What you are talking about is actually a film-forming "coating" applied to the surface of your stone. It may penetrate some, but it's the coating that dries on top of your stone that provides the gloss.
Manufacturers of such products like aldon call them "sealers" so consumers will think they are the same type of product as an impregnating sealer only theirs has the "advantage" of adding a high-gloss, etc. However , any product that puts a "gloss" on your stone is a "coating" and not a true "sealer.
Coatings are not commonly used and most stone professionals agree that you should not apply coatings to stone, especially on a travertine floor or wall where only one surface is exposed to air. These coatings will do what they say Coatings don't allow the stone to breath, are more easily worn down than the stone itself, often make the stone look like plastic, can peel and can create more problems if travertine maintenance is ever required since you have to then remove the coating, fix the stone and re-apply or patch the coating.
The Aldon product is not meant to protect "sealers" as we commonly know them Again, sealers work below the surface and don't need protecting. The life guard product is made to prolong the life of a topical coating applied to the surface of the stone. As noted some of these coatings will dry with a glossy finish, which will wear away pretty easily as you have discovered. Life guard is meant to protect that kind of coating from wearing away so quickly.
Get it? However, it will not dry glossy. If the gloss coating you applied two years ago is now worn away, you'll have to re-apply it and then the life guard product. Stone comes in a variety of finishes, so there is no need to apply some troublesome product. The correct way to get the desired finish is to have your contractor treat the stone itself and not by applying a coating.
Often people think all stone is supposed to be shiny and when they see one that is "dull" they think something is wrong.
Often that stone was not finished to a high shine. Rather it was tumbled, or honed, or flamed, or antiqued depending on the look that was desired. The various finishes are made using a number of techniques, machines, tools and abrasives, which is the best way to get the look you want. For a floor though a honed finish is much better. A polished floor is a pain to maintain. It shows dust more, needs constant attention sweeping and moping to keep it shiny and the shiny finish wears away just like a coating except not as fast with foot traffic.
A honed surface rarely looks dirty or like it needs cleaning and will probably never need re-finishing because of wear. Now, a polished finish will create the most saturated color, but a honed travertine floor is still gorgeous.
Hope that helps! High gloss travertine floor by: Dave Thanks so much for the travertine high gloss finish comments. I was considering it, but not now. If someone wants a high gloss finish better go to marble or granite Thanks again for the educational summary. Cleaning Honed Travertine Grout by: Anonymous What is the best method for cleaning 12 year old honed travertine kitchen tile? I have had someone come clean with a machine and half the floor looks great but the area around where I cook and kitchen island is still appears dull and dirty to me.
Especially within the grout. I'm at a loss and ready to rip tile out. Stains are absorbed into the stone so surface cleaning methods won't remove them. You'll need to use a poultice to remove any stains.
For embedded dirt in the travertine tile and grout use the quality tile floor cleaner with a scrub brush. Consider a "heavy duty" cleaner if really soiled.
Then, once cleaned you should apply a stone sealer to guard against staining. See links above on this page for recommended tile floor cleaners and sealers.
Travertine Seal Vs Coating by: Anonymous Hello, I believe my installer put a "coating" vs a penetrating seal on my tumbled travertine floor. The bottle says Gloss Sealer and Finish it is acrylic water based.
It is only 5 months old and is already looking dull and scratched. I believe this is the coating giving it that look as none of the scratches are deep. Should I be trying to remove the coating he put on it? Or is there a way I can remove these surface scratches?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. The acrylic is there to dry hard on the surface and create that glossy finish. However, coatings will scuff and scratch easily and need their own maintenance. This is a cheap way to make a honed or dull stone look shiny, but it is not the normal way it is done. The correct method is to grind and polish to a shine the actual stone.
Coatings can be good for use in some special circumstances where the stone surface is in bad shape, can't be refinished or don't want to pay the much higher cost of professional refinishing. However, coatings should not be used on floors since they create a film and don't allow the stone to breath properly.
This can lead to deterioration. I'd strip off a small area scrubbing with acetone should work and see if it solves the dull scratchy problem. Most commonly travertine floor tile is installed with a honed matte finish. This finish is "dull" compared to a polished finish but it hides wear better and is far easier to maintain and keep looking good than a polished floor. Travertine will wear over time from foot traffic, but we are talking years So, almost certainly a coating and should be stripped.
But test first. Given the high maintenance I am now wondering if this was the wrong purchase for me. Is travertine not a suitable choice to be used as a coffee table? How costly is it to care for it? I'll likely spill juice, red wine etc. What preventative stain care and maintenance would I need to do exactly and how often?
Will this ensure it won't get stained? If it does get stained, how do I get the stain out? Your help is greatly appreciated. Etching is a chemical burn that eats into the stone creating dull and discolored spots. So, if the table gets a lot of use it is likely you'll have some maintenance repairing etch marks. The possibility of etching can be greatly reduced by using coasters, but of course spills will still happen.
