Travertine Floor Tile
Add the warmth and texture of natural stone to any room of your home by installing travertine flooring which is available in a variety of gorgeous colors and tones.
Add the warmth and texture of natural stone to any room of your home by installing travertine flooring which is available in a variety of gorgeous colors and tones.
Stunning Natural Stone: Travertine Floor Tiles
Travertine tile has remained a popular flooring choice for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, thanks to its timeless look and natural durability. That’s great news for today’s homeowners, too; if you also select travertine floor tiles for your next project, you can look forward to enjoying your space for many years to come.
Another likely reason for travertine’s enduring popularity is the variety of finishes (i.e., surface textures) available, depending on how a piece of stone is treated after cutting. This variety means that if you’re designing, for example, a travertine tile bathroom, you can choose travertine floor tiles as well as travertine wall tile, and just by varying the finish, each surface will have a distinct look. Travertine floor tiles are available in the following finishes:
Tumbled Travertine
As travertine forms in the earth, it develops holes and other negative space that lends even newly cut slabs a textured, antique appearance. Tumbled travertine floor tiles play up this characteristic of the stone. Pieces of newly cut tile are literally tumbled in a machine with other rocks to very slightly soften and distress the surface and cut edges of the tile.
Brushed Travertine
Brushed travertine tiles have a surface that is slightly more refined than tumbled travertine. A rotating wire brush is used to lightly smooth the tile, giving these products an appearance slightly more refined than their tumbled counterparts. Brushed travertine floor tiles are particularly popular for achieving a rustic, Mediterranean room aesthetic.
Honed Travertine
Honed travertine floor tiles have a finish that is mostly smooth to the touch, but still matte in appearance. To produce this finish, holes in the surface of the stone are filled, after which the surface is ground and buffed. Travertine floor tiles are frequently chosen for use in bathrooms, because honed travertine bathroom tile still offers some underfoot traction when wet.
Polished Travertine
Of all travertine tile finishes, polished takes the longest amount of time to achieve. The surface has a reflective appearance and feels smooth to the touch. Surface crevices have been filled in and polished to a glassy shine, and people often choose polished travertine floor tiles when they want to create a space with luxury and elegance to spare.
Ask the Tile Experts
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Travertine is a sedimentary stone made from limestone that is found in natural mineral springs. During the forming process, several minerals mix together to create the swirls and patterns that give travertine its distinctive character. Travertine tile is popular for its beautiful look and long-lasting durability.
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It’s important to sweep on a weekly basis so small particles can’t scratch the surface of the tile. Make sure you use a neutral cleaner that is pH balanced to protect your sealer and clean your floors. You should clean with a damp mop and never use an abrasive chemical or acidic cleaner. For travertine, we recommend Grout & Tile Neutral Cleaner and Natural Stone Deep Cleaner from Superior Adhesives & Chemicals.
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Yes. Just like any other natural stone, you want to protect your shower surfaces against minerals found in water itself by sealing your tile. We recommend using one of our sealers from by Superior Adhesives & Chemicals that will last from 10 to 15 years. Enhance & Seal gives your stone a wet look and is available in pint and quart sizes. Premium Gold Stone Sealer provides a natural finish and is available in pint, quart and gallon sizes.
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Any surface can be slippery when wet. It’s most dangerous when your feet are wet and the surface you step on is also wet. Polished and honed stones that are flat and smooth will be more slippery than our finishes that are brushed, filled and tumbled. Solve this issue by designing your floors so that you have some texture when you are coming in from outdoors and the shower/tub area. Introduce a lovely listello or a mosaic to break up your flooring design and add some grout line in those areas.
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No.
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Travertine tile flooring is usually found in bathrooms, but it’s also found in kitchens and other rooms. Basically, it can be installed anywhere you would install stone or ceramics: shower floors, bathtub surrounds, foyers and more.
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Yes, just like any natural stone, travertine is naturally porous. To ensure that your travertine floors stay protected, you should seal them during installation and periodically afterwards. The Tile Shop recommends using Enhance & Seal or Premium Gold Stone Sealer from Superior Adhesives & Chemicals that will last from 10 to 15 years.
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Travertine is not as soft as marble but not as hard as granite. It can scratch if not protected, so be careful when moving heavy objects on your travertine floors. Be conscious of the finish you choose and what kind of area you’re installing it in. The nice thing about honed and polished floors is that they can be refinished down the road if needed. Travertine will only crack if it is not installed properly. Cracks generally only happen when there is movement in the floor itself—that’s why installation is so important. Travertine is naturally holey, so make sure to fill the voids on the back of the tile with thin-set (commonly called “back buttering”) before you place the tile down in your mortar bed.
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Porcelain tile can imitate the look of travertine without the level of upkeep and maintenance that natural stone requires.
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In general, travertine tile is 3/8” to 1/2” thick. Some can be thicker to give the travertine tile more strength. Make sure you ask a store associate at The Tile Shop to confirm that your thickness is appropriate for your specific installation.