Key takeaways
- At RDC, travertine and natural stone flooring costs $12 to $25 per square foot installed, material and labor included.
- Travertine is a type of limestone that forms around mineral spring deposits, and its natural holes make it porous.
- RDC seals every natural stone floor at installation, and the stone needs periodic resealing after that.
- The Natural Stone Institute warns that acidic products such as lemon or vinegar can dull or etch travertine and marble.
- RDC sells the stone at its Bell Rd showroom in North Phoenix and installs it with a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Why Natural Stone Belongs in Arizona Homes
- Cool underfoot: like porcelain, dense stone pulls heat away from bare feet, which suits a Phoenix summer.
- Natural color: stone's color runs through the material rather than sitting in a printed layer.
- Desert palette: travertine's creams, golds, and walnut tones naturally match Southwest, Tuscan, and modern-desert design.
- Longevity: a properly installed and sealed stone floor is a long-term surface.
A marble floor in a luxury Peoria walk-in closet, natural stone as a design statement.
The Natural Stones RDC Installs
MSI, one of the brands RDC carries, describes travertine as a type of limestone that forms around mineral spring deposits. Its many natural holes make it porous. MSI sells travertine filled or unfilled, in finishes from tumbled to honed and polished.
| Stone | Character | Best Use in Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Travertine | Matte, porous, warm earth tones | Whole-home floors, patios, pool surrounds |
| Marble | Dense, veined, formal and polished | Primary suites, closets, statement bathrooms |
| Natural stone tile (slate, limestone) | Textured, varied, organic | Entries, fireplace surrounds, accent floors |
Stacked stone tile on a Scottsdale fireplace surround: stone works on walls, too.
How Much Does Travertine Flooring Cost in Phoenix?
Travertine flooring in Phoenix costs $12 to $25 per square foot installed at RDC Renovation & Design Concepts, material and labor included. A 1,000 sq ft floor comes to $12,000 to $25,000, and 1,500 sq ft to $18,000 to $37,500. Stone grade, tile size and slab preparation set where a floor lands in that range.
- 1,000 sq ft: 1,000 × $12 to $25 = $12,000 to $25,000 installed.
- 1,500 sq ft: 1,500 × $12 to $25 = $18,000 to $37,500 installed.
- Removing an old floor first: $3 to $5 per sq ft, on its own estimate line (1,000 sq ft = $3,000 to $5,000).
- Slab leveling, only where the floor needs it: $1 to $4 per sq ft (1,000 sq ft = $1,000 to $4,000).
- Sealing at installation is included in RDC's scope, not an add-on.
The 2026 Phoenix flooring cost report lists natural stone next to every other floor RDC installs.
Please note: these are RDC's installed ranges. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on your specific project, materials, and scope, confirmed in your free written estimate.
Travertine vs Porcelain Tile: Which Is Better in Phoenix?
Porcelain tile is the better pick for a Phoenix floor that should take spills with the least upkeep. Travertine is the pick for the look of real stone. Porcelain absorbs 0.5% water or less (TCNA), while travertine is a porous limestone. At RDC, travertine costs $12 to $25 per square foot installed and porcelain $9 to $18.
| Factor | Travertine | Porcelain tile |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Natural limestone formed around mineral spring deposits (MSI) | Ceramic tile that absorbs 0.5% water or less (TCNA) |
| Spills and stains | Porous; acidic spills such as orange or lemon juice can stain it (MSI) | Close to waterproof; the grout is the part to choose |
| Sealing | Sealed at installation, then resealed periodically | No sealing of the tile itself; RDC chooses the grout for each area |
| Look | Every piece differs, in warm earth tones | Many looks, including stone-look and wood-look tile |
| Installed cost at RDC | $12–$25/sq ft | $9–$18/sq ft |
If you want the stone look with less upkeep, compare stone-look porcelain beside real travertine at the showroom. Formats, prices and slab prep for tile are on the tile flooring installation in Phoenix page.
What Are the Problems With Travertine Floors?
The main problems with travertine floors are stains, etching and upkeep. Travertine is a porous limestone, so acidic spills such as orange or lemon juice can stain it, and acids can etch its surface. It also needs resealing over the years. In Phoenix, RDC seals every travertine floor at installation to slow staining.
- Stains: MSI notes that travertine stains more easily from spills, especially acidic ones such as orange or lemon juice.
- Etching: the Natural Stone Institute groups travertine with marble and limestone as calcareous stone, which acidic products like lemon or vinegar can dull or etch.
