When it comes to homes, most people get really sensitive regarding the issue. Homes now are not just roofs over the heads; they personify the people living in it. Not only the walls and the ceiling, but even the way the floor is kept is of significant importance. Travertine flooring has changed the scenario how the earth stands beneath our feet.
Dating back to ancient Rome, Travertine is distinguishable due to the many pores and cavities on its surface. It is a terrestrial sedimentary rock, which are formed when the carbonate in underground water sources such as geothermal springs precipitate. Travertine waterfalls exist not only in the US, but also Guidonia Montecelio, near Rome and Tivoli in Italy, from where it derives its name. Occurring generally in white, the colors vary from tan to other cream-colored varieties due to the different amounts of iron impurity present. That is why no two segments of Travertine are the same.
Travertine has generally been used as a building material since ancient times. The Coliseum in Rome is the greatest example. Used extensively as floor tiles, counter tops and garden paving. Since the surface is highly reactive to anything acidic, the environment in which it is implanted should be monitored. For this purpose, certain ‘sealers’ are used which protect the tiles. These tiles can often be found even in bathrooms and walls because of ‘texture’ it adds to the décor. Travertine floor tiles, coupled with ornate floor mirrors can make up for the ultimate recipe in interior decoration.
There are different types of finishes available for these tiles, which are polished, honed and tumbled (textured). While polished tiles are the best for decoration, tumbled tiles because of their low light-reflecting ability are quite popular. And the interior beauty is provided by the two different cut variations in the tiles which are the ‘vein’ and ‘fleuri’ cuts. While in ‘vein’, the cutting is done against the bedding of the tiles and a linear pattern is obtained. In ‘fleuri’ or ‘crosscuts’ the cuts are made along the bedding and make a circular pattern.
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