Are you considering adding travertine tiles to your home but unsure what the benefits are? Travertine tiles are a beautiful and natural stone to place in your home, but what else do you know about them?
Today, we will walk you through the benefits so you can see if they are the right fit for you!
What Is Travertine?
Travertine is a type of limestone formed from mineral deposits in natural springs. Other minerals mix with calcite to create unique swirls and movements that give travertine its appearance. Travertine can be used as tiles, with several finishes available.
Polished
Polished travertine has a high shine. It is smoothed and glossed over to create a shiny and reflective surface.
Honed
Honed travertine is smooth and matte. One side of the unfinished stone is ground and buffed to create a smooth surface that can be filled or unfilled.
Brushed
Brushed travertine creates a rustic but sophisticated look. The stone’s surface is brushed with a wire wheel or brush to create the perfect unfilled texture.
Tumbled
Tumbled travertine requires more work. Pieces of the stone are cut, sized, and placed in a rubber or plastic barrel with water and abrasive grit. Occasionally, acid is mixed in before the barrel is turned over and over, with the stones rubbing against each other. Doing so wears down the edges of the travertine, softening them to create a worn and natural look.
What Are The Benefits Of Travertine?
There are several benefits of travertine, including its durability, heat resistance, and easy maintenance. We have listed each benefit below with more information so you can learn more about the many benefits of travertine.
It Is Durable
Travertine is super durable, allowing you to use it indoors or outdoors without worrying about it. The dense and compact structure formed by a slow decomposition of minerals ensures it can handle extreme weather, heavy foot traffic, and years of use.
Should you properly maintain your travertine, it can last for decades!
It Is Versatile And Beautiful
Travertine is also extremely beautiful and versatile. Its natural beauty and earthy tones allow you to use it anywhere in your home! The distinctive pattern makes it a fine choice for flooring, countertops, or wall cladding. The variety of finishes available helps you to find a travertine tile that will suit any space in your home.
It Is Heat Resistant
Another feature we love is its heat resistance. The heat resistance allows you to use it in areas of high temperatures like fireplaces, outdoor patios, or pool decks. Unlike other tile materials, travertine will remain cool to the touch, even when the sun is blazing down. It makes it the perfect option to have around your pool, allowing you to walk barefoot without feeling as though your foot is melting.
It Is Slip Resistant
Travertine is also slip-resistant, making it perfect to use around your outdoor pool. The natural texture, especially when unpolished, offers high levels of slip resistance, so you don’t need to worry about your safety around the pool.
Its slip resistance makes it a fine choice for bathrooms and showers. You don’t need to worry about yourself or your children slipping while getting in and out of the shower, providing you with peace of mind for years.
It Is Easy To Maintain
Compared to other natural tiles, travertine tiles are relatively low maintenance. To keep your travertine tiles in good condition, you must regularly sweep or vacuum them to remove debris and occasionally mop them. A pH-neutral stone cleaner is recommended to keep your tiles intact without any damage.
Travertine tiles are also resistant to staining, reducing the need for replacements or repairs and saving you money in the long run.
It Is Sustainable
As travertine is natural, it is an environmentally friendly tile choice. The renewable resource is harvested sustainably, so you don’t need to worry about its environmental impact. Compared to other synthetic alternatives, travertine has a low environmental impact, reducing your carbon footprint when using it to renovate or decorate your home.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Travertine Tiles?
Of course, we need to provide you with some balance. There are a few drawbacks to travertine tiles, listed below:
- They must be resealed every two to three yearsÂ
- They are easy to scratchÂ
- They can be tricky to repairÂ
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are some fantastic benefits to travertine tiles. They will last years and add a rustic but sophisticated look to your home.
