-Granite is an igneous natural stone (cooled slowly in the deep upper part of the Earth’s crust) that has very high physical properties and is considered very durable in most cases. There are products sold as granite that are not geologically true granites and don’t have as good of physical properties.
-Travertine is a type of limestone sedimentary natural stone that is more porous and softer but can perform very well for residential applications. It is necessary to fill the holes so dirt doesn’t collect, and seal the travertine to minimize staining. Some travertines have fewer holes and are more dense than others.
-Porcelain Ceramic Tile is a clay based material that is very durable and can exceed the physical properties of granite; it is impervious but can stain. It can also have a glaze surface to make it more stain resistant. With current technology, porcelain ceramic tile can do a good job of imitating at natural stone look.
-Ceramic tile is a mixture of clays and other natural materials. The special clays are mined from the earth, shaped, colored and then fired in kilns. Traditional ceramic tile can be naturally colored and left unglazed like terra cotta or they can feature colored or highly designed surfaces which can be glazed (finished with a glass surface) either in a high gloss or matte finish. Most ceramic tile has either a white or red body coloration underneath the glazed, colored top layer.