Although the best known travertine tile and stone countertops are famed for coming from Italy, Iran and Turkey, the “travertino amarillo” or “travertino oro” are found in Spain. Many traditional kitchens in Andalucía, both contemporary and rustic, are crafted entirely from what people in the region call “marmol travertino”, in other words travertine marble. Although it’s not technically marble it’s of the same general family and is usually sold by marble dealers. It’s formed from limestone or calcium carbonate often in caves where there are hot springs, and can be the porous material that becomes stalactites and stalagmites. The porous nature of the raw stone tiles and countertops is what gives it that charming rustic, weathered, antique appeal. Also the colors available, ranging from golden yellow, coppery reds and soft creamy brown to almost pure white and pink, make it one of the most versatile stones to use in a wide variety of décor themes.
How can you use travertine raw stone tiles and slabs to create a kitchen countertop?
First, you’ll need to find the dealer nearest you who carries the Spanish “travertino oro’ or “travertino amarillo” or even some other names like “rojo Alicante”, which is a red stone from Alicante Spain. Rojo Al’Andalus is another color that’s popular is Andalucía and is a coppery Indian red that can be found through Spanish stone dealers like Eurasian Natural Stone, and a company that cuts and exports called Margar Natural Stone and a partner company, Travertino Amarillo, which is located in Albox, Almeria Spain.
Next, you’ll need to have it cut to measurements, and professionally installed. But the secret to having a great travertine tile or raw stone “travertino” countertop is how it’s sealed. Travertine raw stone tiles and slabs are porous and in some cases need polishing, either in the factory or “in situ”. If you place the raw stone first, then a certain amount of polishing will be done after installation, not to give it a shiny or ultra smooth surface like marble, but to fill the pitted holes and make them waterproof. The final counter should not be overly smooth, since the object is to create a rustic natural look. Some installers use a small amount of special travertine cement as filler and then buff the stone.