TRAVERTINE VS GRANITE
When designing a new space or doing home renovations there are a lot of factors to consider before choosing the natural stones that work best for you. In all our years of experience providing clients with the best quality natural stones in California, we’ve noticed that most people always gravitate towards granite and travertine.
Both stones are extremely durable and create an elegant and sophisticated look. So, how do you choose between these two? To help you understand the stones better and be able to make a decision that suits your needs best we’ve put together a few points off difference.
Here is everything you need to know when comparing granite and travertine.
Origin
Granite is an igneous rock. It can take thousand of years for granite to form in underground volcano chambers during a crystallization process of magma. Granite is mostly made of quartz, but includes a small amount of other minerals.
Travertine is a type of Limestone formed by mineral deposit found in hot springs. These minal deposit create rock structures called stalactites and this is where Travertine comes from.
Appearance
Granite can be found in several vibrant colors and unique patterns. Travertine on the other hand, only offers natural tones such was white, tan, brown or cream. Travertine is mostly known for its veined patterns that run across the surface, while granite has less color variations whitin the stone.
Both can be treated in certain ways, honed, tumbled, polished, and brushed to achieve a certain look that fits your design aesthetic.
Durability
Granite is said to be the most durable material after diamonds. A properly installed and sealed granite countertop will look like new for an entire lifetime when properly cared for. It can withstand scratching, cracking and chipping.
Travertine is a weaker and more porous material than granite. However, the calcite content in the stone makes it resilient enough to bear weather extremities and wear and tear.
Both stones are heat resistant.
Maintenance
Granite is considered a low maintenance stone. It only needs to be resealed once a year (if that). Their durability and robustness make them appropriate for high-traffic areas. Travertine is requires frequent maintenance, it will require resealing about every 3 - 4 months. To avoid staining, spills should be cleaned immediately after they happen.
Application
Granite is a multi-use stone, but it is mostly used in slab form for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and backsplashes. Travertine tile is the most common use of the stone, it can be used for backsplashes, flooring, pool copings, bath surrounds, and walling.
Travertine and granite can be combined since they complement each other very well, especially on kitchen designs. Travertine can be used for backsplashes and flooring while granite can be used for surfaces making them the perfect pair.