Travertine Tiles

Used in the constructions of Ancient Greece, travertine is known as a porous, decorative stone with earthy tones and can lend a rustic, classical appearance to interior and interior spaces. Travertine offers a subtle, classic beauty.

Chief Characteristics: Travertine ranges in appearance from marble-like to a pronounced rustic look. It is often beautifully banded due to iron compounds or other impurities. Travertine with holes and cavities was formed in ground springs where gases air and water have permeated the rock. Some types of travertine have geode-like crystals in its voids. The colors of travertine are generally earthy and include ivory, beige, walnut, noce and gold.

Origin: Compacted limestone formed by deposition of springs, rivers and subterranean water sources. Travertine is formed by geysers, when the hot underground water dissolves underlying limestone and carries it upwards with the geyser water. When the water falls to the ground and evaporates, it leaves behind the dissolved limestone that re-hardens into travertine.

Location: Turkey, Egypt, China, U.S. and Europe

Composition: Massive Calcium carbonate with a layered structure, often contains iron and other chemical deposits

Ideal Location in the Home: Travertine is used as external coating on buildings, as well as for paving patios and garden paths. On the interior, is us used for flooring, showers, wall coverings and counter tops.

Cut and Finishes: Travertine can nbe either vein vein cut, against the bedding, or fleuri cut, also referred to as crosscut which is along the bedding plane and reveals a flowery, circular pattern hence the name.

There are 4 types of finishes for the stone: