| One of the most important aspects of Roman | | | | must be sealed against staining as the porous |
| villas that make them so endearing is the use of | | | | nature of the natural stone allows for many hair |
| stone. Marble is popular to some extent but | | | | pockets. These pockets can allow liquids to enter |
| another sedimentary rock, Travertine, actually | | | | the rock structure and cause stains which will |
| offers more color and texture than can be found | | | | basically last forever. Often times floor tiles are |
| with marble. Both these stones are formed by | | | | polished almost smooth and then these pockets |
| the same carbonic material action but marble | | | | are filled in order to help with sealing. A good |
| usually spends more time underground at a higher | | | | coating of floor seal every year will then keep |
| pressure and temperature which makes it more | | | | them looking great. |
| dense and harder. This also tends to mute the | | | | The staining issue is not near as important when |
| vibrant colors of the minerals which is why | | | | the tiles are used on the wall. Generally, much less |
| marbles tend to be grey in tone. | | | | material is spilled on a wall and the affects of |
| Travertine, on the other hand, still will show the | | | | gravity will not allow any spills to seep into the |
| extreme hues that can be obtained with the local | | | | face of the stone anyway. Usually, when the tiles |
| mineral content of the hot springs where they are | | | | are used on the wall they are kept in the natural |
| formed. These colors range from deep beiges to | | | | state with all the crevices and openings which |
| very bright royal golds. If you are trying to mimic | | | | allow for a rustic, very vibrant look. Some people |
| a Roman villa's look and feel then travertine wall | | | | also opt for a brushed or tumbled look which |
| tiles will give you the look you desire. | | | | knocks down the ridges but keeps the porous |
| Travertine tiles can be prepared with several | | | | nature for a 3-D effect. |
| different surface textures. For flooring, the tiles | | | | |