Travertine Countertop - A Wonderful Choice for Your Kitchen

With the many different kinds of stone countertops available on the market there is little wonder that it can sometimes be confusing deciding which countertop you wish to have installed in your home. A stone known as travertine is very popular for kitchen countertops. Travertine is naturally formed over many years as minerals come together through intense pressure and heat.

As a natural stone, travertine has many different kinds of colors, designs, and shades. The stone comes in colors such as walnut, cream, gold, ivory, and many other shades, which makes it a diverse stone capable of fitting smoothly into any decor. A travertine countertop is highly dependent on the type of finish that is used. There are only four finishes commonly used on travertine which consist of shiny, matte, tumbled, and brushed.

The most common travertine countertops available come in the tumbled finish. This type of finish gives the stone a textured look that is ultimately dull and unreflective of light. However, when the countertop is given its final layer of shine the stone has a remarkable and incomparable brilliance to it. Many homeowners specifically seek this shine because it is considered to be so beautiful.

Many people seek out installing a travertine countertop for a reason. As a well known and traditional stone, travertine is often installed due to the fact that it bears a remarkable resemblance to marble. However, travertine is much less expensive because it is much more common in nature and easy to mine. Because it is considered to be such a beautiful stone, travertine is very popular for its shine, variability, and color.

Furthermore, a travertine countertop is most easily installed when the walls are made of concrete or brick. Many homeowners put in travertine countertops simply because of the beauty it brings to the decor. It is considered a wise investment to make especially if you are considering selling your home in the future. Potential buyers are more likely to take a second look if travertine countertops are in the kitchen simply because of their appeal. Aesthetically speaking, travertine is the most popular countertop available on the market.

However, despite the fact that travertine is such a popular stone to set into countertops it does require some maintenance. Travertine has a tendency to degrade over time and is not considered to be a very stable or hardy stone. Also, travertine is particularly sensitive to acidic compounds. If you are planning to cook with vinegar or other acidic materials it is important to take the appropriate measures to protect the countertop from possible damage.