Stone Info
Travertine
What you will learn: origins of travertine; appearance of travertine; applications of travertine as a building material; types of cuts and finish for travertine.
The creamy richness of travertine, the porous decorative stone that was used as a building material as long ago as the rise of Western civilization in ancient Greece, can lend some of the traditions of classical appeal to your interior or exterior space, whether in a residential setting or commercial application. For your own imperial tastes, travertine may be the natural stone tile for you....
In addition to marble, slate, and granite, travertine has long been a popular material for stone tile flooring. It even has a rich history that runs parallel to the development of Western civilization itself. Travertine is a type of limestone composed of a material called of calcium carbonate which is produced from deposits built up over time from rivers, springs, and other subterranean water sources. The resultant stone is a smooth, porous, naturally decorative material which offers a soft cream hue, an overall old-world beauty, and a dense and durable surface. Travertine is most commonly used for building materials in Italy, and rich deposits of travertine are also common to Turkey and surrounding regions.
Travertine can be cut on either a "vein" cut, which is against the bedding so the bedding plane is revealed, or a "fleuri" cut, which is along the bedding plane and reveals a flowery, often circular pattern. This cut is also referred to as a "crosscut" pattern. The distinctive holes and cavities in the travertine are formed by gas that escapes during the stone’s formation. These small pits may be filled with matching Portland cement, colored epoxy, or polyester resins.
Some of the finishes available on travertine are-
Honed Available in either filled or unfilled, the stone is machined to flat matte finish
Brushed A textured finish the gives the stone a rich aged look
Tumbled This process of involves acidic based chemicals at the factory level and/or the use of a tumbling machine that "antiques" the stone to give the appearance of a weathered, antique look in the stone, with softened edges.
Antiqued Acid washed to create the tumbling effect, then brushed to "smooth" the surface.
Bush hammered - tiny pins are "hammered" on the surface of the stone to create a coarse, slip resistant texture on the surface.
Sandblasted - This process creates a coarse, but consistent surface often used for slip-resistant applications, or other decorative designs.
Natural Cleft - Most commonly associated with slate, the tiles are cleft naturally from the blocks to create natural ridges in the surface. In most cases, natural cleft slate products will be gauged (or milled) on the underside for easy installation, but the natural cleft will be evident on the exposed surface.
Split Face (or Rock Face) - This process involved splitting stone with a guillotine like machine to create a look as if it was an exposed rock in nature, but processed in dimensions suitable for architectural settings.
Chiseled Hand or machine chiseled surfaces create a surface similar to the split face stone, but typically leave chisel marks in the surface (not on chiseled edge finishes though)
Regardless of the type of surface to be maintained, all travertine tile should be protected with a sealer.
Travertine is well established as a dependable type of natural stone, one that is extremely well-suited for flooring. From the Roman Coliseum built in the ancient world to the Getty Center in Los Angeles, travertine has been a part of human progress for millennia. In choosing travertine, you are not only gaining the benefit of a dependable and beautiful natural stone tile – you are playing a part in continuing its splendid history.
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Grouting Travertine-
When it comes time to grout you will have to decide on the look you prefer. There are two techniques for grouting the travertine. The naturally existing holes can be Filled or left Unfilled. This is also called Antique Fill or Natural Look. When you plan to fill the holes the grout you select should be color-matched to the tile. The holes can also be filled with dust resin or an epoxy. Some favor the natural, warm look of the open holes, whereas others fancy the more polished, finished look of the filled holes. Whichever option you choose, the job is made easier by sealing the tiles first before you grout.
Filled or Unfilled ?-
We are regularly asked what does this mean. As we explained earlier one of the characteristics of Travertine tiles are the voids in the surface which are a feature of this material. These can vary from literally pinholes to quite large irregular holes. These voids can be filled with grout when fixing the tiles or filled at the factory. and the tile machined to give a honed or polished surface. Factory filled and honed tiles are usually more expensive than unfilled however this depends on the finish, brushed tiles cannot be filled and are desirable due to their "rustic" appearance. As with all things quality can vary dramatically as Travertine are often graded into quality groups such as Select and 2nd choice. We do not stock 2nd choice quality as the quality is so variable, many of the cheap offers on this material fall into this category (but they are not going to tell you that are they?) It is possible for holes to appear in filled Travertine usually when they are on the floor and in relative high traffic areas. This is usually caused by the filling breaking down. It’s not as bad as it sounds but it can happen regardless of the quality of material although the better materials have less filling so this is consequently minimized. These voids can be filled using a suitable Grout or an Epoxy Resin. The easy method is to simply fill the void with a matching grout usually the same as was used between the tiles when they were fixed. It is impossible to guarantee that voids will never occur with filled tiles. As with all natural materials shade and surface appearance can vary quite considerably however the larger the area the less noticeable this becomes and in many cases it is desirable as a feature of this type of material.
