Travertin

Travertine's open pore structure and range of finishes let architects use one stone, in the right variant, across an entire project — floor, façade, and terrace alike. In 2026, sandblasted and brushed finishes are replacing polished travertine to achieve a lighter, calmer tone.

Stone structure

Travertine forms around mineral-rich springs, giving it a natural open-pore texture. Filled travertine has its pores sealed with resin or cement for a smooth, uniform indoor surface. Unfilled (open) travertine keeps its rougher, more textured face.

Finishes

Sandblasted and brushed finishes are now specified more than polished or honed travertine. Both mechanically open the surface, removing the polished sheen and darker top layer to reveal the stone's lighter natural tone — a better match for today's warm, light material palettes. Both finishes also improve grip, useful in bathrooms and on terraces alike.

Indoors

Travertine suits flooring, wall cladding, bathrooms, and kitchen worktops, in warm tones from cream to sand and light brown. It also conducts heat evenly, making it an excellent match for underfloor heating and even wall heating — the stone warms up gradually and releases heat slowly, without affecting its finish or dimensional stability.

Outdoors

For façades, garden walls, steps and terraces, specify an unfilled or frost-rated variant and impregnate the surface - essential to limit water absorption in the open pores and prevent frost damage.

Permeable terraces on pedestal supports

Travertine terrace tiles (typically 4 ~ cm thick for sufficient flexural strength) can be laid without mortar on adjustable pedestal supports. This allows per-tile height adjustment over an uneven substrate, full demountability for later access, and — because rainwater drains freely through the open joints and the air gap beneath — a genuinely water-permeable terrace. That last point increasingly matters as rainwater-management and de-paving regulations tighten.