Replies

1. 
   FastEddie | Sep 30, 2007 08:03pm | #1

   It is very much a personal preference, considering cost, looks, durability, etc.  Marble will be soft.  True travertine has open pores, some large enough to drop peas into.  You would probably want filled and honed travertine.  Since it is a limestone, it is also relatively soft.  but it's easy to work with.

   Slate will have rigdes from the different layers.  really cheap slate is actually shale, and it not a good choice ... it is somewaght water soluble.  The ridges in the slate can make it difficult to do a clean grout job, and some people will complain that the ridges trap dirt.

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   dakar | Sep 30, 2007 08:44pm | #2

   Thank you for the advice.  I believe I will go with filled/honed travertine.

1. 
   peteshlagor | Oct 01, 2007 01:12am | #3

   That's a great material.

   Select yours based upon the lot having as few black specks as possible.

   And select your size based upon the size of room and extent of lay.  12" many times is too small.  I used 16" laid diagonally with a running border of 1/2 tile.

   Sweet material for dogs, cleaning, etc.  Remember Eddie's warning about holes.  They'll fill those that are open, but a high heel or something pokey, will cause another, and another, and then another to open up.  You may have to regrout/refill in a few years. 

   But don't let that stop you.  It's a great color, feel, and look.

    

1. 
   FastEddie | Oct 01, 2007 04:59am | #4

   Actually, you can use the unfilled travertine, and when you grout the joints the holes will also get grouted.  And some places sell tumbled travertine, which has softened edges and an unpolished face.  I like it for non-formal applications, where you wan to see slightly uneven joints, looks like very old work."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

2. 
   JeffBuck | Oct 01, 2007 08:02am | #5

   purely personal opinion here ...

   but "the best" stone ...

    

   is a good ceramic that replicates the look U like.

   Jeff

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

3. 
   frenchy | Oct 01, 2007 05:43pm | #6

   dakar,

     I'd look beyond those three choices. I'm a fan of granite due to it's durability and wear resistance.  Plus it can be either formal with a polished face or informal with a "fired" face. the great part is spilt liquids won't be absorbed by it nearly as readily as travertine.. Spill grape juice  or red wine on travertine and you have a clean up issue

    All those comments are out the window based on the opinion of she-who-must-be -obeyed. 

4. 
   smslaw | Oct 01, 2007 08:09pm | #7

   I used slate in my kitchen/family room.  So far (18 months) it has worked out well.  It is pretty sturdy, but some slate is prone to chipping. We used slate from Camara Slate in Vermont.  It is uneven, so you get an informal look, compared with marble, granite, most ceramic tile.  Small tables will wobble.  Directly from the quarry, it was about 3.50 per square foot, delivered to Maine.  The installer used Ditra over Advantec subfloor.

   
   

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   Edited 10/1/2007 1:10 pm ET by smslaw