How to give beige travertine a richer color?
Estimated Reading Time: 2 MinutesQ. I'm not really loving my new pool coping. I love the material, but not the color. Do you need to seal pool travertine coping? If so, can we throw in some kind of dye into the seal to make it darker? It is a beige, and we want a richer color.
A. Sealing pool travertine coping helps protect the stone from water absorption, staining, and salt or chlorine damage—especially around a pool. Color-enhancing sealers specifically designed for travertine do not contain dye, but they can deepen and enrich the stone’s natural tones, especially for the beige-colored travertine you describe. The final result often depends on the type of finish your stone has. Honed travertine has a matte, velvety finish that is more porous and absorbs sealer more than polished travertine, which is less porous and absorbent. Color-enhancing sealer may noticeably deepen the color of honed travertine, giving it a warmer, richer appearance.
It's easy for do-it-yourselfers to make mistakes with sealer selection, as well as application, like over-applying, letting it pool, or not wiping it down properly—which can lead to blotchy, uneven color or even a sticky residue that’s hard to remove. We recommend you have a stone restoration professional handle this for you. To find a vetted PRO in your area, visit www.surfacecarepros.com and click on Find a PRO.
You mentioned mixing dye with sealer. This is not recommended unless the product is specifically formulated for that purpose. The wrong products can cause uneven color or damage the stone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the Chief Technical Director at SurfaceCarePROS.com and Director at StoneForensics.com. He is also the author of Stone and Tile Restoration: The Manual, a comprehensive online manual for stone and tile restoration contractors. [Learn more about Fred.]