Calling Bill V., stone experts, & anyone... flooring material

15 years ago

I'll post this on flooring too.

We're starting to hone in on flooring so I need a set direction so I can research price. I had been focused on rectified through body porcelain and even zeroed in on several manufacturers that Bill had previously recommended. We went to a friends house for a super bowl party and they had a travertine floor. DH loved it. Now I'm wondering which would be best for our needs.

We wanted a no maintance floor appropriate for So. Florida. We have 2 small dogs. I had figured the porcelain with 1/16th grout line (epoxy grout).

I know travertine has to be sealed. Is it as easy as wiping on a sealer like I hear you do on granite? How often? Is it as durable as a high quality porcelain? Hold up to little dog accidents? This house is it for us so I want to get it right the first time. Would have loved wood but not practical for us.

The look we want is clean simple lines. Not overly anything.. meaning contemporary, traditional, whatever. Just a comfortable house that's very open to backyard and somewhat informal.

What would you suggest and why please.

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Comments (5)

sweeby
15 years ago
Nothing will hold up to doggie piddle like porcelain -- Nothing. Travertine will etch when peed on - even if sealed. And while it won't look awful, it will not look 'pristine' for long, and will acquire a rustic, aged patina. If you like that (I happen to) -- then it's fine, and you could consider it low maintenance. But if you'd consider that 'damage', then your floor would be damaged in no time flat.
remodelfla
Original Author
15 years ago
Well... I'm definitely not a pristine girl and like patina. However, I want whatever will hold up best with the least amount of maintance EVER. There are plenty of porcelains that look close enough to travertine or whatever else you want it to look like. I've lived with ceramic for as long as I've lived in Florida so I don't know any better in terms of hardness on my legs... so that's a none issue.

The high quality porcelain thats recitifed and through body seems to run around $5 a sq. ft. uninstalled. Is that around the same price for travertine?
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bill_vincent
15 years ago
remodelfla-- Where abouts in south Florida? If you'd be more comfortable, you can email me. The guy who trained me in custom work is down there in Homestead.

It depends on the quality of the stone. I'm sure you can find cheaper than that (although not by much), but you'll have a tough time with filler coming out of the holes, and so forth. Actually, if you're interested. The guy I'm talking about in Homestead did his whole house with a "sanded" crosscut travertine, called saturnia, just after Andrew, and it's held up well.
remodelfla
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Bill,
The house we're doing is in Hollywood, Fl... probably about 40 minutes from HOmestead. DH wants to try and do the tile with his son; but I'm prepared to pay for installation. I'm probably going to go with large format, rectangle, epoxy grout, in a running bond pattern.

Bottom line... travertine require maintaince? The porcelain I want to look are the ones you have previously recommended... Cerodomus, Porcelenosa, and some other one whose name begins with a G I think but can't think of now.

Again, I want through body color and rectified... any other suggestions?
Thanks so much,
Elyse
bill_vincent
15 years ago
Graniti Fiandre. :-)

Calling Bill V., stone experts, & anyone... flooring material

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