Travertine tiles have become more popular every year as prices steadily drop. In this article we would like to provide some general information about travertine tiles and also some useful hints and tips.
How is travertine formed?
The heat and pressure under the surface of the earth have been forming blocks of natural stone (travertine, marble, limestone, slate and granite). Eventually, when the earth’s crust begins to grow and erode, these blocks are pushed from their core and massive rock deposits called quarries emerge. All natural stone tiles, including travertine, are processed in these quarries.
types of travertine
There are various types (finishes) available on the market. The best known types are the following:
1) Polishing and Filling: It is important to remember that travertine is a product full of holes. These holes are filled with a special compound to give the tile a smoother, more modern finish. After the filling stage, a precision abrasion process is applied in which the small amount of surface material is removed to make the tile smoother and in some cases glossier.
2) Unfilled and Tumbled – The process in which the stone is tumbled or vibrated with smaller abrasives to produce an aged appearance. Due to its rustic appearance, many customers prefer this type of travertine tile in bathrooms, kitchens or old country houses. The holes are not filled and the surface is pitted, rough.
3) Brushing: Using circular brushes in the polishing or burnishing stage, the tile can be given a semi-polished or semi-polished appearance. The surface is textured and pitted.
4) Chiseled: Commonly known as chipped edge. The edges are tumbled and chipped along all 4 edges to give a rustic finish. The tiles are also pitted.
5) Polished Travertine: The natural reflection of the stone crystals achieves a beautiful shiny finish. Shine is achieved through the use of progressively finer polishing heads during the final stages of production.
What to look for when buying travertine?
So the question is what to look for when buying travertine tile flooring for your property. The first thing is to decide on the type (or finish) for the area. If you’re looking for rustic tiles, the finish you need is polished or chiseled, while for modern (or contemporary) settings, honed and filled, polished or brushed tiles are recommended.
The second important factor is to ask the seller about the quality of the stone. Normally every seller affirms that his tiles are of first quality. Because there are no set standards in the tile industry, it is difficult to determine if the seller is actually selling the premium material as they claim. We always recommend following the advice when buying travertine tiles:
1) Soft Travertine vs. Hard Travertine – Soft travertine will always be cheaper and will also feel cheap when it touches the stone. Take a broken piece and try to chip away at the edges. If the edges crumble easily, there is a good chance that the tiles are made of a soft material. We do not recommend laying smooth travertine on the floor as it will cause problems after a while.
2) Variation: Less variation means higher price while more variation means lower price. Normally all the travertine tiles from a retailer or distributor come from the same production line, which means that the entire product range is of the same quality regardless of the selling price. The difference in price will be the variations on the same tile. If you see minimal variations in a range (the background color is consistent within the tile), it could be classified as a premium select stone. However, the opposite term will be non-selected stone if the tile consists of different colors.
3) Samples: Although the samples are indicative, not guarantees, we strongly recommend requesting some samples to determine the quality of the material. Please note that in most cases the seller will provide 10×10 samples which will not show all the characteristics of the stone. For large projects, it is recommended to order larger samples to get a better idea of the variation of the stone.
4) Waste: Always keep in mind that there will be waste or breakage when laying the tiles, so it is recommended to order 10% more than the required amount to avoid shortages.
