Travertine Flooring Benefits

Nothing can compare to the sophistication and beauty of stone flooring. One of the best is travertine tile. Travertine is a form of limestone that has been used as a building material for thousands of years. It is a versatile material, highly polished; it resembles marble, but is less expensive. A tumbled or brushed finish has more texture. Here are six reasons to choose travertine over porcelain, marble or other type flooring materials.

1) Travertine tiles are unique.
Have you ever walked into a neighbor of friend's house and spotted furnishings, fixtures or colors that are a duplicate of what you own? Each tile is naturally slightly different, with its own distinct pattern. Travertine is processed in large blocks. The colors vary from beige to walnut and all shades in between, depending on the iron content. It can be cut to use as tile in the following ways:

Crosscut: The block is sliced with the grain for a more consistent color and texture.

Vein cut: The tiles are cut across the grain which makes for more variation in pattern.

2) Travertine is an excellent choice for warm climates.
The heat in some of the warmer areas can be intense. Travertine is cool to the touch. When you take refuge from the beating sun, your stone tile floor rooms are the place to be.

3) Travertine is all natural
Travertine is a naturally occurring material as opposed to porcelain tiles or resilient flooring. You don't have to worry about fumes when it is new or the impact of manufacture on the environment.

4) Travertine is beautiful.
One reason it has been used as a flooring material for thousands of years is the stunning effect of a travertine floor. Three common surface types are:

Polished: This surface resembles marble.
Honed: A ground surface that is matte rather than shiny.
Saw Cut: Untreated stone as it looks after cutting.
Tumbled: Tiles with rounded corners and edges.

If you are installing your flooring yourself it is a good idea to unpack tiles and lay them out so you may distribute the variations in stone to the best effect. Be sure to save any broken or chipped tiles, these can be used in spots that require tiles be cut.

5) Low Maintenance
Travertine performs well over a long period of time. It is important to seal the stone properly as it is porous. The type of sealer will depend on the finish and type. For many years of service when installing make sure the tiles have 100 percent contact with the floor underneath. It is also important to make sure the surface you are installing them on is level.

Unfilled: The naturally occurring holes are left as is.
Filled: The natural holes are filled with dust from cutting and a hardener.

An important consideration is that any acidic type material spilled on the floor will stain it. Orange juice is one acid. Travertine flooring can be installed in any room of your house, but you may want to consider carefully before you install in a kitchen. How often might things be spilled? Do you have kids or pets? Will a stain bother you or are you more laid back?

Cleaning travertine is easy. Dust mop regularly. Dirt and grit can scratch. Clean up spills immediately. When mopping use a sponge and hot water or a specially formulated cleaner.

6) Travertine is easy to cut and shape
Any room will require cut tiles and many will require different shapes to fit into corners or curves. Travertine is easier to work with than most natural materials.

Finally, one last piece of advice: If you are planning on installing travertine tiles yourself, buy good quality tiles from a reputable dealer. Cheap tiles may not be a bargain as it often takes professional level skill to make them look nice installed. A good dealer will have knowledgeable salespeople, ask for and take their advice. Whether you are a do it yourselfer or having your floor tiled professionally you are making a classy choice in travertine and are sure to get many years of use from it.

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/cleaning-travertine.html, Counter top specialty
http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/how_to/diy/travertine.html, Floor & Decor
http://www.villagiotile.com/tiletips/detail.cfm?tip_id=KB_11042002100436153755, Vilagio Tile & Stone
http://log-homes.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/06/travertine_tile.php,Log Homes
http://www.aldonchem.com/mt-limestone-marble-travertine.htm,Aldon Systems
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