Pricing Travertine Tile

There are a variety of prices when considering purchasing travertine tile. The lowest price I've seen for plain commerical grade (no fancy coloration) travertine tiles is around $2.00 per square foot. If you want to spend a little more on 1st quality traverine tiles, you will spend around $3.50 per square foot. Some of the more expensive travertine tile can be up to $5.50 or more per square foot, but that's only if you want to go all out and get a nicely polished, 1st quality specialized travertine like a Durango Blend (a blend of beige and cream colored travertine). Be careful when you're shopping however, as some companies require you to purchase a bulk load of tiles to get the desired price.

One other thing when considering purchasing travertine tiles. You may see some stores refer to travertine as "travertine limestone" or "travertine marble". Don't be alarmed, as these two terms mean the same as just plain travertine tiles.

Selecting Travertine Tile

Depending on how the calcium carbonate deposits formed to make travertine and how much foreign minerals mixed with the stone (such as iron deposits), you can bet a wide variety of travertine tiles. Stores sell tiles that are deep beige, grayish, or all the way up to a pure white. Travertine tiles can also come with fine, smooth, and glossy finish, or a more rough, chiseled surface. It depends on your tastes and what type of look you are going for with your home. Some types of travertine tile I've come across are Durango Commercial (a white-gray look common on the floors of commercial buildings), Walnut Dark (a dark beige, almost orange), Tuscany Ivory (a cream color), Tuscany Gold (a strikingly yellowish-orange), and Cremino Beige (just like it sounds, a cream beige color). There are also many more different colors of travertine tiles. Just shop around - there's something for everyone.

Uses of Travertine Tile

Travertine is the most used stone in modern architecture, applied in commercial buildings, homes, and industries alike. For example, the Getty Center in Los Angeles is one of the most famous buildings that use primarily thick travertine walls. Travertine tile has become increasingly popular for walkways, patios, and floors also. It's simple, yet classical beauty is fitting for most public places. Travertine is defined by its porous surface when mined at its raw state. Most travertine tile sellers fill these wholes with grout, while some leave the stone to its natural, rougher look. This means that travertine can be purchased with one of these two options, with filled or unfilled holes. The grain of travertine makes it an excellent rock to polish and shine, making it a very attractive tile that can be placed indoors or outdoors.

About Travertine Stone

Travertine is a stone made up of a mass of calcium carbonate. This stone forms by springs or rivers where the minerals are deposited to make travertine. You will notice that travertine is often very elegantly branded with various rich and creamy colors. This is from iron and other foreign minerals getting deposited with the calcium carbonate to make a variety of shades or travertine. When in its purest form, travertine is a pure white color. This stone is not very corse and the grain is finer than other stones such as granite, so it can have a high polish. For this reason travertine tile is voraciously popular in many modern buildings, as it adds a classical and elegant beauty. The most extensive supply of travertine is found in a town called Tivoli, Itay, which is in the vicinity of Rome. It is here that the first major harvesting of the stone was started. The name travertine derives itself from the word Tivoli. The stone in widespread use across southern Europe, especially in Italy and Greece. The largest structure in the world composed of only travertine is the Roman Coliseum.

Origins of Travertine Tiles

Travertine tile is one of the most elegant, refined, classical beauties of the tile world. Its roots go way back into the Greek and Roman Empires. Travertine is defined by its rich, creamy color that is close in appearance to marble. It is a natural stone that is found in various parts of Southern Europe, mostly in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Ancient civilizations used this beautiful stone to construct their many buildings. It was a very strong, solid, and stable stone used in the foundations of many buildings, and later on began to be used as flooring. Probably the most notable use of travertine stone was in the construction of the Roman Coliseum and the Greek Parthenon. As the use of travertine became more and more widespread, it was appearent that this stone could be used to give buildings a stunningly cultured look. Thus, travertine tile was born and became to be used as flooring for many buildings throughout the world. Today, travertine tile embodies an ancient and classical beauty that many commercial and residential buildings choose to incorporate in their construction.