If your project is for a reasonable area its worth taking the time to have a look at the actual material you are considering as it is impossible to choose correctly from a sample tile.
Travertine Applications-
From small mosaics to large slabs, travertine stone tiles are used for:
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What Is Travertine?
Travertine tile is a natural material that has unique features that no other stone can offer. Travertine is a relatively hard stone. The distinctive design of Travertine creates some of the most distinguished floor tiles. The stone is characterized by tiny crevices, pitted holes and veins of contrasting color. Travertine is ideal for commercial and residential use. It can be used for floor tile, kitchen flooring, bathroom wall tile, bathroom floor tile, and it is often used externally.
While travertine has been extensively quarried in Iran, it is also mined in Afghanistan, China, Greece, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Turkey and the US. Once it has been quarried it is cut for use in construction. Travertine can be ordered in various thicknesses. Travertine tile will vary in quality, density, porosity and hardness. These qualities should be considered in conjunction with their intended use. High traffic and outdoor applications, for example, should use a harder stone.
Travertine is a form of massive calcium carbonate, CaCO 3 , resulting from deposition by springs or rivers. It is often beautifully colored and banded as a result of the presence of iron compounds or other (e.g., organic) impurities. This material is variously known as calc-sinter and calcareous tufa (when used for decorative purposes), in fact Travertine is actually a dense closely compacted form of limestone
Travertine is an excellent product for residential and commercial use and is becoming increasingly popular because not only does it have the elegant look of marble, but also once sealed Travertine tiles require very little maintenance, which allows for a timeless & beautiful appearance.
Travertine is available in a number of finishes ranging from polish, cross-cut, regular-cut, honed & filled, honed & unfilled, tumbled, distressed-edge, patinato and unpolished to name a few.
Travertine tile possess a wide range of colors, and cover the spectrum from pure white to deep mahogany. The various hues of Travertine tile can sometimes be constant throughout large pieces and at times are blended. Travertine tile displays distinct veins at times and is a very sturdy natural stone.
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How To Seal Travertine Stone Tile-
1Select a sealer specifically made to be used on travertine, or on all types of stone. Any other type of sealer may create stains and will affect the durability of your travertine tile.
Step 2
Clean the travertine tile with the cleanser recommended by the manufacturer of the sealer you chose. The chemicals in the two products should be formulated to work together and provide you with the best results. Step 3
Use a spray bottle and wet the entire surface of the travertine tile you plan to seal. Wait for the water to begin drying, typically after just a few minutes. Step 4
Rewet your travertine tile with the sealer. Make sure the entire surface of the travertine tile is covered with the sealer. Step 5
Wait 30 minutes and wipe away any excess sealer with a clean white cloth. Step 6
Remove an excessive buildup of sealer by rewetting the area with more sealer and wiping it away again with a clean white cloth. Step 7
Allow the newly sealed travertine tile to cure for 48 hours to get the strongest seal.
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What Does It Mean To Be Green?
The most widely used rating system for green building is LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design). The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ was established by the nation’s leading coalition on sustainable building, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in 1998. The system defines standards for environmentally responsible, healthier, and more profitable structures. Points are awarded to new construction & Atmosphere & Resources ® points under the Regional Material credits. But, more can be done to promote natural stone as a sustainable building material.
and major renovation in five categories: • Sustainable Sites • Water Efficiency • Energy • Materials • Indoor Environmental Quality Right now, only natural stone that is local to the project can contribute LEED Natural stone currently offers many attractive, environmentally-friendly attributes, including: Life cycle assessment examines the environmental costs and benefits of a product from its original extraction to its final ® programs. —Life-cycle costing assesses initial costs (design/construction), operating costs (energy, water, sewage, waste, recycling and other An important principle in sustainable building is to limit or reduce the use of potable water. Sustainable building helps divert construction, demolition and land-clearing debris from disposal in landfills and incinerators. Material reuse diverts salvaged material from the landfills and reduces demand and costs for virgin materials.
The Natural Stone Council aims to further position natural stone as the preferred material in sustainable building by: • Using the five key categories of the LEED • Establishing an Advisory Council made up of architects, designers, specification writers and others with an intimate knowledge of natural stone and its uses in building and landscaping • Promoting the use of natural stone through media outreach ® rating system as a guide to research, test, and substantiate that stone is a natural choice in building green• An enduring life-cycle • Durability • Ease of care and maintenance • Recyclability • Quarry and manufacturing best practices The Natural Stone Council is committed to partnering with researchers and various industry experts to test the environmental impacts and benefits of building with natural stone. Several areas of exploration exist: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)—disposal. The USGBC intends to integrate aspects of LCA into future LEED Life Cycle Cost (LCC), maintenance, repair and replacement costs, and any other environmental or social costs. Water Use Reduction— Construction Waste Management— Material Reuse— Common Stains and Suggested Removers-
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