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Remodeling Bathrooms Flooring

scratched travertine floor tile

4 years ago

My tile installer has left light scratches all over our new travertine tiles. Also the plumber has left deeper scratches when installing the toilet. The installer tried to add sealer to hide the scratches but it didn’t help much, should he replace the tiles scratched from the toilet and will the replacements look acceptable and level with the other tiles? This is honed travertine.

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Comments (5)

SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
Good news. Stone can be refinished just like wood. A stone professional can come in and buff up those tiles and reseal them. You want to try your best to stick with the stones that are already laid. Once you start pulling up stones, you risk MORE DAMAGE to the surfaces of the other stones. And you run the risk the stones will not sit flush with the others. And you would still have to remove the toilette and put back in = same issues as before.

Please take a room shot so that we can see the overall install as well as the overall LOOK of the scratches. Believe it or not, the best option might just be to leave it be.

Once you have loaded the room shots, feel free to reach out to a stone company to ask them about the cost of a fix.

Oh...the other thing: the trades people probably thought these floors were porcelain so they may not have taken the care needed around a black stone. Did anyone tell them the floors were stone and that surface damage was possible?
kcoyle11
Original Author
4 years ago
The tile installer is running the job. I would imagine he would know that’s it’s stone?
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The glossy white field tile in our guest bathroom ties in with the glossy white tub, toilet, and sink. The listello border tile in the guest bathroom (emperador dark marble/White Thassos/Noce travertine) picks up the colors of the vanity--espresso stained walnut, the toilet, shower pan, and sink--white, and the lt walnut or noche travertine floor tile. The glossy field tile in our hall bathroom provides a nice contrast to the split-face travertine mosaic border tile and honed travertine floor tile. abd1--thanks. At a local Home Show this past weekend, the tile store we'd used had a nice display utilizing some new tile they'd gotten in--glossy 4x16" (!!!--cool shape/dimensions) white tile with stone strips/mosaic accent tile.
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Hi Sheilajoyce! No, no golf shoes, but it sure looks awful...sort of like the pattern of a screen door in some places. I knew I was in for trouble, because just as you explained, the first scratch appeared from the painter's ladder. :My scratches are not deep, but there are too many of them for me to ignore. I suspect my sons are the culprits, but what do I do about eliminating them???? (My scratches, not my boys.)
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Peacock Pavers have to be laid on slab. Don't know if that would be an issue for you. We looked into them during construction (are made in our state) and I loved the samples. Very disappointed when I found out we couldn't use on our main level (which is 2 stories off back of house/not on slab). I have travertine flooring on our main level (kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, sunroom, etc). Sealed with Miracle Sealant 511. Dropped an oil based stain can lid upside down on the floor - wiped right up. It is hard, but I love it. We also did our lower level in travertine porcelain tiles, has rough edges so it's more realistic looking. I love it also. We've been in house just over 4 years, fyi. Stone and tile flooring comes in all prices points and quality. The lesser quality stone is thinner, and more like swiss cheese. Look for better quality to avoid above posted problems. With tile, there are SO many manufacturers of tile - look around more. My parents used a tile inside and outside of their lake home. We were going to use tile on our three verandas but used stained concrete on the back two and flagstone on the front. Good luck!
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It'd be OK for a master where you were always barefoot, but for a powder room where your guests wear shoes, it's not gonna work. Put it on the walls instead if you want to use it there.
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kcoyle11
Original Author
4 years ago
Shots of room
aprilneverends
4 years ago
OT, but cool stone. Saving the thread for future reference, and for a good advice received
SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
As annoying as this is, the fix could be worse than the oopsa. Black stone is notorious for showing 'white' scratches. Especially a product that is equivalent to marble. The high limestone/calcium content of travertine/marble is what turns a scratch white.

The room looks completely intact. The stone looks amazing from a standing position. Only on the 'hands and knees' inspection angle can you make out the issue. I would hesitate to ask for a do-over at this point. It will most likely make things worse. Much worse.

As for the "tile installer is running the show", is s/he a General Contractor? Are there other subs involved? Is the tile setter a plumber?

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