Travertine floor... Now we've really hit the big-time.
If you're considering travertine floor for your home, take note: it's not for everyone. And before you say, "Who is that snob?" I'll say, "It will probably never be in my home."
Not that I don't want it (I like it). I especially like the travertine-and-slate mix pictured here. But here are the reasons:
- Travertine flooring is expensive.
- I have a 5 year-old son.
First, the bit about the boy. Travertine is limestone, and due to its composition it does not fare well when it comes in contact with any kind of acidic or corrosive substance.
Orange juice is regularly mentioned as being Travertine's Public Enemy #1, but think also of: tomatoes, vinegar, etc. This means that travertine--at least unpolished, unsealed travertine--may not be the best type of flooring for the kitchen. That, combined with the dirt and grime of boys, means that travertine is more like a "grown-up" flooring material.
Travertine Cost
Did you think travertine would be cheap? The travertine here (Jeffrey Court) comes in at about $10/square foot. Some varieties of tumbled travertine can fall in the $8-$10/square foot range. And of course, you can always buy higher, should your heart desire.
As a reference point, Brazilian cherry flooring can come in for as low as $5/square foot.
Even though $10/square foot may not seem bad, consider how much it would cost in a 400 square foot room ($4,000), and then adding in installation costs (maybe another $3,300).
Image: Jeffrey Court/South Cypress Floors
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