Travertine Stone Tiles is one of the most recognisable stone material in history that stands the test of time. The largest known building in history made entirely of travertine is the Colosseum of Rome in 80 AD. They are then gone on to be used in the construction of the iconic Basilique Du Sacre Coueur In Paris, alongside various tombs, churches and town aqueducts.

You can get the same durability and beautiful classic look as floor and wall tiles for the modern-day home today.

Travertine is an all-natural stone that will suit any home style and décor as they come in a wide range of finishes, edges, and colours.

So what types of travertine are there on the market? Plenty!

We can break them down into different finishes. Which you should choose mainly comes down to personal preference (sometimes its application).

We’ll go through the types of Travertine finishes below, so you know exactly what to shop for.

(H) Honed – Smooth, flat and consistent surface achieved by grinding one side of the unfinished stone. It has non-reflective qualities without bumps or ridges. Honed finishes work good for all applications that include indoor and outdoor usage. You can use honed Travertine on floors or walls, bathrooms, showers, kitchens and pool areas.

These can come in filled or unfilled options.

(H/UF) unfilled – rustic properties as the holes and pockets have been left unfilled

(H/F) filled – All the imperfections and pockets are filled in, to provide a seamless clean appearance.

Polished –  Reflective finish that has a high gloss sheen. The colors of polished travertine tiles are much more stable once sealed and changes very minimally with a sealant. These are more commonly used indoors where they are easier to maintain and not exposed to rain or as much dirt and debris. When polished floorings are not well maintained they can look very dull. These can also be slippery, so they are not recommended around rain prone areas and pools.

Brushed – A rough rugged look, using hard plastics or metal brushes on the stone surface. They often use a rotary wire wheel to brush the stone until they achieve the desired texture.

Tumbled and unfilled – The stone in its natural state with no sharp edges. Commonly we use it outdoor.

Besides the surface finishes, you will also find they come in different edges.

Again this is down to aesthetic preferences, and no one style is superior to the other.

Tumbled and unfilled – Natural state. Outdoor usage.

Straight Edge – Stone that was cut from a slab and left in its natural state. There are no additional modifications and the finish is dependant on the type of stone and cutting blade.

Chiseled Edge – A rough edging that keeps its natural irregularities. Perfect if you like an aged and worn look.

Let this complete guide help you with your in-store shopping experience. Know what you want, and know what to ask for. This will allow you to be more efficient when you shop.

At Smiling Rock, we’d love to stock every type of Travertine finish but that isn’t realistic for a small business. In order to bring a large variety, we have to increase the price across the board to make up for the additional expenses. We couldn’t do that to our loyal Smiling Customers. We have spent a long time curating our shop so we can give you an affordable price for only high quality and in-demand products.

Outdoor paving selection is  here