Travertine Tiles Give an Old World Feel

Tiles made from the mineral travertine are a great addition to any home which is based on a rustic look. The tiles are very good at being a complement to any light and warm décor and they can be used as either floor tiles or wall tiles. These are a very traditional looking tile which have been popular in Italy since the Roman times. In fact, the Roman Coliseum is built almost exclusively of travertine stone.

Travertine is a mineral which is formed as a sedimentary rock by carbonate materials like marble is. Travertine is not as hard and dense as marble though because it has not been subjected to the high pressures and temperatures under the ground which are needed for marble stone. Since Travertine is not as dense, it tends to have air pockets which can pose a problem when it is used as a floor tile. These pockets, if not sealed, can allow material to seep into the stone structure and cause staining which basically is not removable. There are two options for dealing with these voids. First, the air holes can be filled with a man made material. This usually matches the existing colors of the stone tiles but of course the tile is no longer natural which is very important to most people. The second option is to use a sealant on the tiles which protects then from staining and discoloration. This is the most effective way to deal with the problem.

Due to the mineral content, travertine tiles tend to be very colorful with hues ranging from deep beige to a royal gold. These colors seem to pop out of the tiles once they are polished which makes them very sought after in homes where natural colors are being used.

Travertine tiles can be used in several ways. As wall tiles they can cover an entire surface or be used only as accents. As a floor tile they must be sanded down to a more smooth surface and sealed from dirt but they offer a very nice addition. The third use, as a countertop or worktop tile, is not too common because of the rough texture and the porosity which makes sealing from water damage and food residue difficult.