Travertine has an earthy color and this makes it ideal for use in the kitchen, the unique color is all due to the limestone effect. These tiles are porous; therefore sealant is used to safeguard the material from dullness, discoloration, and stains. Every year you need to apply a fresh coat of sealant to retain the shine and using the right kind of cleaning products is absolutely important.
Travertine information
Travertine is a natural stone that is mainly used for decorative purposes and has been used in architecture for ages mainly due to its beauty and accessibility. The deposits of travertine are formed in limestone caves and hot springs, the bubbles permeate the surface of the stone mainly because carbon dioxide escapes during the formation. As the gases escape, space is created and this makes some of the travertine spongy and where there are fewer bubbles, those become solid rock. Therefore this stone is softer than granite and marble and it’s also prone to damage when it comes in contact with acids.
Travertine is used for various applications but this rock is very much affected by water, sharp objects and acids. This stone is perfect for decorations mainly for walls, driveways, and paving. It’s also used for kitchen counters, table tops, pools and other similar kinds of stuff. Suppliers, like Texas Travertine, offer travertine in many different finishes, colors and styles and are one of the few wholesalers that source their travertine directly from the travertine quarries in Turkey.
Polishing Travertine
Polishing travertine is a daunting task and there are experts who can make it look easy. It involves quite a few processes including crystallizing, non-acidic polishes, floor finishes, and waxes. Travertine polishing helps to renew stone surfaces that have suffered damage or wear.
Polishing is done in advance after a travertine surface is dulled during installation. The procedure is very much straightforward because once the surface is tidy; the experts start using coarse polishing pads and the coarseness keeps on increasing. There would be places where the filling is applied to create even surfaces; the polishing expert must know that. The polishing powder is not used because it could accumulate in the hollow surfaces and again cleaning would be necessary. Travertine will never be as shiny as granite so there is no need to overdo the polishing process. To make the stone resistant to staining and fluid absorption, it is best to apply a sealant.
The 3 best travertine polishing processes
To get the desired results, the processes must be followed by the polishing experts. Take a look at the three types of polishes:
Crystallizing – This is a very common type of polishing and a very simple process where friction is applied in combination with acid which reacts with calcium present in the stone. This process is followed to add toughness to the stone surface and also adds polish.
Floor finishes and waxes – if it’s a natural stone, floor finishes are not to be used. It looks like milk, sold in gallons and applied using a mop. These products are not very expensive, thus a fair choice to polish Travertine but are not very long lasting.
Non-acidic – These polishes are the best for final coats, looking very similar to wax and mainly used to biff car surfaces. This polish contains shellac, carnauba wax, sulfur and resin fillers that uplift the shine of the floors. These polishes would last for 6-8 months.
Are you trying to remove travertine stains via polishing?
A lot of people feel that polishing travertine will remove the scratches in the stones but it’s basically not possible, but you can reduce the wear and blend it with the natural stone pattern. A maintenance pad with diamond-soaked is used in combination with a crystallizer to do away with light damage in the stone. After this process, your floor will have a very clean, shiny look. So, diamond pads are really useful during the polishing process.
Final words
Homeowners do not take a notice of their floors mostly because they don’t compare their current floors to what the new floors used to look like. A lot of companies use low-quality polishes and shabby diamond pads. Reputed companies use a Travertine shine meter to measure the amount of shine on your floor after polishing. All floors made from this material would have clear reflection, check that. Apart from that ask people; look for recommendations, read testimonials to find out reputed travertinepolishing companies.
