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Travertine Tile

Article Number: 92 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM

We have travertine in ALL of our rooms (even the kitchen) except for the bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It is not sealed and has holes from years of wear from approx 5 families having lived here since it was built in 1988. What is the best way to keep this floor clean and how do we fill in the larger holes? Thank you!!

Dear Sydna:

Stone refinishing is far from being a DIYer project.

With a floor that's been used and (probably) abused for almost 20 years, your only option is to hire a bona fide stone restoration contractor who will re-grind, hone and refinish your stone your stone floor either with a hone-finish (satin finish – which is the best way to go), or highly polished (which is not advisable at least in the kitchen). The filling of the holes will also be part of the restoration project in it's whole.

Now, you'd better watch out! I consider stone refinishing as the very pinnacle of all the activities related to stone from a professional point of view. Unfortunately, there are a lot of quacks on the loose out there! You get one of those, and you may have to kiss your stone bye-bye!

How could you tell a champ from a chomp? Could you trust the recommendation of your local stone distributor, or contractor, or your interior decorator? Hardly!

I would recommend that you visit the Find a Pro section at www.stoneandtilepros.com (look for the stone restoration category). All of the pros listed are checked out thoroughly. In fact, you will find many that I personally trained.

Also, will you please read and sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm? By spreading the word about this valuable site among your friend & family and the stone trades' people you've been dealing with you will be rendering everybody a valuable service!

Thank you.

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli

www.marblecleaning.org – The Only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!