About Travertine
Travertine is a sedimentary rock. When pure, travertine is quite white, but usually it at least partially patterned and coloured in shades from light yellows to browns, from impurities in the stone. Travertine is also full of pits. These can be left or filled with a sutiable colour-matched putty.
Travertine is typically formed from mineral deposits (usually calcite) in mineral springs or hot springs, or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. When it is very porous, Travertine is known as calcarious 'tuff'.
Sealing Travertine
All travertine is highly porous - a tablespoon of water on a travertine surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished travertine with all the holes filled is less porous than travertine with a honed (matt) finish.
Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for travertine to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. It is very difficult to seal travertine against acid attack. Travertine is used both outdoors and indoors, and Dry-Treat's premium impregnating sealers will seal travertine equally well in either.
Protection from Acid Etching
Travertine, and other calcite based stone such as marble and limestone have an additional vulnerability - they are prone to acid etching. Travertine will be immediately 'etched' (eaten / corroded) by any acidic material immediately on contact - including lemon juice, cola, wine and champagne. For this reason the honed (matt) look is popular, as it doesn't show etch marks as much as polished travertine. In any case, acidic substances should be cleaned up as soon as possible, and travertine should not be used outdoors in areas where there is acid rain.
Which Dry-Treat Sealer is Best for my Travertine?
STAIN-PROOF Original™
Permanent, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer for water and salt, PLUS premium oil stain protection. 15 year performance warranty when sealing is performed by an Accredited Applicator. Click here for more details.
DRY-TREAT 40SK™
Permanent, invisible, fully breathable impregnating sealer for water and salt protection, plus surface consolidation. particularly popular for travertine in a salt water environment - such as around a salt water swimming pool. Click here for more details.
ENHANCE-PLUS™
For colour enrichment PLUS water based stain protection. 5 year performance warranty when sealing is performed by an Accredited Applicator.
Click here for more details.
Plus:
STAIN-PROOF™ (1 coat) for additional oil protection at least 24 hours after ENHANCE-PLUS™.
Pre-sealing Preparation
1) Any surface to be sealed should be clean and looking just as you want it before it is sealed - it may be impossible to remove stains after sealing. Acidic cleaners should not be used on Travertine.
2) Check with the store your travertine came from that the surface has no temporary coating (such as wax) - and ensure any such coating is removed before sealing.
3) Ensure the material is thoroughly dry before applying any Dry-Treat sealer.
Dry-Treat X-DUTY Cleaner™ is a highly effective, heavy duty cleaner which is safe to use on most types of porous surface. X-DUTY Cleaner™ is also an effective wax remover.
Bleach diluted with water (1part bleach to one part water) may also be used for stubborn stains. Apply the diluted bleach to the stained area, let it sit for 1-2 minutes, agitate with brush or cloth and then rinse well with clean water.
PLEASE NOTE:
1) Always test any cleaning chemical or sealer on a small, inconspicuous area of the surface 24 hours before doing the project, to check that it will produce the desired result.
2) Always ensure the surface is completely dry before proceeding with sealing.
