Sealing Travertine Tile Showers

by Melissa
(Ponte Vedra Beach, FL)

QUESTION:

Ok, I know this is a subject that comes up often, I just want to make sure I have this right from everything I've read. I am installing a shower and master bath floor. The floor outside the shower is honed & filled travertine.


In the shower, the floor is 2x2 unhoned/unfilled travertine, 2/3 of the wall is the honed & filled travertine and then the inserts are more of the 2x2 unhoned/unfilled & 6x6 unhoned/unfilled. The tub surround is all of the same materials.

The countertops in this master bath are the venetian gold granite. From what I'm reading, I don't have to seal anything but the granite countertops? Because you said never to seal stone in a wet environment and honed tiles on the floor probably don't need sealing as long as it passes the water test (which mine did). Is that correct?

What about the grout we use in the shower, that doesn't need sealing either? Also, can you tell me about the effects of toothpaste on granite or quartz countertops in a bathroom? My kids are getting granite and I know they won't worry about spilling that type of thing.

One last issue, I have noce travertine unfilled/unhoned that I would like to enhance. Since that is in another shower situation, should I enhance and not seal or seal & enhance? Should it be done before grouting to prevent the grout from getting darker, too? Thank you so much!

ANSWER:

First, you should fill your un-filled travertine. If left unfilled, it will accumulate dirt and mildew and will be impossible to keep clean.

And correct, sealing travertine showers is not necessary. Sealing in a wet environment is not recommended since it can contribute to trapping water beneath the tiles and decomposition of the stone.

Also, sealing only helps deter staining, so it doesn't make much sense to seal an installation that really isn't exposed to much that will stain stone. Plus all that water is constantly washing everything down the drain. Staining risk is minimal in a shower.

I'd recommend sealing the countertops if the water test for sealing granite countertops shows it should be sealed.

We recommend using SenGuard or Stone Sentry Sealers.

Toothpaste won't harm the granite. Some toothpastes and other bath products can be acidic enough to etch marble and travertine, but granite does not etch (except in rare instances). So, no worries about the kids bath.

Regarding enhancing the noce travertine... yes you should apply the color enhancer to the tiles only prior to grouting if you don't want the grout color affected.

We recommend using SCP: Color-Enhancing Marble & Granite Sealer.