How is your Travertine doing with your Salt Water Pool?

[bmoreswim]

Just some musings...

I find it helpful to think of flagstone for what it really is...sandstone. A type of sedimentary stone. Flag is merely the cut of the stone. So, regardless of the type, it's made up of small grains cemented together by something else with voids remaining. It's those voids, and the erosion of the cementious material that creates the tendency for spalling to occur. I too have "flagstone" and won't have to worry about spalling in my lifetime...because the makeup is different.

When it comes to travertine vs. OK flagstone, the reason travertine is cooler is because it is more pourous which does not hold the heat as well. Porosity would also affect what can get in a cause it to break apart.

Which is all to say...it's a natural product and will do what it wants to and will be somewhat variable. You can be cautious or not and it may help, a lot, some or not much. The perceived risk certainly seems to be higher than actual, at lesat in a normal lifetime.

A few hits form around the http://www...

Blog post from travertinemart.com

http://www.travertinemart.com/travertine-pool-coping/travertine-pavers-and-salt-water-erosion

Almost unbelievably, Dry Treat feels that travertine is affected by saltwater.

http://www.drytreat.com/surfaces/travertine.html

The first reply in the following thread is a very common-sense approach to stone in general.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2539312/travertine-for-pool-coping-and-retaining-wall

Here's a 400 year-old travertine wall. Most of us won't last that long. (And maybe they got a bad batch from their supplier!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine#/media/File:Kalktuff-Block_Schloss-Tuebingen_2.jpg

 

[firehunter]

Just some musings...

I find it helpful to think of flagstone for what it really is...sandstone. A type of sedimentary stone. Flag is merely the cut of the stone. So, regardless of the type, it's made up of small grains cemented together by something else with voids remaining. It's those voids, and the erosion of the cementious material that creates the tendency for spalling to occur. I too have "flagstone" and won't have to worry about spalling in my lifetime...because the makeup is different.

When it comes to travertine vs. OK flagstone, the reason travertine is cooler is because it is more pourous which does not hold the heat as well. Porosity would also affect what can get in a cause it to break apart.

Which is all to say...it's a natural product and will do what it wants to and will be somewhat variable. You can be cautious or not and it may help, a lot, some or not much. The perceived risk certainly seems to be higher than actual, at lesat in a normal lifetime.

......

The first reply in the following thread is a very common-sense approach to stone in general.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2539312/travertine-for-pool-coping-and-retaining-wall

....

"Release your expectations, embrace nature, and you'll be perfectly happy."

LOVE IT!!!

 

[cowboycasey]

I love this line

"The most interesting part is, the owner of the pictured travertine below, likes the effect salt water had on her travertine and does not want to seal it."

Just some musings...

I find it helpful to think of flagstone for what it really is...sandstone. A type of sedimentary stone. Flag is merely the cut of the stone. So, regardless of the type, it's made up of small grains cemented together by something else with voids remaining. It's those voids, and the erosion of the cementious material that creates the tendency for spalling to occur. I too have "flagstone" and won't have to worry about spalling in my lifetime...because the makeup is different.

When it comes to travertine vs. OK flagstone, the reason travertine is cooler is because it is more pourous which does not hold the heat as well. Porosity would also affect what can get in a cause it to break apart.

Which is all to say...it's a natural product and will do what it wants to and will be somewhat variable. You can be cautious or not and it may help, a lot, some or not much. The perceived risk certainly seems to be higher than actual, at lesat in a normal lifetime.

A few hits form around the http://www...

Blog post from travertinemart.com

http://www.travertinemart.com/travertine-pool-coping/travertine-pavers-and-salt-water-erosion

Almost unbelievably, Dry Treat feels that travertine is affected by saltwater.

http://www.drytreat.com/surfaces/travertine.html

The first reply in the following thread is a very common-sense approach to stone in general.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2539312/travertine-for-pool-coping-and-retaining-wall

Here's a 400 year-old travertine wall. Most of us won't last that long. (And maybe they got a bad batch from their supplier!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine#/media/File:Kalktuff-Block_Schloss-Tuebingen_2.jpg

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Just some musings...

+1 ^^^^^^^

Great, well-balanced post!! This one should be bookmarked for all the travertine people to read.

 

[ellsian]

Not bad for a 400 year old travertine wall.. it's still standing! Just needs a few coats of sealent for the next 400

 

[Dreynolds]

Look at the parthenon! Its still standing it's made of limestone and marble. I might add that is on the ocean. I have travertine and SWG so far no problems. I love it and it's cool all the time. Very important to me being in south Florida. I hate to burn the bottom of my feet. Also concrete cracks and if my travertine cracks I replace one or two pieces. Only thing is the grass the grow in between. Not a big deal round up kills it.

