finishing honed and filled travertine floors - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

hardy · 22-08-2008

Looking for information on how you guys finish travertine floors, always left with residue of the grout, the grout tends to go white while cleaning down, and have some small kickers in the tiles well maybe a 1mm, Do you sand then polish the floors to give a totally flat smooth floor or just buff a go??

Cheers

**enduro** · 24-08-2008

When you fix them you need to try and not get any lippy tiles, this will come with experience, and as for sanding or grinding this is a very expensive option, due to the cost of equipment used to do this operation (ask kev Tilinglogistic as he specialises in this) And cleaning the grout haze of the stone you should use a washboy and give it a couple of good cleans, or you could try Aquamix grout haze clean-up.

TilingLogistics · 24-08-2008

As enduro says Aqua Mix Grout Haze Clean Up really does help with all washdowns and clean ups! I even use it on restorations clean downs in my machines or washboy. I don't know if any of the other companies do anything similar!

Kev

hillhead · 24-08-2008

I wouls always seal well first after addy has hardened,then grout next day maybe,use washboy to clean everthing off.It should do great job.
When grout had hardened and tiles look clean then re-seal,if not looking clean then use a cleaner like mentioned above.
I have 200m2+ of honed and filled coming up next week or following week.

hardy · 24-08-2008

I have tried a washboy but it's only does about 1.5m line then needs cleaning is this right? i have seen different sponges on them somw with slits in them my does not is this wrong? I have'n had much sucess with the washboys yet please explain?

cheers

TilingLogistics · 24-08-2008

I think you will find there is an article on here regarding the correct use of washboys

Kev

hardy · 24-08-2008

Sorry wheres the info or wash boy?

**grumpygrouter** · 24-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy

Sorry wheres the info or wash boy?

Check out this link Hardy -> Tilers Washboy Explained | Tiling News - Tilers News

TilingLogistics · 24-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpygrouter

Check out this link Hardy -> Tilers Washboy Explained | Tiling News - Tilers News

Thanks for that Grumpy I don't know how to post links

Kev

**grumpygrouter** · 24-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by TilingLogistics

Thanks for that Grumpy I don't know how to post links

Kev

Just copy and paste for stuff like that Kev. Copy the the link address from your browser address bar and then paste into your post.

**wetdec** · 24-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy

I have tried a washboy but it's only does about 1.5m line then needs cleaning is this right? i have seen different sponges on them somw with slits in them my does not is this wrong? I have'n had much sucess with the washboys yet please explain?

cheers

I think maybe you should avoid chemicals and the different heads for your wash boy, your problem is your grout m8.

When you work with ceramic if your grout is a little sloppy and it streaks when cleaning off you can get it off the glazed surface easily.

Stone obviously doesnt have a glaze so if you drag the joints it streaks.

The answer.......find a grout you like and learn how to use it so you know :

What consistancy works best
How long it takes to start curing
Which grout which stone

Mapei ultracolour plus : its waterproof, flexible, fine enough to fill pores in stone, starts curing at around 20mins.

Grout your tiles with a rubber grout float working diagonally accross joints leaving the surface of the tiles clean of grout. Leave for around 20 mins or until you can leave a finger print in it. (at this point the tiles will be covered with dry dust)

Soak you wash boy float and squeeze dry the float make a pass over the tiles again across the joints diagonally washing and drying your float as you go. Al your excess grout should now be gone leave it for a while to dry off then go again. It should now be clean except for dust, when dry go over and dust off taking any bits you have missed off with a stanley blade,

I do the above with mapei but you need to get one that works for you. The majority of filled and honed trav needs no sealing before grouting its just a waste of money nothing should bind if care is taken

tiler

..

Alberta Stone · 03-09-2008

A method I found works very well with the travertine i have worked with is to use the 3M diamond grit scuff pads.
I wash it once sparingly as I want to keep my grout flush and not washed out, Then I wipe it down once the grout has firmed enough and I use a 400 grit to deal with the epoxied/polished variety and a 100 grit followed by a 400 grit for the unpolished.