Natural stone
Travertine
Travertine is a sedimentary stone that forms around hot springs, where carbonate-rich water deposits layers of calcite as gas bubbles rise through it. Those bubbles leave the characteristic voids, small pits and channels, that define the stone's look.
Travertine is almost always sold pre-filled: the voids are packed with tinted resin at the factory before the slab is honed flat. Over years of use, particularly in high-traffic areas or bathrooms, those fills gradually fail. Replacing them with fresh colour-matched resin and re-honing the surface is the core of travertine restoration.
Services we offer for travertine
- Travertine honing for matt or satin finishes on floors, patios and pool surrounds
- Deep cleaning for internal bathrooms and external paving
- Crack and chip repair with colour-matched void fills
- Sealing and impregnation against frost, algae and soap staining
- Stone polishing for filled-and-honed travertine where a satin finish is wanted
Characteristics
- Distinctive natural voids formed by gas escape during formation.
- Typically sold pre-filled with resin; factory fills age and fail over time.
- Warm beige to deep walnut tones; vein-cut and cross-cut slabs behave differently.
- Popular in Mediterranean architecture and modern bathrooms.
Common issues
- Failed factory fills creating small pits across the surface.
- Shampoo, oil and tannin stains in the natural porosity.
- Etching from acidic cleaners, travertine is calcium carbonate.
- Cracks that follow the natural layering in vein-cut slabs.
Care guidance
Never use acidic or abrasive cleaners. Re-seal every 18–24 months. Blot spills immediately. Address failed factory fills before they trap dirt.
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