Tips for Choosing Travertine Tile for the Home

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It is well worth looking into this richly elegant tile, especially if earth tones are desired. Travertine is a form of limestone and the mineral deposits left behind in the stone range in color from ivory to rich brown. It is versatile and can be used for floors, baths, counters and back splashes. In its natural state, it stains so it needs to be well sealed. It is important to consider first where the travertine tile will be used and what the conditions will be like in that location. Then choose the proper finish for that location.

What type of home is the travertine tile being installed in? For the modern home, there are a few finishes that will work and not look out of place. The honed and filled finish has the pores in the stone filled. Then some of the surface is cut away. This leaves a smooth, sleek finish. A brushed finish is done on a flat tile with wire brushes. This leaves a uniform texture on the travertine tile. A polished finish makes the stone glossy and more modern looking. Modern homes with clean lines and a lot of glass are good candidates for these kinds of finishes.

The rustic home will need travertine tile with a much different type of finish. There are two ways tiles are finished that make them suitable for this application. With a tumbled finish, the travertine has been tumbled with an abrasive like sand. This gives the tile a rough, aged appearance. A chiseled finish involves chipping the edges of the tile to make them appear worn and distressed. These tiles look good in rustic cottages and country homes.

There are two kinds of travertine, soft and hard. The soft travertine tile is cheaper and is not suitable for floors. Because if its softness, it is not as durable and will not wear well under foot traffic. Hard travertine is more expensive and is suitable for all uses. There are also two grades of these tiles. Selected travertine tiles have the least variation in background color so are easier to match when laying the tile. They are more expensive. Non-selected travertine is the opposite. They are cheaper and contain more variation.