subject: Travertine Tiles - A Fragile And Stunning Beauty [print this page] In today's era, people have become very cautious about adoring the place where they live and work. This type of thinking has compelled them to search innovative and advanced ideas to adorn their homes and offices in a unique way. These days, natural travertine tiles have been succeed to mark a recognisable appearance in the market as a option that are very popular for use in homes and commercial dcor.
Travertine is a durable natural stone that has been in use for centuries. Going in the history you can find that many of the historic monuments of ancient Rome are made from this durable building material. Today, they are used for various applications like floors, walls, bathrooms, and countertops. Their usage can also seen in the exteriors. The cutting of this natural stone is very easy so it is a very versatile material for do it yourself home improvements.
The travertine tiles come in a variety of warm colors such as cream, ivory, beige, gold and reds. They are found in an extensive selection of finishes. The honed finish is matte and the polished finish is shiny. Honed and polished surfaces are smooth and flat. The brushed and tumbled are their other finishes. Having a flat surface these both are textured. Among all available finished, honed is the commonly used one.
Expert recommends polished and honed finishes for areas that are high traffic and are expected to dirt because the smooth surfaces are easier to clean. However, the maintenance of the textured surfaces is not easy, but still they often worth it because of the look they bring.
Before going to purchase travertine tiles you should know they can be sealed if you would like to give the area some more protection. However, the minerals in natural stone can react to things with acidity such as citrus, alcohol and vinegar causing the stone to stain.
Sealing the tiles before grouting will help you to wipe the grout off the tiles. Avoid to the usage of abrasives. You can go with stone soaps that are recommended for cleaning the tiles. Abrasives cleaners should also be avoided. There are stone soaps available that are recommended for cleaning the tiles. If you spill something acidic on the surface you should try to clean it as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage.
The hiring of a professional depends on how much experience you have for installing the tiles. If you have some experience then you can go with the do-it-yourself service, but if you are not experienced your mistakes could cost you. Well, both your personal skills and budget would matter while going to choose natural travertine tiles.