Etch marks aren't necessarily difficult to repair, but they can be a nuisance. It works very well, is easy to use and produces quick results in most cases restoring the color and shine to like-new condition. In some cases , you'll need to apply the product a few times and if the etching is severe rough to the touch you'll have to hire a professional to re-surface the travertine.
But severe etching is rare. On honed matte travertine the solution is a bit more involved since there isn't a DIY product suitable to repair etch marks on honed travertine countertop or table.
A marble repair pro will yield best results, but a simple and cheap do-it-yourself option is possible see below. Does sealing travertine make it slippery? Travertine, in and of itself, is a slippery surface when wet. When you add a sealer to that it WILL make it even more slippery when wet. When the sealed travertine is dry, however, it will not be slippery.
Can you use vinegar on travertine? Do not use vinegar or citrus to clean travertine floors. You should avoid using acidic cleaning agents on travertine floors, as they can dull and damage the surface of the stone.
Do not clean floors with products that contain vinegar, lemon, orange, or other citrus extracts. Can you use Pine Sol on travertine floors? The acidic compound of Pine-Sol will eventually dull and etch the stone. If used often enough and long enough it could permanently damage the travertine stone not to mention the sanded grout. Are travertine floors outdated? Travertine Floors for Today's Interiors Travertine is a natural stone, and in my mind that can't be beat. While it certainly can look outdated when paired with certain materials think red toned cabinets, old-world materials it can also add aged character when paired with more current, or even classic looks.
Does sealing travertine change the color? If you are sealing a polished limestone, travertine, marble, or granite, the impregnator will not change the color and will not add shine. However, if you are sealing a darker stone with a honed finish, the impregnator may slightly darken the color.
When sealed, the honed granite can turn a darker gray. Sealers are important for the travertine as they provide the long life and durability of the stone. They help the stone to get rid of any dust, dirt, moisture and chemicals that can penetrate into the travertine and damage it.
They perform a joining function on the stone so that no leakage happens because of the proper adhesion of the sealer. They help to coat and protect the surface of the stone as they provide a layer on the stone which acts as a protector against different damages. The sealers help to improve the appearance of the travertine stone as they enhance the color of the stone and provide a finish to the stone.
They contain a liquid or gas sealer. This function of sealer is helpful as a fluid can be a liquid or gas. Both can harm the travertine stone that is why it is good to repel the fluids containing both liquids and gas.
How to choose the right type of sealer for travertine:. Travertine is one of the most frequently used stones in modern architecture. It is naturally durable stone.
If it is not treated properly it will be affected by staining, efflorescence, spalling and other salt attacks. This is why a sealer is required to protect the stone and its natural beauty as well as it provides the long life to the stone. But how to choose a right type of sealer for your travertine stone? Here is a guide to choose the right type of sealer that best suits your travertine stone.
While choosing the right type of sealer for your travertine tiles, you must have prior knowledge about sealers that is, what a sealer is? Where to use it? Types of sealers that are penetrating, impregnating and topical sealers and the functions of each type of sealers. It is also important to think about the overall look of the travertine before sealing because it should look attractive after installation. If you like the natural markings and design of the travertine then be aware that a topical sealer can alter its color and it may give a slightly unnatural and glossy look to the travertine stone.
While selecting the sealer for travertine, it is important to consider the location of the stone that is, where to install it because the topical sealer used on high traffic areas can be worn off after some time. So it is recommended to consider the location of the travertine tiles.
While choosing the sealer consider the weather conditions of the area. As the freezing cold weathers affect the travertine stone by salt attacks like spalling and efflorescence, etc. Travertine stone is usually used on floors, countertops, backsplashes and walls. These areas need to be sealed properly with the sealer. Sealing does not prevent light acids like lemon juice, vinegar, wine to leave their marks and stains but they can help against other scratches and stains.
The polished and glossy travertine is naturally resistant to non-acidic spills and they may not absorb the sealer. There are two parts of applying the sealer. They are described as below:. Preparing the travertine for sealing :. Regardless of the type of protection provided by the sealers, it is essential to have re-application of the sealer periodically in order to maintain an optimum level of protection for the natural stone.
The frequency of re-applying sealer is directly co-related to the amount of activity or foot traffic endured by the travertine tiles.
In order to determine whether it is time to re-apply the sealer just sprinkle a little water on the surface of the tile. If the water penetrates quickly then it is time to re-apply sealer if it penetrates slowly or remains on the surface then reapplication is not required. Travertine tiles can also be used as decoration tiles by painting different designs on them. In order to properly paint the tile, increase durability and prevent paint absorption apply sealer on the surface of the tile with a brush.
After sealer is dried, paint the tiles with unique impressions to increase its brilliance and make sure that your paint is moisture resistant. In order to protect the paint against dust and other external impurities another coat of sealant will give it the necessary defense. There are some tips to maintain the travertine sealers.
They are as below:. Travertine sealers come in different types to cater a myriad of requirements regarding stone sealing. However, it is important to select right type of sealer in order to get the most out of them. And avoid going for the DIYs when it comes to sealants because if your stone is not sealed right then water, dust and other particles might seep into its structure and ruin the appearance of the stone.
