Construction & Contractors Blog
Travertine is a type of limestone that works really well as a tile. The tile is extremely porous, and it wears well. Left natural, the tile has a distinctive pattern of pitting and small holes that may wear and change as the tile ages. Some homeowners prefer polished travertine. In its polished form, travertine can even be mistaken for marble. As durable and beautiful as travertine is, you must exercise some care with it to make sure that it lasts for as long as you'd like.
Dust Mop Daily
Often homeowners with tile flooring think that they need to mop often in order to keep their floors clean. This isn't necessarily true as long as you dust mop or sweep daily. The problem is that dirt is actually really sharp, even if you can't feel that with your bare hands or feet. When you look at dirt under a microscope, you can see the sharp edges. Those edges are what cut into travertine and other types of flooring, causing scratches and gouges. By taking care of the dirt daily, you limit the exposure to your tile and save it from the risk of heavy scratching.
Deal with Spills Immediately
Because travertine is made up of limestone, it soaks up liquids almost as soon as they hit the tile. While this isn't a problem with water, it can be a problem with other types of spills, such as soda and juice. The more quickly you can get to the spill, the less likely you'll wind up with stains on your tile. If the tile is sealed, then you can buy yourself a little bit of time. Unsealed tile needs attention the second the spill happens.
Use a Poultice for Stains
If you don't happen to catch a spill before it becomes a stain, all is not lost. Mix a paste of equal parts baking soda and filtered water. Spread the baking soda paste in a thick, even layer over the stained area. If the stain is in a high traffic area, spread a bit of plastic wrap over the paste and use masking or painter's tape to secure the plastic. Let the paste dry. As it dries, it pulls the stain from the travertine. Sweep up the baking soda once the paste dries.
For stubborn stains that you just can't get rid of on your own, contact a professional such as All American Stone & Tile Care Inc. for travertine tile cleaning. An expert can make sure that the job is done properly, with no damage to your tile.
Share26 August 2015
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
