Travertine floor tiles are manufactured from Travertine which is a sedimentary rock. It is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized to calcite.
Travertine forms as calcium carbonate and is deposited from the water of mineral or water flows that are saturated with dissolved calcium bicarbonate. The spring water from which the calcium carbonate comes from can be of any temperature. The rate of deposition increases as the water temperature rises, or alternatively, when biotic material accelerates the process of precipitation.
When carbon dioxide rich water percolates through limestone rock, the limestone is dissolved and carried in the water. When the temperature or pressure changes the water will release its carbon dioxide much like when a bottle of lemonade is opened. The calcium carbonate then recrystallizes to form the travertine which travertine tiles are manufactured from.
The travertine used in the manufacture of travertine tiles typically stays fairly porous. Pure travertine is a white colour but in practice it comes in colours ranging from ivory, through to beige, Brown (noce) Pink (rose) and yellow (golden). The variation in the colours of the travertine tiles is caused by the various impurities that get included in the calcium carbonate at the time the travertine is formed.
Travertine floors can be sourced from many locations around the world but most of the travertine quarried for manufacturing travertine tiles for the UK market comes from Turkey, Italy or Iran. A new supply of Travertine tiles is starting to come in from China now but we have yet to evaluate its quality. The majority of Travertine tiles supplied for the UK market are Turkish travertine tiles.
Travertine flooring tiles come in several finishes. The most common finishes are filled and honed, filled and polished, tumbled, tumbled and unfilled, brushed, filled and honed chipped edge, cushion edged and brushed.
Travertine floor tiles can also be used as paving slabs for patios or terraces. These tiles are usually about 30mm thick and come in either a tumbled and unfilled finish or a honed and unfilled finish.
Travertine tiles can sometimes be referred to as travertine marble tiles or travertine limestone tiles.
Travertine is one of the most commonly used stones in modern architecture, and can be seen as façade material, wall cladding, and flooring. Travertine tiles can be used in both commercial and residential projects.
Take a look at our collection of light classic, unfilled and tumbled Travertine Floor Tiles. Contact us for a free Light Classic Unfilled and Tumbled Travertine Floor Tiles sample.