 

[pooldv]

My PB and neighbor has been building pools for over 40 years and says don't seal it and don't worry about it. Most pools he builds are salt and flag, including his own pool that is 11 years old.

 

[Nectarologist]

Good discussion. I was considering adding a swcg this year or next and had questions but they've been answered. Thanks.

 

[MarkTX]

Okay, sort of devils advocate here. I just had pool built in Houston area, got estimates from four of the best area builders. I wanted SWCG, and all of them said flat out they don't do those anymore.

So my obvious question is, if they are not harmful, why do the best ones here not build them anymore? I do not know the answer.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Okay, sort of devils advocate here. I just had pool built in Houston area, got estimates from four of the best area builders. I wanted SWCG, and all of them said flat out they don't do those anymore.

So my obvious question is, if they are not harmful, why do the best ones here not build them anymore? I do not know the answer.

Perhaps a profit motive is involved?

What systems are they offering you? Pucks, UV, Ozone? All of those systems are fairly cheap so I suspect the profit margin is bigger.

I don't know why PBs in your area are so against SWGs lately. But if you want it, then you should have it.

 

[MarkTX]

One recommended the full gamut, UV, Ozone, chlorinator. The other three were against UV and Ozone, but included the chlorinator. None mentioned or seemed to have any knowledge of TFP (lol! when I told the pool school guy I had been testing the water myself, he asked, "why would you do that?" with a straight face ). I am starting to wonder if this aversion to salt is not an urban myth. Surely these companies should know more than I.

 

[MarkTX]

And i will add so called pool school left me at

0.5 FC
6.8 pH
50 CH
CYA 50
TA 70

for one month, except I intervened. Shhh!

 

[ellsian]

Okay, sort of devils advocate here. I just had pool built in Houston area, got estimates from four of the best area builders. I wanted SWCG, and all of them said flat out they don't do those anymore.

So my obvious question is, if they are not harmful, why do the best ones here not build them anymore? I do not know the answer.

That is odd, then again, TX in general seems a bit wonky with their pool build market, and prices being rather high.

I spoke to about 6 PBs here in AZ, all mid size to large, and they all had no problems in general doing SWCG, all offered it easily. I did received mixed answers on whether to seal and what decking choice to use. My chosen PB recommends only doing acrylic decking with SWG... but I'm going to ask for travertine anyways. In 10 years I'll get some satisfaction from emailing him picture proof of my sparkling awesome pristine travertine deck!! Or I'll just be crying in the corner with my travertine dust sandcastle

 

[pooldv]

Good plan! Somebody has to be the guinea pig! ig:

 

[ellsian]

Good plan! Somebody has to be the guinea pig! ig:

Updated my sig: Future Travertine Sandcastle Owner

The PB world can no longer hold me back! You will all soon(ish) know the truth!!

FRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
ig:

 

[pooldv]

Good job! Way to take one for the team! And have a very nice pool and deck during the grueling task.

 

[ellsian]

Good job! Way to take one for the team! And have a very nice pool and deck during the grueling task.

Such torture I must endure, I know. Do not worry, my sacrifice will not be in vain. I do it not just for you, TFP, but for all salt pool owning mankind! Martyr music goes here.

 

[jv92red]

My pool is almost 3 years old now and NO problems with unsealed travertine. And I have a salt water pool with my level around 4k PPM. Actually PB recommended to us NOT to seal it. Said no need and would only make it slippery. So it's never been sealed and looks like the day it was installed.

We used some thick 2" slabs of travertine I would think if there is damage being done over time that I cannot notice then I project it will last longer than me. Here is a pic of the slabs we used:

 

[txnole]

Florida SWG pool with full travertine deck and coping. Lots of kids splashing a lot of water everywhere. We sealed with DuPont Stonetech ~12 months ago and haven't seen any change whatsoever from the day it was installed. Very, very satisfied. (Pics in sig)

 

[foobert]

Appreciate many of the comments in this thread -- thanks!

I just finished remodeling my ~35 year old pool. Went with travertine coping and decking. Will be installing the SWG at the end of the month (after 4 weeks of plaster cure). My decking contractor has seen more troubles and problems caused by sealers over the years than problems that might have been prevented by sealers. He strongly advised against sealing.

Ima gonna roll the dice and let nature handle this one. Yup, I'm taking the cheerios right out of the mouths of the poor kids of the sealer dealers.