Travertine patio. Seal it or not?

[Brent T]

We had about a thousand SF of travertine tile installed in our back yard last month. I'm debating whether to seal it or not? I've been doing some reading and the recommendations are all over the place. One says to seal it, another says not. One says to use a topcoat sealer, another says to use a penetrating sealer. One says the sealer is too slick and needs sand or beads mixed in so it's not slick and another says it's just fine without. I do realize it will fade over time if it's not sealed. Wondering what GJ says?

 

[PugetDude]

Subscribed for updates. We're in the middle of a big pool and patio remodel. Pulled up concrete pavers. Using ivory travertine to lighten things up.
Not sure about sealing it

 

[ZRX61]

I don't think the Romans sealed the Colosseum...

 

[manwithtools]

Subscribed for updates. Just had tile installed on three porches. We do a fair amount of BBQ on the back covered porch and the tile is a very light color...
Thinking it might be a good idea to seal it.

 

[Chaznsc]

This seems to indicate sealing them.

Travertine Maintenance and Care: Everything You Need to Know

Learn everything about travertine from our experts and look at the amazing results of Sir Grout's travertine restoration in this blog post.

www.sirgrout.com

 

[cliffcharb]

I don’t have travertine in my lanai (yet), but do have it in our home. Our installer stated penetrating sealer should be used unless I wanted the smooth glossy look. Which to me equals slippery.
The only reason for the sealer was to give the tile a “wet” look and to help with any staining.
Personally exterior I wouldn’t bother with the sealer as you’d likely be resealing every few years.

 

[e015475]

I had about 2k of travertine in my last house in Phoenix, including in the kitchen.

I always kept it sealed.

It is pretty porous - I'd be afraid of staining from oil from feet, suntan lotion and cooking oils if it didn't have a sealer

You might want to call Monterrey Tile in Gilbert and see what they say.

 

[engineer2]

Travertine is very soft. I would seal it.

I don't think the Romans sealed the Colosseum...

Have you seen the condition of that place? Just kidding.

 

[rayra]

I've installed plenty of travertine in my houses and absolutely seal it. Flat, penetrating. It won't be slippery, it will still look like the stone it is, and your spills won't stain things.
Foyers, kitchens, bathrooms, the dirtiest places in the house(s). All I had to do was hot sponge-mop it once in a while to get the dirt up.

Travertine is about 2/3 the way from chalk to limestone. Porous, absorbent. You MUST seal it if you don't want it to look like **** in a few years.

 

[MJK]

seal it

 

[Brent T]

Today I ordered 10 gallons of this. Hopefully it goes well.

https://www.amazon.com/Armor-Enhancer-Sealer-Concrete-Pavers/dp/B0761V3L7T/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Whitworth]

Did not have success with film sealer on outdoor concrete.
Turned black with grime and didn't last any longer than untreated surface. Mind you, looked amazing when freshly applied and for months afterwards looked good. A year later, black as soot and no easier to pressure wash.
The concrete, being porous absorbed alot, an expensive lesson. Don't know how much travertine is (porous).
Hope you have success where I didn't.

 

[Brent T]

I sealed the patio last weekend. It really brought out the color. It does have a bit of a satin shine to it, but that's dulled some already this past week. Overall, I'm happy with it so we'll see how it holds up. Supposedly this should be good for about 5 years since it's a penetrating sealer. It definitely beads water as we had a light rain the other day and it was beading well. It's not slippery with shoes on, but I'm somewhat concerned how it will be this summer with the grandkids wet feet running around on it. Time will tell.

Before:


An hour after:


This morning:

 

[tarmy]

We have travertine for a couple decades. It will start to pit as the stone breaks down. We clean and seal ours about every other year. I fill those erosion pits as soon as I find them as they will grow if you don’t. It looks great but is soft.

 

[Brent T]

double post.

 

[Brent T]

We have travertine for a couple decades. It will start to pit as the stone breaks down. We clean and seal ours about every other year. I fill those erosion pits as soon as I find them as they will grow if you don’t. It looks great but is soft.

What do you use to fill the pits?

 

[tarmy]

What do you use to fill the pits?

The same grout as the joint mix. The issue is that as the tile and grout age the colors change at different rates Sun/shade/high traffic areas by doors etc. I have found that if I mix in that latex stuff that some grout’s are mixed with it is nice and hard and does not degrade that would allow that void to keep growing. Also, whatever you clean with and how often will also degrade the sealer AND the travertine.