What You'll Need:
- Wood Stain
- Sponges
- Travertine Cleaner
- Travertine Sealer
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Paint Rollers
- Dry Cloth
- Painters Tape
Step 1 – Preparing the Travertine Floor
Clean the travertine. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck out every piece of debris trapped inside its pores if it is unfilled. Make sure to go through all areas of the floor. Find a good stone cleaner, purchase enough supplies and apply it on the floor. Use the cleaner as instructed. Wipe the floor dry.
Step 2 – Testing
Don’t skip this step, as testing is very important. Finding the right staining color is a bit challenging, so never go ahead and stain the floor all at once. Find a section of the travertine in an inconspicuous area for testing. Apply the stain in a circular motion using a sponge. Wait for a couple of hours for the stain to dry. Check the resulting color to see if it is too light, too dark, or just right. If it is too light, apply a second coat of stain. If it is too dark, make sure to use less stain during actual application. Do this by applying the stain thinly but adequate enough to cover the tiles.
Step 3 – Applying the Stain
Cover all surfaces in contact with the floor with painter’s tape (e.g. walls, stair risers, and door). Wear protective mask, gloves, safety glasses, and old clothing. Plan where to start the staining process. Be sure to have a well-planned exit point to avoid stepping on the wet stain after application. Open the windows and the door to provide proper ventilation.
Place a good amount of the stain onto a staining sponge and apply it in a circular manner on the starting point. Continue in this manner, moving from tile to tile until the entire floor is covered entirely with the stain. Allow the compound to dry for a couple of hours. If you are living in a cold region, allow the stain to dry overnight. If the stain needs another coat, apply a second coat and allow it to dry completely. Check if the stain is sufficient. You can apply a color enhancer as an option to boost the effect of the stain.
Step 4 – Seal the Floor
To ensure maximum protection of the floor and the coats of stain, it is important to seal the stone with a natural stone sealer. Make sure to read the instructions carefully to get the job done correctly. This usually involves dampening the floor by spraying a bit of water onto the surfaces to get them damp. Allow the water to seep through a bit, place the sealer in a paint roller pan, and use a paint roller to apply the sealer on the entire floor surface. Allow the sealer to dry for about 48 to 72 hours.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
