Buying travertine from Turkey: tiles, pavers, slabs and wall stone
Updated
Most of the travertine sold in the world is quarried in Turkey, and most of Turkey's travertine comes from the Denizli basin. If you import tile, pavers, slabs or wall stone, this is what to know before you choose a supplier there.
Why Denizli
Denizli, in south-west Turkey, sits on one of the largest travertine deposits on earth, the same geology that made the white terraces of Pamukkale. Quarries, block yards, cutting plants and finishing workshops are concentrated within a few kilometres of each other, so a buyer can see the quarry, the factory and the crated order in one visit.
The formats
Tiles, cut to sizes such as 12 × 12, 18 × 18, 16 × 24 and 24 × 24 inch, for floors and walls.
Pavers, usually 3 cm (1¼ in) thick, for patios, driveways and pool decks, with matching pool coping and step treads.
French pattern sets, a mix of four sizes laid in a repeating pattern.
Slabs, 2 or 3 cm thick, for countertops, vanities and large wall panels.
Wall stone: split face ledger panels, loose split face strips and mosaics, for feature walls, fireplaces and facades.
Finishes and cuts
Honed and filled is smooth and matt, with the natural holes filled; tumbled is rolled until the edges soften and looks aged; brushed has a gentle texture; split face is broken rather than cut; sandblasted gives a fine, even grip.
Vein cut is sawn across the bedding and shows straight lines; cross cut is sawn along it and shows a cloudy, flowered pattern. The same block gives two quite different looks, so name the cut when you order.
Grades
Turkish travertine is usually sold as premium (select), standard and commercial. The difference is in colour consistency, the number and size of holes and veins, and edge quality. Ask for photographs of the actual lot and agree the grade in writing before loading.
Choosing a supplier
Ask whether the company quarries, cuts or only trades; ask for samples of the exact colour and finish; ask how the stone is packed and how the crates are marked; and ask for photographs of your order before it leaves the factory. A manufacturer can answer all four the same day.
Marble from Turkey, such as Muğla White, Diana Royal and Tundra Grey, is bought the same way, and many Denizli factories handle both stones.
Packing and shipping
Stone travels in strapped wooden crates, each labelled with product, colour, size and quantity. Orders from Denizli are trucked to a port on the Aegean and shipped by container; a full container is the usual unit for an importer, and mixing several products in one container is common.
What we make
Lidamer Stone, in Pamukkale, Denizli, makes travertine and marble wall stone: split face ledger panels in 6 × 24, 6 × 18 and 6 × 12 inch, 9 × 24 inch XL panels in split face, honed and sandblasted faces, corners, split face strips and mosaics. Travertine and marble slabs can be supplied with a panel order. Send us the products, colours and quantities you need, and we will reply with photographs and a quote.
