Sealing Travertine

[travman10000]

Hello everyone!

I have read various and conflicting opinions on this topic of sealing travertine. I am using travertine in my bathroom floor.

One school feels that sealing it doesn't matter as travertine is a very dense stone - more than say Limestone, which is why it's good for use in bathrooms. Further, some feel that sealing it inhibits it's ability to breath, with some negatives as a result. One such person is Mauricio who says not to seal but rather to clean travertine on a regular basis with a neutral cleaner.

The other side says that sealing travertine can't hurt, and that it will protect the floor from various etchings. and anyways I need to seal the grout.

What to do? Should I use a sealer and why? If so, what's the best kind of sealer?

I am using tumbled marble on the walls, can I use the same sealer for that and the grout? If not, which sealer would be preferable for this?

Thanks all for the continued good advice.

Regards

Travman James

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[Deckert]

I seal all my travertine. I usually use 511 impregnator for both the tiles and the grout. Sometimes i use a color enhancer before the sealer. Depends on the project.

Not saying its the only way to do it. Thats just the way I do it, and I've always been happy with the results.

[Hamilton]

I seal my Travertine jobs with either 511 porous plus or Enhance and seal.
Stone tech is sold right here on the site in our online store and is very
comparable to Miracle sealants products, in fact some will claim they are
even better. I would recommend sealing for sure.

[J.K.]

Can someone tell me what a color enhancer before seal is for? What does it do exactly?

thanks!
John

[Davy]

With most (maybe all) of the major brands, the color enhancer is also a sealer. If you like the color of the stone when it is wet, you will want to use the enhancer. 511 is a natural sealer and will not change the color. So there is no need to buy two sealers, use the enhancer or the natural. :)

[Deckert]

I've been using Miracle Stone Brite as my enhancer, and it calls for a pre-coat of 511 Impregnator for best results. I use these two before grouting, then follow up the grouting with a coat of 511 Impregnator on the whole thing (stone and grout).

Is this a waste, bad idea, and/or redundant? I'm always open to making things easier on myself :)

[Davy]

The Miracle enhancer I use is the "Enhance and Seal". Never have used the Miracle Stone Bright. Sounds good if that's what they recommend. I can't seem to keep up with all the sealers out there. :)

[gmossa]

Hi all,

So go a step further, is it necessary to seal the travertine before grouting? The tile store guy told me to use the 511 Impregnator before grouting, then after. Will that create a barrier in the divits on the travertine so the grout will not adhere properly?

gmossa

[Davy]

I can't see the sealer in the tivits making any difference. Just like getting sealer on the edges of the stone. We try not to get it there but sometimes it's nearly impossible not to. I've never had grout fall out because I got sealer on the edges.

Remember that if you use the natural sealer like 511 Porus plus, that will seal it off from enhancing. If you want it enhanced, use the enhancer before and after grouting. :)

[simpsonb]

Travman, I sealed my 18x18 unfilled travertine (two coats of Miracle 511 porous Plus) before I installed and grouted with SpectraLock PRO and let me tell you, grout sticks in the little crevices, no problem. Some sealer even got on the edge of the tile before I installed it and when some grout got on there, I had to chip it off with a chisel!

Also, the grout will clean 100x better having a sealer on there before.

Hope this helps!

[FctryRep]

We recommend sealing all of our travertine products, it prevents staining and helps with cleanup. Some travertine is denser than some limestone, but they all vary depending on the vein of stone being quarried. Better safe than sorry in my opinion.

[rktect]

I sealled my Travertine, before and after grouting. As recommened by the Tile Shop.