Travertine Restorted-Rehoned, Repolished & Color Sealed

New owners call us for a quote to restore their travertine kitchen floor.

After Googling travertine floor care, the new homeowners booked an appointment for us to assess and quote restoration of their kitchen floor. Owners for barely one week, we scheduled the visit.

Casually, the client said, “When you arrive, just look for the purple house.”
That stopped us in our tracks.

Purple house. Merchantville. Travertine.

We had been there before.

On three separate occasions, we worked with the previous homeowner—a single parent living on Walnut Street in Merchantville. She also lived in a purple house. The last time, back in the summer, she asked us to quote her travertine kitchen floor before listing the home. She also included the exterior travertine patio and requested a quote for hardwood floor refinishing.

She gave us the green light to clean the travertine To see how it cleaned up click here. but commented that any restoration—inside or out—would be left to the buyer. As for the hardwood floors, they were not suitable for refinishing and would ultimately need replacement.

Without sharing that hunch, we arrived and later explained our history with the house.

Instantly there was a confidence boost for them knowing we worked with the client on the travertine they wanted refreshed.

For them, they understood we had cleaned it back in July. But with 3 dogs and kids, they wanted it cleaned for peace of mind, but also they wanted a full stone restoration to remove the dullness, and such. Also, they wanted it done before their furniture arrived. So we discussed  We discussed we had cleaned it only, and restoration would achieve their goals. We also told them what we did for the outside work, what recommendations we gave to the seller, and that full restoration for that area would up the game appearance wise as well, in the future.

We also shareed our opinion on the hardwood floors, in case that project was on their list. As we had told the seller, the wood—likely over 100 years old—was not a candidate for refinishing. Deep wear, widespread scratches, raised nail heads, and squeaking made sanding unsafe and impractical. While it might have been an eventual conversation, we explained new flooring would have to be direction they needed to go.

With the background clear and the timing right, we honed in on the project for the kitchen travertine.

The problems.

The travertine looked worn and dingy. There were numerous open voids needing to be refilled. The grout not only appeared dirty in high-traffic areas, but it also had rough, uneven patches.

As we listened to their main objective, we explained that there were several steps that would refresh the appearance and make the floor more serviceable:

• Clean the floor

• Refill the holes with travertine fill

• Diamond grind the surface

• Hone and polish to the desired sheen level

• Color seal all grout joints with a lighter tone that matched the neutral stone

They appreciated the guidance and felt confident moving forward, especially since we already had a history with the house.

The work.

We began by steam cleaning the floor. This gave us an overall assessment of the grout, which was clearly soiled in the highest traffic areas—around the kitchen work zones, near the back door, and leading into the main living area. Much of the grout appeared dark, and when asked, the homeowners said they preferred a less pronounced grout color.

More work suggested: Color Sealing to seal the deal.

After cleaning, the grout still needed help. We recommended color sealing to create a more uniform grout color and reduce the “picture framing” effect. The darker grout had caused each tile to stand out individually, while a lighter color would allow the floor to read as a cohesive surface. Also, rough patches now stood out, clearly pointing to sloppy work (which they wanted corrected).

Color sealing also makes grout waterproof and significantly easier to clean. In addition, sanding down the unkempt grout joints before sealing would eliminate the sloppy grout work.  And color sealing would bring everything together and heighten the appearance. A final step to refresh and renew the surface—exactly what the homeowners envisioned.

Phase II—Color Sealing was approved.

The color sealing product was ordered, and we returned to complete the work.

This was not a box-store product or a DIY solution. A professional-grade grout colorant was carefully applied by a three-person crew, working on hands and knees for hours. The rough-cut edges of the travertine and wide grout joints required precision and a steady hand. This was not a job for a novice.

The results were stunning.

It was incredibly rewarding to refresh this travertine floor. Along with the kitchen’s solid bones, the restored floor elevated the appearance of the entire space.

The takeaway.

Stone floors often reach a point where cleaning alone is no longer enough. Travertine and natural stone are timeless materials that can be restored, refreshed, and renewed for lasting beauty.

We were glad to do exactly that for these homeowners.

Have travertine or natural stone? Schedule a professional assessment to learn your best options—cleaning or a full restoration. Free estimates 609.953.0472 send us a message.