I need help with Travertine & Crema Marfil

curlyq679 · 04-10-2008, 02:36 AM

Hi, I had a travertine floor installed last year with a polished finish. Many years ago, my bathroom was done in crema marfil. For the first few monthes the travertine looked great but then it started to lose its shiny finish and become dull looking. It also scratched very easily and the grout darkened (mainly in the higher traffic areas). The crema marfil still had a shine to it, but was not as shiny as it should be. The grout also had started to darken a bit. Six monthes ago I hired a marble installer to clean/polish the travertine floor as well as the crema marfil and he also regrouted everything. This was not the same person who initially installed the travertine floor because he went out of business. After the installer cleaned everything, the grout and floor looked very clean. However, the travertine still looked dull and not shiny. He also cleaned the crema marfil marble in my bathroom and made the grout white. He said that he did not know how to get it the original polished finish of the travertine. Also, after he cleaned the crema marfil that became really dull -- like the unpolished travertine finish. He told me that I should hire someone to diamond refinish the crema marfil to get it back to its natural shine. A few monthes went by and the travertine floor got scratched, dirty and the grout darkened and actually came out in many areas leaving these ugly black lines. The crema marfil grout darkened too. I then hired a company who advertises locally as a marble restoration professional to come out and "diamond refinish", "polish" and restore the travertine and the crema marfil to new, polished, clean and shiny condition. I do not know what to do because the travertine and crema marfil look awful -- scratched, dull... it just looks like caked up sealer all over. I can even see the mans sneaker prints in the sealer -- it says "new balance" on my bathroom floor not to mention all dust and even hair caught up in the sealer. He said that the sealer would make it shiny. He also "painted" the dark dirty grout with a white grout paint and it looks grey. In areas devoid of grout he said that nothing could be done -- grout would not stay, and there's nothing I can do about the black lines... that's just the way travertine is because the tiles are so close together. There also were circles all over where the machine "polished". I saw the man used a machine with a home depot label on it and painted "sealer" before polishing. The circular machine then polished and cleaned everything with the sealer. End result is that my floor looks awful. Please help. I have spent thousands of dollars on these "marble restoration" guys who promised me the world but were unable to deliver. I was looking at how to do it myself --- I think my three year old son could do a better job. My goal is to find someone who knows how to polish travertine and crema marfil to restore it and make it look beautiful. I then would like to set up a maintenance program for every few monthes. Does it need crystallization? I do not understand the whole process. Any professional out there in the S. Florida area that I can hire to fix my floor and also hire to come out for maintainence every few monthes? What should the cost be for marble care? Also what about the oreck orbiter -- does that work well for home use? What do I look for in hiring a marble restorer next time so I get quality results? Also, what can I do to prevent the scratches -- I have dogs and one son? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

hoboal · 04-10-2008, 02:52 AM

Curlyq679, First i want to say welcome to the NSRA and you've come tto the right place for help. IF it possible can yo u take some pictures of your travertine and post them... This will help the members to give you a solution to your problem... I'm sure we have a someone in the So. Florida area.

Hobo

curlyq679 · 04-10-2008, 03:00 AM

Thanks for your fast response! I will get photos ASAP and post them tomorrow.

Topshop · 04-10-2008, 05:01 PM

No crystalizer!!! I am not a floor guy myself but many others on here are. I would suggest a honed finish on the floors.

cheesedog · 04-10-2008, 05:17 PM

most travertine floors can be restored to a very nice polished finish fairly quick and affordable, even if diamonds are necessary. i often start out with 200 and only go to 800 then final polish. i use a lot of weight which allows me to remove the etch marks and most scratches without opening many holes in the travertine. then a final powder polish will yield the full potential of the stone. i dont recommend crystallizers because the service intervals become necessary more frequently every time it is used, where the powder polish isnt something that is topical on the stone, it is the stone itself. i'll post pictures of a recent floor i did.

deted1 · 04-11-2008, 10:36 PM

When hiring your next stone restoration contractor:

Tell the prospect that he is fighting an uphill battle. Tell him of your last two experiences. Ask him for his evaluation and ask questions about his methods. You are looking for a factory finish here which is attainable of creme marfil and many travertines.

Ask for the following things in this order. If he gets past the first three consider him.

1. Ask to see his certificate of insurance. Most one man shows with little knowledge or training will not have insurance.
2. Ask to see his contractors license or for the number so you can look it up. This will tell you that he has gone to the next step to reassure perspective customers that he is legitimate.
3. Ask for a few references and check them.
4. Ask to see before and after pictures. (Remember that some of the best craftsman simply create masterpieces and do not document them. This is important but it should not be a deal breaker.)

Remember that your questions here dealt solely with the quality of workmanship that you were provided. In all situations of this kind, you get what you pay for. DO not choose the lowest estimate. Choose the one that convinces you that they will do the best job and will back up their work.

glenn k · 04-11-2008, 11:32 PM

Aloha Curly!

I beleive there are a few members here from your area that are qualified to do the work. Always ask to see a portfolio of their work before work to be done.

I beleive that the last person that did your job did it incorrectly. It seems that they tried to use a sealer to make the floors shiny which is not the solution. it needs to be resurfaced with diamond pads o get the scrathces out, then polished back up. Depending on how bad or deep the scratches are will determine how many grits of diamond pads they need to go thru.

As far as dirty grout lines and having an installer do work. You should also be aware that installers are not knowledgeable about restoration or resurfacing. You may have paid for work that was not necessary. Grout lines could have been recolored if it was not possible to clean thoroghly.

The good news is that your natural stone floors can be fixed by a qualified professional. Pictures would be of great help, and I am sure that the NSRA could recommend someone for a solution.

Mahalo,

Glenn K

hoboal · 04-11-2008, 11:41 PM

Well said Glenn. Curly if you're having problem posting pic's? just pm me or Huligar and we'll walk you through it..

Hobo