FAQ's - Travertine Below
Back to FAQ's main >

What is travertine?
Travertine is a compacted form of limestone that forms in rivers and hot springs by minerals dissolving in ground water and then being deposited on the earth’s surface by rivers, natural springs, or geysers.

What does travertine look like?
Travertine comes in many different natural colours including ivory, beige, walnut, noce, and gold. Iron compounds or other organic impurities create the warm colour of travertine. Travertine often has bands of vibrant colour running through it that are caused by chemicals becoming trapped in the stone as it forms. These colours often appear as banded lines in the face of the stone.

How durable is travertine?
Because it is a stone, it can be durable. However, like other stone, the surface needs to be sealed to provide some protection (see fixing and sealing FAQ's). Travertine can be damaged by acidic foods and liquids, such as orange juice, wine and vinegar. Travertine can scratch, requiring repair or replacement of the tile.

How do I maintain travertine?
Travertine should be resealed on a regular basis (see fixing and sealing FAQ's). Cleaning can be done by steaming the tile or using a special neutral travertine or stone cleaner. Do not use regular soap as it will dull the tile leaving a film behind. Worn vacuum cleaners with metal or plastic attachments can scratch the tile.

What does the finished surface of travertine look like?
Travertine can have four major finishes, polished (shiny), honed (matte), and tumbled (textured surfaces). The polished and honed surfaces are flat and smooth, while the brushed and tumbled surfaces are textured. The polished surface is the shiniest with high reflection, while the tumbled surface is more natural reflecting the least amount of light. The most common finish for travertine is honed.

Where would I use travertine?
Travertine has been used in the construction of buildings for thousands of year. In today’s construction, travertine is used for flooring, cladding on buildings, showers, wall coverings and counter tops.

What should I consider in using travertine?
Travertine is a natural stone product. Because the minerals that make up travertine are highly reactive with acidic solutions (e.g. orange juice, wine, vinegar), a major consideration is where the travertine will be installed and what it will be exposed to. Sealers will provide some protection to the stone no matter what the environment.

see travertine facts for more information >