Tumbled vs Chiseled Edge Pavers

What is the different between tumbled and chiseled travertine or marble pavers? Chiseled pavers have a smooth honed surface with straight sides and chipped edges along the top. Chiseled travertine pavers will be more slippery than tumbled pavers, making them more dangerous if you have small children. This type of travertine paver was popular a few years ago but now it is outdated and no one really uses it anymore.

Tumbled travertine pavers are less slippery and softer on your feet than chiseled edge pavers. Tumbled travertine pavers are put into a tumbling machine that softens the edges of the paver to give a tighter fit when installing. Tumbling the travertine pavers helps eliminate the weaker pieces thus lowering the amount of breakage in your batch.

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Things to consider when buying travertine tile.

There are several things to consider when buying travertine such as what finish to use, what are the different qualities and where the travertine comes from. Travertine comes from Mexico, Peru, Italy and Turkey. Depending on the color and quality you are looking for will determine which country you purchase from. The best travertine will come from Turkey, Italy and Peru. Travertine tile coming from Mexico usually has more holes and filler, thus making it weaker stone.

Travertine is a natural stone that is formed over thousands of years by limestone and water. The limestone hardens and as the water evaporates, it leaves behind small holes in the travertine. Depending on what area of the mountain they quarry it from will determine how dense the stone will be. The denser the stone, the less holes there will be. These holes will can be left unfilled or you can have them filled in with a mixture of cement and remnants of the cut stone.

Travertine is broken down into several qualities of stone. The first is called "Premium or First Grade", the second is called "Standard or Second Grade", the third is called "Commercial or Third Grade". If you are purchasing the stone for your primary residence, you will most likely want premium quality stone. Premium quality travertine will have very little variation in color and will have minimal filler. The quality control department will sort the tiles into the appropriate batch. They will put all of the stones that look the same color together to avoid huge variations in the batch. Standard quality travertine will have a little more variation in color and have more filler in the stone. You can tell how much filler is in the stone by flipping the tile over to see how many holes there are. The more holes on the back of the tile, the more holes you will find on the front. Commercial quality travertine will vary a lot in color and there will be large fill marks throughout the stone.

The first thing you should do is ask which country the stone comes from? Second you will want to look at the current batch or request a sample from the current batch. Some travertine companies will send the best looking piece of stone as a sample and then send a second quality material when the order ships. Make sure you receive samples prior to ordering your tile. If possible, ask the distributor to send you a picture of the current batch so you can see a few pieces together. The next thing you should do is ask what grade the stone is. If you are on a budget and purchase an inexpensive tile, just know that you might have problems with shade variations, the road with fill popping out over time or inconsistencies in lots if you ever need to match up color.

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Stone Cleaning Tips by Location & By Spill

Learn more about how to care for stone by location and by type of spill.
Maintenance Cleaning in Common Stone Locations

Countertops and Vanities
Use a neutral, pH-balanced cleaner, specially formulated for stone, on a regular basis to remove residues from cooking oils and everyday food spills, as well as hairspray or other cosmetics. Be careful with common foods and drinks contain acids that may etch or dull the stone surface. Also, some common toiletries (i.e., perfume, toothpaste, mouthwash) contain acids and other ingredients that may damage the stone surface or degrade the sealer.

Floor Surfaces
Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean, non-treated, dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the potential damage from these particles. In addition, be careful when using a vacuum cleaner as the metal or plastic attachments or wheels may scratch the surface. Damp mop the stone floor with a diluted solution of a neutral cleaner designed for stone. Keep off floor until completely dry, as wet stone floors may be slippery.

Bath and Other Wet Areas
Periodic use of a neutral stone cleaner will remove any soap scum or hard water deposits that may have formed. In the bath, or other wet areas, using a squeegee after each use can minimize soap scum and hard water deposit buildup.

What to Do When a Spill Occurs

No matter how careful you are, spills are going to happen. A quick response and the right solutions can keep spills from damaging your stone or degrading the sealer.

Etch Marks
Highly acidic substances such as orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, tomato products, mustard and many soft drinks will “etch” most marble, limestone and travertine. Sealing allows you time to wipe up a spill, but it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull mark.

General cleaners not specifically designed for natural stone are not recommended. These may etch away the polish, discolor the surface, scratch the stone or degrade the sealer. Professional refinishing is the best way to permanently remove etch marks and restore your natural stone’s even finish.

Food Spills
Scoop up the food with a plastic spoon. Blot with dry, white cloth. Spray the area with a neutral stone cleaner and wipe off excess with a clean cloth.

Liquid Spills
Blot away the excess with a clean, dry, white cloth while turning the cloth frequently. Spray the area with a neutral stone cleaner and wipe off excess with a clean cloth.

Mud
Let the mud stain dry completely. Remove dried mud with a soft plastic or nylon brush. Spray affected area with a neutral stone cleaner. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. If the stain remains, contact a professional cleaner.

Oily Stains
If you identify the stain as having an oil base (from foods like salad, cooking oils, butter or some cosmetics) you may be able to remove the stain using a poultice. A poultice will wick up the stain from deep within the stone.