Uses of Travertine tiles in houses

For those who are looking for a sense of luxury and also a distinctive look of natural stones travertine is always a popular option. As a sedimentary stone is this fabulous natural stone is mostly used as paving or flooring material, and designers take the advantage of them to create an air of casual elegance.

The versatile color schemes ranging from ivory to gold make it easy to have the design that anyone dreams to have. There are four different finishes of travertine available from which people can match the stone to their area. Matte finish is considered the most popular option that is smooth and looks natural. The tumbled finishes also are highly popular. Moreover, polished finishes are good choices for those who are looking for a glossy surface that fits perfectly in contemporary décor schemes.

However, travertine is difficult to keep the shine, and in some weather conditions, cracks may appear on the surface of them. But with proper care, the stone’s appearance and texture will change little over time and travertine cracking may not happen. Because travertine products could be cut easily, for a clean, and seamless look individuals tend to use large slabs, but in these cases, travertine cracking may happen more.

But in case any sort of damages consisting of travertine cracking happens, you won’t have much trouble regarding finding a tile of a similar appearance, the benefit which is not offered by many available items.

General characteristics of travertine

Travertine is a porous stone, and these natural hoes are susceptible to wear. So it is highly recommended to fill the holes in order to stop enlarging the holes. Moreover, as limestone, it is relatively brittle and travertine cracking might happen in some parts of the stone, and therefore it is recommended to maintain the stone from damages.

As travertine is highly porous and quickly absorbs liquids, which can cause a permanent stain. Moreover, travertine reacts to acidic substances, and such quality puts travertine tiles at risk in case any sort of juice pours on the surface of travertine it might result in a dull surface. However, travertine tiles are commonly used as striking counterparts and backsplashes, and this stems from the fact that by just regular considerations people can prevent travertine cracking. An effective way could be sealing the surface to create a resistant surface, and then reapply then regularly.

In comparison with many materials, travertine is softer, but still, it is very strong and travertine cracks rarely. Therefore, travertine could be cut easily and such quality makes the installation process much easier. That is why travertine tiles are found in even odd shapes to achieve a seamless finish. Interestingly, travertine can stand dramatic temperature fluctuations, and even in harsh weather conditions travertine cracking hardly happens, and it makes a popular choice for outdoor applications. However, many believe that travertine is not the best choice for the areas where are prone to be hit by weighty materials including children tolls, so it is not the best choice if you have energetic children who are playing with their pets in your area as they might throw heavy materials on the surface of precious travertine and cause travertine cracking.

Advantages of travertine tiles

Because of a plethora of reasons travertine is always a popular choice in the market. The first and foremost one is that from many years ago travertine has been stylish, and in case of polishes surfaces are chosen the final surface would gravitate anyone towards it. More importantly, travertine tiles are believed to be one of the most durable materials in construction as it is highly resistant to damages or weathering. Travertine products can overcome cracks or scratches, but as time passes such damages may happen on the surface of the stone.

However, they could be repaired easily or in the worst condition be replaced. Until these long-lasting products are maintained regularly, the tile would look sharp for a number of decades without any sign of travertine cracking. Travertine tiles are also affordable and, people from all walks of life can go for them to achieve a distinct beauty and timeless appeal.

Travertine tiles could tolerate extreme conditions and therefore they are considered popular choices for both interior and exterior applications. Pavers, garden pathways, and many other applications are just some examples of different usages of travertine without fear of damage including cracks formation. Travertine tiles are cold underfoot, and once they are heated up they can act as an excellent conductor and heat up the room. It is also worth mentioning that each travertine tile is unique, and therefore if travertine cracks it would be hard to install the tile that best matches other pieces. As well as lacking uniformity, travertine tiles are found just in neutral colors, and such quality means they do not go well with any desired styles.

Cracks and different types of travertine damages

Carelessness may take its role on the surface of travertine tiles. Among all the damages that may happen etching is the most dominant one. In case travertine is exposed to acidic substances, it may corrode it. It means acidic substances like those which are found in coffee or acidic cleaners, can eat the stone away in the affected area. At this time, whitish spots may appear on the surface of the stone.

