Travertine has a pitted, mottled texture, layering, and an even, light beige color. Travertine is more about texture than it is about wild coloration. Other than the meek color, it’s not for the design-faint-of-heart. It’s a stone that gives your kitchen or bathroom backsplash, floor, or bath/shower walls or surrounds an ancient Roman look. Outdoors, holes in stone can cause the stone to crack, should temperatures drop below freezing. Indoors, holes in travertine flooring quickly fill up with dirt and in shower/bath installations they become clogged with soap scum, rendering them virtually impossible to clean. What to do? Fill the holes in advance. Most travertine used in the home is filled with an epoxy resin, and then it is honed (or sanded down) so that the filler and stone surfaces are equalized. You only need to butter the back of the travertine tile with mortar, then push it against the other tiles—no gap necessary. No gap means no grout. While travertine can be installed in wet locations, should you? Tile expert John Bridge recommends against travertine on shower floors. He says that it has at least two things going against it. It’s not as hard a marble (which itself isn’t extremely hard) and it is harder to maintain. Bridge recommends a porcelain tile that looks like travertine. If you want to ensure that your travertine always stays beautiful, try to install in places that don’t receive heavy amounts of moisture, such as backsplashes. Any kind of vertical application will help protect against scratching and impacts. Tumbled travertine is an indispensable element if you are trying for a Tuscan-style kitchen or bathroom. Besides a slightly rougher surface, the tumbled variety will have more rounded and uneven edges, further giving it an antique look. To avoid debris from filling the holes, quickly pull a thin layer of sanded grout across the surface and let dry. As grout tends to darken over time, it is recommended that you apply dark rather than light grout. Even filled/honed travertine’s fill spots can pick up dirt over time. It’s just the nature of travertine to be imperfect: love it or leave it. DuPont StoneTech Professional Sealer is easily obtainable and can be used on travertine. Exterior travertine does not need to be sealed but can be if so desired. Two coats are required for interior sealer, and it usually lasts three to five years, depending on traffic/usage. For exterior sealer, you may need to reapply as often as once per year.
