there are many options for natural stone flooring, ranging from marble and slate to travertine, for every homeowner who seeks beauty and elegance. Of course, each of them has its pros and cons. If you are a proud owner who is not yet sure about choosing travertine pavers, this article is going to blow your mind.
What is travertine?
Travertine is a sedimentary rock most of which consists of calcium carbonate minerals that exist in white, tan, cream-colored, and rusty varieties. Like all sedimentary rocks, travertine is found near rivers and springs, especially hot and cold springs. Travertine is found in hundreds of locations around the world. However, the name “travertine” is the Italian “travertino”, which is a derivation of the Latin “tiburtinus” meaning ‘of Tibur’, now known as Tivoli, near Rome, Italy.
Travertine has been used in the building industry for many years. There are many well-known buildings including Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California, and Shell-Haus in Berlin that are made of travertine. Travertine is usually used for indoor home or business flooring, outdoor patio flooring, spa walls and ceilings, façades, and wall cladding, especially in modern architecture. It is far classier than concrete paver but less stylish than marble and granite.
What are travertine pavers’ pros and cons?
Pros
There are lots of reasons for choosing travertine pavers. Some of them are mentioned here:
- Being more economical: money is always the most important factor when it comes to design. Although travertine is as durable and good-looking as marble or granite, it is far cheaper than those kinds, about half of those prices.
- Having a timeless look: Travertine looks like it had been there for many years, which is why it has a timeless look. Also, it comes in different colors and patterns and everyone can choose the one he desires.
- Being very durable: Travertine paver is very durable, it does not crack easily, and harsh weather cannot affect it that much due to its resilient characteristic, which makes it the best choice for outdoor floorings and pools. To give you a rule-of-thumb example of travertine’s durability, keep in mind that the average lifespan of concrete pavers is approximately less than 3 years, and precast pavers are around 10 years. By contrast, travertine pavers have an average lifespan of 100+ years.
- Being non-slippery: As travertine is a porous rock, its texture is naturally non-slippery. Due to its rough surface, it is the best choice for swimming pools, bathrooms, showers, floors, and pool decks.
Cons
Although all these advantages are enough for choosing travertine pavers, there are some downsides worth mentioning:
- Being heavy: travertine tiles and pavers are heavier than other natural stones and rocks. As a result, the strength and resilience of the floor which has to be paved should be considered. If the floor is not rigid enough, sagging and bending might happen.
- Being sensitive to acidic substances: as it was mentioned before, travertine paver is durable. Still, it is sensitive to alcohol, vinegar, coffee, orange juice, lemon juice, and any other material which is acidic. When something like a drop of lemon juice spills on travertine, there is always the risk of a permanent stain as the acidic substance solves that part of the stone. when this happens, there are some solutions for it, though, it may need immediate and repeated action.
- Requiring maintenance and care: Tough travertine is more resilient and durable, but it needs more attention in comparison to other options such as granite or marble. As travertine is porous, it allows spilled liquids to go into it and get further damage. You can apply a sealant to your travertine paver to solve this problem. Also, the type of cleaning material people uses for cleaning the travertine floor is very important.
Undoubtedly, the travertine would be a beautiful choice for any home. However, you have to weigh the pros and cons before you make the final decision for your home.
How can I clean travertine pavers?
As stated earlier, travertine paver is durable; however, maintenance should not be forgotten. For simple, sweeping, dusting, and mopping using a damp mop should be a regular activity. Suppose wine or acidic material spills be sure to quickly clean it up before it goes into the stone and makes further damage. Be careful not to use hard water as it itself stains the floor. Also, keep in mind to avoid using these materials while cleaning: general-purpose cleaners, scouring powders or creams, ammonia, and alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for natural stone.
Is travertine paver worth it?
As previously mentioned, travertine’s price is as twice as concrete but about as half as marble or granite. As the look competes with one of the granites if you look for a classy look or places like bathrooms, pool, or pool deck obviously travertine paver would be the best choice.
If you choose to use travertine pavers, ABYStone has a collection of more than 10 different kinds of travertine in various colors and patterns, from different areas such as Iran, Turkey, Japan, and even the Himalayas. Even if travertine is not your final decision, we are here with more than 120 different models of stones to present and help you to find the one that matches your taste!
