Travertine is one of the most beautiful natural stone floor materials — warm, varied, with a character that no manufactured product can replicate. It is also one of the most maintenance-intensive, with its natural voids requiring periodic filling and its relatively soft surface susceptible to chipping and scratching.

What Is Travertine?

Travertine is a sedimentary limestone formed by mineral deposits from hot springs. Its distinctive appearance — warm cream, beige and gold tones with natural voids and veining — comes from the conditions of its formation. No two travertine tiles are identical.

The natural voids in travertine are one of its characteristic features. Many travertine tiles are supplied “filled” (voids pre-filled with grout or resin) or “unfilled” (voids left open as a design feature). Both types sustain damage that requires professional repair.

Types of Travertine Floor Damage

Chip at tile corner or edge — the most common type. The softer calcium carbonate stone chips more readily than granite or porcelain at exposed edges. Filled with colour-matched stone compound.
Void opening — where pre-filled voids have opened up or original grout fill has fallen out. New fill inserted and colour-matched.
Surface crack — hairline cracks running across the tile. Filled and sealed.
Surface pitting — where the surface layer of the travertine is beginning to erode or spall. Localised treatment and filling.
Etching — dull patches caused by acidic substances (citrus, vinegar, cleaning products) reacting with the calcium carbonate. Polishable in most cases.

Matching Travertine Colours

Travertine colour varies significantly — from very pale cream through warm gold to deeper rust and brown tones. Within a single tile, the colour varies from the light areas through to the darker mineral inclusions.

Our technicians work with a range of natural stone pigments and mineral aggregate to match travertine. Results on standard cream and gold travertine are consistently very good.

Travertine Floor Cost Guide

Single chip repair: £75–£145
Void filling (per area): £75–£150
Crack repair: £85–£150
Etch polishing (per area): £85–£175

Frequently Asked Questions

My travertine is unfilled — should I fill the voids?
Unfilled travertine is a valid design choice but the open voids collect dirt and are harder to clean. Filling them is a practical improvement. We carry out travertine void filling as a standalone service.
Can travertine be polished to a higher sheen?
Yes. Honed travertine can be polished to a higher sheen using diamond polishing pads. This is a separate service from chip repair.
My travertine is 15 years old and the colour has changed with use — can you still match it?
Yes. We match the aged colour as it exists today in your specific floor.