We have travertine on the floor in two bathrooms, had travertine in the entryway from the garage, and only took that up when we tile the entire downstairs with a different travertine (re-tiled it for continuities sake, not because of wear). Yes, it can scratch or chip (our entryway tile had some minor scratches, but we've tracked stuff in from the garage, have slid boxes across the floor, had workers coming in and out through the garage while reno'ing various parts of the house, etc.). But, scratches and chips on travertine can often be repaired, whereas ceramic/porcelain tile cannot be. I have buffed out etch marks (using a green scrubby) on the honed travertine in the guest bathroom (former cleaning lady set the bottle of TB cleaner on the floor and it left a nice oval shaped etch right in front of the shower). I've used a tan/brown permanent marker to "color-in" scratches in our travertine as well (color, wipe off any excess with some paper towel or buff with some fine steel wool), and they disappear. Like allison0704 said, use a good sealer, and choose a decent quality stone, and you should be fine.

Natal, I also am going to be removing a tub and installing just a shower in my bath. Currently have a tub/shower combo, will be tearing it out and replacing with a shower only. I very seldom use the tub. We are 60 and 65 and showers just makes more sense for us. DH already has a 48"shower in his bath; I am thinking about a 60" (same size as unit I will be removing). That should accomodate a small handicap shower chair should the need arise. You just never know. Will let the next generation worry about a tub. Didn't mean to imply that we are too old for tubs now :)...just thinking ahead.

Another suggestion for when the time comes. If anyone falls but is uninjured have your local fire station or fire department non-emergency telephone number so you can call for what is called "Lift Assist". Fire department will send someone to help get them on their feet without sending police and full fire equipment with sirens blasting. They will always ask if the person hit their head. If you think they need to go and they are refusing simply state they may have hit their head. They will take the person to the emergency room immediately. However if they are bleeding or appear to have broken something call the 911 number. Some areas have a fee service where for a monthly or yearly charge if a person needs to go to the hospital the charges are covered. Most insurance may cover one trip if medically necessary but no more than that. Last time my husband needed transport I called a medical transport company rather than the ambulance. $150 vs. $780 and that was three years ago.

I was very happy this product is nontoxic. I bought 2000 sq. Ft. For entire house including bathrooms utility and kitchen. Within 3 weeks it had peaked so it has a rippled look. The problem with this flooring is that if the temperature does not stay between 65 and 82 then it can be damaged. So with all the rolling blackouts we have and air conditioning going out furnace going out heating going out and maybe taking 2 or 3 days to repair if it's in the really cold time of year or the really hot time of year then my guess 90% risk that your floating flooring will be damaged. Attempting to read the installation my opinion you have to be an attorney to understand it. Installers are certainly not going to be able to understand it and dont want to read it. installers want to install this product like they would laminate, Vinyl plank, or wood but that doesn't work. you've got the manufacturer on one side with complicated directions and not honoring the warranty and you've got the installers on the other side saying I did everything right and they're not going to do anything for you so you're stuck with warped floors and out many thousands of dollars. The directions rather than being in several pages of long paragraphs saying one thing and then you have to keep reading further for the exceptions you can't just read it and skim over it and say oh yes this is true because then later they'll say what they just said was true is not true. The basics are you have to use a 6 mil plastic underlament over a concrete slab and then if you want to use quiet walk plus on top of that you can. You cannot use just quiet walk plus if you do the flooring will not be protected from moisture coming up through the concrete.You have to test the concrete for moisture before the floor is installed. Sometimes this can take 72 hours of the installer keeping coming back and they don't like to do that of course. you have to learn how to install this product by calling amorim customer service and technical support and talking to anybody you can think of that has anything to do with this flooring. You have to read and study the long and tedious directions from amorim wise. You have to learn how to install the floor then you have to insist the installers do exactly what you say and you have to be there when the installation is done to make sure they do it. They will argue with you and say it isn't necessary because that's what happened to me so I'm assuming it will happen to others. You have to be strong and insist. I thought maybe they were right and I was wrong so when they argued when they argued vehemently against the 6 mill underlayment I went along with that. I thought well maybe the quiet walk Plus is enough. It isnt. There has to be expansion gaps at thresholds. If there is more than a certain number of linear feet there has to be an extension gap. There has to be 1/4 to 1/2 inch the inch left around the perimeter of the floor between the flooring and the wall for expansion. They cannot caulk the bottom of the baseboard and when the baseboards are nailed the nails have to go straight and not pointing down because if you have the baseboard so tight against the floor that it pinches the floor the floor cannot expand. there's more I'm sure you'll have to read the lengthy directions and I think they should have a summary with bullet points.