Differentiating Filled Travertine and Unfilled Travertine Stone

Posted by Eric Barthelemy on March 17th, 2018

Travertine gives off an inimitable rustic charm in its natural form and state. This type of limestone is formed inside deep hot springs, and it comes in various finishes that cannot be found in other stones. There are different terms that are used to describe travertine finish, and it is important to be familiar with them if your goal is to get the exact floor design that you are aiming for.

Travertine is a stone that is calcium based, and it is formed inside a hot spring that is already cooling. When water vapor escapes, it leaves plenty of tunnels within the stone. When a huge travertine block is cut into slabs, these tunnels appear as holes. Travertine can be cut in a way that the holes will form long lines. This is referred to as a cross-cut stone, and the holes are often filled in this case.

The surface of travertine can be very pock-marked if it is cut like other stones. This looks charming in a tumbled finish, but it can appear incongruous when the finish is polished or honed. Some manufacturers fill these holes with an epoxy that is created to match the stone’s color closely, which disguises the holes. There are instances where the color of this fill can be significantly different from the rest of the stone. And if the hole is particularly big, the fill can be very apparent.

Because of this, some manufacturers simply leave the travertine unfilled. A quick search will show you that unfilled travertine often has a chiseled or tumbled finish. But sometimes, you can also see it with a honed finish. In this case, the holes are supposed to be filled with grout as the flooring is installed. Leaving a couple of holes unfilled is alright for a rustic look, but lots of holes can make the stone weak and more susceptible to cracking and other problems. The holes also make the stone a catch-all for debris, dust, and dirt, making it hard to clean. When installing travertine flooring, it is crucial to find a grout that closely matches the color of the stone. Filling the holes gives the stone more strength and gives it a more pleasing appearance.

About the Company:

Stone-Mart is a direct importer of Premium Quality Travertine and Marble with locations throughout Florida, including Tampa, ST. Petersburg, and Fort Myers with Naples and Sarasota opening soon. Stone-Mart has the largest on hand inventory of premium quality Travertine Tile, Travertine Pavers, Marble Patios and Marble Tiles, Pool Copings, and Mosaics in the United States with factory direct pricing. Their highly trained Natural Stone Specialists are ready to assist you in choosing the ideal marble or Travertine for your project, and have strong logistic partners to ensure the most cost effective options for delivery to your Business, Jobsite or Home.