Your opinion on travertine tile (Scottsdale: maintenance, work, townhouse)

[UKFSChick]

Hi

I notice a lot of the homes in Arizona have travertine tile on the floors and in the bathrooms. I think it looks amazing, and so have been doing some research on the pros and cons...The tile 'experts' I've come across (on tile forums, as well as various installers) have quite differing views on how difficult it is to maintain, whether it should be sealed etc etc...

I wondered if any AZ locals had their own feelings about their own travertine floors/ showers and whether they would install it again. I guess I'm just looking for the perspective of some average Joes before I leap into something that (according to some!) I may regret!

Also - would you be more or less inclined to purchase a home that had travertine installed?

Thanks for your time
Emma

[ecloebl]

Originally Posted by UKFSChick

Hi

I notice a lot of the homes in Arizona have travertine tile on the floors and in the bathrooms. I think it looks amazing, and so have been doing some research on the pros and cons...The tile 'experts' I've come across (on tile forums, as well as various installers) have quite differing views on how difficult it is to maintain, whether it should be sealed etc etc...

I wondered if any AZ locals had their own feelings about their own travertine floors/ showers and whether they would install it again. I guess I'm just looking for the perspective of some average Joes before I leap into something that (according to some!) I may regret!

Also - would you be more or less inclined to purchase a home that had travertine installed?

Thanks for your time
Emma

Our entire house is done in travertine. It is attractive and low maintenance.

[Stumblina]

I have travertine in my bathroom. I love it. Marble and granite are too slippery. Travertine has a "rougher" texture and is less slippery when wet. It definitely needs to be sealed, to avoid staining and to help keep dirt from grinding into it.

[UKFSChick]

Thanks for the feedback

What do you do to maintain it? Reseal every year (yourself or get in a professional)? Damp mop when grubby like ceramic tile?

[Stumblina]

Originally Posted by UKFSChick

Thanks for the feedback

What do you do to maintain it? Reseal every year (yourself or get in a professional)? Damp mop when grubby like ceramic tile?

I use sudsy water (liquid dish detergent or Mr. Clean). Yes, it needs to be resealed, but I do it twice a year (because it's the bathroom and gets wet so much) and I do it myself with a professional product I get from the tile store I bought it at. It's time consuming, but not hard.

[garynscf]

Travertine tile "is" well liked in Arizona, as is tile in general. Travertine will need to be sealed every two years. Other than that the maintenance is the same as ceramic or porcelain.
Travertine may increase your home value if your home is valued higher than $500K compared to ceramic or porcelain. However, higher end porcelains or ceramics duplicate the travertine quite nicely and can work toward similar value increases.
Travertine (also natural stones) will not damage in the same way as a porcelain or ceramic. If you chip a ceramic/porcelain sufficiently it will need to be replaced as the color does not go all the way through. A chip on a stone will not be noticeable in regards to loss of the "look" of the stone.
Natural stone will not crack when temperatures are below freeing, neither will a "true" porcelain which has a moisture absorption rate less than .05%.
What it appears to be, from the variety of my clients is matter of getting what "you" want. Not what somebody else wants. It is your home and you have to live in it.
Getting it right most often means getting what is most pleasing to you and your family.

[altus2006]

Originally Posted by UKFSChick

Also - would you be more or less inclined to purchase a home that had travertine installed?

Thanks for your time
Emma

Emma,

I agree with the man that told you to get something that you like and don't worry about others liking it. I don't even pay attention to the floors when we look at houses because I know that we will be ripping them up and installing what we want. Usually the houses have carpet, but if I didn't like the tile I would rip it out too.

The only floors that really turn me off are vinyl. I always feel that if a builder is putting in vinyl in the baths, kitchen and utility rooms that he may be dumbing down the rest of the house too in areas not readily seen.

My parents had travertine in a Shea townhouse they owned in Scottsdale for over 20 years and it still looked like new when they sold the house.

altus2006


.

[kschwink]

I'm A professional installer. My business is ArtisanTile located in Scottsdale, Az. I install more travertine than anything else. It's absolutely beautiful, and a great value. It's relatively low maintenance. It does need to be seal, but not very often if done properly by an experienced pro using a good quality solvent-base sealer such as 511 Porous Plus by Miracle Sealants. You'll know it needs to be resealed when it darkens slightly when it gets wet (an indication it's absorbing moisture). Also travertine can be resurfaced when high traffic areas start to show wear patterns. This doesn't cost much, and many of my customers have it done the same time they have their carpets cleaned. One other thing about sealing is that I see many of the travertine floors I've set, and sealed have gone almost ten years before needing to be resealed. Hope this helps.

Regards, Kevin Schwinkendorf @ Artisantile (858)220-3100

See my work @ ARTISAN TILE

[karenabcde]

I am having the same thoughts that you are having regarding travertine. I have found some porcelain suppliers have tiles and patterns that look indistinguishable from travertine. (to my amateur eyes, anyway!) Try www.villageotile.com (broken link)

[karenabcde]

Sorry-
try: www.villagiptile.com (broken link)
I think that's their spelling.