What is Travertine?

Travertine is a naturally-occurring sedimentary rock that features holes as a result of carbon dioxide escaping from the stone. Turkey and Italy, with rich deposits of travertine, are among the world's leading producers and exporters.

As these stones are formed via sedimentation in many hot springs and limestone caves, travertine is considered an ideal construction and decorative material for swimming pools. Grading the quality of travertine stones is determined by the amount of holes present in a slab. Travertine stones with fewer holes are considered premium grade.

Travertine tiles with many holes can be filled with a special material to make it look more attractive. However, because fillings are easily distinguishable given their uniform color, they're considered to be of lesser value compared to premium-grade travertine.

In addition to outdoor areas such as pool decks and patios, travertine is also used as decorative tiles for flooring and walls. Generally, tiles used for indoor cladding are of a higher grade and are cut more thinly than those used to pave outdoor features.

Although travertine has a natural color, it appears in various shades such as ivory and beige. These shades come in different tones, ranging from almost white to dark tones.