How to Make Artificial Travertine Tiles

Preparing the Tile

• 1

  Pour a small amount of warm water into your small bucket. Squirt about 1 tbsp. dish detergent into the bucket. Pour more warm water into the bucket until it is about half full.

• 2

  Dip your scrub brush into the bucket of soapy water and thoroughly scrub the tile. Rinse the tile with a wet washcloth until no more soap can be seen on the tile. Allow it to dry completely before continuing.

• 3

  Pour a small amount of white latex paint into your roller tray. Roll an even coat of white paint onto your tile, using your small paint roller. Allow this base coat to dry completely. Clean the paint roller thoroughly when finished.

Making the Paint Glazes

• 4

  Pour about 1 tbsp. mineral spirits into each of your four small disposable bowls. Add about 1 tbsp. linseed oil into each bowl.

• 5

  Add 1 tbsp. paint into each small bowl, assigning one paint color to each bowl.

• 6

  Mix the contents of each bowl, using an ice pop stick.

Painting the Tile

• 7

  Arrange in front of you three of your paint glazes, in almond, cream and beige. Dip your sponge into one of these three paint glazes. Tap any excess paint onto a paper towel. Paint the tile by tapping it along one of the tile's edges, creating a straight line of color. It is not important which glaze color is used, since the colors of natural travertine are often unpredictable.

• 8

  Dip another sponge into a second paint glaze color. Tap any excess paint onto a paper towel. Paint next to the band of color on the tile, tapping along the edge of the first color to slightly blend the two. This second color should be slightly wider than the first.

• 9

  Continue painting bands of color onto the tile, making sure to not follow any noticeable pattern. Some bands of color should appear wider than others, and some narrower. Finish painting the entire tile in this manner.

• 10

  Locate your bowl of brown glaze. Dip a sponge into the bowl and tap any excess paint onto a paper towel. Apply the paint lightly along the length of one or two of your painted bands of color. This will help to add depth and natural variation to your tile.

Adding the Texture

• 11

  Crumple a plastic bag. Tap the bag onto the tile, following the direction of your painted bands. This will help the colors to blend naturally together.

• 12

  Tap the soft cloth onto the tile, again following the direction of the painted bands. This will help to soften the appearance of the colors.

• 13

  Tap your soft-bristled brush here and there around the tile. This will help add variation in the textures of the tile.

• 14

  Dip the toothbrush into the mineral spirits. Spatter some of the mineral spirits onto the tile by running your thumb across the bristles. The spatters will remove a small amount of paint where the spatters land, creating realistic textures. Soften these spots, if desired, by tapping along their borders with your soft-bristled brush. Allow the paint to dry completely before continuing.

Sealing the Tile

• 15

  Pour a small amount of urethane into your paint roller tray. Dip your paint roller into the urethane, and roll it onto your tile.

• 16

  Allow this coat of urethane to dry before applying a second coat, which is recommended for high-use floors or tiled floors and walls that frequently have contact with water.

• 17

  Read the instructions on your urethane product, paying attention to recommended drying times. Allow your tile to dry thoroughly before touching or moving it.