See How A Stone Honing Service Removed All the Etch Marks and Stains From This Pet Owner's Travertine Floor in Charlotte, NC

August 17, 2018

Travertine is a lovely natural stone that can look great on any surface. It is mainly composed of calcite and is extracted from hot springs or limestone caves. Because of its beautiful colors and many available finishes, travertine is a popular choice for flooring. Most homeowners believe that since it is a stone, travertine is naturally resistant to many types of damage and, while this is true in many cases, it is not always the case. For example, this natural stone is very susceptible to damage caused by pets if it is not properly maintained. A homeowner in Charlotte, NC soon found this out. Every pet owner knows that dogs can bring a lot of love and companionship, however, it can also bring a lot of mess that needs cleaning.


Despite training his dogs well, this homeowner often came across "accidents" left behind by his pets, mainly urine. Initially, he thought that since he had natural stone surfaces, he did not have to worry about the corrosive effects of pet urine, but he was wrong. Over time, the travertine in his home became etched and stained. He tried removing the etch marks on several occasions without success. After searching for help online, he found out that most people with similar damage had their surfaces honed by professionals to recover their appearance. This prompted him to search locally for Charlotte Stone Honing experts and found our website within the top results. After seeing several of the testimonials and browsing the before and after gallery, he called to request a free in-home consultation.

Travertine is considered a soft stone. In some cases, soft stones can etch easily because they are vulnerable to acidic fluids such as pet urine, citrus juices, coffee, and others. What makes pet urine particularly dangerous is that the damage can be exacerbated if you use improper cleaning methods. In simple words, pet urine can change from its acidic state to a strong alkaline state. When it dries up, the urine leaves behind alkaline salts that absorb moisture from the air. This drastic chemical change can severely damage your surfaces and cause them to emit an unpleasant smell.

The day of the consultation arrived, and our experts were ready to assess the travertine surface. They received a warm welcome from the homeowner and his dogs. The client led our team into the house, where they began to closely inspect the surface. Shortly after, they determined that the etches and stains on the entirety of the floor were most likely caused by the customer's pets. This was confirmed by the homeowner, who said he often had to clean up after them. Our professionals offered the customer a stone honing and polishing service accompanied by a sealing procedure to fully restore the travertine floor. Giving the stone surface a polished finish makes it scratch resistant and easier to clean. The homeowner agreed to the service and scheduled another appointment to get the job done.

A few days later, our experts went back to the client's home to perform the service. They started by using a pH-neutral cleaner with a high-speed scrubber to deep clean the travertine tiles and grout lines. This cleaner also contains ingredients that can help keep the surfaces protected from harmful microorganisms for an extended period of time after it has been applied. Once the cleaning was done, they honed the surface with low and mid grit pads to remove all the etch marks and scratches. They continued with a thorough polishing of the entire surface to give it a glossy finish. For the final step, they used a deep-penetrating sealant that helps prevent damage and enhances the color of the stone.

When our team was done, they let the client see the results. His travertine floor now looked brand-new. All the etches, scratches and stains were gone. The homeowner thanked our techs and promised to call back for maintenance to keep the surface looking fantastic.

Before leaving, our professionals gave the client some tips to care for his travertine floor until the next maintenance. First, they recommended cleaning with a pH-neutral cleaner, such as Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner. This cleaner leaves no residue and grants another layer of protection against several external agents that can damage surfaces. Unlike acidic products or solutions, it does not enhance the damaging properties of pet urine. They also advised containing "accidents" quickly. For that, they suggested using a dry cloth to wipe the urine away. It is key to avoid rubbing because this can spread the urine, causing more damage to the stone.

Have your pet's "accidents" taken a toll on your stone surfaces? Here at Sir Grout Charlotte, we have the necessary tools and expertise to fully restore them. Call us at (704) 270-2348 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this website to schedule a free, in-home consultation today! Also, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest news and promotions.

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