Modern interior design is interested in sleek and shiny looks. However, adding natural elements can give your house a unique charm. Travertine tiles are the best materials to create a classic Italian look in any room.
Interested in installing travertine tile? Here is what you want to know about this tile.
Types of Travertine Tiles
There are four types of travertine tile available in the market
Tumbled Travertine
Tumbled travertine is normally matte, with an old look that has visible textures. Tumbled travertine floor tile is more popular for outdoor areas, such as a garden path, pool edge, and patio.
Polished Travertine
Polished travertine goes through sealing, filling, and polishing steps, which result in a sleek and shiny look. Unlike normal travertine tiles, the polished tiles become slippery when wet.
Honed Travertine
Honed travertine combined from polished and tumbled types. Hence many people loved these tiles. It has a matte finished surface and not slippery, but still looks polished enough.
Brushed Travertine
Brushed travertine got its name from a wire cleaning procedure that creates a matte finish. It can have a normal square form or tumbled.
Each of these tile types creates a unique look, but their properties make them suitable for particular areas. For instance, the slippery polished type is perfect as a travertine tile backsplash, but not used for outdoor.
Both honed and brushed are best for the interior floor, including the bathroom.
Pros and Cons of Travertine Tiles
Ageless look
The main advantage of travertine tiles is the ageless, antique appearance. The matt finished one may look shiny, but it can lose its luster after many years. However, this does not affect the look, and your tile will get an even more attractive antique look.
Perfect for various design styles
Travertine tiles are suitable for various designs, from classic to traditional and modern. You can use them as the main floor, walls, or accents in the room. You can also choose various tile types to create a specific look.
Can handle temperature fluctuations
Travertine does not change temperature easily, so walking barefoot on it is comfortable. It does not feel freezing in the winter, or too hot during the summer.
Easy to adjust and fit
Travertine is not smooth, but it is more comfortable to cut than granite, marble, or ceramic, for instance. If you have a room with odd corners, curved surfaces, or anything that needs tile adjustments, you can cut travertine tiles more easily.
Not durable enough
While travertine is beautiful, it is not what you look for if you want durability. The porous texture is prone to damage, especially if you install the tiles as the floor in a room with high feet traffic.
If you want stronger material, you should pay extra for the sealing procedure. This can increase the travertine tile cost significantly.