Staining is another harmful happening on the surface of natural stones that happens when liquid penetrations leave a darker mark. Moreover, in case heavy objects are moved across a travertine surface, they could scratch the surface or even make dents on the travertine. Also when the travertine is exposed to constant moisture fungi may appear on the surface of the stone. Meanwhile, when travertine tiles face a lot of minerals on a daily basis white and scaly-looking stains may appear on the surface of the stone.

And finally, without proper care, it is possible to see travertine cracking in your surroundings. However, all of these types of damages can be restored and prevented. For example, by polishing and honing the surface of the stone, the appearance of the stone may look brand new again. Based on the extent to which our travertine is damaged different types of honing and polishing could be taken into account.

This way, by the use of industrial diamonds, etches, scratches and stains are removed properly and for high-traffic areas where the non-slip surface is in demand honing could be implemented too. Polishing is another way to restore travertine, and finally, deep cleaning travertine is also practical in order to restore the natural surface of the stone. There are also pits on the surface of travertine which may become big crates as time passes, so the filling process could also be used to prevent travertine cracking.

How do cracks form on the surface of travertine?

The penetration of liquids within travertine results in mold and mildew formation. In case travertine is exposed to heavy traffic travertine might cracks and may hurt someone walking barefoot on the surface. Although travertine is one of the most durable items in the market, cracks can easily form on them in case people do not care much about them. When travertine cracks, sharp edges may appear on the surface of the stone which can also absorb debris and spoil the aesthetic beauty of the surface.

This tendency to store dirt also results in the absorption of dirty water, and in case it is not eliminated properly mold and mildew may spread on the surface of the stone and result in even health problems. And it should also be noticed to clean the surface of the cracks before repairing travertine cracks. Moreover, in some cases, the open holes that are available on the surface of the travertine are filled to prevent such problems. Such items are more expensive, and they are more desirable.

Where to use unfilled travertine

The use of unfilled travertine is not recommended in showers by our experts at hunterpavers.com as such surface would be more readily allow water to get behind it. More importantly, in cold weather conditions when the water in the holes freezes cracks and splits may appear on the surface of the travertine. The stress which is caused by the freezing of water is the factor of such destructive happening.

More specifically, in cold regions, travertine cracks when the ice melts, and the water then mixes with dust and sand in the stones, and then mud puddle forms. But it is worth mentioning that if by regular sealing the surface of travertine, no more dust or water can penetrate the surface of the stone, and consequently, travertine cracking could be prevented to a high extent. Stone sealing is the application of the surface treatment to products constructed of travertine in order to prevent unwanted damages.

Steps to have your travertine repaired

Travertine tiles are highly durable, therefore individuals highly use them as their flooring and paving material. Despite the fact that travertine is among the most durable materials, even with proper care as time passes people may experience damage at the surface of their travertine tile, but travertine pieces could be repaired or replaced easily. For example, by the use of epoxy or colored caulk that matches well with travertine tiles travertine cracks could be repaired to some extent.

It is also worth mentioning that even small cracks should be considered seriously, that is why as time passes dirt gets caught in the cracks and darkens them, and this even worsens the condition. In these cases, there are plenty of considerations that could be measured in order to make your travertine sparkles again.

Firstly, the surface should be cleaned properly up to the point that the crack and its surrounding is totally clean. Taking the advantage of a toothbrush on travertine cracks could be a wise choice to scrub them and remove debris. After that, a vacuum cleaner could be used to ensure better results. Afterward, property owners should clean the surface of cracks by the use of a blow dryer. After that, the cracks should be roughed up in order to create a surface that sticks to the epoxy. Finally, all you need to do is to fill the cracks with epoxy, then in order to have a more rustic surface, the excessive epoxy should be removed from the surface of the stone. Natural cleaning agents are preferable to chemical ones as they do not harm the surface of the stone.