What Is Travertine, and Is It a Good Choice for Floors?

What is travertine?

Travertine is a natural stone cut into tiles. The Anatolia Tile + Stone Floor Tiles Ivory Travertine Honed 12" x 12" lists Material: Travertine, Finish: Honed, Origin Country: Turkey, Thickness 10 mm, Color Variation: (V2) Slight Variation, Use On: Wall & Floor, Application: Residential and Commercial, Indoor Usage: Yes. The page description talks about sand-colored travertine and unique imperfections. The product listing also says "Filled travertine." Anatolia's sales sheet on that page lists Filled & Honed for the 12" × 12" format, water absorption 1.12%, and abrasion resistance Mohs 3. Anatolia's warranty on the page says natural stone has voids, pitting and veins, and that with normal wear, cracks and voids can appear as part of the stone's character — not a manufacturing defect.

In plain words: you are buying real stone with natural marks. Honed means a smooth, non-shiny finish. Slight shade variation (V2) means tiles in one box will not all look identical.

Is travertine a good choice for floors?

It can be, indoors, if you want real stone and you accept natural variation. The Ivory Travertine page lists wall and floor use for residential and commercial. It is a softer stone surface than a hard porcelain glaze (Mohs 3 on the sales sheet). Shop Floor Tiles for porcelain options if you want a harder glazed surface instead.

What are the look-alikes if I want the look without the stone?

• Porcelain that copies travertine: Centura Floor Tiles Travertino White Matte 12" x 24". Porcelain, PEI 4. The description says it imitates travertine without its disadvantages.
• Click vinyl travertine look: Planchers 1867 Click Vinyl Tiles Evolution Azura Travertine Bone 12" x 24" — SPC vinyl, click, pad attached.
• Glue-down vinyl travertine look: Centura Vinyl Tile UltraCeramic by American Biltrite Natural Travertine Warm Silver 12" x 24" — description says warmer and quieter than ceramic or stone, does not crack, with or without grout.

Real stone, porcelain look-alike, and vinyl look-alike are three different materials that can share a similar picture on the box. To choose between the click Azura and the glue-down UltraCeramic, read Which Is Better, LVP or LVT, and How Do I Choose Between Vinyl Plank and Vinyl Tile? For using a porcelain like Travertino at the front door, see What Is the Best Flooring for an Entryway or Hallway That Gets Snow, Slush and Road Salt in Winter?

Is mosaic the same as ceramic?

No. Mosaic is a format — small pieces mounted on a sheet — not a material by itself. Browse Mosaic. Examples on FloorBox:

• Genuine marble mosaic: Centura Mosaic Terra Marble Thundra Grey Hexagon Polished 12" x 12" — Material: Marble.
• Recycled glass mosaic: Centura Mosaic Opalo Stone Gris Hexagon Glossy 12" x 12" — Material: Glass; description says 98% recycled glass.
• Porcelain mosaic (wall): Centura Mosaic Herringbone White Glossy 12" x 12" — Material: Porcelain, Use On: Wall.

So mosaic can be marble, glass or porcelain. Ceramic/porcelain is one possible material inside a mosaic sheet — not the same word as "mosaic."