Tumbled travertine is a known "dirt collector" because of the natural pits and highly textured finish. It ranks as soft (or softer) than marble....and needs to be sealed just as often or more often than marble...3-5 times per year would do it. The type of sealer is also what dictates how often. Some marbles must be sealed 3-4 times at the time of install and then every few months thereafter...for ever and ever and ever and ever....until death do you part.

I love the look of tumbled travertine. I'm a fan. I'm also a fan of the high-end porcelain tile version in the "travertine look". It is darn near bullet proof and no sealing...ever. You get the look without the life-long hassle.

When it comes to flooring, the polished travertine is a better option because it is harder. Part of the polishing process makes the travertine harder to stain...but it is SLICK! I mean "in the Emergency room every week" type of slick. It is fine for full houses where mats are left at entrance ways but not a good idea in a wet/slick environment such as a bathroom, kitchen or mud room.