Travertine marble: do you already know everything about this stone?

Antonio Neves
Written by
Antonio Neves
Published on
9/3/2024
Updated on
31/3/2024
Travertine marble: do you already know everything about this stone?

Travertine marble, as well as other types of marble, brings refinement and sophistication to any environment. For this reason, travertine is one of the most common marbles used in building construction and finishing.

The taste for travertine marble is not just new, since we can find several buildings dating back to antiquity with this stone, which are present in the Colosseum, the Egyptian Pyramids and the Basilica of Saint Peter, thus having a long history in architecture and decoration of buildings.

The trend of using stones, such as travertine marble, has persisted to this day and thanks to its natural beauty, it is possible to find it in the most varied environments, imparting sophistication and elegance to them.

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The use of natural stones is on the rise in the decorative world and travertine marble has gained the preference of Brazilian architects. For this reason, it is very common to notice its presence in different environments, such as the bathroom, kitchen, staircase, floor, walls and many others.

Are you thinking of using this stone in your business? Then this article is for you!

Here, we will explain what travertine marble is and what its origin is, what are its advantages and disadvantages, its main types, the most common finishes, where it can be used, what its price and how it should be maintained and cleaned. Shall we go?

What is travertine marble? What does travertine mean?

Basically, we can define travertine marble as a natural beige rock composed of the minerals calcite, aragonite and limonite, formed through physico-chemical reactions undergone by other rocks and also by the action of thermal water.

Travertine marble is light beige in color, with long veins. To form in nature, travertine needs soils where there are flowing water courses over rocks, such as waterfalls and waterfalls. In Brazil, Bahia is one of the largest producing states of this stone, as it has favorable climatic and geological conditions for its formation.

The name travertine originates from the city of Tivoli, in Italy, a pioneering region investing in the extraction of this stone. However, there are also large quarries of this type of rock in Mexico, Peru, and Turkey.

What are its advantages? And drawbacks?

The advantages and disadvantages of travertine marble are practically the same as those common to marbles. Among the advantages offered by travertine marble, we can mention:

  • Good strength;
  • Clean, elegant and noble appearance;
  • Variety of types and colors;
  • Variety of finishes, being flexible for what you want.

As for the disadvantages, travertine marble, like other marbles, has higher values when compared to other types of coatings.

In addition, they are porous and more subject to stains, but this can be reversed, I will explain later. In any case, those who want a different coating, despite the price, choose marble and travertine is a great option, as it combines with different styles of environments.

Main types of travertine marble

Now, let's get to know the types of travertine marbles. There are variations due to the region in which they were formed and also because of the training differences they have. Then, it is possible to find travertine marble of various shades. Let's get to know a little bit about each one of them.

Roman or classic: one of the best known and most used, it has a beige shade with discreet spots and veins in light and dark beige tones. It is widely used in its raw form, even in outdoor areas. Highly resistant and durable.

Navona: presents lighter shades of beige, with lighter and less marked veins. It is a more homogeneous marble.

Nacional or Bege Bahia: it originates from Brazilian quarries, which makes its price much more affordable. It is widely used in Brazil. It has more marked, darker veins and spots in greater quantity.

Turkish: it is produced in Turkey and is less resistant and more porous. It is a stone that breaks more easily and there may be more losses. It has a more intense color towards dark beige and brown.

Noce: also extracted in Turkey, it has a dark beige hue, tending to brown, with discreet veins. It's not very common in Brazil.

Silver: originated in Turkish quarries and its color ranges from cold light beige to rosy beige tending to brown and gray.

Tivoli: cream-colored marble that is widely used.

What are the most common finishes of travertine marble?

In addition to the types of travertine marble that exist, it is possible to give them different finishes, according to what the customer wishes. For example, to make marble shiny, it must be polished, while to make it look more rustic, it is used in its raw form.

The most common finishes for travertine marble are:

  • Crude: it does not receive any treatment, being rougher, opaque and with very apparent veins. Suitable for giving a rustic look.
  • Polished: when it is only sanded (semi-polished), leaving it smooth and opaque, but with the natural color of the stone.
  • Polished: marble is polished, which makes it smoother and shinier. It can be very slippery.

Where to use travertine marble?

Travertine marble is present in the decoration of various types of environment. There are a huge number of places where you can use the beauty of the stone. The most common places we see travertine marbles are in the bathroom, kitchen, sinks, countertops, living room, floors, stairs, and walls.

Although these are the places where we see the most travertine marble, it is enough to use the creativity and help of architects and decorators to expand its use even more.

How much does a square meter of travertine marble cost?

Let me tell you: travertine marble is not a cheap option! Like all marbles, because it is a natural stone, travertine has a higher value when compared to other types of coatings or synthetic stones.

However, you need to evaluate what you want for your work and analyze whether or not it is worth using marbles. As for the aesthetic finish, we don't even need to mention: it's clear how much it adds to the decoration of any environment, making it more beautiful and elegant.

But to give you an idea, the most affordable travertine marble is the domestic one, because it is extracted in Brazil, with a price of around 200 to 400 reais per square meter. You can imagine the price of imported ones, right? Therefore, make a good budget with trustworthy companies before hiring.

How to clean and maintain travertine marble?

Travertine marble is very simple to clean. Just use a damp cloth, with water and coconut soap or a mild detergent, and wipe it over the stone. It is good to use a dry cloth so as not to allow the contact of the marble with the water to stain the stone. It is not recommended to use corrosive and abrasive products as they can decrease durability, create stains and wear down the material. Basically, cleaning should be done that way.

But what about in the case of stains? How should they be removed? If you have stained the marble, it is important to contact the manufacturer to follow the guidelines to solve the problem. However, you can prevent marble from being stained by preventive measures, with the application of specific products.

Thus, to keep the marble protected against water infiltration, you need to apply BlokSeal, a high-performance water repellent that, when applied, creates an invisible layer on the surface that prevents water from passing through.

In addition to protecting the entire stone, increasing its lifespan, it prevents dirt from accumulating, also facilitating cleaning.

Also, it does not alter the physical characteristics of the material, that is, you can give the marble whatever finish you want and it will remain preserved for much longer, after applying BlokSeal.

Did you see how difficult it is not to maintain your stone? And with BlokSeal it's even easier. Therefore, consult the Blok team to learn about this solution for your marble!

Conclusion

Did you like to learn more about travertine marble? So now it's time to decide if it's the right coating for your construction. If you choose travertine, it is possible to choose from its various varieties of colors and prices.

Therefore, read this article again so as not to make a mistake with your choice! And don't forget to use BlokSeal.

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