The Four Finishes are:

• Polished for a shiny, flat smooth surface
• Honed for matte, flat smooth surface – the most common finish.
• Brushed for a flat yet textured surface
• Tumbled for a flat yet textured surface – this finish reflects the least amount of light

*Caution –Although sealed for protection, travertine tile doesn’t react well to certain types of spills such as orange juice or vinegar.

Travertine Tile Care

It goes without saying that if you have chosen stone it’s going to last a long time even if you abuse it a little. And if you have chosen travertine wall tiles or flooring it is aesthetically pleasing. However here are a couple things you should know about travertine tile care. Bear in mind that travertine IS NOT granite or marble but originates with the limestone family, so it’s not stain resistant or indestructible.

• Travertine is a porous stone by nature, made of solidified bubbles, to simplify geology down to kindergarten level. But what this means to you is that if you spill something on your travertine countertops or mosaic tiles the spilt liquid could be absorbed into the stone unless you wipe it up quickly.*
• Travertine tiles are sensitive to acidic substances like alcoholic drinks, citrus juice and acid-based cleaners. Don’t use the ever popular vinegar and water solution to disinfect your countertops and don’t mop your travertine floor tile with any acidic cleaners that will either erode the surface or leave nasty stains.
• It is easily stained unless it has been entirely sealed and even then may still be susceptible to discoloration by water or juice. Try to select wall tiles that will be used as backsplashes and travertine countertops and shower tiles that are the most water-resistant as possible and have been well sealed. Ask your retailer about sealants and make sure whoever does your tile installation fills the crevices with grout and finishes everything with a final protective sealer.

Don’t panic just yet about travertine porosity, stain-ability or erode- ability. Most people who have installed these tiles in their homes know that it takes very little care to keep the tile looking great. In fact, many would say that travertine tile is one of the most elegant and durable flooring solutions available.

*The line of products from Aldon offer cleaners and care products specifically designed for these tiles. Some of their products are: Insta-Clean, Maintain, Dust Whiz and Aldon Lifeguard which is said to add extra gloss to sealed surfaces and prevents wear on previously sealed surfaces.

Let’s get started.

• Say you have the 18″ x 18″/ ½ inch thick travertine tile and a wet tile saw all ready.
• You’re ready to cut if you’ve marked your pattern, design or straight line where it needs to be cut.
• Now, you want to cut a few inches on one side and then turn the tile over and finish on the other side to avoid break-out on the edge, what in wood might be splinters or jagged edges.
• Pick a trowel. The best will be a 3/8″ x 3/8″.
• Now use medium bed Thinset, which is what holds the tile in place. Be careful not to use the wrong consistency of Thinset because you may get shrinkage which produces cracks.
• Use a wet sponge to wipe powder from the reverse side of the tiles. They must be clean.
• When the tiles are clean, add a small coat of mortar onto the flat side of the trowel. It sounds simple but this is a technique with a special name: burning or keying in.
• Now you’re ready to scrape away most of what you just put onto the tile. All that should remain is a film of mortar.
• Add more mortar and comb it with the teeth on your trowel. That’s what they’re for if you were wondering. Oh, and try to spread the mortar in only one direction.

You’re almost ready to place the tile….but just a sec.

• First take another tile to make slight groves in the opposite direction of how you placed the mortar. This just helps to avoid air pockets later.
• Now set the tile in place!

It’s important to keep your tiling area clean and to wipe away excess material because mortar when dry is very difficult to remove.

If you are following a pattern, which you should be, draw or use a chalk outline before mixing your mortar or placing a single tile. This s called dry lay.

Travertine tile installation is a long process and requires patience. But if you’ve just spent a small fortune on polished travertine tile don’t rush the process. Take it nice and slow.

Outdoor Patio: If it is a patio, the main concern will be to ensure the ground beneath the patio is level. Garden walkways and Paths: For garden paths, travertine tile installation is especially simple because the tiles may be placed directly into the leveled soil wherever you desire the path. You can create a path using the travertine tiles as stepping stones or you can join them together as a solid walkway or stagger them around flowerbeds and shrubbery to make your own unique pattern.

If however you are going to use travertine floor tile indoors for a kitchen or bathroom, and especially if it may be a travertine shower project you are wishing to create, or if it is a travertine wall tile project…..then it is much more difficult for a novice to do.

I can recommend using a professional tile layer for such complicated projects unless you are a semi-professional or a jack of all trades who knows a thing or two about mixing mortar, grouting, sealing and finishing tile surfaces. In bathrooms and kitchens there are so many corners and crevices and perhaps small steps or slanting drainage areas that must be calculated and taken into account when cutting travertine, that may cause you to waste a lot of tile. If you have undergone the considerable expense to buy travertine tile, why not do it right all the way and have professionals install them so there will be no leaks or cracks and everything will be level.

If you still want to give it a try then….okay…… after deciding on the exact tile you want and the general layout and design, and after you’ve measured and leveled the floor or ascertained that the wall is straight, here are the things you will need to do your own travertine tile installation:

Tools:

• A wet saw
• A pair of nippers
• A trowel with ½ inch teeth

Materials:

• Thinset – a glue for fixing tiles in place
• Sanded Grout –fills the gaps between tiles (comes in colors to match your tile)
• Sealer – use only a travertine specific sealer. *Aldon Sealers are highly recommended by many professionals.

*Aldon also carries a complete line of cleaners and after installation care products specific to travertine tile. Here are a few of the products: Insta-Clean, Maintain, Dust Whiz and Aldon Lifeguard which will add more gloss to sealed surfaces and prevent wear on previously sealed surfaces.