TRAVERTINE:
Travertine has been used in the construction of buildings for thousands of year. In today's construction, travertine is used for flooring, cladding on buildings, showers, wall coverings and counter tops.

Travertine belongs to the larger family of stone called limestone also known as Calcium Carbonate. Marble is also a type of limestone that has had additional heat and pressure applied to it by the earth's crust. Travertine is formed by minerals dissolving in ground water and then being deposited on the earth's surface by rivers, natural springs, or geysers.

Travertine comes in many different colors including ivory, beige, walnut, noce, and gold. The color of travertine is the result of iron compounds or other organic impurities.

Travertine can have four major finishes, polished (shiny), honed (matte), brushed and tumbled (textured surfaces). The type of finish given to the travertine will determine how shiny the surface will be. The polished and honed surfaces are flat and smooth, while the brushed and tumbled surfaces are flat and textured. The polished surface is the shiniest, while the tumbled surface reflects the least amount of light. The most common finish for travertine is honed.

Travertine is a natural stone product. Because the minerals that make up travertine are highly reactive with acidic solutions (e.g. orange juice, vinegar), a major consideration is where the travertine will be installed and what it will be exposed to. Sealers will provide some protection to the stone no matter what the environment, but knowing what it will be exposed to will help you decide whether travertine is a good fit for your project.

Travertine is harder than Limestone, but softer than marble or Granite

 
LIMESTONE:
Limestone rocks are sedimentary rocks that are made from the mineral calcite which came from the beds of evaporated seas and lakes and from sea animal shells. This rock is used in concrete and is an excellent building stone for humid regions. Limestone comes in various finishes such as Honed (smooth, non reflective finish (matte)), Polished (Non-chemical finish that reflects light and gives appearance of depth) and Tumbled (Round edges and corners for a rustic look).
 
MARBLE:
Marble works beautifully especially in the bath where the veining patterns and colors that appear can be used to create exquisite designs. Marbles are made up of mostly of calcite.

Marble is a metamorphic Limestone. High heat and pressure will crystallize Limestone, resulting in limestone. The crystalline structure allows the marble to take a high polish, and bring out the color of other trace elements in the stone.

Marble is available in an unlimited number of colors. It scratches very easily though. If you are going to be cutting meats and vegetables marble is a poor choice.

 
GRANITE:
Granite is one of the hardest materials on earth. Granite is composed primarily of quartz, feldspar and mica. Other minerals may be present in the stone creating its unique colors, textures and patterns. Used as a countertop material, it is resistant to scratches, acids, stains and heat. It is long-lasting, durable and available in a wide variety of colors, textures and unique crystal patterns that create a warm and inviting environment for your kitchen or bath.

Granite is very scratch resistant and will take cutting, however granite can be very porous and if you are doing a lot of cooking with hot oil, granite can stain easily. Granite can be protected against staining if you seal it with a good quality stone sealer. Most kitchen stone kitchen countertops are granite and overall are a good choice.