Travertine Sealing in Fernandina Beach, FL

Mostly yes, and the reason is the pores. A sealant maker explains that salt carried into travertine can dry into crystals inside the stone, and those crystals push outward as heat and moisture change. The damage shows up first as shallow grooves, then pits, then flaking on the top layer. A Florida stone company adds that salt air and wet and dry cycles cause the same crystal growth on coastal decks. To have a contractor look at yours, call (904) 932-1301.

Travertine is also a softer stone than concrete pavers. The same Florida company puts it at 3 to 4 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means it scratches and etches more easily than most people expect. Sealing will not harden the stone, but it does slow what soaks in. If yours is outdoors on Amelia Island, get a free estimate online.

Penetrating sealers are the usual answer. Three sources agree that they soak into the pores, repel water from inside and leave the stone breathing. A Florida stone company names silane and siloxane products, and a pool deck store says solvent-based versions reach deeper but carry stronger fumes. To hear which one a contractor would use on your stone, call (904) 932-1301.

Amelia Island is the northernmost barrier island on Florida's Atlantic coast, and Nicolock, a paver maker, says airborne salt crystallizes on outdoor surfaces as moisture evaporates. Add pool splash and sprinklers, and the stone goes through wet and dry cycles all week. A sealant maker recommends hosing salt off a travertine deck with fresh water after heavy pool use. To ask about a plan for your pool, call (904) 932-1301.

Sunscreen is the quieter problem. The Jacksonville pool deck guide says travertine picks up sunscreen oils quickly, which is why it suggests cleaning twice a year. Black algae likes the humidity and the limestone too. A contractor should also keep wash water and chemicals from running into the pool. If you want those steps in writing, get a free estimate online.

No company posts a Fernandina Beach rate for travertine, so the table is built from published pieces. A Jacksonville company lists travertine sealing at $2.00 to $3.50 per square foot, and a second company lists it from $1.60. Natural stone usually costs more than concrete pavers because the product and the method are gentler. For a number on your stone, get a free estimate online.

Stripping is the swing item. If an old film coat has turned white or is peeling, the Jacksonville guide says to add $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot, and a stripping company says natural stone costs more to strip than concrete. A second company's calculator also keeps a $50 to $100 allowance for pool coping and edges. To have a contractor decide whether yours needs stripping, call (904) 932-1301.

Expect a day or two for feet and up to a week for the pool. A sealant maker says to keep foot traffic off for at least 12 hours and pool splashing off for 48. A pool deck store says light foot traffic is usually fine after 24 to 48 hours, and full pool use can take up to a week depending on the label. Your contractor should read you the cure times on the product they chose. To book a date, call (904) 932-1301.

Timing starts well before the coat. The stone has to dry for 24 to 48 hours after cleaning, and a Jacksonville company recommends October through February for sealing. Fernandina Beach summers are long, hot and rainy, so a forecast with three dry days matters more than the calendar. To see what dates are open, get a free estimate online.

Natural is the safer pick at a pool. Film coatings that give a wet look can become slippery within about a season, a pool deck store says, especially at steps and shallow-end entries. Enhancing sealers darken the stone without adding a surface film, and the same store advises patching a hidden spot first to judge the color. A Jacksonville guide sets a target wet slip rating of at least 0.60. To see sample finishes, get a free estimate online.

Many homes mix both, such as a travertine pool deck beside a concrete paver driveway. The two take different products, and one Jacksonville calculator lists concrete or brick from $1.50 per square foot and travertine from $1.60. A Jacksonville price guide also says brick, travertine and natural stone can raise sealer cost 15 to 30 percent because of the chemistry. Tell the contractor about each surface when you get a free estimate online.

Stone that has been installed for less than a few weeks needs patience. A pool deck store says new travertine should wait for its mortar and grout to cure before any sealer goes on. Older stone with holes or cracks may need filling first, and one stone restoration company in Jacksonville lists filling holes and cracks before polishing and sealing. To tell the contractor what you have, call (904) 932-1301.

A stone job moves slower than a concrete one, and each step waits on the one before. The five steps below are the usual order. To ask what dates are open, call (904) 932-1301.