Travertine Cleaning • Honing • Polishing • Sealing • Grinding

   Our custom ABRASIVE PROCESS beats the standard travertine honing process provided by other stone-floor-care services: The Pacific Clean System has been specifically designed for Travertine. We don’t rely on just the standard materials and methods that our competitors use. We’ve tested standard abrasives, powders, and tools that are readily available for Marble. We found that just because it says on the label it works for Marble doesn’t mean it will produce a good result for travertine. Our focus has always been to develop the best system for travertine’s specific characteristics.

Travertine is very similar to a sponge in that it is a like a stack of bubbles. The density of the stone depends on how much stone versus the amount of air pockets. Our custom abrasive process is able to smooth the surface of the stone which reduces surface area.

Our system is able to finish the stone without opening up air pockets underneath the surface. If you look at the surface of the travertine tile under a microscope it would look like a crystalline forest. All of these little trees are like straws that can provide millions of tiny pathways into the stone. We are actually sealing off the stone during the finishing process by reducing the surface area.

Less surface area means less pores. Our custom abrasive process starts this sealing process by closing off the pathways liquids have to get into the stone. As finishing progresses, the stone becomes more reflective. As a stone becomes more reflective it is being closed off by the reduction of surface area.

Cleaning Travertine Services

 Using custom abrasives, we wet sand the stone to loosen up surface dirt and work loose grime and dirt accumulated in the grout lines, open pits, and fill areas. This creates slurry that is vacuumed back with a powerful truck mounted machine.

The use of hot water extraction at 1200psi provides for the most effective cleaning method for your stone. Mops, buckets and shopvacs cannot come close to the cleaning power of a truck mounted machine.

Effective and thorough cleaning is crucial for a smooth looking uniform finish and proper sealing.

Choose from Satin to High-Gloss

The Satin Finish is the lowest shine recommended. We really don’t recommend duller finishes, since less shine equals more porosity. Satin Finish is practical and what a travertine floor needs so it can be maintained properly. With the custom abrasive processes the goal is the reduction of porosity. We do this with one of several different gentle but extremely effective microfine sanding processes.

Standard honing processes such as diamond pads, sanding screens and powders will actually open up the stone, making cleaning tougher and reducing the ability of the penetrating sealer to keep water from eroding the stone over the course of time.

Our newest option, Light Polish Finish, is a happy compromise between the Satin Finish and High Polish. For those who want a bit more “pop” than our Satin Finish but not the formality of our High Polish.

We will introduce chemical abrasives along with the physical abrasives to achieve our Light Polish Finish

Chemical abrasive processes break a small amount of the surface up into solution and then re-crystallizes it. Chemical processes remove air bubbles and acidic salts while increasing density. Fewer pores mean more shine and easier cleaning. The smoother the surface it is the easier it is to clean.

The super High-Polish Finish (shown on two photos below) is as shiny as the stones can get. We take the polishing process to the extreme. Once they’re polished we go over them more just to make sure. The super high polish is extremely elegant. The higher the polish is the deeper you can actually see into it. It’s as if the colors become more vibrant and the true artistic beauty of the stone is revealed. And It becomes easier to clean, but don’t choose the polish based on cleaning ease, choose it because you want it to look fabulous.

Sealer (Penetrating)

What We Use

We use the highest grade penetrating sealer. We developed an extremely effective solvent-based penetrating sealer. Our sealer is in a base of citrus solvent the technical name is d-limonene it is a very common very safe solvent. Citrus solvent smells like oranges and ventilates very fast. Is the greenest safest solvent-based sealer obtainable.

We specially formulate our sealers depending on the stone we’re working on.The polymers that actually penetrate the stone are dissolved in the solvent. When applied to the stone, the solution soaks in and fills up pores and binds to the molecules of the stone to make them less susceptible to etching. Travertine is mostly calcite which at one point has been dissolved by water and redeposited through evaporation.

The stone also will often contain acidic salts that were in the water that deposited the travertine. Thepenetrating sealer’s most important job is to keep water and acidic spills from eating up the stone. If too much water is used and then left on the surface of the stone during cleaning the sealer will slow it down but it will still have a very corrosive effect over time.

It is very important to know that while penetrating sealers (whether ours or another brand) are helpful, they are not etch-proof or water-proof. They lessen the severity of etches and slow water absorption, not eliminate it.

Seal Marble, Granite, Slate or Limestone?

We are often asked, “Do I need to seal my marble or granite counter-top or floor?” The answer depends. No two pieces of stone are the same, and each piece of stone has different absorbency. If a piece of marble or granite can’t absorb anything, even a penetrating, or impregnating sealer, won’t absorb.
If your stone needs sealing, the frequency is dependent on the stone. If can be every six months, to a year or even two years between sealing. Your marble and granite represents an investment, and for it to look its best having it professionally cleaned, polished and sealed is your best option. We offer a free consultation; so ask an expert what’s best for your stone.You can do a quick test. Put a small amount of water (a tablespoon is fine) on your stone and leave it for a few minutes. If the stone under the drop of water gets darker, that means it’s absorbent. It does not matter where the stone is located in your home, it can be a kitchen counter-top or island top, a vanity top, a marble fireplace, floor tile, or pavers. If its natural stone, it might need sealing.

Cleaning  Marble, Granite, Travertine, Limestone, Slate…Orange County CA

These type of natural stone and made materials are highly desirable these days & highly used in surfaces like floors, counter-tops, showers, walls, etc. With this new use of natural stone in homes, offices, buildings & more has come an enormous lack of knowledge & misinformation regarding the best use & maintenance to keep these natural stone materials looking at their best.

Travertine Tile Cleaning, Polishing, Sealing & Hole Repair in Orange County CA

 Travertine is a very porous type of natural stone, dirt and debris get stuck in  its grooves causing the surface to look darker and dirty. A deep cleaning of the surface will usually get rid of most foreign objects and substances trap in its pores. Unlike Marble there are various types of finishes we can achieve with travertine, ex: matte, honed, satin, semi-gloss & high-gloss. However, satin finish is the most popular with least maintenance that holds up the longest.

Limestone Restoration, Maintenance & Beautification – Orange County CA

Limestone is a soft porous stone. However, it is more resilient and better in terms of maintenance than its cousin travertine. nevertheless it needs a good maintenance program to keep its surface looking nice and clean. It is recommended to use PH neutral cleaners to periodically clean the surface of limestone, this helps keep dirt and debris from clogging its pores. Different finishes can be achieved with limestone, matte and satin being the most popular.

Slate/Flagstone/Sandstone Cleaning, Sealing & Repair – Orange County CA

Overtime slate and flagstone have become very popular materials to use in home and building exteriors throughout Orange County & Los Angeles. With its popularity has also come a lack of knowledge on how this beautiful natural stones need to be maintain. At Pacific we like to educate our customers and also home/building designers and architects to avoid going through the pit falls of using low-density materials in high-exposure areas