Sealers can also make it somewhat slippery. If it gets dirty, a light duty power washer makes quick work of that.

Scott

If you are not sure you can go ahead and do it and maybe you will like it. If you don't the enhancer will fade in 6 months or so anyway. That is provided you will not be under cover.... It is very easy. Pour sealer in a bucket and dip a paint roller in it and roll it on the deck. that is it. I do my patio and front walkway as i like the enhanced look.

Ours is 5 years old, still looks great. Never sealed, just power wash occasionally with a little added bleach to kill any mildew. Never slippery.

thejimbar,

Is that stone coping? or did you use tumbled travertine as well? Is the deck tumbled travertine? I heard polished is very slippery. Thanks!

thejimbar,

Is that stone coping? or did you use tumbled travertine as well? Is the deck tumbled travertine? I heard polished is very slippery. Thanks!

Coping is Bluestone. Pavers are tumbled. Not slippery AT ALL!

Thanks! Where did you get your travertine?

GothicStone in Valley Forge, PA area. www.gothicstone.com

Check your large local tile stores. Look for natural stone in your area. Maybe it is just Phoenix but there are dozens of places one can go to get travertine pavers.

I've had travertine pavers for about 5 years now. Never sealed, enhanced, or otherwise treated and they still look brand new (as you would expect from a natural stone).

My philosophy for natural materials used outdoors is to let them look like natural materials used outdoors. Saves you money and headache on maintenance too.

I too have tumbled travertine pavers (walnut color) and live in much too sunny Florida. I enhanced my pavers. The StoneTech enhancer is also a sealer. I love the way the true beautiful colors come out when its enhanced....its what sold me on travertine. I don't prefer the chalky look. The enhancer/sealer does not make the tumbled travertine slippery. The water will bead when it rains. I am in the Tampa area and the sun fades out the enhancer in less than a year. I re-enhance every October/November. Since the sun is less strong in our winter months, it lasts nicely thru to June. Then starts to look more chalky in the hot summer months. Chalky is the best word to describe it since the stone is not faded. The surface must be dry for a few days, so its impossible to enhance it in the summer when it rains daily. I wait for 5-7 days of no rain on the surface. I do a small area 10x10 at a time. You put a light coat on with a paintbrush (thats what I use so as not to waste it), let it sit for 20 minutes and wipe off the excess. I do not recommend doing it in the middle of the day in the hot sun. You don't want the enhancer to actually dry, it becomes harder to wipe off. Its like you buff it. I just use an old towel and toss it when I am done. The enhancer lasts for several years in the areas that are not touched by the sun, so I only re-enhance the area not covered by the lanii roof. In 5 years I have only done the lanii covered area twice. I just redid it because we had to have new drains put in and i really had to scrub the stone to clean up after the workers. I use to post several years ago, I am not sure if my pool pictures are still on these threads. I love the enhanced look and it gives it a little protection.

My travertine supplier said that it needs to be sealed if you have a salt water system. That will wear it down a lot faster without a sealant. I don't think all sealants are that glossy and slippery. They also said that Travertine will last longer than most other natural stone options.

Sealing the travertine pavers to prevent salt water damage is not a bad idea to be safe. However I must mention that we built a salt water pool for a client with a travertine deck about 5 years ago and there is still absolutely no damage at all. Mind you, neither the travertine pavers nor the travertine pool coping were sealed. We purchase our travertine pavers from Travertine Mart

Here is a link that might be useful: pool coping

7 years, still never sealed, still fine.

This post was edited by thejimbar on Mon, Sep 16, 13 at 12:24

We installed travertine patio around our pool last year, and it looks great. We live in south florida and have had no sun damage to the patio. However we have a large oak tree in our backyard that slightly overhangs the patio. We noticed that the tree drops sap from a few places, and recently a brown haze has appeared on the patio underneath the tree. My husband thinks it will stain the travertine, but I wonder if pressure cleaning the patio will remove the brown haze and restore it to its natural beauty. Any thoughts from readers out there? Thanks in advance.

Try some oxyclean powder mixed into a weed sprayer. Apply then powerwash off. I bet it will remove (safely) the sap/coloring.

I dont think the sealer is that necessary. Maybe for a saltwater pool deck that gets a lot of splashing and/or is under roof.

There are many videos of sealed and unsealed travertine. I recommend watching them to see what the difference is. Travertine will stain, tree sap, wine, coffee, grease or oil etc will stain. Sealed stone also resists mildew better and needs less cleaning to keep it looking great.