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Travertine tile flooring has different finishes- Honed, Filled, Unfilled, Brushed, Tumbled and Polished. Honed is treated with abrasives so that the surface becomes smooth and flat. Thus it has a glossy look. Filled is literally when the natural dents or holes occurring on the surface are filled and smoothened to look flat and glossy. Unfilled is when these natural holes are left the way they are to give a more rustic look. Tumbled is a more antique look while brushed has a different charm to it. Unfilled and tumbled tiles are usually chosen for bathrooms and kitchens.
A good travertine tile is distinguishable. It doesn't produce a hollow sound, rather a louder and more solid one. Make sure you choose travertine with thick edges. If the edges are thin, they will be brittle and the chances of it breaking apart are higher. No matter how natural the tile is, there should be a limited number of holes, and no hole should go all the way through the tile. Whatever material is used to fill the holes, must match the rest of the colour of the tile, for a more uniform look.
While choosing your tile, you will come across a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Make sure you choose the one which best suits your room décor. Bigger tiles with lighter shades will make a small room look more spacious. Also consider the type of room. While choosing a tile for your hall or doorway, you want to have something that is highly durable to all the traffic that it will have to endure.
It is easy to tell a bad quality travertine from a good quality one. The bad ones will sound hollow and have thinner edges. The surface will not be uniform, in terms of both colour and texture. The fillers will also be of a different colour. Be careful not to choose these tiles.
Despite being beautiful flooring, travertine has its drawbacks. It is known to be one of the toughest tiles to maintain and requires a great amount of care and patience. Stains and dirt need to be cleaned up almost immediately or they will seep into the porous surface of the tile. If you’re the kind who can’t live up to so much expectation, then may be travertine isn't for you. But if you are, then nothing like it! Enjoy the natural and rustic look of a solid floor at home.