Give Your Home a Luxurious Look with Travertine Tiles

Travertine, a type of limestone, though not as glossy and shiny as marble or granite, has wide applications ranging from exterior wall covering to interior flooring, garden paths, paving patios as well as urban furnishing. It is generally characterized by pitted holes and troughs in its surface. It is available in a variety of colors ranging from grey to coral-red. The Marble Man, Australia’s best natural stone restoration company, also specializes in installation, repair and restoration of travertine.

Problems Associated with Travertine and Their Possible Solutions

• The use of travertine in kitchens and heavily used bathrooms is not a very good idea since it gets easily etched by acids, juices as well as acid-based cleaning chemicals. Therefore, only alkaline and neutral cleaners are used to clean travertine surfaces. However, in case of polished travertine, alkaline products can damage the glossy and shiny finish of the surface, due to which use of neutral detergent is recommended.
• Travertine absorbs oil and other liquids, thus gets stained more easily than marble. Travertine can be used for countertops but that won’t be a prudent choice as it is usually affected by scratches, etches and stains. Travertine is an excellent choice for floorings and smaller spaces since it makes small spaces look spacious and airy.
• Moreover travertine possesses a vacuolar structure. That is throughout its structure it has cavities which easily accumulate dust and dirt, thus damaging the stone. So, as a usual practice travertine is plastered so as to prevent grave damage while cleaning.

Maintenance of Travertine

There are varieties of stone finishes for travertine namely polished, honed, brushed and tumbled. The harder types of travertine give a highly polished glossy finish, though the most commonly used type is the honed one.

• Travertine is one of the most porous natural stones available and the best way to protect them from stains is to treat the travertine surface with a sealer.
• Another widely used method of protecting travertine surfaces is waxing. Traditional polish wax is generally recommended for home flooring whereas for public installations, self-shining wax such as metalized wax shall be used.
• Since travertine gets stained and etched easily, placing beverage glasses on travertine surfaces should be avoided as it leave rings. Wipe up acid spill immediately with wet cloth. However if surface is already etched, polishing may be required.
• Poultice is also a highly recommended solution for stained travertine surfaces, when normal cleaning procedure may not help. A paste is created by combining recommended stone cleaner and baking powder which is applied over the stain. It slowly draws the stain out and can be later removed by warm water.

Travertine is a popular choice among real estate agents because of the luxurious look and feel it offers. If you wish to incorporate travertine in your home, hire The Marble Man for installation, suggestions regarding protection of the stones from stain and etches, and its routine maintenance. 

It’s Time to Bring Granite Home, and Stone Restoration Specialists Too

Granite, owing to its durability and versatility, is the most preferred natural stone for both residential and commercial purposes. Granite tiles have numerous applications ranging from exterior and interior wall cladding to kitchen flooring, shower surrounds, bathroom and kitchen countertops as well as stone benchtops. Installation of tiles is less expensive compared to that of slabs, and granite tiles are now being increasingly used in kitchens and bathrooms as there is minimal risk of granite tiles getting etched which ensures long-lasting surface. The Marble Man, Australia’s No.1 natural stone restoration specialist, offers tile restoration services and provides the best care and maintenance of your granite tiles.

Why Use Granite Tiles?

Granite has a number of advantages over other commonly used stones such as marble, limestone or travertine. If beauty is a concern, which surely is, then the most important advantage of granite is that it’s as beautiful as marble, and comes in different colors and offers a variety of patterns to choose from. Moreover, it is less susceptible to etches and stains unlike marble or other stones and thus ensures longevity. It requires simple maintenance procedure, though polished granite may require periodic re-polishing, just like any other polished stone, depending on the degree of use.

Granite Floor Tiles Maintenance

To restore the gloss and shine of the stone surface and protect it from damage caused due to heavy objects or extensive use, re-sealing should be done once in every year. Apart from sealing, certain other periodic activities should be done to restore the newness of the floor tiles.

• Inspect the edges and grout- Sometimes small chips in the granite can cause bigger cracks which finally lead to breakage. If you spot anything like this immediately call the experts to replace the tiles.
• Wipe up spills immediately- To prevent staining, clean any food, drink or spills immediately. Besides, mud or dirt should be swept away quickly so that small rock particles do not get embedded in the granite and cause scratches.
• Use appropriate cleaners- Clean the stone surface with approved granite cleaner instead of abrasive cleaners, bleach or other detergent which might damage the color of granite. To know the correct product for a particular stone, visit The Marble Man’s product page.
• Daily cleaning- Use a dry mop or duster to clean the tiles every day. This prevents dust, dirt and small particles from accumulating on the tile. Use warm water and soap cleaning of the tile. However, deep rinsing must be done so that no residue is left behind.

If your granite tile shows huge damage, discoloration or stain, it will not be prudent to handle that yourself. It is time for you to call the stone repair and tile restoration professionals, who would employ the best techniques of tile works without damaging the stone surface. Seek the best advice from the experts who will work to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. You will once again find that newness and vigor restored into your home once The Marble Man team attends to your stone restoration. Visit their website or call them now on 1300 627 626.