NON-RESILIENT TILE: TRAVERTINE FLOORS

The composition of travertine, like marble, is principally calcium carbonate.  It is generally softer than most marble, but hardens with age and exposure.  It has a sponge like texture with up to 1/2" diameter holes.  These cavities are frequently filled with a color matching Portland cement mortar or left unfilled and dirty go five the floor a pattern.  Since travertine is very porous it should be sealed.   However, do not try to clean or fill the dark cavities with seal.

CAUTIONS

• Avoid acids.  Acids will attack Travertine floors and cause pitting and in the case of extreme exposure, loss of strength.
• Avoid abrasives.  Travertine is a relatively soft stone and can be permanently scratched by harsh abrasives like sand, some scouring cleansers and overly agressive floor pads, if used in a dry state.
• Avoid crystalline cleansers, such as Trisodium Phosphate - (T.S. P.).  Crystals formed in the pores of the floor upon evaporation of the cleaning solution exert a sufficient pressure to cause a spalling or chipping of the surface.