What is Travertine?
Travertine is one of several natural stones that are used for paving patios and garden paths. It is sometimes known as travertine limestone, sometimes as travertine marble; these are the same stone, even though it is neither limestone nor marble. The stone is characterized by pitted holes and troughs in its surface. Although these troughs occur naturally, they suggest to some eyes that 

Considerable wear and tear has occurred over many years. Some installers use a grout to fill these holes, whereas others leave them open. Travertine can be purchased "filled" or "unfilled." It can be effectively polished to a smooth, shiny finish and comes in a variety of colors from grey to 
coral-red. Travertine is most commonly available in tile sizes for floor installations.

Travertine is one of the most frequently used stones in modern architecture, and is commonly seen as facade material, wall cladding, and flooring. Architect Welton Becket was one of the most frequent users of travertine, incorporating it extensively into many, if not most of his projects. The entire first floor of the Becket-designed UCLA Medical Center has thick travertine walls. 

Are there different grades of travertine?
There are basically three grades of travertine.
Premium or first grade – The tile will be perfectly cut on all side, it will be same thickness throughout the stone, and it will have very little filler in the stone.
Standard or second grade - The tile will be perfectly cut on all side, it will be same thickness throughout the stone, and it will have a more filler in the stone.
Commercial or third grade - The tile may not be perfectly cut on all side, it will not be same thickness throughout the stone, and it will have a lot more filler in the stone.

What is the filler in the stone?
When travertine is quarried, there are small holes in the stone from water pockets that have formed over millions of years. The holes are left unfilled when they produce tumbled tiles and pavers. When the tile needs to be honed and filled, they use a mixture of the residue from the cut tiles and cement to create a fill that will stick to the stone as well as match the color.

What finishes are available in travertine?

Honed and Filled - Surface is sanded smooth, holes are filled, edges are straight

Honed and Unfilled - Surface is sanded smooth, holes are unfilled, edges are straight

Brushed Chiseled Edge - Surface is brushed, holes are unfilled, edges are chipped

Tumbled - Surface is tumbled(rough), holes are unfilled, edges are rounded smooth

Are travertine pavers suitable for colder climates?
Travertine pavers have been installed and tested in some of the coldest climates. They have been through several freeze thaw test without any cracking.

Is travertine safe for pools?
Travertine pavers are an excellent choice for pools, since they are non-slip and never get hot from the sun.

How are they installed?
Travertine pavers are sand-set installed in the same manner as concrete pavers. Once they are installed use sand as a grout.

Can travertine pavers be installed over an existing concrete deck?
Yes they can be sand-set or set with mortar.

What do I use for edging?
You can use an edging material that will prevent the pavers from moving, or you can pour footer with concrete and thin-set the pavers to the footer.

Do I have to seal the travertine pavers?It is not necessary to seal the pavers but you should seal them to protect against staining from some natural elements and spills from any harmful liquids or foods.

What is the Ashlar Pattern?
The Ashlar Pattern is a random pattern set of four different size pavers equaling 16 square feet. Each set consists of (4) 8”x8”, (2) 8”x16”, (4) 16”x16”, and (2) 16”x24” pavers.

Where do you ship to?
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. 

How much will shipping cost?
Calculating Cost Shipping costs for orders from Wholesale Travertine depend upon the shipping methods, quantity of product, and shipping origin. Pallet shipments will vary based on the area of the country you live or conduct business. We work with several trucking companies and search for the best price for your shipment at the time of order. If you would prefer to have your own shipping company deliver the shipment just let us know at the time of your purchase.

What is the delivery time?
Shipping of pallets please allow 2 - 5 business days depending on your location.

How are container orders handled?
Containers orders usually take approximately 8 weeks for delivery. Due to production schedules, availability, and vessel shipping dates.
Container shipments will vary based upon the weight of the shipment, the FOB origin, and your physical location. If you would prefer to use your own shipping company, please let us know at the time of your purchase.
We work with one of the largest customs brokers in the world to provide you with outstanding service through the entire shipping process. Our customs brokers have more than 250+ offices located in over 120 countries. They offer door-to-door control of each and every shipment. In addition to door-to-door control, their network gives you global visibility through local representation and knowledge of the unique characteristics of local markets. Please also note that shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based.

What are the criteria for a good quality travertine?
1- Tile must have 90 degree at all four corners
2- No rust color should be in the color of the stone
3- No pores should be in the filling of the stone
4- No rust colors should be in the pours of the stone in the back
5- The filling should be filled with hard resin material that will not flake and no cement filling is acceptable
6- The cit on the sides should be perfectly perpendicularly cut and no slope is acceptable
7- The thickness of the tile should be in inches
8- The color variation of the lot of the tile should be as close as possible without noticing the color variation and consistency
9- The tile should measure (18 inch x 18 inch)
10- The cut of the block should be cross vain cut and not straight cut
11- The crates should be build from strong wood pallets and to the specs needed for stacking and fork lift use
12- The face of the tile should show from both sides of the crate
13- The tiles should be packed in a special way where the face of the finished tile will be facing fork lift use
14- Their should be Styrofoam on the bottom of crate and side of tiles for protection.