Travertine Care: What You Should Know

Travertine care is all about knowing what to do as well as what to do.  Why?  Well, even though it is stone, travertine is surprisingly fragile...

Get Commercial Stone Restoration | (310) 545-8750

Travertine Cleaning:  The Ins and Outs of Commercial Stone Restoration

Travertine is a form of calcium-based stone such as marble and limestone.  While it is a fairly hard stone, it is susceptible to damage from anything acidic, and we're not just referring to bleach.  Travertine can be damaged from ordinary and non-toxic substances such as coffee, red wine, and even orange juice.  As for household cleaners, a great many of them contain bleach.  Even some municipal tap water also contains trace amounts of bleach.  That's why it's probably a good idea to call a commercial stone restoration service in to clean your stone.

A professional stone care service will not only safely clean your stone, they will take care not to use anything harsh on the surface and most importantly of all, do stone sealing after they are done cleaning it.  Stone sealing helps to protect your stone from any sort of spill damage, and in addition, can last as long as five years between applications, sometimes even longer.  A lot of people don't believe us when we tell them that acidic substances can literally dissolve stone.  And in the case of travertine, there is another problem. Travertine has natural gaps in it that are usually filled with resin and then sliced.  If anything damages these resin patches, it can cause the rest of the stone to crumble.  So instead of an elegant showpiece of a floor, you have a crumbled mess.

Final Thoughts on Travertine

Travertine, like all natural stone, has very specific care instructions.  For example, unlike marble, which does well with grinding and honing, travertine can be damaged if you try to clean it that way.  If you want to do travertine cleaning between visits, always damp mop, never wet mop.  You do not want to cause damage to your stone, and even wet mopping can do that, as it can leave trace amounts of bacteria behind that can be chemically reactive with your stone.

If you know a bit about stone, you may be able to work on your travertine, however, if you don't, just remember that new travertine floor is rather expensive.  It is easier to clean it, and take care of it then it is to replace it.  If you have any questions about travertine cleaning and commercial stone restoration, give us a call.

Morris Cleaning & Restoration
1007 N.Sepulveda Blvd. #1204
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
(310) 545-8750
cleanrestoreprotect.com