Travertine is a nice-looking natural stone that is used to build things. It’s a lot like granite and marble in many ways, like how it has earthy colors and natural patterns and how it’s used around the house. Still, over time, travertine started to look different from other natural stones. Even though travertine is classic and beautiful, it is becoming the most popular interior design trend for this year and the next. As the world moves toward being more eco-friendly, natural stones are once again getting a lot of attention. So, if you are remodeling your home or building a new one, now is the best time to ask for natural stones like travertine.
Different Kinds of Travertine are:
When talking about the different kinds of travertine, you will always hear the terms “filled” and “unfilled.” These words refer to the fact that the stone is naturally porous or has a tendency to have holes in it.
Unfilled Travertine
Travertine that has not been filled or treated in any way, leaving it in its natural porous state. Since its holes and other flaws are visible, it has a finish that looks natural or rustic. Travertine is a type of sedimentary stone that is not filled. It comes about because of a natural process that often happens in hot springs. It can also be found in caves where there are stone formations. Limestone is what travertine is made of. There are many colors on it. Coral, cream, tan, brown, and white are some of the colors. Some of it has stripes of different colors, which make it look even better. Travertine that hasn’t been filled in comes mostly from Turkey and Italy. But there are also versions of it in many other places worldwide. Like some parts of the United States, like Texas and Oklahoma, for example. Interestingly, this natural stone was already being mined in ancient Rome. Travertine was an important part of how ancient Rome was built. Like when they built St. Peter’s Square in the 1500s. They were also used by Michelangelo to make some of the ribs on the outside of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Filled Travertine
The pores or holes in the travertine are filled with a material that matches its color. This is usually a mix of cement, dust byproducts, or other hardeners. After this process, the surface is flat and smooth. Customers usually choose to fill the holes with grout after installation instead of letting dust and organic matter like leaves or grass clippings fill them up. In damp places, mold can proliferate in the holes that aren’t filled.
Conclusion
Here we are with the conclusion on difference between Filled vs Unfilled Travertine. Filled stone is when the factory fills the stone with polyester “fill” and seals any big holes in the stone. A stone that isn’t filled at the factory doesn’t have the polyester fill, so it usually has a more natural look. Gothic stone prefers the unfilled stone because we can always fill it with the grout, we will use to set the stone, which usually won’t add another color. It makes the grout lines less noticeable because the color of the grout is mixed into the stone.