Grouting & Sealing Tumbled Travertine Backsplash
by Margo
(Hightstown, NJ USA)
QUESTION:
We have 4" squares installed diagonally over a border of 3 x 6 subway kichen backsplash tiles and need advise on what to do next.
Our granite countertop is UbaTuba and the cabinets are white with butterscotch glaze.
We tried the Sauterne grout by Latercrete on a small sample but not happy with the results.
It's too light and covered all the holes even though we tried to wash it off immediately. I think we should have used a sealer first but we were not advised to do so.
We love the rough look of tumbled travertine backsplash tiles especially when it's wet and want to maintain this look.
I'd like your suggestions for: grout colors that don't make the spaces look dirty but still dark enough to highlight the tiles, how critical it is to fill in the holes on the surface, and how to remove the grout from the surface of the tiles we started grouting so we can start over.
ANSWER:
Tumbled travertine kitchen backsplash over Ubatuba granite countertop is quite a contrast, so personally I wouldn't want the grout to stand out too much.
When you have too many colors, textures and patterns the look can become to busy and unappealing.
While I can't recommend a specific color without seeing the entire set-up
I'd suggest you minimize the contrast between the grout color and travertine tile color.
In other words, try simply to match the travertine color, so the grout is not a prominent part of the design.
When installing a travertine backsplash you
DO want to fill the holes.
Filling the holes in the travertine tile isn't nearly as critical as on a floor or in a shower, however, there's plenty of dirt, grease, grime and moisture in a kitchen that can accumulate in the holes over time leading to mold or otherwise unsightly appearance and cleaning hassles.
Regarding sealing a travertine backsplash... you can apply a color-enhancing sealer to give the tiles a permanent wet look.
You could then also apply
recommended marble & granite sealers over the enhancer, but likely not necessary on a kitchen backsplash.
You really don't get too much staining on a backsplash and the enhancer has sealing properties as well.
Applying a sealer before grouting can sometimes be beneficial, but often doesn't help at all.
The better route is to clean off grout residue as best as possible after grouting and then use this
Soap Scum / Hard Water Remover to clean off remaining residue after the grout has cured a bit.
Just spray on, let sit 5-10 minutes and scrub with a soft-bristle brush and clean off.