New Travertine Floors Dusty and Gritty

by Todd
(Singer Island, FL, USA)

QUESTION:

I installed travertine flooring in my house - about 1800 sq ft. I did not apply a sealer yet. My issue is the floors never feel clean - they always feel dusty/gritty.


I think it is from the grout. I think we used a sanded grout & it feels like the sand is coming up - no matter how many times I mop.

Will sealing the travertine tile stop the grout from turning all the floors dusty/gritty?
Thank you

ANSWER:

Sounds like you simply have grout residue on the tiles, which is common, but it should have been removed.

Common grout release/removers are acidic though, so you don't want to use one of those since travertine tile is reactive with acids and will etch on contact creating dull and discolored marks.

I'd recommend using this Hard Water/Grout Remover, which is very good at removing grout residue (hard water deposits and grout residue are very similar).

You'll need to apply it, let sit for 5-10 minutes and then scrub with a soft brush and clean off.

With 1800 sq feet this will be a chore for sure. No telling how much of the remover product you'll need, but you may be able to dilute a bit in water to aid in application and coverage.