Your Complete Guide to Travertine Tile

Travertine is a type of limestone, but it has a more sophisticated profile than some other tile made from limestone. When it is in tile form, this beautiful stone can instantly improve the profile or your kitchen, floors, patio or other area of your home, and it can be easy to clean and maintain. Travertine can be used for floors, counter tops, backsplashes, decorative facades and more.

It is important that you learn about all your options for travertine tile and that you know the proper methods for travertine tile floor cleaning to ensure that you make the right investment for your Arizona home and that you get the most return for your investment.
Here’s everything you need to know about travertine tile:

Options for Travertine

Travertine is a natural, sedimentary stone, and it has a look that is both rustic and sophisticated at the same time. Typically, travertine comes in lighter shades of brown, tan, gray and gold, but it can even come in white. The earthen colors are perfect for Arizona homes set against a desert landscape.

You can get travertine tile that is polished or unpolished. Many people actually prefer the look of the unpolished tile because it has a more natural look. It is an especially good choice for outdoor areas, such as a patio or the area around a pool. Polished travertine has a more sophisticated appearance that can make your home look more luxurious. Polished tile is glossier, but it is also more slippery, which means you don’t want to put it in an area that will get a lot of water, like in your bathroom or by your pool.

You can also get travertine tile that has been filled or left unfilled. There are a variety of pit marks and small holes in the natural stone, and you can have these filled to create a more polished look, or you can leave them unfilled to retain the natural charm. Just remember that the smoother the surface is, the more slippery it will be. You will have to be mindful of where you put this tile or have it treated to give it more traction.

Where to Buy Travertine Tile

Travertine tile is a bit more costly than the standard options you will find in your local hardware store. It is a more sophisticated stone, and the tile is considered a luxury flooring option. That’s why you should buy travertine only from a specialty stone supplier in Mesa with a reputation for providing quality products at affordable prices.

Travertine has to be quarried from the right place and processed in the right way to get the look you want and to ensure longevity. Specialty stone suppliers in Mesa know what to look for, and they choose only the best stone to provide customers. Expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $20 per square foot for travertine, depending on where it was quarried and how it was processed.

Cleaning and Maintaining Travertine

Travertine can be damaged by exposure to corrosive elements, such as dirt, chemicals, and foot traffic, so it is important that you take steps to protect the tile from these elements. Don’t use chemicals on your counter tops, and put down rugs or runners on areas of your floor that get a lot of foot traffic.

Vacuum or sleep your floors regularly to keep them free of dirt and dust. If dirt remains on the floor, it can damage the tile by getting scuffed from foot traffic. Use only a handheld vacuum, broom or dust mop. An upright vacuum can damage the tile.

When the floors are completely free of debris, you can mop them with a mild cleaner. Do not use soap on these floors. Use something that has a neutral PH so that it does not damage the stone. Use a soft cloth or mop, and immediately dry the floors with a microfiber cloth.

Clean outdoor tiles by spraying them down with a hose a few times a year. If debris builds up, use a pressure washer to remove stains and debris.
Clean up any spills immediately to prevent staining, and squeegee shower tiles after each shower. Preventive care will save you from dealing with nasty stains and other buildup that is hard to remove.

When you do need professional travertine tile floor cleaning in Mesa, call Desert Tile and Grout Care in Arizona. We clean travertine and other types of stone floors and surfaces, as well as ceramic tile, Mexican tile, and brick. We can clean your floors to remove debris and stains, or we can completely refresh your floors so that they look like new after years of poor care and buildup that dulls their surface. You don’t need new floors – you just need the right cleaning!

If you don’t yet have travertine tile in your home, consider calling Centurion Stone of Arizona to learn more. Centurion Stone sells travertine and other stone pavers and tiles for everything in your home from the floors to the counter tops. The professionals at Centurion Stone will help you find the right options for your project and your budget, ensuring that you get a beautiful look and a long-lasting finish.

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MESA LOCATION
1608 N Greenfield Rd
Mesa, AZ 85205
Office: 480-654-2995
Email: [email protected]
Website: centurionstoneofaz.com

PRESCOTT LOCATION
8950 Long Mesa Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Office: (928) 759-8543