5 Reasons to Consider Installing Travertine Counters

In recent decades, nicely polished slabs of granite have virtually become a standard of interior décor for kitchen and bathroom counters, and there are various reasons that justify this trend. While granite is durable and very attractive, its current popularity in the United States can be attributed to the flurry of trade agreements that came into effect after the initial wave of globalization in the mid-1990s, which made it easier and more affordable to obtain granite from quarries located in Brazil and other countries. Granite is not the only natural stone that has become easier to obtain thanks to trade agreements. In recent years, homeowners have been looking at other types of stone such as slate for flooring, quartz for fireplace surrounds, and travertine for countertops. Here are five reasons to consider installing travertine for the surface of your kitchen and bathroom surfaces. 1. Try Something Different According to search volume activity reported by Google Trends, the popularity of online queries for granite countertops reached an all-time high in January 2006. By December 2008, interest had fallen by more than three quarters and has been pretty much flat since 2011. Searches for travertine, on the other hand, have been steady since the year 2010, which indicates homeowners are ready to try options other than granite, and travertine is certainly a good alternative. 2. Choose a Tiled Look Many homeowners are choosing to go with travertine tiles on their prep and breakfast counters instead of slabs, particularly when it resembles marble. Instead of grouting, this installation requires a technique called precision edging, and it looks good enough to try as a mosaic. 3. Go for a Stylish Look Many homeowners choose travertine because its look often resembles marble. When compared to granite, travertine offers less diversity in terms of appearance. Most of the tones found in the market these days are creamy and earthy, but they look fantastic. When travertine is cut at the quarry, it will have more holes and cracks than veins, but once these imperfections are filled in and the surface is finished, travertine achieves a gorgeous look. If your kitchen cabinets are made of light-colored wood, you should look at cream-toned travertine. 4. Enjoy Easy Maintenance With the modern finishing and treatment applied to travertine, you can handle maintenance on your own. The key is to keep the surface dry and clean as much as possible, using a spray-and-wipe product such as Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®, which is specially formulated for natural-stone care. As long as your travertine counters are properly sealed upon installation, maintaining the beauty of the stone will be easy. 5. Follow Historical Precedent The use of travertine dates back to the days of the Roman Empire. The builders of the Colosseum chose travertine for many sections due to prolonged shortages of marble during a construction boom. Nearly 2,000 years later, the travertine sections of the Colosseum are holding up well. When caring for your travertine, make sure you have plenty of cleaning solution on-hand. Purchase Granite Gold Daily Cleaner Refill®, which is also safe to use on granite, marble, slate, limestone, and other types of natural stone. If you’d like tips on how to clean your stone properly, reach out to Granite Gold® today at 1-800-475-STONE.