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Travertine tiles

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Travertine tiles

Travertine tiles are, personally speaking, one of my favourite tiles to design with. The beauty of a nice travertine tile is unmistakable, it really will uplift the floor and make it something very special indeed. Travertine is available in 2 main types, that is standard travertine (complete with indentations) and honed travertine (where the indentations have been filled and honed). Given that travertine is a natural stone tile, it is essential that you pick the right type of tile for your need. With that in mind we would recommend a honed travertine tile for use in high-trafficked areas and rooms exposed to moisture such as kitchens and bathrooms. The natural travertine is more suited to typical domestic use in living rooms and common areas.

Honed Travertine

So what is honed travertine, and why should you install it? Well, the main benefit of a honed travertine tile over a natural tarvertine tile is the smooth finish. A honed tile has been filled, then been put through a process of having the surface leveled and smoothed. This means that the tile does not have any indentations and is entirely smooth, making it easier to clean and maintain. With a natural finished travertine tile you'll find that dirt does tend to accumulate in the indentations, which is then quite a chore to remove. For ease of use, go for the honed option.

Travertine is a cheaper option that marble or granite, it's a solid middle-market buy that combines affordability with style. You'll find that suppliers source it from all over the world, much of it comes from Turkey, China and Latin America. Some suppliers actually sell antique travertine that has been removed from old buildings around Europe, but you can be assured that this stuff sells at a premium.

For typical domestic use you'll be fine with a good filled and honed travertine tile, it'll look absolutely superb when installed!

Travertine tiles » » Benefits & drawbacks