The short version
Many indoor travertine floors here go one to three years between seals. Showers, kitchen floors, entries and pool decks usually need it sooner. But the calendar matters less than how your stone acts, so test it.
The water drop test
- Pick a spot in a busy area, like in front of the kitchen sink or inside the front door.
- Put a few drops of water on the stone.
- Wait a few minutes.
- Water beads up and sits there: your sealer is working.
- The stone darkens slowly: it's getting tired, so plan a reseal.
- The stone darkens right away or the water disappears: it's time.
Do it in a low-traffic spot too, like a closet or under a table, and compare. If the closet beads and the kitchen soaks it up, traffic wore the sealer off.
What wears sealer off faster
- Foot traffic and grit. Our dust is abrasive.
- The wrong cleaners. Vinegar, bleach, and strong all-purpose sprays strip sealer and can etch the stone.
- Water exposure. Showers and pool decks see water daily.
- Sun. Outdoor sealers break down faster under UV.
What sealer doesn't do
Sealer slows down how fast liquids soak in. It doesn't make travertine stain-proof, and it doesn't stop etching. Acidic stuff like lemon juice, wine and tomato sauce reacts with the stone itself. Wiping spills quickly matters more than any sealer.
Before you reseal
If the floor is dirty, sealing locks the dirt in. If there are open holes, they'll keep collecting grime. Clean first, and fill holes if needed. That's why my cleaning & sealing service always starts with a deep clean.