Travertine care and maintenance is easy, but it's important to understand what kind of stone you are dealing with. Once you learn more about the qualities and characteristics of Travertine, and apply the simple guidelines on how to maintain your travertine, it will look fabulous for years to come.

Travertine is soft, delicate and beautiful with unique pattern and color characteristics that complement almost any design. Travertine is a stone, of course, but not nearly as dense or hard as granite. Travertine will wear well and last forever, however it is porous and sensitive to acidic substances like juice, wine, coffee, so it can stain or etch (dull the polish) quite easily even when sealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is travertine?

Travertine belongs to the larger family of stone called limestone also known as Calcium Carbonate. Marble is also a type of limestone that has had additional heat and pressure applied to it by the earth's crust. Travertine is formed by minerals dissolving in ground water and then being deposited on the earth's surface by rivers, natural springs, or geysers.

What colors does travertine come in?

Travertine comes in many different colors including ivory, beige, walnut, noce, and gold. The color of travertine is the result of iron compounds or other organic impurities.

What does the finished surface of travertine look like?

Travertine can have four major finishes, polished (shiny), honed (matte), brushed and tumbled (textured surfaces). The type of finish given to the travertine will determine how shiny the surface will be. The polished and honed surfaces are flat and smooth, while the brushed and tumbled surfaces are flat and textured. The polished surface is the shiniest, while the tumbled surface reflects the least amount of light. The most common finish for travertine is honed.

Where would I use travertine?

Travertine has been used in the construction of buildings for thousands of years. In today's construction, travertine is used for flooring, cladding on buildings, showers, wall coverings and counter tops. Travertine has become more popular over the years allowing many different sizes of travertine to become available.

What should I consider in using travertine?

Travertine is a natural stone product. Because the minerals that make up travertine are highly reactive with acidic solutions (e.g. orange juice, vinegar), a major consideration is where the travertine will be installed and what it will be exposed to. Sealers will provide some protection to the stone no matter what the environment, but knowing what it will be exposed to will help you decide whether travertine is a good fit for your project.