White Marks (Etch Damage) on Travertine
Homeowners in La Jolla, California contacted us because there were white marks on their travertine floor next to the toilet. It is not uncommon for homeowners or housekeepers to place toilet bowl cleaner on the floor next to the toilet. Later, a patch of white haze that does not wipe off the stone appears. This is etch damage. Unlike a stain, it is chemical damage to the surface of the stone. Minor etch damage can sometimes be removed with a polishing compound, but if the stone does not have a polished finish or if the etch damage is severe it needs to be removed with professional honing and polishing.
Travertine Honing and Polishing
First, we masked and protected the surfaces surrounding our work area. Then, we used a hand tool mounted with diamond pads to hone the surface of the stone, erasing the damage. We re-polished to match the surrounding semi-polished finish. Finally we cleaned the floor and sealed the travertine to help inhibit staining.
The homeowners were glad to see that the floor was not permanently damaged.
For more information about travertine restoration, such as etch removal, lippage removal (leveling uneven tiles), crack and chip repair, stain removal, sealing, filling naturally-occurring travertine holes, as well as honed, slightly polished, or high-gloss polished finish, watch one or more of these short videos: Floating Travertine, Travertine Strip, Hone, and Repolish, and Travertine Repair, Restoration, and Polishing or visit our Travertine Services page.