How to Choose the Perfect Travertine for Your Project: Unveiling the Grades and Types
Travertine has been used in construction for centuries now, and it remains a popular building material worldwide. If you are looking for a stunning way to add style and timeless beauty to your home interiors and exteriors, Travertine stone is the perfect choice. These natural stone pavers and tiles make a beautiful match with all design aesthetics and are the most sought-after choice for residential as well as commercial use.
Another reason for its popularity and wide recognition is that it’s an abundant natural resource that can be sourced sustainably. Travertine is extracted in large quantities in many parts of the world, The quality or grade of the stone distinctly varies with the place it is quarried from. Currently, three different grades of Travertine are available in the market- premium, standard and commercial. In this blog, we’ll discover the different grades and types of Travertine and help you determine which one is best suited for your design requirements and matches your budget preferences.
What is Travertine?
Travertine is a beautiful and porous natural stone with a rugged appearance and natural colour variations. It is available in classic shades of cream, beige, grey and silver. The raw texture and pores on the surface give an authentic, classy look to your living spaces both indoors and outdoors. Travertine pavers and tiles are known for their timeless beauty, remarkable resilience and the ability to withstand all weather extremities. They are well-suited for kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, dining areas, patios, alfresco, walkways, pathways and pool surrounds.
Benefits of Using Travertine in Construction
There are numerous aesthetical and functional benefits of using Travertine.
- It’s a beautiful stone and enhances the visual appeal of any space.
- Its versatility makes it suitable for use in any project space; indoor, outdoor, kitchen, garden or pool.
- Travertine is resilient and extremely long-lasting.
- It has a soft and cool underfoot and doesn’t get hot even in the summer.
- It has a good grip on the ground which makes it popular for use around pools.
- Travertine pavers and tiles are easy to install and maintain.
- Travertine is a sustainable and eco-friendly building material.
What are the Grades of Travertine Available in the Market
Travertine is available in three different grades, each with its unique qualities and usage. There are various finishes you can achieve with each of these grades. You can choose the perfect grade of this stone for your space depending on your desired style and project space.
- Premium Grade Travertine
As the name suggests, premium grade Travertine is the finest and most premium grade of this natural stone. It is primarily used for high-end residential and commercial spaces. It has the most consistent thickness and colour variations and a uniform appearance overall. In a honed and filled finish, this first-grade Travertine is popularly used in indoor areas such as kitchens and living rooms whereas in a honed and unfilled finish, it is a preferred choice for outdoor living areas. It can be used in its natural state or polished finish for a matte shine. - Standard Grade Travertine
Standard grade is also known as second-grade Travertine. In terms of appearance and quality, it comes second to premium grade. It has an imperfect surface finish with bigger pores and the colour is less consistent all through the stone. The thickness and cut are uniform but additional fillers or finishes are required to enhance the appearance. This quality is commonly used in large-scale commercial projects or residential projects with sprawling landscapes. - Commercial Grade Travertine
This is the third-grade Travertine and comes with many inherent flaws. The cut and thickness are uneven with large visible pores on the surface. A polished or honed finish is difficult to achieve on this surface as the stone has a highly rugged natural finish. It is unfit for indoor use and is more suitable when you want to create a rustic look for your outdoor spaces. It is the cheapest quality and homeowners do not prefer it. Hence it is mostly used in commercial areas.
Finishes Available in Travertine
- Polished: in this finish, the naturally rugged surface texture of the stone is buffed to a high gloss shine and the result is a mirror-like finish.
- Honed & Filled: Honing involves grounding or buffing the stone to provide an even and smooth appearance. It gives a superb matte finish with the least visible pores. This finish is mainly applied in indoor areas such as kitchen floors, bathroom floors, and living room areas.
- Honed & Unfilled: This finish of Travertine means buffing the surface but not filling the pores. It has natural pores on the surface and is extensively used for outdoor paving applications such as walkways, pathways, patios, pool areas, alfresco, and backyards.
- Tumbled and unfilled: This is the natural state of the stone. This finish is commonly available in standard-grade Travertine and is used to create an organic and vintage look for outdoor areas. Patios, garden pathways, decorative exterior walls and swimming pool decks popularly flaunt this finish.
- Brushed: To achieve this finish a hard synthetic material is brushed on the stone’s surface to give it an antique, rough look.
- Acid washed: To achieve this finish the stone goes through a rigorous process where it is washed with acid. Depending on the space and usage, this creates a natural antique look and brings a more defined rugged finish.
Choose the Right Travertine Grade for Your Space
Travertine pavers and tiles are stunning and versatile natural stone options available in a wide range of colours, finishes and sizes. However, when choosing a stone, the most important thing to consider is its grade as it defines the overall quality of the stone. There are three different grades available, premium, standard and commercial, each suited for a specific design function and project space. If you’re looking for a rustic look for your garden, standard quality Travertine will do a great job. But if you’re seeking a perfectly flawless project result for your residential space, premium-grade Travertine is your best pick. Many natural stone suppliers deal in premium-grade Travertine. Stone Centre is one of the largest suppliers of premium Travertine. Explore their offerings or speak to their stone experts to make the right choice. Read more about Home Improvement