Limestone vs Travertine: Key Differences to Know for Your Next Home Project
Planning a natural stone project around your home? Then limestone and travertine are no doubt on your radar. And it’s no wonder since they are both beautiful natural stones that add long-lasting value to your home.
So what are the differences between limestone and travertine?
In this limestone vs. travertine comparison, we’ll look at 6 key differences you should keep in mind when choosing one for your project.
| Factors | Limestone | Travertine |
| Design Colors and Shade | Light, muted colors with neutral and beige tones. | Variety of shades with contrasting veins and mostly warm tones. |
| Porousness and Hardness | Harder and less porous. | A tad softer than limestone with noticeable pores and pitting throughout, depending on the quality. |
| Cost and Longevity | Slightly more expensive, depending on the quality. | A bit cheaper than limestone, depending on the grade and where it’s quarried from. |
| Heat Resistance | Better heat resistance. | Lower quality travertine with more voids and holes aren’t as heat resistant. |
| Cleaning and Maintenance | Solid surface is easier to maintain. | Lower quality travertine with more surface voids collects dirt easier. High-quality filled travertine is easy to clean. |
| Flooring or Pool Deck | Good for flooring and pool decks. | High-quality travertine with fewer voids or filled travertine is a popular choice for flooring and patio applications. |
Stone Design Colors and Shade
Since travertine and limestone are similar types of natural stone, they do share some similarities.
Limestone tends to feature subtler colors and fewer variations. You’ll notice a lot of grey, white, and beige neutral color tones.
Travertine is available in greater color variations, even within each paver or tile. You’ll notice warmer colors (brown, gold, red, silver) and contrasting veins that lead to a more striking look.
So when it comes to limestone vs. travertine colors, it all depends on your personal preference.
Porousness and Hardness
Both limestone and travertine are hard natural stones. However, they both tend to have a softer feel than other stones like granite.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed by the accumulation of calcium carbonate under great pressure, usually under bodies of water. This pressure makes a material that’s a little harder than travertine with very little pitting.
Travertine, on the other hand, is usually formed around minerals or hot springs. That’s one of the causes of the noticeable pitting. The voids are essentially air bubbles created as the stone was formed.
Limestone’s extra hardness and lack of porosity mean it’s usually more durable and suitable for a high-traffic area application.
Cost and Longevity
The difference between travertine and limestone costs is negligible and depends a lot on the quality and where it is quarried from.
The same is true for their longevity. Limestone, since it’s harder and less porous, will usually last longer. But as natural stones, both have excellent durability and longevity. (The Roman Colosseum was built with a lot of travertine and that has stood the test of time!)
- Limestone tile and pavers average $6-$25 per square foot.
- Travertine tiles and pavers average from $4-$20 per square foot.
So their prices are similar with limestone generally being a bit more expensive than travertine.
Heat Resistance
Both of these natural stones are heat resistant and can be used over floor heating systems and in areas with direct sunlight.
NOTE! – While travertine stone is heat resistant, the resins used in filled tiles are not always as heat resistant. So be careful if you use filled travertine tile on countertops or on fireplace surrounds where it may be exposed to direct heat from fire or hot pots and pans.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Travertine vs. limestone cleaning and maintenance is similar to that of other natural stones.
Limestone tile and pavers need to be swept clean and sealed from time to time to prevent staining.
Unfilled travertine is a little harder to keep clean. Surface voids easily catch dirt and grime so make sure to clean them regularly.
*Check out our guide on How to Clean Travertine Pavers.
Flooring and Pool Deck
Both limestone and travertine are popular for indoor and outdoor applications.
Honed limestone is a popular choice for its hard, non-porous surface that’s easier to keep clean.
Filled travertine is a good choice for interior floors, while honed travertine is popular for outdoor patio flooring and pool decks. It is naturally slip-resistant, so it’s nice for outdoor areas that will get covered with water.
Cost and Longevity
The difference between travertine and limestone costs is negligible and depends a lot on the quality and where it is quarried from.
The same is true for their longevity. Limestone, since it’s harder and less porous, will usually last longer. But as natural stones, both have excellent durability and longevity. (The Roman Colosseum was built with a lot of travertine and that has stood the test of time!)
- Limestone tile and pavers average $6-$25 per square foot.
- Travertine tiles and pavers average from $4-$20 per square foot.
So their prices are similar with limestone generally being a bit more expensive than travertine.
Heat Resistance
Both of these natural stones are heat resistant and can be used over floor heating systems and in areas with direct sunlight.
NOTE! – While travertine stone is heat resistant, the resins used in filled tiles are not always as heat resistant. So be careful if you use filled travertine tile on countertops or on fireplace surrounds where it may be exposed to direct heat from fire or hot pots and pans.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Travertine vs. limestone cleaning and maintenance is similar to that of other natural stones.
Limestone tile and pavers need to be swept clean and sealed from time to time to prevent staining.
Unfilled travertine is a little harder to keep clean. Surface voids easily catch dirt and grime so make sure to clean them regularly.
*Check out our guide on How to Clean Travertine Pavers.
Flooring and Pool Deck
Both limestone and travertine are popular for indoor and outdoor applications.
Honed limestone is a popular choice for its hard, non-porous surface that’s easier to keep clean.
Filled travertine is a good choice for interior floors, while honed travertine is popular for outdoor patios and pool decks. It is naturally slip-resistant, so it’s nice for outdoor areas that will get covered with water.
Sources of Limestone and Travertine
Convinced about using limestone or travertine to spruce up your home? Here are several places where you can find quality limestone and travertine products.
- Big box home improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot.
- Online stone suppliers like Sefa Stone.
- Local stone distributors. These are great sources for pavers and locally sourced stone products.
- Local masonry companies. Most know the best places to get stone products locally and may even be able to get more competitive pricing.
Which stone is right for you?
So which stone is right for you — travertine vs. limestone? Since they share similar properties, the answer will depend a lot on personal preference. Although if you’re looking for a stone with the least maintenance issues and best durability in high-traffic areas, limestone or top-quality filled travertine is the best bet for you.
Need some help planning your project?
If you’re in the Garland, Dallas, Texas area, give us a call at A&X Masonry and get your FREE consultation.
And don’t miss our other articles that help you make the best decision when planning your project.
