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Last Post 08/21/2007 10:50 PM by Doug

Travertine tile in a flood

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Doug

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Posts:29

08/21/2007 11:45 AM
I have a customer who flooded in March 2007, was in the middle of re-building afer that event and flooded again. She has travertine tile in areas in the home laid on thinset. has not been grouted or sealed yet. HAs anyone ever looked at Travertine after a flood and if so, has it been salvageable? I have not looked at the loss yet but am trying to prepare myself a little before i view tomorrow morning. This is an Oklahoma City flood, so it is red water and debris, and travertine is much more porous than granite or smooth marble. Thanks in advance for any input

Medulus
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Posts:786

08/21/2007 3:39 PM
In my opinion, Travertine is a beautiful but poor choice for flooring. It is, as you said, more porous than other tile material. It is also more easily broken, which may rule out pressurized treatments. As to whether it can be properly cleaned after a flood, I would consult with cleaning technicians on that matter, if this were my claim. I wouldn't automatically declare it a total loss unless there was some cracking of the tiles. It may very well be unrepairable, but I would at least investigate the possibility of cleaning. Steve Ebner CPCU AIC AMIM "With great power comes great responsibility." (Stanley Martin Lieber, Amazing Fantasy # 15 August 1962)

kittycat

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Posts:6

08/21/2007 5:33 PM
It can be cleaned, resealed and polished...that's all intensive labor to do so. It will not be able to be polished until it is grouted, otherwise the machine will break the edges. It can be cleaned with Oxalic Acid...by a pro only by flushing and wet vaccuming. This may help with mineral staining from debris and earth sediment. Surface stains can be removed by a poultice too. The pros are the same type as the installers for Terrazzo floors in Banks and Airports---they are NOT janitor type tradesmen. It may or may not be worth testing an area first before totaling. If there is a slim chance of transfer red staining from flood it will come from beneath the floor where it is set in mortar and cleaning may not guarantee this long term. Otherwise remove and replace because it will end up being 6 one way and half a dozen the other way in costs. Both will make substantial messes. Home Depot got rid of pallets for $1.79 sf pre-polished not to long ago. Hope this helps.

Doug

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Posts:29

08/21/2007 10:50 PM
thanks everyone ----- i will do as much homework as this needs then, and get a couple more expert opinions locally too.

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