Travertine tiles - how to repolish

[snb375]

Hi - we just installed some polished travertine tiles which were finished to a high gloss. Topps tiles gave us grout cleaner to use with them which has taken the polish off and left a white residue or has bleached all of the tiles. They assured us it was suitable for travertine but i don't think it was meant for polished tiles. Can anyone recommend a fix for this and how we should go about re-polishing? Also does this sound like the colour is damaged for good?

THanks.

 

[Dan]

Hi,

I take it you didn't test it out on a scrap tile or hidden bit of flooring then?! - For future reference, always do that.

As for getting the polish back, checkout LTP Online.

Though I'll let the lads advise on which actual product to use, I don't tile anymore and always get a bit worried about advising the wrong stuff.

Most the lads will be still working now but I'm sure when they get in you'll get a bunch of replies.

In the meantime if you can upload a couple of pictures to the forum that'd help them out a lot I think. You do that by clicking "go advanced" in the thread, and then add attachments (a bit down the page). Or if you have some uploaded somewhere already that you can link to, simply click this little button in the quick-reply box...

 

[DHTiling]

Can i ask why you would need a grout cleaner on a new installation.?

 

[Dan]

Oh yeah. I didn't spot that!

Wonder if they mean sealer?

 

[doug boardley]

Can i ask why you would need a grout cleaner on a new installation.?

maybe a grout haze remover?

 

[YourTiler]

"Topps gave/sold you grout cleaner"........ Sorry but why would they sell you that product with new tiles?? Why would you want grout cleaner?? I know there are loads of products out there but unless I'm missing something really obvious then they've mis-sold you (MMMM sound familiar?)
Isn't it for cleaning grout that's been discoloured over time?
I'd go back and tell them, try to get something off them. Seems like their ****-up to me

 

[enduro]

If you let us know on the site maybe someone on th forum could come and do it for you..I would use a polishing powder with my rotary machine and that will get a nice gloss finish for you. Or a Diamond twister pad on a rotary machine. By the time you have bought the gear it would be alot cheaper to get someone to do it for you.

 

[Floor_Restorer]

Hello,

We can put the finish back on to Travertine. As Enduro says, we use either a polishing powder or Diamond pads to replace the finish.

Unfortunately, you are not the first and certainly not the last to have done this. Other causes of loss of finish, or splosh marks on a travertine, limestone or marble surface are from using a strong acidic cleaner (such as a grout stain remover), Cillit Bang or Viacal, spills of sparkling white wines, lemon juice, tomato juice, tomato ketchup... anything acidic basically!

To get a consisitent finish we always repolish a whole area, not just where the marks are if they are quite bad.

Let me know if you need help or advice,

Thanks,

Tom