Travertine flooring is a popular natural rock choice for many people. The beige, reds, yellows, and browns that are naturally found in this stone compliment almost any style. It is a more delicate material to work with, and the costs can start to add up. Even with that, once someone has their heart set on this type of stone, it's hard to change their minds. Here's what you should know about the costs of a travertine floor.
Cost of Stone
The cost of travertine flooring isn't terribly high when you first start looking at the individual stones. It's most commonly found in 18 x 18-inch pieces, and averages around $2.50 a square foot. Marble can start at $4 and range up to $35 a square foot, and granite can be pricey as well. Considering carpeting and other types of stone can be much higher than this, travertine can be a great alternative to other flooring types.
Thinset Cost
Another consideration to factor in to the overall cost of travertine flooring is the thinset that needs to be used during installation. When you are installing ceramic or porcelain, using a standard thinset is all that's required. For travertine, however, a multipurpose thinset should be used. The thinset needs to be mixed differently as well, meaning you may need more than you would with other jobs. A standard thinset is cheaper, but the multipurpose will give you much better results.
Professional Installation
Any kind of natural stone flooring will take more time and attention to detail to install. Natural stones, such as travertine, aren't as forgiving as ceramic or porcelain. A professional will charge by the job, and you can expect the installation of travertine to be as much as 3 times more than other types of flooring. You will want to check around for pricing options, but in general you can expect to pay as much as $6 a square foot just for the installation.
Repairs
While it's always a good idea to purchase some extra material in case you need to replace or repair a tile later on, travertine won't be as hard to match up again as ceramic would be. Since the travertine has natural variations in the color throughout the floor, if you need to replace a tile after you've installed it, it will be much easier to track down and purchase. With ceramic and porcelain, there isn't a lot of room with matching up the tiles. You can spend a tremendous amount of time, and possibly money, looking for a replacement with other flooring types. travertine makes this easy.
Travertine may cost a little more to install than other flooring types, but the benefits are high. It's easy to maintain, easy to replace, and for anyone who loves natural stone, the look is unmistakable.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
