Travertine Tiles: timeless in appeal

Travertine is a porous sedimentary rock, formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals. It is formed when a lot of water containing carbon dioxide seeps into limestone rock formations. The limestone dissolves, and gradually saturates the water. When the water is completely saturated, crystallization occurs, creating Travertine. The stone can be easily identified by the troughs and pitting on its surface. Pure Travertine rock is white in color, while those having impurities in them can be yellowish. The porous nature of the rock keeps algae, fungi, and various inanimate impurities, such as mineral salts, trapped into it. Different percentages of these impurities in Travertine give it different characteristic colors, from coral red to deep gray.

Travertine has a glorious history of usage in architecture. It has been used in the construction of many historic monuments, such as, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Sacre Coeur in Paris. Nowadays, Travertine is widely used as a flooring material.

Travertine is well known for its subtle color and texture variations, and hence can make any room look great. Its usage in bathrooms is particularly popular. Smooth and shiny Travertine can make the most mundane bathroom look like an exotic getaway. Black and white Travertine tiles, along with a white master bath, will give any bathroom a timeless appeal. Travertine comes with a wide range of options, such as, acid-washed, tumbled, polished or honed with epoxy resin. Thus the tiles can be purchased keeping in mind the general décor of the room.

Travertine tiles are durable, but require some basic maintenance and proper usage. For instance, Travertine tiles are similar to limestone in chemical composition. Thus these tiles suffer damage on contact with acidic substances. If used in kitchen floor, Travertine tiles must be polished and glazed to make them resistant to acidic substances, such as lemon juice, and vinegar. Polishing and glazing also closes the pores in Travertine, which can otherwise collect a lot of dust, dirt, grime, and food particles, thereby acting as haven to harmful bacteria. Even when they are glazed, the tiles should be cleaned regularly with a mild soap solution, followed by washing with a lot of water. Then the tiles should be wiped dry.

Travertine is a cost-effective, yet artistic solution when used as flooring material. But its artistic appearance can only be preserved through regular maintenance. It is an exotic material that, when properly cared for, can give years of service as a flooring material, adding a dash of spice to the décor of any room.