To pave is to cover a surface (usually the ground) with flat stones, bricks, slabs, tiles, etc so as to provide an even surface for people to walk on. A pavement in this sense utilizes the British use of the word where they call their roadside sidewalks the pavement. (Whereas we pave our roads with asphalt, tarmac, bitumen or cement). For pavers we use the British sense and use the term for solid coverings placed on top of the ground to form patios or pool decks and the like.
Travertine
There is no linguistic confusion here. Travertine is a naturally occurring white or light-colored calcareous rock deposited from mineral springs – particularly hot springs. In antiquity, Italians around what is now known as Tivoli (near to Rome and derived from travertine (of the river Tibur) used this rock for construction purposes thus giving it its current name. The Roman Coliseum was built from travertine stone. Much of the world supply still comes from Italy but substantial travertine deposits are to be found the world over – the best known USA deposit being at Yellowstone National Park.
Travertine Pavers are cut slabs or other flat pieces of this rock that can be used for surfacing patios, pool decks or other outside areas subjected to human foot traffic. (Inside we talk more of flooring). New, large buildings constructed out of stone are rare these days although travertine was widely used for the Getty Center in Los Angeles (around 1.2million square feet of it, mainly imported from the Tivoli region). However, it remains one of the most used natural stone materials because of its popularity for façades, wall cladding, flooring and (of course) paving. Some 850,000 tons of travertine are used each year in the USA alone.
The Attractiveness Of Travertine Pavers
It can be found naturally in a range of colors from pure white, through a creamy color to grey, tan and even a rusty or coral-red appearance (natural impurities in the calcium deposits from hot springs cause the coloration). It is easy to polish but can also be finished into a less slippery surface for use in wet areas such as fountain surrounds or the decks around swimming pools. While pavers are normally of a more slab like thickness, travertine can be thin cut to provide tiles or used as a veneer on top of a lower cost substrate.
Stone Hard Scapes in Florida are a leading supplier of high quality natural Travertine Pavers. They offer a range of 8 colors and their slab sizes are from 4’ x 8’ up to 24’ x 24’ with a slip-resistant finish.
