Topical sealers are one of the worst things that can be applied to your travertine flooring, they are not designed to adhere properly and end up looking very bad in a short amount of time.
Wax removal from travertine tile is one of the most requested services we handle — and once you understand why, you'll see why getting it right matters so much.
Waxing stone floors to give them a high shine look is a very popular thing people like to do. This is a less expensive way to get your travertine to a high shine sheen. Did you know this is very bad for travertine and other stone floors?
When waxes or topical sealers are applied to travertine tile, it causes deterioration within the stone. Over time the travertine will start to wear down and can become unfixable. Now, by unfixable, I mean achieving the high gloss like shine becomes unattainable.
If you're wondering about the price of restoring travertine in Arizona, knowing when to avoid wax can save you hundreds of dollars in restoration costs.
Travertine and Marble stone floors are the most beautiful when they are shined up to their highest potential. This sheen gives the stone tiles a very luxurious and high-end feel when done correctly.
Waxes and topical sealers sit on the surface of the stone tiles and creates a barrier. Over time these sealers break down and can start to flake off or peel off.
Related article: Travertine Tile Polishing Process
Have you ever noticed that your travertine tile surfaces tend to scratch easily or scuff? Can you run your nails across the top and draw a line?
We can identify these ways without seeing your stone, that you have wax on the surface. Now, how do we recommend restoring your travertine tiles when your wax has started to break down?
For those needing a professional cleaning in Phoenix, identifying this early is key to saving your stone.
First, we need to get rid of the wax topical. The only way to remove wax is to strip it off! We use a stripper agent, and then we get on our hands and knees and take a razor blade to the surface after letting the stripper agent dwell for a bit.
Slowly, we scrape each travertine tile surface and remove as much of the wax as we can. Once we have finished scraping, we suck up all the wax debris and stripper. Typically, you can still find remnants of the wax that did not come up.
Technically, we can stop here for you, but most people want the wax completely gone. After scraping the surfaces and removing most of the wax, we do a process called honing. At this time, we can know for sure what sheen we will be able to achieve for you. Honing is a process of removing the top layers of travertine. It is like wet sanding.
We use honing pads to remove any excess wax that did not come up and shine the entire floor to a semi-gloss. We tend to stop shine wise because the wax has damaged the stone underneath to the where the calcium in the stone can only help shine up to a semi-gloss. Sometimes we can polish the stone and achieve the gloss like shine but not always.
Related article: Does Cleaning Your Tile and Grout or Stone Floors Impact Selling Price?
Waxes over time absorb into the natural stones, and once the wax has absorbed into the stone, it is almost impossible to remove without causing more damage.
Yes, as I said above, we can hone the remaining wax off, but we can only hone so much before we start to reduce the stone's integrity. We are very cautious about this because we can cause the stone more damage than good if we overhone.
We highly recommend weighing DIY vs professional tile and grout cleaning before attempting to strip wax yourself, as you can easily ruin the stone.
Once we have determined the best sheen for your travertine, we seal it with a penetrating sealer after removing the wax. This sealer absorbs into and does not sit on the surface. This type of sealer is way better for natural stones because it helps block substances from seeping into the stone without causing a harmful barrier.
Over time, this sealer will wear down, but you will not see the wear down, like peeling or flaking, because the sealer is within the stone. If you are looking for a reliable tile and grout cleaning service in Mesa, AZ, we can safely apply this impregnating sealer for you.
For homeowners trying to maintain their travertine floors, it is important to follow a proper cleaning routine. Avoid using a wax coating or harsh substances that can lead to staining or residue buildup.
Instead, use a neutral solution with a soft mop and rinse thoroughly to keep the surface clean. A spray bottle with water and a small amount of baking soda can help with minor dirt in a small area, but always test first.
Related article: Maintenance Cleanings and Why They Are So Important
Using a steam cleaner may sound like an awesome idea, but heat and steam can sometimes break down sealant or pull moisture into porous stone, especially along grout lines and edges. Most people don’t realize that travertine, marble, and other natural stones behave differently than concrete or tile installed in other parts of the house.
You can uncover professional tile and grout cleaning secrets that explain exactly why natural stone requires a delicate touch.
If you have noticed dull spots, etched areas, or a messy appearance where wax layers have built up, it’s best to avoid DIY stripping products or solvent-based cleaners that can make the job worse. Improper techniques can spread bacteria, create a nasty film, or even cause the stone to absorb more contaminants.
As you can see, once you have wax on the stone, there is a lot that goes into removing it and restoring the stone back to its true beauty. Waxes may seem like the best route to get the high shine you are looking for, but keep in mind the hardships to remove them and the potential damage they can cause to your natural stones.
Travertine and other natural stones are natural stones and beautiful on their own. Do not ruin your stones by applying a topical sealer or a wax sealer. Do it right from the beginning and call AriStone Cleaning & Restoration to help you properly bring out the beauty in your stone floors.
For more information or to find out if you have a wax that needs to be removed, check out our website at www.travertinecleaningaz.com or give us a call anytime at 480-352-2987. We look forward to helping you with all your tile flooring needs.
This travertine tile has a very thick wax applied and as you can see it scratched and dulled out making the travertine flooring look horrible
We stripped this travertine flooring and then honed, polished and sealed it correctly
Experience: 27 Years
Industry: Natural Stone, Tile and Grout Cleaning and Restoration
Cody has been in the Natural Stone, Tile and Grout service for 27 years, his knowledge and experience in this field helps get your job done correct the first time. If there is anyone you want on your job site it's Cody.
Location: Serving the Phoenix metro area
Company
Services
Service Areas
