Using Travertine (kitchens and bathrooms)?

QTPie

I am in the process of buying a house which we will have gutted and redone.

Looking around tile shops, I was struck by the beauty of natural travertine. I thought that I would us it for the bathoom Walls and floor and the kitchen floor. We have a local supply shop called Mandarin Stone (they have a few shops) and I was looking just to go for their "classic" range.

My builder spoke to his tile supplier who recommended a travertine effect procelain tile instead.... The tile supplier warned against the poor quality of "economy" travertine (Mandarin Stone call their "honed and filled biege" "economy" ): that there couldbe a lot of filled holes in it (so looking poor and not great water resistance).

My first thoughts were that the tile supplier wants to sell something (and doesn't do travertine), but am wondering if there is anything in what he says?

Mandarin Stone seem very reputable. Looking at their product in store it LOOKS good (but I am no travertine expert...). Could travertine be a bad choice and costly mistake?

QT

Alan_M_2

I am a natural stone supplier. I choose not to sell travertine because on the whole what is sold in the UK is, well, rubbish.

A quality travertine comes form Tivoli in Italy, that's where it actually derived it's name from, it has more in common with marble than it does with limestone, although the fundamental geological make up is similar.

A quality travertine will have very little filler in it's overall content but will still require a small amount (5% or so) just to cover a few imperfections. It will cost in the region of £60 sq/m upwards.

What is predominantly sold in the UK is Turkish or Persian (Iranian) or Pakistani Travertine. This can have as much as 30% or 35% resin or cement filler in each tile filling up all the holes and imperfections. This is the product you'll find in the £20 sq/m range.

Mandarin Stone are quite a large established supplier of natural stone product (based in Monmouth), they got there by buying cheap and selling high and whilst they do offer some quality products they mostly deal in Commercial or standard grade stones sold directly to the public. The trade are wise to what they sell and buy from more established trade suppliers.

They also actively rename all of their products (contravening British Standards) to stop people getting samples then searching other suppliers to find competitive products and quality checking.

In my opinion the lower cost product is not suitable for flooring, it is a decorative or wall tile only. The wear rate of the filler/cement is unacceptable and you will find obvious loss of filler/cement in as little as 3-6 months.

For a bathroom it may well be suitable.

Also don't let them tell you a 12mm thick tile is a wall tile, it's not - it's a floor tile and they try to sell this as a one size fits all so they don't have to stock different thickness for each purpose.

QTPie

Thank you very much for your very thorough and considered reply.

What sort of thickness should I be looking for in a wall tile?

Yes, the stone sold by Mandarin Stone is 12mm and Turkish.

Is there any sort of natural stone that you can recommend up to about £30/£35 a sqm (ideally less)? Or is it unrealistic the get descent quality natural stone tiles for that price

Thanks
QT

Alan_M_2

You should be able to find a decent Portugeuse Limestone in that sort of ballpark.

Search for Moleanos or Moca Creme, both very popular colours.

10mm thick for wall tiles, 15mm for flooring (sometimes 10mm can be used for flooring in low traffic areas such as bathrooms - depends on the substrate.)

Rufty1

Alan,
I had been looking at slate for my new kitchen floor, but have now realised it would be far too dark and instead am looking at something like travertine. I was in Topps yesterday and they had both Travertine (honed and filled) and marble which looked interesting. Furthermore there was only £5 per m2 difference (30 vs 35) which doesn't sound right.

Do you have any comments or advice please? I do love the look of marble, even though it might be slippery when wet.
Many thanks

Alan_M_2

Limestone would be a better bet.

Marble (particularly polished) takes a lot of work to keep it looking that way.

Every 5 star hotel in the world has marble entrances, but what you don't see is the team of cleaners with polishing machines keeping it looking good out at 4am every night.

Unless of course you're looking for a tumbled look, in which case travertine is probably ideal.

Take a look at honed limestone, if you want a contemporary natural stone look that's by far your best bet.

Lucy_Lastic

I have been through the same process as you, looking at Travertine tiles, sending for samples etc. My builder told me that all Travertine tiles need to be properly sealed with special sealant and I thought it was all getting too expensive then. I've gone for these in my bathroom:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Crema-Marfil-Stone-Effect-Ceramic-Tile/invt/206958

They look lovely and are for both wall and floor.

Rufty1

Thanks people,

Having looked at quite a few tile stores now I've realised I dont remember seeing any limestone? What should I be looking for please? Ceramic, porcelane, slate etc yes, but not limestone. As a porous material doesn't that need careful sealing too?
That's an excellent point on marble - although I live on my own and it's not a huge area so might not be toooo bad (trying to kid myself).

From reading further up I had the impression that Travertine could basically fall apart is that right, or is that just the cheap stuff?

I was leaning against porcelain incase i start dropping things and chip one, so the brown would show through. Lucy, have you had any trouble with chips on your lovely looking tiles?

Thanks very much
Ruth

hazybubbles

i went for these for the walls in our bathroom and the equivalent floor version from the range after looking at real stone and deciding it would be too much hassle and in the end too expensive.

Lucy_Lastic

No chips as yet, but they are still very new. I'm wondering what could be dropped in a bathroom to cause a chip?? Never thought about it before! Maybe a possibility in the kitchen though.

ds1980

:eek: ok just read this thread! We are doing a wet room, utility area, entrance hall and toilet at present. I hate buying tiles as there are so many to choose from and everybody tells you a different story! ANyway wickes had some unfilled and unhoned travertine 10mm for chhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeap!!! So i bought it. Was going to do the floors with it in this new area. Am i being stupid! Im not bothered about filling it as i like the natural look. Problems seem to be they are too thin for floors? Need to seal especially in the "wetroom" i cant really be arsed to take them all back but if i have to i will. Can anyone put my mind at rest or help

ta