The type of finish given determines how glossy or textured the surface will be. Polished and honed surfaces are smooth and strikingly shiny. The most common finish for travertine in home environments is honed: a flat, smooth feel with a matte finish that mutes reflected light.
You will need to worry about small sink-holes in lesser quality stone. Check for the amount of fill. On the surface side, it should be nearly impossible to see the fill. Always check the back. Much of the lesser quality stone available is too soft and larger craters will develop with normal wear and tear.
Attach a proper steel wool pad to the electric floor polisher that is of 000 grade. Once you have run this over the entire travertine surface, check to see how shiny it is. If you would like more shine, wet the floor with clean water and buff again with the same grade of steel wool.
The reason that your travertine tiles need to be polished is that over time they are not as shiny as the day you bought and installed them. The build-up of wax and dirt on its surface has caused this problem.
You must seal your Travertine tiles right when you install them. After that, it is best to reseal them every one to three years. Resealing also depends on the foot traffic and frequency of cleaning the tiles. If they start to look dull or you notice any stains, it might be time to bring out the sealant again.
Travertine sealers enhance the natural colors in the stone. They can give a glossy look that makes the surface appear clean and new. A sealer prevents discoloration that can take away from the beauty of your travertine surfaces.
The only reason you need sealing is because the stone has pores on the surface rather you can say the stone is porous in nature and would absorb not only water but moisture and any other liquid if spilled on the surface. This can cause stains and etching marks which would damage the natural beauty of the stone.
Don't: Use Abrasive Pads
After proper sealing, cleaning should be accomplished with nothing more than a soft (preferably microfiber) towels or clean rag, along with a stone-safe cleaner like MARBLELIFE® Marble & Travertine Cleaner. Abrasive materials will scratch this soft surface over time dulling the surface.
One efficient way to make the travertine look modern is to polish its surface. This way the most modern and spectacular finish would be achieved.
What Cleaners are Safe for Travertine Tiles? It is important to choose mild cleaners that are made specifically for natural stone. You can use a mild dish soap and water if natural stone cleaner is not available.
The answer is YES! You can use our Quick Shine® Multi-Surface Floor Finish and Quick Shine® Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner on a variety of sealed hard surface flooring, including; hardwood, laminate, tile, vinyl, linoleum, stone, and more!
If your travertine pavers aren't sealed regularly, they'll start to fade due to sun damage. Even if your pavers don't receive harsh sunlight year-round, any sunlight they do receive will be damaging and lead to their color fading rapidly.
Textured Finishes
Textured Travertine finishes are a hot trend in interior design in 2024.
If you're looking for something shiny and luxurious, polished travertine is the way to go. This finish gives the stone a high-end, glossy appearance, making it ideal for creating a sophisticated look in areas like foyers and hallways.
Travertine can also enhance property value, especially when used in prominent areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Travertine can suffer permanent damage from Acid and harsh chemicals because it is a type of Limestone, formed from calcium. Travertine can be matt, honed or polished. Travertine can be sealed with Impregnating sealers, Topical sealers and Waxed.
Sealing Travertine Stone Surface with Celine:
After repairing the cracks, you should seal the floor with natural look sealers in order to create a protective barrier on the stone and to prevent further moisture absorption. We recommend using Celine – a clear topical based solvent sealer, to seal the natural stone tile.
Pressure Wash
Just be careful with the type of nozzle and how much pressure you use for travertine cleaning. Use a nozzle with a wide spray pattern to clean travertine tile. And avoid getting the nozzle too close to the surface of the pavers. High pressure can actually carve grooves into the surface of the travertine.
Cons of Travertine
Travertine Limestones are porous, which makes them vulnerable to stains and scratches. On exposure to acids, they react and get damaged.
Murphy® Oil Soap and other non-synthetic solutions are safe to use on tile and grout without wearing down either one, but other natural solutions include rubbing alcohol, particularly for more set spots of mildew.
Q: What happens if I don not seal my travertine floors? - Travertine | Stripping and Sealing. A: Travertine floors can damage easily, any oily or harsh spills can damage the travertine tiles and penetrate the pores leaving a permanent stain, unreachable by domestic cleaning methods.
If you are cleaning a travertine tiled floor the most effective cleaning solution is Floorseal Stone Floor Cleaner. Floorseal Stone Floor Cleaner is a deep cleaning solution, suitable for removing built-up grime, dirt & oil marks. If your tiles are dirty & dull this product is perfect for deep cleaning your floor.
Best Sealer for Travertine: Top Recommendations
TSSPRO-250: This sealer provides excellent protection against water penetration and staining. It forms a durable barrier on the surface while allowing it to breathe, ensuring long-lasting preservation of your travertine.
You may find filling holes as disadvantage if you care for that natural more rustic look with holes. However, by filling holes you gain, healthier environment, better longevity, high durability, and easier maintenance. Filling travertine with a color matched resin is a perfect solution for large holes.