The popularity of natural stone flooring is undisputed and with this popularity has come an increasingly wide range of products - it has to be said that some are better than others and the term 'buyer beware' certainly applies.

This quick guide from Classical Flagstones will help buyers wishing to fit travertine (be they travertine tiles, natural stone travertine tiles, travertine wall tiles or travertine floor tiles) pick the good from the not so good.

Travertine is formed by water travelling through limestone and emerging at hot springs then cooling rapidly. The minerals it collects on its journey are captured as rich and creamy colours, frequently complemented by tiny shell patterns. Being a natural product, travertine, like all stone, is subject to the vagaries of nature. Classical Flagstones is careful to select only the highest quality travertine when creating our travertine tiles and we ensure that finishes (for our honed and filled finishes) are correctly applied to ensure that you can enjoy a beautiful natural travertine stone floor for years to come.

Natural travertine tiles come with a range of finishes:

Honed - abrasives are applied to the surface of the stone giving an even, smooth and generally matt surface.

Filled - any naturally occurring holes in the stone are filled and the surface is then honed to create an even, smooth surface.

Unfilled - any naturally occurring holes in the stone are left in their natural state.

Here's the Classical Flagstones quick guide to ensure you only select the best natural stone travertine tiles.

Good quality Travertine

Tile sounds solid when tapped

No thin edges to tile

Limited number of holes so limited amount of filler required

Any holes present do not run all the way through the travertine

Any filler used matches the colour of the travertine

Poor quality Travertine

Tile sounds hollow when tapped

Thin edges to tile

Lots of holes in the travertine with lots of filler

Holes run to back of tile and around the edge of the tile leaving a very thin top edge

Uneven finish on honed tiles where filler is sitting on the surface

Filler does not match the colour of the travertine.