Travertine help......SW Florida

[Jean23]

Hello, new here but happy to find this site. My parents passed away and I decided to keep and renovate their home, an old style Florida bungalow on a sweet piece of property. The pool was built in 1977, uncaged to this day. The first thing I did was have it re-done with pebble tech, and it's now salt water. I also had some trees cut back to limit the debris and the pool stay fairly clean most of the time. It's a BIG pool, I've been told a few times by workers that it's the biggest private pool they've seen - for whatever that's worth. The coping around the pool was cement and the builder suggested travertine overlay, which looks beautiful, but two years later - despite sweeping and spraying and getting rain soaked it's moldy.
I've looked around online an read no bleach, read conflicting things regarding cleaning limestone. I just purchased a power washer that I can use to give it a gentle cleaning, but am wondering what the best cleanser would be. I believe it was sealed, and I've read the older threads here sealing vs not. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JamesW]

Pictures?

 

[Jean23]

The worse moldy area is where there is shade from the porch. The tiles around the pool are rain and sun bleached so they don't get so stained. So...three photos. The pool, the slightly moldy area and the worse area. I'm a nurse and was working full-time during the pandemic but just retired, so this is my "project".

 

[JamesW]

Looks like you get some standing water, which will encourage mold growth and the accumulation of sediment.

I would try a “light” pressure wash with no chemicals and then follow up with a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite with maybe a surfactant to loosen dirt if the light pressure wash does not get good results.

Allow the solution sit for a short time and brush with a soft bristle brush to loosen dirt.

Rinse with a hose and maybe a light pressure wash.

Do a test spot for all procedure to see if there will be any damage to the stone before doing a large area.

Travertine is porous and it tends to hold water, which traps dirt and allows mold to grow.

If you can improve drainage to prevent standing water, that would help.

Note: Do your own research on how to clean travertine and make your own decisions about what products and procedures to use before doing anything.

My opinions are just opinions and not professional advice.

Some sources say not to use bleach or sodium hypochlorite.

Everything you do is at your own risk.

Maybe check with a local stone supplier store for their recommended cleaning products for travertine.

 

[JamesW]

I've been told a few times by workers that it's the biggest private pool they've seen - for whatever that's worth.

It does not look all that big.

What are the dimensions?

 

[JamesW]

Mold, fungus and other organics can grow into the porous travertine, so you need something that will kill the mold.

In my opinion, sodium hypochlorite is a good solution, but some people say do not use bleach/sodium hypochlorite.

The stone place might have travertine cleaning products that kill mold that don’t contain sodium hypochlorite that might be safer for the stone.

Travertine is soft and porous and different travertine can react differently to different cleaners and procedures.

You have to decide what products and procedures to use based on the risks vs. potential benefits.

Always do a test spot to make sure that the stone is not adversely affected before doing a large area.

If it is just dirt, then I would use light pressure with no bleach and maybe a stone safe detergent to help loosen the dirt.

Travertine and bleach?

Wondering if anyone here has any long-term experience with a travertine deck and using bleach to control green algae? It's common advice to avoid putting bleach on travertine but the same advice exists for saltwater pools. I have a few pavers that are more susceptible to turning green then the...

www.troublefreepool.com

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cleaning+travertine

 

[JamesW]

 

[JamesW]

Sealers can help reduce dirt and mold, but they can make the stone slippery, which is dangerous around pool decks that will be wet with people walking barefoot.

A penetrating sealer is less slippery.

There are some nonslip additives that can be added to sealer to improve traction.

You also have to be careful with the water runoff as you clean because that might kill the plants around the pool if the water contains bleach or other chemicals.

 

[Jean23]

It does not look all that big.

What are the dimensions?

View attachment 449693

It does not look all that big.

What are the dimensions?

View attachment 449693

James, it's 16

 

[JamesW]

James, it's 16

16 what?

 

[Jean23]

16 what?

Sorry, that was a type.

16 what?

Sorry, typo. It's 14x28. Maybe it just looks bigger now that I'm in charge of it, haha. Thanks for the reply. I have read that bleach and other chemicals can damage the limestone (travertine). I'll steer clear from those. And yes, you're right, there is standing water in the areas that are moldy and discolored. I'll look at what's available at HD or Lowe's.

