Pros and Cons of Using Travertine Backsplashes Kitchens
Buying a backsplash can be tricky. There are so many things that you have to worry about – the style of your kitchen, the color scheme you are using, the dishes you will be preparing, budget, time period, installation and what not. In fact, a backsplash can either make or simply break the look and feel of your kitchen. Out of hundreds of choices available for backsplashes, one of the classical options available is that of Travertine Backsplashes. Travertine is formed when minerals mix with the ground water and then come above ground with the help of springs and rivers. The mixture thus formed is extracted in the form of large blocks which are then cut and finished into smaller blocks. This material has been used from medieval times in Italy, Turkey and surrounding countries for manufacturing flooring, shelves, backsplashes and countertops.
Now, there has to be something marvelous in the material for it to be used so widely and so much; and here are a few reasons that travertine backsplashes are still a hit among the people.
Travertine is Classical
The material has stood the hard times and has a history of approval not only from buyers but also sellers and builders. The feel it carries along is still the same as it was a thousand years ago. If you are looking to give your kitchen a taste of history, travertine should definitely be your choice.
Not Just Classical
Travertine is not just classical, it is beautiful. The earthly colors and natural feel it carries cannot be ignored. In fact, these features add to the classiness of a new kitchen.
Variety in Colors
Travertine is hundred percent made by nature and as nature does wonderful things with everything else it has in its control, so it does with this classical stone. Travertine is available in a variety of colors – ivory, brown, beige, reddish brown and gold. The color of the stone totally depends upon the iron content in it.
The Feel
Apart from the variety in color, travertine comes in many different versions of finishing as well. A travertine stone can range from rough (natural) to highly finished look like marble. If you are a fan of antique look, go for the brushed or tumbled version of the stone.
Ease of Use
One reason contributing to the popularity of the stone is the fact that it can be cut easily. This property of travertine makes it a builder’s favorite as well. With lower labor involved, the cost of installing and fixing is comparatively less to many other options available in the market.
It is Easy to Replace
If you happen to break a tile or two of travertine a few years after installation, you will easily find a similar looking travertine tile; but if you happen to break a porcelain tile, it will not only be difficult to find a similar piece, there is no guarantee that the new tile would blend in with the rest of the backsplash.
Flexibility of Use
Installing a backsplash is as difficult as selecting one. The shape of the backsplash never matches the tiles and as a result, there is a lot of cutting and grinding involved. The properties of the travertine tiles makes it a clear winner over any other material that can be used for backsplash. The builder has to do minimum labor to cut it, almost no effort is required to match the tiles and on top of all, it is durable and can handle harsh handling.
Availability of Varying Width
Another factor that makes the installation of travertine easy is the varying width of the tiles available in the market. This makes the tiles budget friendly and can be even more customized as per the requirement and demand of the infrastructure.
It’s All Natural
The best thing about buying travertine tiles is the fact that you are investing in something that is purely green and eco-friendly. The ingredients of the tile are all natural and involvement of the machines is kept to mere polishing and finishing. All these factors greatly satisfy the friend of nature in all of us.
No matter how much good we speak of a thing, there are certain drawbacks that cannot be neglected. Same is the case with travertine tiles. No doubt, these tiles are green, beautiful, and easy to use and so on but there are a few things that you should definitely consider before investing your money in travertine tiles.
They Demand Care
Being stone, these tiles demand care; and a lot of it. They are brittle and can creak easily. An experienced builder would recommend using the highest quality of tiles and building material if you are going for this earthly material. What makes thing worst is the fact that being porous, even a lot of water can damage the tiles. Hence, using a sealant is highly recommended.
Highly Reactive Nature
The ingredients of a travertine tile are highly reactive to acidic substances. The reactivity is so damn high that even a little amount of orange juice (which unfortunately for the tiles, contains citric acid) can stain your tiles permanently. A good quality sealant can be your friend here too but it is not always 100% protective in such cases.
Unconventional Cleaning Required
The best way to clean any tile is by using vinegar but this is not the case with travertine tiles. The tiles would soak up the vinegar in the pores and slowly start degrading and staining. This happens because Vinegar is nothing but an acid. Also, as already discussed, even a lot of water can damage the tiles and hence these stone tiles demand a different kind of cleaning – dry one with a little alkaline solution.
The Cost
When you use a travertine tile, you are bringing some nature with you in the kitchen and nature here costs a little more than the synthetic tiles. The cost of porcelain is much lower than that of travertine but if you look at the overall maintenance and feel, Travertine tiles are simply your best choice.