Travertine Restoration Questions

[Bogie]

Greetings!

I have had my traverting for 2 years now (800 square feet, 16x16, Ivory color) The travertine is starting to pit (the factory grout, traverfill?, is starting to break down, I believe)
I was going to attempt to seal these pourous areas by using Antique white non sanded grout. Is this a good idea?

Also or how can I strip/clean the travertine before sealing?

My plan of attack:
1. Clean/strip travertine
2. Seal travertine (aqua mix or a stone enhancer/sealer)
3. Apply a thin coat of Anique white grout to seal holes and small pits, let sit and remove with clean water and sponge until clean (this will be done in large sections)
4. Seal again? (how long after grouting?)
5. Pray

Does this sound like a correct method? any other ideas?
TKS,

Mark

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[Maurizio Bertoli]

Dear Mark:
It doesn't sound correct to me, but it sure sounds confused!! :)
So let's di-sect your "plan of attack" shall we?!

1. Clean/strip travertine
What do you have to strip it from? Did you ever apply any wax or something on it? You have to clarify this. Are your travertine tiles polished or hone-finished? That's important to know.

2. Seal travertine (aqua mix or a stone enhancer/sealer)
If you apply an impregnator at this point (which is not a topical sealer anyway. So, please let's stop using the "poison" word: sealer, shall we?!) you will compromise the bonding of the grout/filler.

3. Apply a thin coat of Anique white grout to seal holes and small pits, let sit and remove with clean water and sponge until clean (this will be done in large sections)
It won't work. If you sponge it while it's still removable with a sponge, you will remove the majority of the filler from the holes as well, not to mention that the few remaining will be watered down and shrink. The correct procedure is to first fill the holes - just about one by one - with latex-modifed sand-less grout mixed with additional latex. Keep it a lttle bit on the thick side and take your time pushing it inside the holes with a putty knive (filler has the tendency to "bubble" when just wiped over the holes). make sure that it "mounds" and let it cure for 24 hours. (Make sure not to leave too much of a mess around the filled holes!) Use a 4" razor blade and "shave" the filler flush with the stone surface. Once that is done, you will use a professional floor machine with a natural fiber pad under it and a good-quality alkaline stone cleaner in a solution of hot water in the tank to thoroughly scrub your floor with. Rinse thoroughly. That's it! ;)
4. Seal again? (how long after grouting?)
Once again: What kind of sealer do you have in mind? A topical sealer or an impregnator? In other words: what do you expect a sealer to do for you? The clarification of the point 1. above will determine what to do at this stage.

5. Pray
I'm not into that!! ;) :shades:

Ciao and good luck,

[Bogie]

Greetings Maurizio!

1. The travertine is hone-finished, however it is extremly dirty, and it is starting to pit. It needs to have a deep clean... what would I use to deep clean the travertine? There seems to be a grout or dirt film on top, that is next to impossible to remove.

2. True, the impregnator may compromise the the grout/fillers ability to adhere to the travertine.

3. Can you suggest what products I would use for this? "Latex-modifed sand-less grout mixed with additional latex.""a good-quality alkaline stone cleaner"

4. The sealer or perhaps better stated "the impregnator" will hopefully help
to keep the stone to stay clean and protected.

On a side note I just completed a travertine project in which I sealed/impregnated the stone before grouting (aqua mix 15 year gold product)
It makes all the difference, the grout is easily removed for the stone making a much cleaner end result.

Ciao!

Mark

[doitright]

Hi Mark :)

I agree with Maurizio on most points, except #5, PRAY FIRST! :)

If the travertine is ivory color, you may have Navona travertine. Another grout color that may blend is Laticrete's "Silk" #03. Otherwise the antique white should be fine. However, each manufacturer's color does vary. Get a color chart of what's available to you.

I also suggest cleaning the floor prior to grouting. If there is a service in your area that specializes in grout & tile cleaning (make sure they can handle natural stone), I'd give them a call. The best equipment to use is an extractor (similiar to the carpet machines), that will loosen & remove the soil from the pits. Another tool that works is a professional grade steam machine.

If those aren't options, then at least have a wet vac on hand. The more soil you can remove, the better.

Maurzio's site "mbstone", has alkaline cleaners available. Others are Stone Tec, Aqua Mix, and even your local hardware store. Make sure you follow the directions, test an area, and plenty of rinsing.

This is hopefully enough info to get you started! ;)

[Maurizio Bertoli]

Dear Mark:
Since I started following up your original posting and you addressed your own follow up to me, I will answer your questions although this will probably be my last posting on the John Bridge forum. (I know that some will celebrate at the news!! :D)
At any rate, down to business:
If you are a handy guy - and you sure sound that way - you could rent a floor machine at a local janitorial supply company with a scrubbing brush and a water tank. Fill the tank with a good-quality alkaline stone cleaner (please don't ask me to name any brand) in a solution with hot water and scrub your floor six days from Sunday applying the solution liberally. Do sections of no mre than 20 square feet at a time and let the solution dwell before scrubbing. Pick it up with a wet & dry vac, and - once the whole floor is done - rinse throroughly at least a couple of times.
That will get your floor real clean, all right!
Let the floor dry completely for at least a couple of days, and then you will do the filling, and so on.
After at least 72 hours you will then apply a good quality stone impregnator making sure that none of the stuff is left sitting on the stone surface.
As for the ability of an impregnator to be a grout release, I don't have much experince on this subject. After all, I'm no tile setter. ;)
What's more, I never tested my own impregnator as a grout release product. That is not the scope why a company formulates a product like that.
I'm not suggesting that your own findings are not true, but I do believe that a specialized grout release product will do a better job and much more economically. It is my understanding that many on this forum think the same way. ;)
Ciao and good luck,

[Jim Cuviello]

Hey Maurizio,

Were are you going? Are you starting your own board? One of the reasons I came over to this board was beacuse I enjoy reading your posts. I did not know this board was around until a short time ago. I have learned a lot from reading your answers, more than anyone else. You seem to have an answer for everthing. You either know your stuff or full of horse fertalizer. Will you still be participating on the NTC Fourm and The other floor care board?

[Bogie]

Thanks for all the advice Maurizio and John... I now feel I am armed with enough information to start my new plan of attack ;)...

-Mark

[doitright]

Armed & Dangerous! :D

[Bogie]

Armed & Dangerous! :D

Very True!