How to protect your Travertine Tiles.

Once you’ve actually made the choice to have natural stone in your home, maintaining it is another issue. It is very easy to care for. A simple soft brush to wipe away daily dust, followed by a damp mop to lift and dirt. The biggest mistake people often make is to use acidic cleaners or popular brands on their stone floors or walls, but that will only erode the sealant and cause problems later on to your stone.

To begin…

All natural stone needs to be sealed. We sell a full range of sealants on our website, one that work in harmony with our products. It is very important to follow the instructions on the sealer to help to maximise its protection. Before applying the sealant you must make sure that all the tiles are clean and dry - it’s imperative that the are. A sealer (sometimes called impregnator) is designed to be absorbed by the material and form a protective barrier against staining. You can either apply it yourself using the instructions on the back of the bottle or employ a specialist fitter to do it for you.

Adhesive and Grouts

Always make sure that you are using the correct adhesive and always totally support the back of the tile. Some tiles need a coat of PVA on the back of the tile before fixing. Ask our Sales Team to advise you on which products suit your stone best. If your having underfloor heating you will also need a ‘flexible’ adhesive. You have to make sure that the floor is completely dry before you install your tiles.

Resealing?

Most natural stone doesn’t require resealing once it has been done once thoroughly. However if you choose to apply a Care Sheen product on top of the sealant, this can be reappl;ied if necessary. But this comes down to your own preference rather than necessity.

Holes?

Holes are part of the beauty of travertine. If travertine has holes it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a faulty product. Holes appear naturally in the stone and are then filled in the factory. After filling they are polished, which gives them their unique look. Sometimes the grout wear away leaving small hole sin the travertine, we always supply a small bag of grout with all our travertine products, just in case this happens.

Cutting tiles.

If you want to cut natural stone you need to use a diamond blade. If you want to cut your tiles we recommend that you get a professional to do it for you.

For more helpful advise just give Floorell a call on 01727 800 313.