Travertine is a naturally occurring hard stone material. Its composition and characteristics are quite similar to that of marble and limestone. When it comes to bathroom remodeling, travertine tile is one of the most popular choice. It is used in luxurious bathrooms as well as small bathrooms. This is mainly because a travertine tile is highly durable that does not get affected by regular wear and tear. It is suitable for bathroom flooring, walls and countertops.
How to Select Travertine Tiles
A travertine tile is well-known for its versatility. It can be found in a wide range of colors, patterns and texture to suit your needs. You can get it in some unique colors as walnut, beige or ivory. The tile finish can be shiny or matte. To give the right kind of look and feel to your bathroom, you must choose the bathroom tile with great care. The first thing that need to be taken into consideration is the surface where the tiles are to be laid. For the bathroom floor, select textured tiles. This will make the floor less slippery when it is wet. For countertops, polished tiles with shiny surface can be used. Bathroom lighting plays a major role in deciding the finish of the tiles. Bright lights in bathroom is going to reflect a lot of light from a polished surface. Therefore, if you select a shiny finish travertine countertops, then you have to use low voltage lighting inside the bathroom. Tile color is another factor that determine the look of the travertine bathroom. You can keep one single color for the entire bathroom or can use two or more different colors for flooring and countertops and vanities. However, do not use too many colors in bathroom.
Tile Installation
You need a leveled and clean floor for tile installation. Travertine comes in the form of big pieces. Cut them with a tile cutter into smaller pieces to fit them into different areas of the bathroom like the areas around a toilet or bathtub.
You have to decide a pattern in which you want to lay the tiles. If you are working with one single color, then you can change the laying pattern of the tile to give it a different look. When you are using more than one color, then you have the scope to create attractive tile patterns. You can make an accent on the bathroom countertops.
Arrange the tiles on a flat surface adjacent to the bathroom as per your layout plan. Prepare the thinset mortar and apply it on a small section at one corner the floor and place the first tile upon it. Then press it gently and move it slightly on both sides. This will create a vacuum that will hold the tile properly. Lay two more tiles on either side of the first tile and put tile spacers between them. This will keep the gaps between all the tiles uniform. Follow the same technique to install all the tiles as per the tile designs.
In the areas near the walls you may not be able to accommodate one whole tile. In that case, you have to cut the tile according to the size of the gap and install it. Application of grout should start after 24 hours. Remove the tile spacers and then pour sufficient grout so that the gaps are completely filed up. Any grout on the tile surface should be wiped off with damp sponge. Allow the grout to cure thoroughly. Finally, a good quality tile sealant should be applied to provide protection to the tile surface.
Now you can see that the class and elegance of a travertine bathroom is unmatched. No other bathroom tile can give this kind of sophisticated look. Moreover, when the tiles are properly sealed, you do not have to take much special efforts for care and maintenance.
