travertine comes from an old Roman name for Tivoli, a town in Italy where
large deposits of travertine exist. The brilliant beige stone, characterized
by irregular surfaces and edges, has been a principal building material in
Rome since the Roman Empire. Travertine clothed the exterior of the
Colosseum and was later favored by Michelangelo for his sculptures.
Travertine is a sedimentary rock that begins as limestone. Over time,
geological shifting forces the limestone deep within the earth. The porous
nature of limestone makes it a great liquid reservoir. Limestone absorbs
water from aquifers, which are enormous underground pools formed by
ice age melting. Heated by the earth’s inner core, the water rises as
steam, forming hot springs and geysers. This hot water dissolves the
limestone and brings it to the surface along with other granules from
below. If enough time transpires, mud beds consisting of limestone and
other minerals cool and crystallize into solid travertine.
The cooling process results in the extraordinary small holes or cavities
while minerals in the stone create unique variations in color and veining.
These variations contribute to travertine’s natural beauty and call to mind
the ancient splendor of Imperial Rome.
USES
• Interior and exterior
• Floors and walls
• Shower surrounds
• Fireplaces
• Vanities
TYPES
• Unfilled: Travertine with naturally occurring holes.
• Filled: Travertine with its naturally occurring holes filled with a mixture of
a hardener and dust obtained from the cutting and honing process.
• Polished: During production, a facet is put on each crystal at a
microscopic level – much as a jeweler would facet a diamond. The
resultant smooth surface allows light to refract in and out of the stone in
a parallel way. This enhances the visible sheen and gives the appearance
of depth.
• Honed: A smooth, non-reflective finish achieved by grinding the surface.
• Saw Cut: The untreated surface of a stone when it is first cut. The
surface is slightly rough
• Tumbled (ancient stones): An antique look achieved by rounded corners
and edges.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Color variations are common and enhance the natural beauty of
travertine. Be sure to inspect multiple samples of the stone before
selection to ensure satisfaction with colors and patterns.
MAINTENANCE
• Do clean with a dust mop and neutral cleaner to remove most dirt.
• Do use a penetrating sealer to prevent staining. Because many stones
are porous to some degree, excessive water may cause reactions such
as oxidation (rust), deterioration of dry veins, etc. “Special Impregnating”
sealers are recommended to avoid these problems.
• Do clean natural stones with “special stone cleaners”, “pH balanced
cleaners” or “neutral base cleaners.”
• Do not clean any natural stone with acidic cleaners, including (but not
limited to) vinegar or cleaners with “lemon” or “lime” on the label. These
products will abrade the polish from the stone. Sealers DO NOT protect
polished surfaces from these types of cleaners.
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