Travertine tiles, why so popular ?

[kevg]

I'm a rank amature when it comes to whats what for tiles. When I buy them for myself, I see tiles I like and stick to a budget, but I keep reading more and more about Travertine tiles. They look really popular.

Could someone give me a quick rundown as to why ?

 

[Gazzer]

All stone has been generally expensive up until recent year when travertine flooded the market...at last a "normal" home could have expensive looking stone.
Sadly the quality of this affordable stone is dubious, high content of filler is in the stone. Most clients dont see it, just the price and so they go for it.
Stone is also the in thing and long may it be so. There is nothing better than stone and wood floors together in my opinion.
Its obviously not the only affordable stone but certainly the most popular for its warming appearance. the fact that if it wears then at least it could be honed and polished again , you cant do that with ceramics.

 

[kevg]

Sir Ramic, I generally see it in wet area's and bathrooms, is that its normal 'home' or could it be used in a kitchen environment ?

 

[doug boardley]

couldn't have put it better myself Sir, I love top quality travertine:drool5:

 

[Gazzer]

The kitchen is a perfect place for it too.

 

[kevg]

the tiles colour, shade etc looks pretty random, I dont know if I like that kind of finish.

 

[Ian]

the tiles colour, shade etc looks pretty random, I dont know if I like that kind of finish.

Thats one of the appealing features of travertine Kev, if you have a look around all the tile shops and even places like B&Q etc you will find alot of ceramic and porcelain, travertine effect tiles about at the moment as its so popular. The manufacturers have gone to great lengths to replicate the 'random' colour effects that you get from the real deal

 

[kevg]

Thats one of the appealing features of travertine Kev, if you have a look around all the tile shops and even places like B&Q etc you will find alot of ceramic and porcelain, travertine effect tiles about at the moment as its so popular. The manufacturers have gone to great lengths to replicate the 'random' colour effects that you get from the real deal

Maybe if I saw more pictures or a more 'Creamy/Ivory' Travertine I may have a different opinion on it. Or even a real floor.

I best do more looking around to give a better opinion on it.

 

[Ajax123]

how come when I go into this thread my screen changes colour????? I know it's off topic but it confused me.

 

[Ian]

Bit more colour consistency in this, I think! Good quality, not too much filler

 

[TT Tiling]

everyone loves trav at the mo ,but like as said above ,so many dif sorts ,all the new builds im doing at the mo ,have trav through out the full downstairs every room , all great for me as i have 4 houses with over 180 sm of it , and i leave my card for the new owner ,for any maintenance work that needs doing , most of them like the bees wax finish so get to buff them up once every two months or so , think its the best finish on trav floor by far ,but needs lots of up keep ,looks like glass when finished

 

[kevg]

View attachment 20123Bit more colour consistency in this, I think! Good quality, not too much filler

Now that looks really nice.

 

[kevg]

I'm gonna try and get some samples.

 

[Scott]

Be wary of where you buy it as a sample board will not determine that the stuff you get will be the same. You really need to go to a supplier who has stock and pick it from the crate. Trust me i had a customer who picked super light and it all went horribly wrong!

 

[kevg]

I only know of Topps that sell a decent selection, I've read their quality of Travertine is a bit hit and miss. Any suggestions ? I'm in the Glasgow area.

 

[kevg]

I quite like these...

Prestige Stone Anatolian Ivory Travertine (46x30cm) | Topps Tiles

Also really like these (although not travertine)

Prestige Stone Cappuccino Marble (61x40.6) | Topps Tiles

 

[Scott]

The cappucino marble is a nice stone and also available from tilegiant, i believe they are also cheaper than that per metre, £55 ish i think. The have a Glasgow store
Store Finder

 

[devonmark]

the only down side of having travertine in a high traffic area is that a shoe heal as in stiletto can easily go through the tile due to the nature of the stone, it may look solid but could be very thin where that shell used to sit. This can happen in high quality expensive stone as well as the cheaper stone.

Mark.

 

[kevg]

Thanks for that advice Mark. My misses is good for that, she doesnt wear any shoes around the house at all and has 'trained' me to do the same so were ok in that respect.

 

[Scoott22]

I love the look of Travertine especially when it's sealed!! Just watch out for quality!!

 

[kevg]

I love the look of Travertine especially when it's sealed!! Just watch out for quality!!

I couldnt tell you what I should be looking out for. I generally go by price. i.e. You get what you pay for.

Is there anything specific I should be asking about the tiles when I get to some tile shops, or anything I should be looking for specifically ?

 

[devonmark]

look for the amount of filler on the face of the tiles, have a look at the back of the tile basically to see how many holes there are because they don't fill the backs. Poor quality tiles are full of holes where shells and crustaceans have been when the tiles where formed all those millions of years ago. All travertine is like this just some is much worse than others..

 

[kevg]

look for the amount of filler on the face of the tiles, have a look at the back of the tile basically to see how many holes there are because they don't fill the backs. Poor quality tiles are full of holes where shells and crustaceans have been when the tiles where formed all those millions of years ago. All travertine is like this just some is much worse than others..

Brilliant Mark, thanks again.

 

[vshaw]

Hi
Could anyone recomend a place to buy good quality travertine I am in Stourbridge West Midlands. Thanks Val

 

[Gazzer]

We have a number of Tile shops around Stourbridge that will be able to assist you .