- Resealing: sealing makes stone more stain resistant, not stain proof, and the sealer's maker sets how often to reapply it.
- The wrong cleaner: MSI warns that cleaners with vinegar or salt can leave a permanent stain. The Natural Stone Institute recommends a neutral cleaner, stone soap or mild dish soap.
- Desert grit: mats inside and outside an entry cut down the sand and grit tracked onto stone, and a dry dust mop handles the rest.
None of these rules travertine out; they set the upkeep. If you want less of it, porcelain is the lower-maintenance floor, as the comparison above and the porcelain tile installation page show.
Does Travertine Need to Be Sealed?
Yes, travertine needs to be sealed. It is a porous stone, so MSI calls for a penetrating sealer and a surface sealer at installation, then periodic resealing. RDC Renovation & Design Concepts seals every natural stone floor it installs in Phoenix at installation. The sealer's maker sets how often to reseal, according to the Natural Stone Institute.
Phoenix water is hard: the City of Phoenix Water Services Department reports 10 to 17.6 grains per gallon. Around showers and other wet areas, that makes proper sealing important. RDC seals natural stone as part of every flooring installation in Phoenix.
Outdoor living surfaces by a Paradise Valley pool: RDC installs the tile and stone surfaces, not the pool itself.
Indoors and Out, One Installer
RDC installs tumbled travertine around pools and on patios, and outdoor-rated tile on outdoor kitchens and covered outdoor living areas. At RDC, a travertine pool deck or patio costs $20 to $42 per square foot installed, with coping priced per linear foot after measuring. RDC installs the stone and tile surfaces only; it is not a pool builder or landscaper.
Materials and layout options are in the full pool deck and patio tile guide.
Compare travertine, marble, and stone-look samples at the Bell Road showroom.
Stone Flooring Installation Across the Phoenix Valley
Stone flooring installation in Phoenix starts with the age of the house. The city's median home was built in 1985 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Almost half its housing, 49%, dates from 1970 to 1999. RDC checks an older slab before stone goes down. Leveling, where needed, is a separate $1 to $4 per square foot line.
Where Can I Buy Travertine Tile in Phoenix?
You can buy travertine tile in Phoenix at the RDC Renovation & Design Concepts showroom, 1610 E Bell Rd, Suite 101, in North Phoenix. Travertine, marble and stone-look samples are on display, and samples go home free. RDC sells the stone and installs it with a 1-year workmanship warranty, and material-only orders are available on request.
Hours are Sunday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, closed Saturday, and no appointment is needed. Call or text (602) 788-1446, get directions, or see the flooring store in Phoenix page.
Natural Stone Flooring in Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Mesa and Peoria
- Paradise Valley. The median Paradise Valley home was built in 1985 (ACS). Many of the floors RDC replaces there are travertine and Saltillo from the 1980s and 1990s. Taking that out runs $3 to $5 per square foot before the new stone goes down. See natural stone flooring in Paradise Valley.
- Scottsdale. The City of Scottsdale's 2026 Water Quality Report lists hardness of 13 to 17 grains per gallon. Sealed stone matters near Scottsdale showers and pools. The stacked stone fireplace surround on this page is an RDC job in Scottsdale. See home renovation in Scottsdale.
- Mesa. The City of Mesa's 2025 water quality report gives average hardness of about 12 grains per gallon in the City Zone. The Eastern and Southern Zones average 16. The median Mesa home dates from 1989 (ACS). See flooring installation in Mesa.
- Peoria. The marble floor in the walk-in closet near the top of this page is an RDC job in Peoria. The median Peoria home was built in 1999 (ACS). See flooring and tile in Peoria.
Fountain Hills water runs about 16 grains per gallon (EPCOR 2022 report). Tempe averages 12.3 (City of Tempe 2025 report) and Gilbert reports 8 to 10. City pages: Fountain Hills, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler and Glendale. RDC also serves Arcadia, Cave Creek, Carefree, Anthem, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Buckeye, New River and Happy Valley from the Bell Rd showroom.
Compare stone against other floors in our guides to porcelain & ceramic tile and the best flooring for Arizona heat. Replacing an old tile floor first? See tile removal and replacement and the slab prep and leveling page.
See all flooring installation services, explore luxury custom-home flooring, or get a free estimate. Natural stone varies piece to piece, so it is worth seeing in person. Samples are on display at our Phoenix flooring showroom on Bell Road, where the same team that sells the material installs it.