Lustro Italiano > Natural Stone Care > Caring For Travertine > About Travertine

Bathroom With Double Travertine Vessel Sinks

What is Travertine?

The answer to that question can be as simple or as complex as you would like it to be. The simple answer is that travertine is a specific form of limestone that has "pockets", or "pock marks" on its surface. Giving it a distinctive appearance. Many people wonder how to fill travertine holes. We will get to that subject, but first, let's look at some other information about travertine.

Uses For Travertine

Travertine has many uses and can be found in both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoor uses for travertine include applications in the kitchen, dining room, and bathroom areas.

Travertine Inside Flooring

Travertine Indoor Uses

  • Travertine Floors
    • Kitchen Floors
    • Dining Room Floors
  • Travertine Sinks
    • Vessel Sinks
  • Travertine Tiled Showers
  • Travertine Backsplashes
  • Travertine Bathroom Countertops

Even though travertine has many uses for inside the home, that does not mean that it is not a good candidate for outdoor projects.

Travertine Outdoor Pavers

Travertine Outdoor Uses

  • Travertine Patios
  • Travertine Pool Decks
  • Travertine Outdoor Kitchens
  • Travertine Steps

Actually, travetine tiles are used just about everywhere that limestone is used; and it can be used in many places that marble is often used. The similarities between travertine, limestone, and marble go even further than that though. Let take a look at how to clean travertine.

How to Clean Travertine

Cleaning travertine is basically the same as cleaning marble and limestone. Travertine is in fact a form of limestone. So, the basics of cleaning limestone apply to cleaning travertine as well.

If your travertine surface is polished, such as a floor or countertop, you will want to clean that surface with a pH neutral cleaner designed to work with natural stone surfaces. Lustro Italiano streak free stone cleaner is formulated to clean travertine and many other kinds of natural stone surfaces. Additionally, it is available in a 32 oz. spray bottle for everyday cleaning.

Removing Stains From Travertine

Even if you are diligent in keeping up with your travertine cleaning, there are still going to be occasions where you encounter stains on your travertine surfaces. In those cases, you will need something designed for cleaning travertine tile that has been stained. Our site makes a variety of stain removers available. Here, we will take a brief look at two of them.

Oil Based Travertine Stains

Particularly in the kitchen, it is possible that an oil based substance can wind up on your travertine floor. All it takes is a bit of salad dressing to drip from a plate on the way to the dining room. If it goes unnoticed, it can leave a stain.

For oil based stains on travertine and other natural stone, you can use our stain removing poultice powder to draw the stain out of the stone. This stain remover is designed to work on stains that are oil based. If you have an etch mark, or rust stain on your travertine then keep reading.

Travertine Hood With Backsplash

Removing Etches From Travertine

You may be familiar with the idea of etching. If you have read anyhting about how to care for marble, you have no doubt seen this. Yet, marble is not the only natural stone that etches. Limestone, travertine, and onyx also can etch. This is because of the minerals that make up the stone. What is etching? How do I clean etched travertine?

Etching happens when an acidic liquid is left on a natural stone surface that is composed of calcium carbonate. The acid in the liquid dissolves the calcite in the stone. This may not seem like big deal on the surface. However, the calcite in the stone is what gives it luster. So if an acidic substance dissolves that mineral, it leaves a dull spot on the travertine.

This is more noticeable on a polished surface. The solution though is simple. Our etch remover for travertine can help you take the etches out.

Double Travertine Island

Travertine Maintenance

We have already stated that travertine is related to marble and limestone. It is in fact, a special form of limestone. Travertine has a very distinguishing characteristic that makes it easy to spot. This characteristic is the holes that raw travertine is known for.

Travertine holes are often times filled at the factory before the tiles ever make it into your design. However, there are occasions that call for maintenance on travertine. For more information about what this maintenance involves and why it is needed, check out our page on filling holes in travertine.

In conclusion, travertine shares qualities with other natural stones. However, it also has some features that make it unique in other ways. Knowing these characteristics and being aware of how to care for them will enable you to keep your travetine in top shape for years into the future. 

IMAGE:      Travertine Vessel Sink   
URL:        https://www.flickr.com/photos/137891532@N07/24588195794/  
LICENSE:    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

IMAGE:      Travertine Kitchen With Island
URL:        https://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo/418224879
LICENSE:    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

IMAGE:      Travertine Paver Deck
URL:        https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Travertine_Paver_Deck.JPG
LICENSE:    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

IMAGE:      Travertine Kitchen Double Island
URL:        https://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo/2437147517/
LICENSE:    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

IMAGE:      Travertine Backsplash Hood
URL:        https://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo/2619011928/
LICENSE:    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/