Visiting a tile flooring company can help when you are trying to decide between types of tile. There are many advantages and disadvantages associated with both porcelain and travertine tile. Here are some pros and cons to consider.
Home remodeling projects often include installing tile floors,
especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Tile is also useful in creating a luxurious patio or pool surrounding. While both porcelain tile and travertine tile each have benefits, there are also a few drawbacks to consider in deciding which type is right for any home improvement endeavor.
Here are some things to consider before heading off to your local tile flooring company:
Porcelain tile is a manufactured product that is very dense and therefore highly durable and low maintenance. Conversely, travertine is a type of natural stone formed from limestone. It is highly porous and comparatively soft. The softness of travertine makes it easier to scratch, and its porous nature makes it more likely to stain than porcelain. However, travertine is easier to install, especially for beginners, because it is much easier to cut and shape the tiles.
Because it is a natural stone, travertine tile is more popular and many people believe it looks more luxurious than porcelain. It is available in four types of finishes, with the most popular being polished and tumbled. Polished travertine looks similar to marble. A polished finish means that the small holes in the tile are filled in and the tiles have sharp defined corners. With a tumbled finish, the holes are left open and the edges of the tile are somewhat rounded.
As you will be able to tell when you visit your local tile flooring company, each tile is unique in appearance due to the natural veining in travertine. If one or two tiles become damaged and need to be replaced, it is easy to find ones that will match the existing tiles. Porcelain is available in much more limited styles and patterns and can be harder to replace.
As part of the manufacturing process, a smooth finish is applied to porcelain tile. When you browse tiles at a tile flooring company, you'll be able to immediately tell the difference. Nearly any basic cleaning product can be used on it because the finish protects the porcelain from damage. Travertine tile requires special cleaning products that are not typically available at any regular grocery store but can be found at a tile flooring company. Only a specialty tile flooring company store and some hardware chains carry them, and they are usually more expensive than normal cleaning products.
The high density of porcelain tile means that it does not absorb much moisture or scratch very easily, so it is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms as well as other areas where there is heavy foot traffic. Although using a sealer can prevent a lot of staining, travertine is still more susceptible to stains, particularly from acidic substances like citric juices and vinegar. Therefore, travertine is not as good for use in kitchens. although it is resistant to both hot and cold extreme temperatures, making it especially good for patios and pool surroundings. Even in direct sunlight the tile stays cool. Tumbled travertine in particular is better because it is also less slippery.
Porcelain tile costs less than travertine. Although travertine is more expensive than porcelain, it still costs less than other types of natural stone, such as granite or marble.
The differences between porcelain and travertine tile are numerous. These descriptions only scratch the surface of the disparities between them, but they are perhaps the most important ones to consider when deciding which type of tile to use for any home renovation.
