How to Maintain Travertine Floors
Travertine is a natural, porous limestone tile available in two varieties: natural and honed. Natural travertine is travertine left in its natural state. Ridges and indentations give it a casual appearance popular in living rooms and hallways. Honed travertine, polished to a smooth and level finish, is popular for areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. While travertine is a beautiful flooring choice, its porous nature means it can absorb moisture and dirt. To keep it looking new, travertine floors require annual sealing and regular maintenance. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Broom or dry dust mop
- Soft cloths
- Ph-balanced tile & grout cleaner or mild dish soap
- Travertine floor polish
- Floor polisher (single-head or three-head)
- Stone floor poultice (paste from)
- Plastic wrap
- Masking tape
- Tile filler or epoxy resin
- Stone floor sealant
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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Maintenance Instructions
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Sweep or dust mop travertine floors daily to keep them free from debris that can work its way into the stone. Wash travertine floors weekly with either a ph-balanced tile & grout cleaner or mild dish soap and rinse well. It is important to use a ph-balanced cleaner because stronger, acidic cleaners can scratch the tile and eat away at the grout.
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Travertine stains easily so wipe up messes immediately. Remove stains using a commercially available stone floor poultice. A stone floor poultice is a paste you apply directly to the stained area. Cover the area with plastic wrap and tape the edges with masking tape. The length of time the poultice remains on the floor depends on the type of stain and poultice manufacturer.
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Repair cracks or holes immediately. Fill the crack or hole with epoxy resin or tile filler, let dry and polish. Tile fillers come in a variety of colors so you should be able to find one to match your tile and make the repair less obvious.
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Polish floors monthly with a floor polish made specifically for stone. Apply it evenly and allow it to dry until it starts to look cloudy.
Buff the floor using a dual-head or three-head polisher. These polishers are easier to work with than a single-head polisher and give a more balanced shine.
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Apply a sealant every six to twelve months. Thoroughly clean and rinse the floor, then apply a coat of sealant using a paintbrush. Allow the first coat to dry for eight hours.
Apply a second coat of sealant going in the opposite direction. For example, if you apply the first coat going from side-to-side along the floor, the second coat should be from top to bottom. You are looking for a 90-degree difference in direction of the two coats. Wait eight hours before moving furniture back into the room.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not lay a rubber-based area rug on a travertine floor. It could leave a permanent, yellow-colored stain.
While both styles of travertine are beautiful, the honed variety is easier to maintain.
Keep any supplies you use to clean your travertine floor separate from other cleaning suppliers. Any chemicals, dirt, or residue that transfer due to contact could result in damage to your floor.
