Stone · Melbourne · Since 2014
Travertine Sealing Melbourne, done properly.
The holes are the whole problem.
From $22/m² inc GST $20 + GST Clean and seal. Stain removal and restoration are quoted from photos.
Quicker still: text us a photo for a ballpark.
The short answer
What to know before you seal travertine.
Travertine is riddled with natural voids, and everything about sealing it comes back to those holes. Whether your travertine was supplied filled or unfilled, and whether that filler is still intact, decides what the job actually is. Get that wrong and you seal dirt into the stone.
What goes wrong
Filler popping out, and grime in the voids.
Factory filler is not as durable as the stone around it. In time it shrinks, cracks and pops out, leaving open holes that immediately collect dirt, leaf matter and insects. People then pressure wash it, which blows out more filler, and the surface gets progressively pockier. Sealing over that traps everything in the holes.
The process
How we handle travertine.
- 1
Establish filled or unfilled
This changes the whole scope. Unfilled travertine needs the voids cleaned out and a decision made about whether to fill them. Filled travertine needs the failed filler assessed and made good first.
- 2
Clean out the voids properly
Surface washing pushes debris further into the holes. The voids need working out with the right chemistry and dwell time before anything is sealed.
- 3
Make good the filler
Where filler has popped, we refill before sealing. Sealing over open holes locks in whatever is sitting in them.
- 4
Seal, and be honest about acid
A penetrating sealer goes in for stain resistance. We will also tell you plainly that it will not stop etching from wine, citrus or pool chemicals, because it cannot.
Questions
Travertine: what people ask.
What is the difference between filled and unfilled travertine?
Filled travertine has its natural voids packed with resin or cement at the factory for a smoother surface. Unfilled is left open for a more textured, rustic look. Filled is easier to keep clean but the filler eventually fails; unfilled never has that problem but collects grit in the holes. Both can be sealed, but they are different jobs.
Bits of my travertine are popping out. Can that be fixed?
Yes, that is failed factory filler rather than the stone breaking down. It can be cleaned out and refilled. It is worth doing before sealing, because sealing over open voids traps the dirt that is already sitting in them.
Will sealing stop wine and lemon marking my travertine?
No, and it is important you know that before you spend money. Travertine is a limestone, so acid does not stain it, it etches it, which is a chemical burn into the surface. A sealer gives you time to wipe a spill before it soaks in, but it cannot prevent an acid reaction. Etched travertine is repaired by honing, not by more sealer.
Can I pressure wash my travertine?
We would not. High pressure blows filler out of the voids and can pit the softer stone, and the damage is not reversible without refilling. It gets cleaned chemically with much lower pressure.
Is travertine a good choice around a pool?
It is popular for good reason: it stays comparatively cool underfoot and has natural grip. It just needs the right sealer for a chlorine and sunscreen environment, and realistic expectations about etching if pool chemicals get splashed on it neat.
Get a price
Get your travertine price.
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