travertine as a kitchen countertop

I love travertine and would like to use it as my kitchen countertop. The granite company has advised me that this is not commonly used in kitchens because it will stain and acids will create imperfections. However, I still want to use it. Am I making a mistake? Should I choose something else? Their warnings are starting to make me feel like I'm making a mistake. I'm imagining the countertops being covered with a variety of food/oil/drink stains within the next few years. I've read some about sealing and impregnating, but it doesn't seem like it's going to help much. Many thanks!

 

Dear Kim:

If you are “American”, your fabricator is 1,000% right. And yes, no impregnator or sealer or whatnot could do the first thing to help. Let now me explain to you what I mean by “American”. Just keep in mind that travertine is a type of limestone – and a good one at that.

The stone itself has nothing to do with it. It's rather a collective culture issue.

All throughout the Mediterranean basin marble is a very popular stone as a kitchen countertop and everybody enjoys it. (Limestone is not so popular, but certain types of limestone could be acceptable in relation of what follows.) In Northern Europe and all throughout North America, many like the way it looks, but nobody enjoys it!

How's that?

For the simple reason that In Southern Europe they never install a polished marble countertop (or a polished marble floor, for that matter). They start from a hone-finished surface and then they start using and abusing it and only care for it with a good-quality stone cleaner (like MB-5). The “worse” it gets, the better they like it! It's considered “aging.” It's like a pair of old blue jeans, if you know what I mean: a highly sought “lived-in” look.

While the looks of an old pair of jeans is very much appreciated in Northern Europe or in North America, too, the same principle does not seem to apply to stone. Most people over here expect their stone to look like brand-new all the time, and any “change” is not considered “aging”, but a damage that needs to be rectified.

Hence the problem.

The question now is: regardless of your geographical location, which one of the two groups do you belong to? J

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri zio Bertoli

 

www.marblecleaning.org – The Only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!