What is travertine?

Travertine is a natural stone from the limestone family, which eventually transforms into marble over time. Also known as travertine marble, it is made of calcium carbonate and is usually found in the form of deposits near warm or hot springs. In ancient times, it was frequently used as a building material, but now it is most commonly used for countertops and flooring, as well as in showers and tub surrounds as well as in exterior decor.  more

Travertine is also a sedimentary rock, which is made up of layers of calcite formed from the accumulation of organic matter in hot springs and spa areas. The stone has a natural honeycomb structure, where water has flowed through the material. It is a very strong stone, which when cut into tiles exposes the small holes on the surface. These holes can be left unfilled to leave a natural texture or they are pre-filled with a very hard resin and honed smooth. Small holes may appear on the surface of the tiles over time; this is part of the charm of this ancient stone. The best quality travertines have a high density, which means the holes in the honeycomb structure are smaller. There are many colours of travertine from beige travertino classico, golden travertine, red and yellows, silver, blues and whites from Italy, Turkey, Iran and Mexico.  more

Travertine is a calcium-based stone. Travertine is generated by the deposit of calcium carbonate resulting from water springs and streams running through the stone. Every time a drop in pressure or change of temperature occurs, the water releases carbon dioxide as gas, much like carbonated beverages. This gas causes holes to form in the travertine. These natural pores are still going to be present once the blocks are cut into tiles. The amount of holes depends by how compact each travertine type is and it varies greatly by the type of travertine. The pores present in the tiles can be filled with a paste made of cement and pigments. However, it is important to note that these void spaces are a distinctive character of travertine tiles and they are always going to be present to a certain extent.  more

Travertine - composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and therefore, also technically a carbonate rock; travertine forms in caves and around hot springs. When the groundwaters that contain calcium bicarbonate, rich in minerals and hot under hydrostatic pressure exposed to surface through a fracture or reach to a cavity like cave, they loose pressure on them. The dissolved CO2 in these waters is released to the atmosphere--as a shaken can of soda fizzes when opened-- and precipitating solid calcite, thus travertine forms. Travertine is generally thought to be more porous and not suitable for residential use. On the other hand, travertine flooring is a type of stone flooring and it is one of the most popular stone flooring types. Travertine is well liked for its unique look that comes mostly from how it was formed.The different colors of travertine flooring range from a darker brown to a light, almost white brown. Sometimes the stone may contain veins of other colors. The main ...  more

Travertine belongs to the larger family of stone called limestone also known as Calcium Carbonate. Marble is also a type of limestone that has had additional heat and pressure applied to it by the earth’s crust. Travertine is formed by minerals dissolving in ground water and then being deposited on the earth’s surface by rivers, natural springs, or geysers.  more

Travertine is a natural stone material from the limestone family. It is made of calcium carbonate and is usually found in the form of deposits near warm or hot springs. It was frequently used in ancient times as a building material. Because travertine is such a porous material, it should be sealed before use in construction or renovation projects. It is most commonly used for countertops and flooring, but may also be used in showers and tub surrounds as well as in exterior decor. One might think that since stone can withstand the ravages of weather and outdoor elements, it is unlikely to be damaged when used in the home. Aside from its obvious beauty, durability is one of the elements that lead people to choose natural stone for home building and home improvement projects. The truth is that unpolished travertine is highly susceptible to heat, scratching, staining and acidity, including citric acid, so it should only be cleaned with special products designed for use on natural stone. ...  more

Travertine is one of the most frequently used stones in modern architecture, and is commonly seen as facade material, wall cladding, and flooring. Architect Welton Becket was one of the most frequent users of travertine, incorporating it extensively into many if not most of his projects. The entire first floor of the Becket-designed UCLA Medical Center has thick travertine walls. The rock travertine is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized to or primarily calcite; which is deposited from the water of mineral springs (especially hot springs) or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. When pure, travertine is white, but often is brown to yellow due to impurities. When carbon dioxide-rich water percolates through rocks in limestone areas, the water dissolves the limestone and becomes saturated with it. When the water resurfaces later, the sudden drop in pressure and the change in temperature cause the water to release the ...  more

Travertine stone is soft and delicate to look at. It breathes spaciousness. It's relaxed and soothing. The feeling is peaceful, tranquil, serene.  more

Travertine is a type of marble with an extremely open surface, this is due to air bubbles being trapped in the stone during the formation process millions of years ago. Iron compounds found in travertine can give this buff colored stone a beautiful striated look.

Travertine belongs to the stone family that called limestone also known as Calcium Carbonate. Marble stone is also a type of limestone which has had additional heat and pressure applied to it. Travertine stone is formed by minerals dissolving in ground water and then being deposited on the earth’s surface.  more