How to seal travertine tiles

How to seal travertine tiles

This guide explains the process of sealing travertine tiles. Please also read our associated article regarding cleaning travertine first. A link to which is located at the foot of the page.

To view individual product pages & prices, click on the product title highlighted in blue.

Sealing travertine tiles can be carried out before or after the floor has been fixed/grouted. Typically most travertine tiles are part of older existing tiled floors in kitchens, bathrooms and living areas – occasionally forming terraces or patios.

There is a link to view all products for cleaning & sealing travertine located at the foot of the page.

Sealing existing travertine tiled floors

We recommend sealing travertine tiled floors or walls with an impregnating sealer like Floorseal Natural Stone Sealer Breathe. This kind of sealer sinks/soaks into the stone and seals from within. This sealer is fully breathable which does not alter colour or create a sheen.

Impregnating sealers like Floorseal Natural Stone Sealer Breathe are water-based and easy to apply. Suitable for floor tiles, wall tiles, bathrooms, wet rooms & external terraces or patios. Natural Stone Sealer Breathe is low odour and rapid drying, it does not contain solvents or VOCs so perfect for interior use.

If you have an older floor you might check for old surface sealers (which create a sheen) these may be acrylics and require stripping – contact us for advice.

Pre-sealing travertine tiles (for new installations)

There are some differences when applying sealers to an ungrouted floor.

Firstly, you could apply the sealer to the tiles as they are removed from their packaging or pallet. Apply the sealer to the back, sides and front of the tile and allow them to dry and the sealer to cure. Remove all excess product – see specific product instructions prior to use.

If you are sealing before fixing the tiles, seal the sides and back of the tile once. You can apply the second coat of Natural Stone Sealer Breathe to the face of the tile once laid.

Pre-sealing your tiles will make the removal of grout much easier, you should not remove grout haze with a normal acid-based cleaner, it will damage the surface of the travertine. So pre-sealing and removing the grout haze carefully is wise!

Pre-sealing reduces the likelihood of grout haze issues. You must still work carefully when removing grout haze from travertine tiles regardless of whether you have pre-sealed or not.

Applying Floorseal Natural Stone Sealer Breathe to travertine tiles & patios

Impregnating sealers like Natural Stone Sealer Breathe are easy to apply, liberally brush or roller the product over the area and allow it to sink into the tile and grout. If any sealer is present on the surface of the tile after approximately 20 minutes, remove this excess with a microfibre cloth.

Natural Stone Sealer Breathe does not alter the appearance of the tile – it will not create an artificial sheen as it is not surface film/polish/lacquer. This sealer will leave the tile with a natural matt appearance.

Once you have successfully carried out the first application and removed the excess, apply the sealer again approximately 40 minutes later. You will require much less of the product due to the first application already taking effect. Wipe all excess sealer away as before.

For polished or semi-polished surfaces you may find less product is required in general. Polished or semi-polished surfaces have a higher degree of surface tension, thus resisting liquids/sealers naturally.

5 litres of Natural Stone Sealer Breathe covers 20-25m2 of travertine stone tiles when applied in 2 consecutive coats. For interior floors or walls apply via roller or brush – for external areas a sprayer is recommended.

Sealing very porous travertines and wet areas like bathrooms etc

If your tiles are highly porous and located in wet rooms or bathrooms we recommend Floorseal Premium Impregnating Sealer. This product has a higher active content and offers a higher degree of stain resistance.

In conclusion

Floorseal Natural Stone Sealer Breathe is our recommended product for sealing interior & exterior travertine tiles. Water-based, low odour, breathable, and easy to apply. Does not contain solvents or VOCs. The sealed surface retains its exact appearance prior to sealing.  Apply twice – 5 litres covers approximately 20m2 – 25m2.

Floorseal Premium Impregnating Sealer usually applied to very porous interior travertines located in bathrooms or wet rooms, also applied to hearths, & table tops. This sealer does not contain solvents or VOCs. The sealed surface retains its exact appearance prior to sealing. Apply twice – 5 litres covers approximately 20m2 – 25m2.

To view all products for cleaning & sealing travertine Click Here, this will take you to our travertine surface type page.

The information contained within this article is not exhaustive. If you need further information please contact Floorseal on (01484) 861461 or email us at Info@floorseal.co.uk. Our web address is www.floorseal.co.uk.