Comparing Travertine and Colorado Granite

Wholesale to Public

Granite Buying Made Simple

Comparing Travertine and Colorado Granite   Comparing Travertine and Colorado Granite

Wholesale to Public

Granite Buying Made Simple

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Comparing Travertine and Colorado Granite

Comparing Travertine and Colorado Granite   Comparing Travertine and Colorado Granite

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When designing or renovating your home, there are a lot of factors to consider. Natural stone choices are an investment and so many options exist. Granite is a multipurpose stone that is perfect almost anywhere in your home. Travertine shares some similarities with granite, so it can be hard to choose between them. Everything you need to know is here to help you make the best decision for your home:

Composition

It’s essential to know how the natural stones form to understand the differences between the two of them. Geologists classify stones and rocks into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic groupings.

Travertine is a type of limestone in the sedimentary category. It is formed by the evaporation of mineral-rich water when its temperature or acidity changes. Hot spring water in caves is a common place for limestone to form; You might have seen it in the form of stalagmites or stalactites. After polishing, its structure will look more banded or fibrous.

Granite is the most common igneous rock. Volcanic lava or magma solidifying and crystallizing makes granite. This is why you can see a crystalline structure throughout the stone. It is coarse-grained, and other minerals like quartz, feldspar, and mica get trapped in the stone, giving it color and variety.

Durability

While natural stones are highly durable, travertine is a slightly softer stone than granite. Granite will have a longer life and show less wear and tear than travertine. It’s more impervious to scratching, cracking, and chipping as well. The difference is difficult to discern with proper maintenance and care under normal usage conditions. They are both heat resistant, but their sealants are less so.

Maintenance

Both stones are porous. Since travertine is limestone, it is much more porous. Checking your seal and redoing it as needed is especially crucial for travertine. With that in mind, the maintenance is almost identical:

  • Avoid harsh, acidic, or abrasive cleaners
  • Clean up spills immediately, especially acidic ones
  • Wipe down your countertops daily with a damp cloth to prevent a grimy film
  • Avoid direct contact with hot pots and pans
  • Routinely check the sealant and replace it as needed
  • Polish as frequently as you prefer

Cost

Both granite and travertine are high-quality natural stones. Their costs are comparable, but travertine is typically a few dollars less expensive than granite per square foot. However, the price will be affected by appearance, porosity, thickness, and the exporting country.

Uses

Granite is one of the top choices for high-traffic areas, countertops in the kitchen or bathroom, and vanities. It’s a multipurpose stone that you can use for outdoor patios, pathways and driveways, indoor flooring, fireplaces, and accent walls. It’s the more popular natural stone for commercial use as well. You will commonly choose travertine for residential projects in low-traffic areas like indoor flooring, backsplashes, around baths or pools, and accent walls.

Looks

The most significant difference you will find between the stones is their look. Due to its origin, granite has a wider variety of colors. They range from light cream, like white ice granite, to black. Granite often contains contrasting specks that can have a sparkle effect.

Travertine has a more limited palate in creams, tans, and gray colors. While granite has veining in many cases, travertine is known for its long veins that typically are contrasting colors. This is a standout feature unique to travertine if it has been vein-cut. If the veining is not visible, the stone has been cross-cut.

Finishes

Travertine and granite share two options for finishes:

  • Polished: The most popular choice, especially for countertops. The surface looks glassy or mirror-like. Colors and textures are more vibrant, and the finish highlights the characteristics of the stone.
  • Honed: This is a matte or buff finish. You have the surface smoothed without a reflection or gloss. It is popular for floors as you will be less likely to slip. The process does make the stone more susceptible to stains, though.

Travertine has two additional finishes:

  • Tumbled: The stones are tumbled together with abrasive grit in water to create a more natural weathered effect. The process gives it an attractive rough appearance.
  • Chiseled: You can combine this effect with other finishes as it concerns the edges. The chiseled edges are left rough and irregular instead of the beveled or straight edges of other stones. Like the tumbled look, it gives travertine an aged or weathered appearance.

Granite has four additional finishing choices:

  • Leathered: It is created by running diamond-tipped brushes over the surface, so you may hear it called a brushed finish. It maintains the stone’s natural color while creating subtle dimples and texture. It hides fingerprints, smudges, and water spots better than other finishes.
  • Caressed: This finish takes the leathered finish and adds shine. The raised areas of the stone will be glossy, while the dimples will be natural. It adds elegance while maintaining the ruggedness of natural stone.
  • Flamed: This finish is unique to granite due to its heat resistance. High heat is applied to cause the grains to burst and change color. You will have a rougher surface with a faded appearance.
  • Bush Hammered: The most uncommon finish for granite. There is a particular hammer to make a more weathered and textured surface. The stone’s color will lighten with this finish.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what aspects of the stone are most important to you. Granite is more hardy and long-wearing with more color and finishing options. Travertine offers some unique looks that other stones cannot replicate. Working with an experienced fabricator can help as they guide you to the recommended natural stones for your project. They can explain the pros and cons of each slab you have pre-selected. Here is a guide for locating the perfect fabricator for your plans.