Travertine Tile Adds A Mediterranean Elegance

If you are considering renewing or renovating your home and want to use some stone work, then including travertine is an excellent option. Contrary to what most people believe, for most of the structures of ancient Rome travertine was the selected building material. In actual fact, the Colosseum in Rome is the largest structure in the world mostly composed of travertine stone. Using travertine as accents and tiling in the home is becoming very popular once again from bathrooms to pool patios.

A travertine tile will generally have some fairly brown tint which matches with many color schemes. The colors usually vary from dark beige to light brown and soft reds. A good number of people are actually imagining a travertine tile when they visualize a classic Mediterranean setting. These tiles can be used for a range of applications from decoration and accents to complete counter tops and bathrooms.

Travertine wall tiles are very light in weight and thus very easy to use. During the formation of the stone from which these tiles are cut, small cavities and pockets of air are entrapped making the tile light. When compared with a marble tile, which is very thick and heavy, travertine tiles are much easier to apply to a wall. Travertine tiles are also very common for floor tiles, but they need to have the face cavities filled up and they have to be sealed very well. The untreated tile is quite simple to soil since any fluid that is dropped on the surface will infiltrate through the small cracks and voids in the surface and then it can not be eliminated. A good quality sealant can protect the tile floor in the coming years when applied properly, giving you a very remarkable entrance or kitchen floor.

Travertine is also very common in the backyard or patio. For centuries travertine stepping stones and pavers have been used and they have nowadays become well-liked in North America too. Once more, they should be covered to exclude the factors because when sealed they will last for a long period of time.

One outside area that is very suitable for these tiles is the pool deck. The natural voids in travertine trap any water that is splashed or dripped which cools the walking surface and also keep them from getting slippery. Generally, a tumbled tile is used for this application as it is rougher than a polished one and thus will allow for the drainage and increased traction for your feet.

By master