Travertine Tile: What is it?

Recently, we had a customer come into the store and ask about travertine tile. She had older ceramic tile down and was hating it. After listening to her questions, we realized that she misunderstood just what travertine was. According to Wikipedia , "travertine is a terrestrial sedimentary rock, formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals from solution in ground and surface waters, and/or geo-thermally heated hot-springs". Well, what does all of that mean for flooring? Travertine is a natural stone product formed by sediment and used for construction, walls and flooring surfaces. The Colosseum in Rome is made of travertine. It is sometimes called travertine marble or travertine limestone, but it is neither true marble or limestone, although they are related. Travertine naturally has holes and pits in the surface caused by gas bubbles during formation. These holes they can be filled and tiles are sold filled or unfilled. Travertine can also be brushed or tumbled to give it a more worn appearance or honed for a smooth surface. It comes in a variety of colors depending on the type and variety of sediments that formed it and it's cut into various sizes.

Throughout history, travertine has been very popular as a building and flooring material and recently it has enjoyed a resurgence because of it classical rustic look. It is being utilized for flooring, counters, walls, and backsplashes. It is a beautiful, durable surface, but must be kept sealed to prevent soil build up and staining. Like all natural stone products, each piece is unique and can be used to create a variety of looks.