Sealing Travertine Floor

QUESTION:

I installed a brand new travertine floor. I've heard that you must have it buffed and sealed. Do professionals have to come in and do this or is there a product out there that I can simply spray on it and do it myself? Also, what do you recommend to maintain it afterwards? Please advise. Thank you.

ANSWER:

Well.... it depends.

First, sealing does not make stone stain-proof. A sealer will dramatically increase the time it takes for travertine to absorb a liquid and stain thereby giving you more time to clean it up without issue.

So, you only need to seal an area that is at high risk of staining.

A floor is not nearly as susceptible to staining as a countertop, unless it's in the kitchen. And most stains can be removed with a simple inexpensive procedure using a poultice.

So, should you seal it?

Well...

Is the travertine polished or honed?
Is it installed in your kitchen, bathroom, living room?
How many square feet are we talking about?

If polished, then no... you don't need to seal. Polished travertine will not stain easy at all and typically can't even be sealed because it won't absorb the sealer.

Honed travertine should be sealed for sure if in the kitchen. Sealing a bathroom travertine floor is probably a good idea even though the risk of staining is minimal.

Honed travertine in the living room, bedroom or hallway really doesn't need it... the risk is small (unless you have kids!), so it comes down to whether or not you want to spend the time and expense to do it.

Without considering time and expense, I'd recommend you seal it. You'll probably only have to do it once and it will make the stone much more resistant to staining.

Sealing is a job you can do yourself IF you prepare well and precisely follow the directions especially about wiping up any excess (unabsorbed) sealer before it dries on top.

I recommend using MB-4 Impegnating Sealer .

However, if this is a large multi-room project, then I'd hire a pro.

For regular cleaning, you'll save yourself many a headache if you use products formulated for marble and travertine. They cost a bit more, but you don't have to use them that much and they won't damage your travertine like most typical cleaning products will.

There are several products available. Some are very good and some are trash. Personally, I think MB Stone Products are quite a bit better than the rest and no more expensive.

So, I recommend MB-1 Floor Cleaner and MB-7 Polish Preserver if your floor is polished.

Good Luck,
Ryan

I highly recommend MB Stone Care Products to maintain all your marble, stone and granite countertops and floors in optimal condition. I've used other good products (Stone Tech, Miracle) but found MB Stone Care is the most reliable and effective.