Travertine for Kitchen Countertop?

by Patty
(Rifle, Colorado)

Can I use honed travertine for a countertop in my kitchen and what would I seal it with?

Patty,

I've seen many travertine countertops in the kitchen, and they were usually honed.

One thing to keep in mind is, travertine naturally has holes, which are usually filled with resins.

These holes can open up with time and new holes will open up with time. If there are holes, that's places for dirt, grease, food and whatever to hide in.

Just something to think, about.

Also, travertine is sensitive to acids, so anything acidic, like lemons, tomatoes, vinegar, will etch the travertine.

The etch marks will look like stains, but are really permanent and can only be removed by honing the surface.

My recommendation would be to look into a more durable surface, like granite or something else.

I know travertine is beautiful, but from a maintenance standpoint poses some challenges.

I hope this helps.

Pedro