What applications does travertine have in residential and commercial spaces?
Countertops: The consistent color and long streaks that are typically present in travertine make the natural stone a beautiful choice for a countertop. However, you will need to make sure you exercise the proper caution and keep up on maintaining the surface.
Backsplashes: A great way to match a travertine countertop is by installing a travertine backsplash. This backsplash will look incredible, as having travertine on the walls will truly highlight the natural beauty of the stone.
Fireplace Surrounds: Another place travertine will look great is as a fireplace surround. The natural stone will be pleasing to the eye and will draw attention to the fireplace.
Walkways: Travertine is a great stone for walkways, and it is often used for this purpose. In specific, honed travertine looks great on walkways.
Interior Floors: Just as you can use the stone for walkways, you can also use travertine for interior floors. With a honed finish, the floor will look amazing.
Patios: Travertine is commonly used in outdoor areas. If you are looking for a stone that looks nice on your patio, you should strongly consider going with travertine.
Pool Decks: Travertine is slip resistant, which makes the stone an excellent choice for pool decks.
Interior and Exterior Walls: If you want to bring a touch of natural beauty to your interior or exterior walls, using travertine can help you do just that.
Driveways: Travertine pavers look incredible when used as a driveway surface. Considering that the driveway is an entrance to the home, using travertine can help you make a great impression.
Bathtub Surrounds: Another use for travertine is as a bathtub surround. The natural stone will bring light and life to your bathroom.
Shower Walls: You can also utilize travertine for shower walls. The natural stone looks beautiful when incorporated into the home as a shower wall.
At Home Travertine Maintenance
- Sweep or Vacuum the Floor: Sweep or vacuum the floor to eliminate small particles of dirt and grit.
- Mop the Floor: Apply a small amount of plain warm water to the floor with a sponge or mop that is nearly wrung dry so that the travertine surface gets just barely damp. Do not saturate travertine tiles with water, as it can penetrate down past sealant or into grout lines, causing discoloration, degradation, and the growth of mold and mildew.
- Disinfect the Floor: If it is time to disinfect the floor, add a tablespoon of mild, non-acidic dish soap to a gallon of water. Damp-mop the floor with this solution. Mop a second time with clean water to remove any lingering residue that may exist. Toweling the surface dry is also recommended.
- Clean the Grout Lines: Cleaning the grout around travertine tiles can be tricky because you don’t want to mar the stone, but you need something abrasive to clean the grout. If the grout lines are due to be cleaned, mix equal parts baking soda and water to create a gritty paste. Carefully scrub this slightly abrasive paste onto the grout with a tiny brush as you avoid scratching or etching the edges of the tile with the tool. Also, try a specially formulated stone cleaner (approved to use on travertine) to try to clean the grout.
Tips to Keep Your Travertine Tiles Clean Longer
Maintaining travertine comes down to using mild cleaners and taking care of the grout. Never use abrasive chemical cleaners or anything acidic when caring for travertine floors. Travertine stone is by nature an alkaline substance, and it can stain and discolor if it comes in contact with acidic substances.
The grout lines between tiles are the most vulnerable points in your travertine flooring installation, as these spaces are susceptible to water penetration, stains, discoloration, and the growth of dark, unsightly, and unhealthy mold. Do not use commercial grout cleansers used for ceramic tile because they often contain bleaches which may etch travertine stone.
If necessary, grout lines can also be completely removed and replaced, which can give your flooring installation a brand new and revitalized look. While regrouting can be moderately difficult, it is a much easier and less expensive option than replacing an entire travertine floor.
Travertine Cleaning in Houston TX
At Modern Stone Care, our team of highly knowledgeable technicians specialize in the restoration, cleaning, polishing, and sealing of all-natural stone surfaces. This includes flooring, countertops, outdoor pool coping, and more. We work hard to ensure your natural stone maintains its beautiful and vibrant appearance for as long as possible.
When it comes to the care of your delicate natural stone surfaces, leave it to the professionals at Modern Stone Care. We proudly serve The Greater Houston Area, including but not limited to Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Cypress, Friendswood, Houston Heights, Houston, Humble, Katy, Kemah, League City, Kingwood, Memorial, Missouri City, Montgomery County, Spring, Spring Branch, Stafford, Sugar Land, Tomball, and The Woodlands.
Modern Stone Care
970 Bunker Hill Rd
Houston, TX 77024
(832) 814–2041
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