Travertine

If you think that travertine stone is all the same, this is not so. There are quality differences and also different types of looks and finishing processes. Many people wonder which type is the best to use. You might have certain questions such as:

What are the differences between honed, filled and tumbled?

Honed travertine, whether it be travertine stone or travertine pavers, has been polished, or sanded, in layers so as to remove many of the imperfections. Natural travertine can have many nooks and crannies. Honing removes many of these holes.

Filled travertine are stones where the existing holes have been filled. This creates a smoother look to the stone.

Tumbled travertine are actually tumbled to give cut pavers a rougher appearance. If you compare tumbled travertine pavers to those that are not tumbled, you will notice a difference in the edges. The tumbled stones have rougher edges and the corners are less defined. Tumbled pavers are usually not honed or filled.

Should travertine stone be sealed?

This is actually a personal preference. Sealing enhances the color, without giving any shine to the stone. It also helps protect the stone. That being said, sealing is not necessary.

Is it better to dry lay the travertine pavers or set them in mortar?

Dry laying the travertine is the answer. This gives a more natural look. It is an easy installation. Any movement over time can easily be rectified by adjusting the position of the travertine. In addition, it is much less expensive. Think of them similar to concrete pavers.

Are there differences in the travertine from various companies?

Yes, there definitely is. It is also important to get samples so that you know if the look is what you want. Some companies do very little honing or filling on their travertine pavers that are not tumbled. There will be many holes. Although this is not a functional problem, it can be an aesthetic one.

There are also various color choices from different companies.

A good company will provide travertine stone that has been finely honed and sometimes slightly filled. The colors will be those that are attractive. They will also provide samples, which is so important.

Use of marble and granite in construction of large buildings is very popular since ancient times. However nowadays people are more interested in using these products for their home construction. It is not a very common trend in Real Estate industry also to include different marble products in construction, flooring as well as interior decoration.

Some popular products made of marble, granite and other natural stones, beings used these days in construction of modern homes are marble staircase, marble and granite columns, granite countertops, and marble tiles (popularly used in flooring).

Marble and Granite columns are being used widely in real estate construction. These columns provide a different look to homes due to their attractive and vibrant look. At the same time they provide durability due to their rough and tough nature. These marble and granite columns are more stable and resistive in nature to hazards than normal cemented columns. At first you may think that using marble or granite columns are expensive but in real they are cost effective in long run. You don't have to worry about their coloring and maintenance, as they are naturally beautiful. You just have to maintain the lovely carving done on these marvelous piece of marbles. 

One more thing that is getting on top in popularity is marble staircases. Now people are not only serious about the beautification of their living room and bedrooms, but also for all other portions of their homes including stairs, bathrooms and rooftops. You can see use of marble in stairs as well as staircases. Nowadays using different molded marble products in construction of staircases are very common. 

This is not the end of using marble products. There are few sections where different marble and granite products are ruling. Like in countertops section one can't ignore the dominance of marble and granite counter tops. They are being used in all commercial as well as domestic purposes. Every modular kitchen is incomplete without use of beautiful granite countertops. These are not only helpful in increasing the beauty of kitchens but also easier in maintenance. Flooring is another section where marbles are leading. Nothing can compete with the beauty of marble flooring. Therefore if you are also planning construction of your home, you should give serious thoughts over different marble products.