Travertine 600-400 grit

[DaveHNL]

I have around 1,100 square feet of 24" x 24" travertine tile installed in my condo. It was originally a honed finish, then was polished to around 600-800 grit (can't remember exactly).
The stone is in very good condition with only a few etch marks.

I'd like to bring it down to 400 grit.

Should I go with diamond pads or will something like Revive-Maxx 17" Stone and Concrete Polishing Pads with FERRZON be sufficient.

I had a sample piece of the travertine and wet sanded it with 3M 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. If I use diamond pads or something like the Revive-Maxx product, should I expect the sheen to be close to what the 3M wet/dry sandpaper achieved?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

 

[Rob Fairfield]

400 diamond impregnated pad would be the quickest, easiest and least expensive way to finish your floor.

 

[DaveHNL]

Thank Rob, could you recommend a company that supplies the highest quality pads?

Thanks

 

[Mikey P]

Have you tried just cleaning it with a strong peroxide based chem?

IMO that transforms most travertine to a 400 or so finish...

 

[J Scott W]

Here is a link to the pad you can use - https://interlinksupply.com/index.php?item_num=ASP17BLK

There is a distributor on Maui, but I am not sure if they have this in stock.
Cleaner's Warehouse
285 Hukililike St
Kahului, HI 96372

808 873-7077

I think Steve Blinder is the main stone guy there.

 

[DaveHNL]

Have you tried just cleaning it with a strong peroxide based chem?

IMO that transforms most travertine to a 400 or so finish...

No, I haven't, what chemical would you recommend?

Thanks

 

[DaveHNL]

Here is a link to the pad you can use -

There is a distributor on Maui, but I am not sure if they have this in stock.
Cleaner's Warehouse
285 Hukililike St
Kahului, HI 96372

808 873-7077

I think Steve Blinder is the main stone guy there.

Thanks, I'll give them a call.

 

[Mikey P]

No, I haven't, what chemical would you recommend?

Thanks

A high alkaline pre spray like Flex and 3 ounces of Oxy Clean per gallon..

 

[ted mcfadden]

You're better off cutting it with a 220 resin diamond then using a 400 grit high quality diamond impregnating pad.

 

[Old Coastie]

Crumbs, Ted, I thought you’d gone into the witness protection program! I still use your book for reference.

 

[DaveHNL]

A high alkaline pre spray like Flex and 3 ounces of Oxy Clean per gallon..

Thanks Mikey

 

[DaveHNL]

You're better off cutting it with a 220 resin diamond then using a 400 grit high quality diamond impregnating pad.

Thanks Ted.

When stone was originally polished from a honed finish to ~800, they used the resin diamond pads. Do you think I still need to go back to that step?

In your opinion, which company manufacturers the highest quality resin diamond and diamond impregnated pads?

Thanks

 

[kevinj6121]

Here is a link to the pad you can use - https://interlinksupply.com/index.php?item_num=ASP17BLK

There is a distributor on Maui, but I am not sure if they have this in stock.
Cleaner's Warehouse
285 Hukililike St
Kahului, HI 96372

808 873-7077

I think Steve Blinder is the main stone guy there.

When using these pads under a 175 on the travertine/limestone floor, do you do it dry or with wet floor

 

[Larry Cobb]

Most of our stone finishers would use 600 grit abrasive to get to a honed finish on Travertine.

If there is any lippage, then the #800 diamond pads would be the easiest solution.

http://www.cobbcarpet.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=5021

 

[DaveHNL]

Thanks Larry, the guy that installed my travertine told me the original honed finish from the manufacturer was 220 grit - does this sound right?

I took a sample of the original stone and wet sanded it with 3M 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper - that's the sheen I'm looking for.

Will 400 grit diamond pads achieve the same sheen as 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper?

Thanks

 

[J Scott W]

When using these pads under a 175 on the travertine/limestone floor, do you do it dry or with wet floor

Normally done with a little water sprayed on the floor, not really wet as when mopping for example.

 

[kevinj6121]

Normally done with a little water sprayed on the floor, not really wet as when mopping for example.

Thanks Scott

 

[Chris Brown]

Dave,
I have used stone pros 400 grit diamond impregnated pads on several jobs. I agree with Rob. They are your best and most cost effective way to get the results you are looking for on your floor.

 

[DaveHNL]

Thanks Chris.

 

[Todd Slamen]

whats the lipage on the floor you may want to put a white pad on top of the 400 grit diamond pad to help get a more even finish, I get a 7 in diamond pad for my corners and edges and sever lipage with a mikata 9227. Or you could order in 400 grit honing powder NS white pad

 

[DaveHNL]

Lipage is minimal, probably less than a business card thick in a few places. Good idea using white pad on top of diamond pad. I have a Mikata 9227, so will use that for edges.

Thanks

 

[Todd Slamen]

I always try to preform a sample for my clients usually laundry room completed, this way they can see exactly what I'm going to perform. Have to many think they want a honed floor when they really wanted a lesser gloss. Helps give they a visual finish area they can see and justifies my price when they see work involved.

 

[DaveHNL]

That's a good idea.
I have read various descriptions of a honed finishes ranging from 220 grit to 800 grit - is there a standard grit that the stone industry uses or do they use one of those reflection meters to measure "honed"