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Applying Travertine Tiles In The Kitchen

Biga | Sep 18, 2010 |

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Travertine stone has been around for centuries and it has been used as a construction material and as decoration in building and houses for a very long time. As a matter of fact, the famous Roman Coliseum is composed mostly of travertine since some of the biggest travertine quarries during this era were located just a few miles away from the ancient city. Nowadays, most of the travertine available is in the form of tiles. In fact, travertine tiles are very functional when used as tiles for the wall, floor and as pavers in the garden or backyard.

The travertine stone is actually a kind of sedimentary rock which is created when the minerals are left at the bottom of a hot spring. For several millennia, different layers of minerals are precipitated in the same area which results in a thick layer. Due to a lot of geological activities, these layers of minerals are usually covered up and are forced to go deeper under the ground. Because of the pressure levels and heat, the layers are further compressed which leads to the formation of travertine. This is the same process that actually causes the formation of marble except that the temperatures and pressures needed to form a marble are several times greater than travertine. That's why a marble is a more compacted, denser and harder stone and it also has a smooth and tough surface.

Travertine tiles are less compacted than marble so they are lighter due to the air voids present in it. These voids are the reason why it is inappropriate to use travertine as a surface for countertops if it is in its natural form. The voids let in the moisture and bits of food residue. Travertine tiles that are placed on countertops are actually flat and the voids are already filled with a man-made sealer. This means that the tile is no longer natural but, at least, it is protected against germs and water.

One feature that is very famous is the creation of a travertine bullnose for the edge of the counter. This is just a curve to take care of the dangerous sharp edge. Also, the bullnose prevents the possibility that some pieces of the tiles are chipped off if something hits the end of the tile piece. Without the rounding, chips are much more common.

If you are thinking about installing tiles in your kitchen, or any part of the house for that matter, you can't do better than travertine if you are looking for an authentic Roman feel. This is known as the stone that built Rome, even though today everyone assumes it was marble.