What Is Textured Travertine?

Surfaces

• Travertine tile can be ordered in three smooth and three textured surfaces. Honed surfaces are smooth and porous, and available in flat to gloss finishes. They're popular in high traffic areas and require penetrating sealers. Polished surfaces are not porous but are the glossiest travertine finish, boasting the most vibrant colors. They take their natural shine from reflecting crystals within the stone that are brought out with polishing bricks and powders. Sandblasted surfaces are created through the pressurized flow of sand and water. The surface has a matte gloss.

Textures

• Travertine may have pits and holes that can be filled in with cementitious material for smooth surfaces. However, these imperfections are often left as is to add character to textured surfaces. Bush-hammered surfaces use pounding to add roughness in varying degrees. This type requires a sealer for protection. Flamed surfaces develop their characteristics through heat, which make crystal inclusions explode and cause pits. Because the surface is very porous, it requires a penetrating sealer. Tumbled surfaces occur when small pieces of marble or granite are tumbled against the travertine. Such surfaces normally need a color enhancer to bring out the shades and tints.

Advantages

• Travertine tile, especially if textured and left with its pits and imperfections, looks well-aged and weather-beaten. This adds an antique look to even the most modern home. They're also naturally durable and can last for centuries. They tolerate weather extremes and resist cracking, making them useful for outdoor locations and swimming pools. Finally, their roughness makes them naturally slip-resistant, especially if imperfections such as holes are left unfilled. This makes them excellent for bath applications. In terms of cost, travertine is more expensive than porcelain, slate or limestone; is about equal to granite; and is cheaper than marble.

Disadvantages

• Because it's made of calcium carbonate, travertine reacts strongly to weak acids such as vinegar and orange juice. This makes it unsuitable for kitchen countertops where it can encounter acidic foods. However, a sealer, if applied regularly, can protect the surface for such applications. Filled tiles are also preferable in such situations, because food and other dirt can get trapped in the pits, making them unsanitary. Another disadvantage is the lack of uniformity. It’s not unusual to have some tiles in a package differ from those shown in the sample. Such differences can be minimized with the careful arrangement and orientation of tiles.