 

[JamesW]

I've been told a few times by workers that it's the biggest private pool they've seen -

It's 14x28.

That's really odd that people are saying that it is so big.

That's a relatively small pool actually.

 

[Katodude]

So I have travertine as well. I use a weak pressure washer on it with good results. I also use bleach to kill mold and black algae that tries to go everywhere.

I have also had my travertine grouted. It filled in many of the holes where stuff liked to grow. That helped a lot.

 

[SoDel]

FWIW, glyphosate (Roundup, Rodeo, whichever you favor) will kill algae. I’ve used it on brick and that, in combo with sunlight, cleared it up in really well in about a week. I also use it on my travertine pool deck to zap “crack weeds.” If your issue is more algae than mold, you can avoid the caustic properties of bleach.

I found that for the brick algae, the issue was water and drainage. Anything you can do to dry out the deck and beneath will help.

 

[Jean23]

So I have travertine as well. I use a weak pressure washer on it with good results. I also use bleach to kill mold and black algae that tries to go everywhere.

I have also had my travertine grouted. It filled in many of the holes where stuff liked to grow. That helped a lot.

What kind of grout did you use? I read sand grout I know zip about grout.

 

[Jean23]

FWIW, glyphosate (Roundup, Rodeo, whichever you favor) will kill algae. I’ve used it on brick and that, in combo with sunlight, cleared it up in really well in about a week. I also use it on my travertine pool deck to zap “crack weeds.” If your issue is more algae than mold, you can avoid the caustic properties of bleach.

I found that for the brick algae, the issue was water and drainage. Anything you can do to dry out the deck and beneath will help.

I don't use Roundup, but thank you.

 

[Jean23]

Update on cleaning travertine. I bought some Travertine PH neutral stone cleaner, which works ok to clean the surface. I tried Oxyclean - which really works the best to remove the black - although not all the way. I did do a trial on an extra piece of tile using diluted bleach, which took some of the stains. Between some of the tiles is black organic matter, moldy gunk. Gentle pressure washing removes it but I can tell it's going to be an uphill battle. Katodude mentioned getting it grouted but I also read that sand can be put between the tiles. I think sand would just wash away with our frequent rains. Sort of disappointing. I had a caretaker here after my father passed while I was still working out of state. He did a great job taking care of the property but not the travertine so much. If I had known it would be so porous and susupitible to mold I would have used cement - might still if I can't fight this back some.

 

[Jean23]

Sealers can help reduce dirt and mold, but they can make the stone slippery, which is dangerous around pool decks that will be wet with people walking barefoot.

A penetrating sealer is less slippery.

There are some nonslip additives that can be added to sealer to improve traction.

You also have to be careful with the water runoff as you clean because that might kill the plants around the pool if the water contains bleach or other chemicals.

Wow, good video --

 

[Katodude]

Dont over think this. Outdoor travertine is usually pretty thick, usually the pavers are about 1.5” thick. Blast the moldy parts with a pressure washer. Spray it with some diluted bleach, then blast those parts again. It will look like new.

I have not found a sealer that will stand up to Florida sun and weather in general. I have tried a bunch.

I have used Prism grout with some pretty good success at filling in the holes in the travertine and filling in the spaces between the tiles. Sand and Polymeric sand just wont hold up. Even with the grout it is not a one and done. Welcome to Florida, you are in the tropics and stuff wants to grow. Its going to be a constant battle.

 

[Jean23]

Dont over think this. Outdoor travertine is usually pretty thick, usually the pavers are about 1.5” thick. Blast the moldy parts with a pressure washer. Spray it with some diluted bleach, then blast those parts again. It will look like new.

I have not found a sealer that will stand up to Florida sun and weather in general. I have tried a bunch.

I have used Prism grout with some pretty good success at filling in the holes in the travertine and filling in the spaces between the tiles. Sand and Polymeric sand just wont hold up. Even with the grout it is not a one and done. Welcome to Florida, you are in the tropics and stuff wants to grow. Its going to be a constant battle.

Thank you, yes, they are thick. Good to know re sealers and I'll check out prism grout. I just retired after 40 years of nursing ( I stuck it out a few extra years due to pandemic)...so I have plenty of time.
Any tips using the grout. I have a few tiles with quite a gap in between and I wouldn't mind having them filled in. Thanks again !!!!