprises.

Would you like to learn more about installing travertine tile to your San Diego home or business building? Contact us today! License #914470, Bond # SC6080959, insurance policy #U15AC87582-00. Browse past project photos. Contact for a free estimate today. References available upon request!