Travertine Tiles & Outdoor Pavers for Floors, Pools & Patios
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Travertine, The Colloseum & Timeless Buildings Worldwide 
Travertine has been used on paths, stairs, walls and floors in Europe for hundreds of years - it's part of the stone's charm. Travertine has been used on more significant buildings as well.
The Colloseum in Rome was constructed with travertine quarried from Tivoli on the outskirts of the city. The Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris and the Getty Centre in Los Angeles are also made from travertine.
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Turkish Travertine - Up There with the Best
Bellstone’s travertine selection are premium lines of extremely dense material sourced from Turkey. The colours are warm and earthy, ranging from beige, bone and light tan through to caramel and chocolate – the tiles used in our product photos have been selected carefully to illustrate the full variation in colour.
Cheap Travertines - Disasters Waiting to Happen 
We have had two conversations with people complaining about travertine (not ours!!) that has started crumbling with 18 months of being laid.
There are two reasons why this happens:
(1) the stone has too many holes and some holes are uncharacteristically large
(2) secondly the stone is soft with low density.
In cross-cut travertine, it is possible to have a thin wafer of stone covering submerged holes. In high traffic areas, the surface can cave in under impact from hard objects e.g. stilletto heels.
Sometimes builders substitute premium quality travertine from a reputable supplier with lower quality product to reduce project costs. If this happens, the outcome can be disasterous. You need to know where the travertine comes from before you buy, not after it fails.
Travertine, Wine & Kitchen Spills 
A lot of wine has been spilled on travertine over the years, especially in Italy!
However, too much wine can add unexpected patina to the surface if care is not taken! Travertine is comprised principally of calcite (calcium carbonate) which is also in marble and is very susceptible to all kinds of acids, some of which appear quite harmless.
Wine, vinegar, coke and orange juice are all examples of substances that are acidic which may cause damage if spilled and left lying on the stone surface.
Red wine and coffee are examples of household products that may also cause staining if not cleaned up promptly. The easiest way to prevent stains is to wipe up the spilled liquid straightaway.
Sealants can also be used as an insurance against damage such as staining they will also make moisture penetration into the stone more difficult; sealants will also make the stone easier to clean and maintain.
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Travertine - A Holy Stone 
Travertine contains holes but don't worry - they are meant to be there! The characteristic holes unique to travertine have been created by trapped gases such as carbon dioxide that have leaked away over time.
The holes in travertine distinguish it from other types of stone e.g. marble. Whilst not all travertine contains holes it is certainly a well known and loved characteristic of the stone. In some instances the holes may be be better filled; this can be done at the factory before dispatch or alternatively grouted over after the stone has been laid.
The best quality travertines have small holes that do not interefere with the flexural strength of the stone. Travertine that has lots of big holes is lower quality (i.e. lower strength, density & durability) so beware; sometimes this type of stone is described as "rustic"!!!!
For more information on our travertine see Product List & Specifications.
Free Project Consultation
Visit our showroom - we have a technical support team who would be happy to take you through our product range and help with your project requirements. Please call us on 1800 663 235 to discuss your needs.
