So you have a travertine tile floor that you just love. But recently you have noticed that there is a "hole" in one of the tiles. No need to fret, that so-called blemish is one of the things that makes travertine such a desirable stone. And with a little know-how and the right product you can get that tile "back to good" in minutes. In this article we'll explore aspects of travertine's distinctive "pocks". Additionally, we will see how filling this natural stone can highlight this distinguishing quality of travertine.

What Is the Deal With Those Holes?

No matter what you call them those holes in your travertine are one of the things that make it the stone that it is. These "pits" or "pockmarks" that appear to one degree or another in travertine are related to how the stone is formed. If research and deep study are your thing, you can read in depth about how travertine forms in this geological article about travertine.

When travertine is made into floor tiles, or other workable material, it is processed. During the process, the voids in travertine are filled in to make the surface smooth. Different materials are used for filling travertine. Sometimes these fillers can erode leaving the pit behind. These pits are what home owners normally refer to as "holes" when they are trying to determine how to "fix" their flooring. As you can see in the image above, travertine has many of these when it begins its journey from nature to your home. But what is the solution after it is already installed in your home?

Travertine Hole Filler

When going about filling holes in travertine there are few things to keep in mind when choosing a filler. First, you will want a filler that is easy to use. Second, you want to select a filler that compliments the color of the stone. Finally, you want a travertine filler that performs well.

Tenax Travertine Filler is easy to use and it is available in quantities that are jst right for the do-it-yourselfer looking to repair cracks, chips, or holes in travertine. it is versatile because it is available in two popular pre-packaged colors including

• Filler for Brown Travertine
• Buff Filler for Travertine

If you have a travertine that has highlights of a different color, you can use the coloring paste to tint the buff or brown fillers to produce virtually any color of travertine filler.

Even if your particular repair needs a color other than the ones listed above, you can purchase coloring paste to help you match other colors. Tenax Travertine also performs very well. It is an epoxy, which means that it is very smooth when you are applying it. Its smooth texture means that it will fill the hole completely. And the better it is filled, the better it will look and stay.

Matching Filler Color With Stone

There are a couple of different approaches when it comes to filling holes in travertine. One approach is to select a complimentary color or matching color of grout and fill it using grout. The challenge with using grout is that it may not stay in the hole. It could come out in the future. Another approach is to use one of the shades of travertine filler listed above. These fillers are permanent so once the hole is filled, it stays filled. The color matching is as follows:

If the stone is mainly a brown, then the brown filler may be a good fit, or if your travertine is a lighter creamy color, you may want to select the buff color.

You can see an example of using the buff colored travertine filler by watching the video and by looking at the photo on this page. In the video the demonstrator uses a transparent filler to fill the tile on one side and the buff opaque filler on the other. At the end of the video, you get to see the results of both methods. The transparent product used to file the holes with the clear filler is not available for retail sale. However, to get the results demonstrated by using the buff or brown travertine filler, follow this procedure:

How To Fill Travertine Holes in 7 Steps

1. Clean the area you are going to fill using denatured alcohol.
2. If you have a coloring paste add it to the filler to get the color you want.
3. Mix the catalyst with the glue at a ratio of 2-3:100 (2-3 parts of catalyst per 100 parts of glue) in weight.
4. Stir the mixture vigorously until thoroughly combined.
5. Apply to the area to be filled using a slight excess to allow for shrinkage.
6. Allow the filler to dry completely.
7. Cut excess filler off stone with razor blade and remove trace filler with acetone.

In summary, the holes, pits, voids, or pocks - whatever you want to call them - in travertine are a characteristic of the natural stone's beauty. The strength of the stone can be bolstered by using one of our travertine fillers to reinforce it. By filling travertine holes, you can highlight the natural beauty of the stone while preserving its strength.