Travertine cleaning and sealing in Little Bay

Much of Little Bay's housing has been built since 2001, and travertine is a common choice for communal pool decks, terraces and balconies in that era of construction. On this coast it has a hard life. Salt spray settles on balconies and terraces, pool water splashes the coping, and both dry to leave crystals that roughen the surface over time. Open holes fill with sand and grit, and shaded balcony corners develop a grey film. Balcony drains can leave tide-marks where water pools. Identifying which of these is happening on each surface is the first step toward a clean and seal that actually lasts.

Travertine is calcium carbonate, so acid dissolves it, and many off-the-shelf pool and balcony cleaners are acidic enough to etch it. We use alkaline cleaners designed for limestone-family stone, agitated with a low-speed rotary machine fitted with soft pads, then rinse with low pressure and recover all wash water. On balconies, containment matters most, because run-off spilling over a balustrade can mark the units and windows below and upset neighbours. Communal pool areas are covered and closed by arrangement with the building manager. Where previous cleaners have etched the surface, we show you on the day, since etching calls for honing, not cleaning.

When the travertine has dried out, its voids are packed with a tinted filler, then a salt-rated impregnating sealer goes on in thin coats, with surplus wiped back so no film remains. The surface keeps its texture and grip, and does not turn glossy or slippery when the pool deck gets wet. Strata managers receive a note listing product, date and areas for their maintenance plan. Balcony and terrace stone this close to the ocean benefits from a fresh-water rinse every few weeks, and a yearly water-drop test shows when resealing is due. Coping around a busy communal pool may need attention sooner than balconies, simply because of the splash and foot traffic it takes.