What do you know about travertine flooring? Have you heard of this unique type of material before?
Since travertine floors are made entirely from natural stone, they’re sure to add an original and tasteful touch to your home.
Although this type of flooring takes a tiny amount of ongoing care, most homeowners consider it well worth it. The benefits of travertine far outweigh any extra time you need to spend maintaining it.
Learn the many benefits of travertine flooring in the following paragraphs, as well as read a few recommendations on how to keep it looking its best. If you haven’t considered installing a travertine floor before, this quick read is worth your time.
Check the 9 Incredible Benefits of Travertine Flooring
What Is Travertine Flooring?
What is travertine flooring? Perhaps a more revealing question would be, “What is travertine flooring made of, and how did it originate?”
Travertine is a crystalline-textured sedimentary rock that often originates as limestone deposits from mineral springs. It also can be found in limestone caves. It’s a porous material due to small organisms in the mineral water.
Travertine is often found in a reddish color due to the presence of iron carbonate, although the presence of other minerals can also define its appearance. For example, a high percentage of calcium, that’s in all travertine, lightens its color.
This construction material, which also appeals to artists and architects, has been mined for millennia, with examples of travertine bowls and other decorative items from different cultures now held in the collections of art museums and research institutions like the Getty Center.
The Benefits of Travertine Flooring
There are several advantages to having travertine flooring in your home—that range from its history to its physical properties to its decorative appeal.
1. It’s Natural and Safe
We all know that some flooring materials are made of artificial materials like vinyl that can emit toxins. Travertine is a natural stone, though. Besides needing regular cleaning, as with any flooring, it’s entirely safe for your home and family. This includes four-legged family members!
2. It’s Affordable
As discussed below, travertine flooring is moderately priced. Given its durability and all-natural, lasting color, that’s quite a good value!
3. It’s Relatively Easy to Maintain
Travertine needs to be sealed during installation to prevent permanent staining of its porous surface. From that point forward, a re-sealing every three-to-five years should be sufficient.
You can clean it with regular sweeping and any commercial stone-cleaning product. Just be sure not to use vinegar, salt, or bleach. Because of its high calcium carbonate content, travertine will react to acid by “etching” or dulling the surface.
4. It’s Versatile
When does natural stone not complement its surroundings? It makes the perfect backdrop for classic to contemporary furnishings, artwork, and wall coverings. When furnishings are bland, it adds appeal; when they’re “busy,” it’s serene.
Here’s an exercise to try: Imagine your favorite furniture (owned or wished-for) sitting on travertine flooring. Did you pick the best flooring colors and patterns to complement the different pieces? How does it look?
5. It’s Widely Available
Any mid-sized or larger city in the U.S or elsewhere has at least one retailer, wholesaler, or home supply store that deals in travertine and other types of stone tile. A simple online search should find one or more near you. You can also order it online.
6. It’s Durable
Yes, travertine holds up well over time. When well-maintained, it is more durable than marble and some other types of natural stone flooring. For example, slate, a lovely flooring material, is costly and subject to chipping or breakage.
7. It Comes in Various Colors and Finishes
Since travertine is a product of nature, its patterns and color variations are infinite. It’s a good idea to buy all your tiles at the same time and from the same establishment. Not all variations combine well!
Look at this photo gallery of travertine in different colors and patterns! You’re sure to find at least one that suits you and your home.
8. Its Look and Known Durability Are Good for Home Resale
Even if they’re not yet familiar with travertine, prospective home buyers know natural stone flooring when they see it—or at least their realtor does. Plus, of course, travertine shows off other parts of your home to perfection!
9. Last, But Not Least: Travertine Tells a Story
In fact, it tells multiple stories. Travertine tells a geological story through the mineral layers that attest to its natural development over eons.
It also tells a story through the old buildings that are well maintained and periodically restored. Then, there are the artifacts held by museums.
Travertine’s modern-day uses in the construction of homes, office buildings, and public spaces show off the timelessness of this remarkable material.
Travertine Flooring Cost
Having a travertine floor installed averages about $15 per square foot for materials and labor. Fifteen dollars is the middle range of natural stone flooring costs, with marble costs at about $20 per square foot and granite around $12. You can buy laminate flooring for less than $5 per square foot.
Should you ever need to replace one, a single travertine tile costs anywhere between $5-30, depending on where and how you buy it. We do recommend ordering a few spares when you first install your travertine floor, though, if you want a good color match.
What is travertine flooring, if not a wise investment—and a very nice-looking one at that!
You’ll Never Run Out of Ideas With Travertine
Did we forget to mention that The Roman Colosseum is covered in travertine? This example is yet more evidence that travertine both blends in with and defines its surroundings. Travertine flooring is no different in this regard, only on a much smaller scale.
You’ll never run out of ideas for ways to use travertine in building and decorating design. The possibilities are endless, and this flooring material is available for pick-up and installation from businesses very close to where you live.
If you enjoy reading about building materials and their uses, you should stay caught up with our blog. We frequently publish articles on this and other timely and intriguing topics.