Sample Request! January 8, Sefa Stone Admin. What is a sealer? Seal: The word seal means to close an entrance or to cover a surface so that nothing can enter or leave the object. Sealing: Sealing is an important process for producing a smooth bond between the two surfaces. There are two types of sealings that are: The induction sealing The conductive sealing The induction sealing is a process in which the sealing is airtight without any physical contact takes place and the conductive sealing is a process in which physical contact is required between the two surfaces which can slow down the process.
Sealer: A sealer is a product to seal the object or thing. Why Seal Travertine Stone: Travertine is beautiful, bold looking, dazzling natural stone with many advantages yet it requires a lot of maintenance to keep its look everlasting.
ACID ATTACK: Acid soluble stone elements like calcite in travertine react with acid solutions on contact or on absorbing acid forming gases like oxides of sulfur and nitrogen from the air result in the stone damage.
Travertine Sealers Pros: Travertine sealers are used around the globe for protecting travertine, however, they have their own pros and cons which should be considered before one go for selecting a right travertine. Beautiful External Appearance: Sealers form a layer on the surface of the travertine, this layer reflects light giving the stone a shiny and glossy look which gives a clean appearance. Enhanced Resilience and longevity: Sealers promote resilience against corrosion and ensure longevity.
Weather Protection: In cold regions unsealed travertine pavers can be damaged by ice and snow during freeze and thaw cycle. Protection against acidic substances: Travertine is a natural stone made up of mostly calcium salts and it reacts easily with materials acidic in nature even the most innocuous foods items such as beverages and fruit juice can damage them and cause a permanent stain on the surface.
Travertine Sealers Cons: Although travertine sealers have their own benefits which we have discussed but there can be few drawbacks of using travertine sealers as well. High Cost of Sealers: Travertine sealers come in two qualities i.
Hazardous Chemical: Certain sealers especially those which give a glossy look to the stone have chemicals that can reduce the coefficient of friction of the pavers thus causing them to become more slippery.
Regular Reapplication Required: Regular maintenance is reduced with the help of sealers however they do require reapplication after a certain period of time in order to maintain an optimum level of protection.
Mop the cleaning solution onto the travertine. Use a mop to clean a travertine floor with the cleaning solution. Use a sponge or other small, clean object for travertine countertops and similar, smaller surfaces. Let the wet travertine sit for ten to twenty minutes to pick up as much dirt as possible. Scrub the travertine. Use a large push brush or deck brush to scrub floors, focusing on stained or dirty areas. Any stiff handheld brush can be used for smaller surfaces, or for nooks and crannies.
Scrub until all dirt particles and stains are removed. Rinse with warm water several times. Rinse the travertine three or more times to remove the last traces of dirt and cleaning solution. If particles or dried cleaning product remains on the stone, the sealer may not be absorbed evenly.
Rinse at least three times, then keep rinsing until the water has no traces of color, smell, or particles. Dry with a soft cloth. Wiping the rinse water off with a soft cloth, such as one made from cotton or microfiber, also helps pick up the last traces of dirt. You will be leaving the travertine to dry out fully in the next step, so you do not need to make the surface bone-dry.
Just wipe up obvious puddles and damp spots as best you can. Let residual moisture dry overnight. The travertine needs to be completely dry before you apply the sealer. Leave it to dry overnight, or even for up to 72 hours if the stone is unpolished and in a damp area. Part 2. Select a sealer. Look for a sealer specific to travertine, or at least suited for natural stone.
Use a penetrating sealer, not a topcoat or surface sealer, since the latter kind are easily scuffed or flaked when applied over travertine. Many stone sealers do not significantly affect the appearance of the travertine, but this is not universally the case.
Water-based and solvent-based sealers are both safe to use on travertine. Water-based sealer is more environmentally friendly and may apply better to travertine in damp locations. Open doors and windows. Ensure that the space you are working in is well ventilated. The penetrating sealer can produce noxious fumes. Test the sealer. Rub in a small amount of the sealer in an inconspicuous area of the travertine.
Let the sealer sit 24 hours. The wait is worth it to see if the final appearance and level of protection meets your standards. If you are not satisfied, find another sealer. To test the protective abilities of the sealer, after it has sat for 24 hours, apply a few drops of water to the sealed travertine. Blot after five or ten minutes. If the travertine does not return to its original, dry color within five minutes, the sealer may not provide enough protection. Keep in mind that you can apply multiple coats of sealer to provide additional protection.
Use a soft cloth to evenly apply the sealant. Once you've tested a sealer and are satisfied with the results, rub it across the entire surface of the travertine.
Use a soft cloth, or a lamb's wool applicator to save you time on large floors. Completely saturate the pores, but avoid leaving excess sealer on the surface of the stone. Wipe up puddles of sealer. If puddles form, wipe them up with a dry cloth or mop. Puddles of excess sealer may stain the stone if left to dry. Let the travertine dry, then apply second coat. Most travertine surfaces require at least two coats.
0コメント