LoveToKnow HomeImprovement:AllComments

From LoveToKnow HomeImprovement

Comments

Hi Lori - sorry to hear that the unsealed tile has gotten stained. There are some cleaning products designed specifically for travertine tile that you may want to try. This web site mentions the use of "poultice" (second bullet point from bottom) for removing stains. You can look for this product at Home Depot or other home improvement stores.

-- Contributed by: WendyMichaels

Igaunas have stained our unsealed travertine tile on our patio and it looks awful. How can I get rid of the stains. Clorox and softscrub has not worked one bit. Thanks

-- Contributed by: Lori Donaldson

Hi Adrian,

You have a valid point. The more I checked, it is not easy to clean when it comes to mold or mildew in the bath area. Thanks for the heads up.

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

I will never use travertine for a shower surround again. Ours was professionally installed, sealed, and re-sealed annually, but it has ac...ulated mold and mildew constantly. Our bathroom has top-notch ventilation, and we live in a dry climate, but that doesn't help. There doesn't seem to be a "safe-for-travertine" cleanser that actually kills mold and mildew or removes the stains they leave behind.

-- Contributed by: Adrian

Philippa, I have read that it is difficult, though not impossible, to stain travertine, and of course this would need to be done before it is sealed. You might try diluting a stain and putting several layers on the tile rather than trying to do it in one application. If you have a waste piece you can test this on, that's a great idea.

-- Contributed by: Sarah White

We recently purchased honed travertine 18inch tiles for our baths. The color is very pale. Can we color enchance the tile before installation? Also the countertops come from a pale slab of travertine. Can this, too be stained? Thanks for any help.

-- Contributed by: philippa ragusa

Darlene, it sounds like either situation could be possible. I've read of showers developing mold issues even when they are sealed. Have you tried a mildew killer? (I hear -- but haven't tried it myself -- that vital oxide is safe on stone.)

-- Contributed by: Sarah White

I installed travertine tile in my kitchen as a backsplash a year and a half ago. Although it was sealed. I recently noticed patches of dark discoloration. What are the possible causes and is there anyway to remove it. I don't notice on the grout only the stones. Is it possible there is a moisture problem on the walls and mold formed and worked it's way through the stone? My other concern is that I had my ductwork cleaned recently and noticed soot deposited on some walls. I'm wondering if its possible because the stone is so porous it may have been penetrated by soot. I'd appreciate any help you can give me. I've never seen this before.

Thanks Darlene

-- Contributed by: Darlene

Steve,

From what I've read its fine to use travertine outside--that's what the Coliseum in Rome is made out of and it seems to have handled the weather OK. You should choose a honed finish because a polished surface would just wear off when exposed to the elements.

-- Contributed by: Sarah White

I plan to use travertine on my outdoor covered Patio. The approx dimensions are 13'x 20'. Since the patio is covered but still susceptible to rain and moisture do you think it's still a good idea to use travertine? If so what do I have to do to make this all work??

Thanks, Steve

-- Contributed by: Steve

It's recommended that you set a travertine patio in about four inches of a gravel base for proper drainage, with a one inch layer of sand over the gravel.

-- Contributed by: WendyMichaels

Should a travertine patio be set in gravel dust or cement?

-- Contributed by: Ellen
> Return to article