Sydney's travertine specialist
Travertine is a beautiful natural stone — warm, light, and instantly premium-looking. It's also porous, vulnerable to salt damage, and prone to surface pitting if it's not properly sealed. Sydney's climate — hot summers, salt-air coastal homes, and pools everywhere — puts travertine under constant pressure.
Cityshine has spent over two decades looking after Sydney travertine. We clean, restore and reseal travertine surfaces using premium sealers from Premium Coatings Australia, formulated specifically for natural stone and Sydney conditions. Most travertine surfaces need a reseal every 3–5 years — and we're here for the full life of your surface, not just the first job.
Travertine surfaces
- Travertine pool surrounds and copings (Cityshine's most common travertine job)
- Travertine patios and outdoor entertaining areas
- Travertine paths and steps
- Indoor travertine floors
- Travertine feature walls and bathroom surfaces
Travertine's challenges in Sydney
- Salt damage — pool salt is travertine's biggest enemy
- Surface pitting — small holes in travertine fill with grime if unsealed
- Etching — acidic substances (lemon, wine, vinegar) etch unsealed travertine
- Mould and algae — particularly around pools and in shaded areas
- Failed previous sealers — wrong-product sealers trap moisture and accelerate damage
- Honing wear — travertine can lose its surface finish over time, requiring rehoning
How we clean and seal travertine
- Assessment — Confirm travertine type (filled vs unfilled, honed vs polished), identify damage, check for failed previous sealers.
- Gentle deep clean — Neutral pH cleaners suitable for natural stone. Never acidic products that would etch travertine.
- Hole filling and repair — Where required, surface pits filled with matching travertine filler.
- Salt and stain neutralisation — Critical for pool surrounds before sealing.
- Premium sealer application — PCA penetrating sealer, formulated for natural stone, applied in multiple coats to build protection.
- Final inspection and care guidance — Including what NOT to use on travertine (acid cleaners, generic outdoor cleaners).
What proper travertine sealing delivers
- Salt damage prevention — single most important benefit for pool surrounds
- Etch and stain resistance — wine, oil, lemon, sunscreen all sealed out
- Restored colour — travertine's warm tones brought back
- Surface pit protection — sealed pits stay clean rather than collecting grime
- Longer surface life — properly sealed travertine lasts decades; unsealed travertine degrades visibly within years
- Easier maintenance — gentle water cleaning between professional services
FAQ
- How often does travertine need resealing? 3–5 years for most outdoor surfaces, sooner for pool surrounds in salt pools, longer for sheltered indoor floors.
- Can you fix pitted or damaged travertine? Yes — hole filling and small surface repair are part of most travertine restoration jobs. Major surface damage may need rehoning.
- Will sealing change the look? You choose. Natural-look penetrating sealers preserve the matt finish; colour-enhancing or wet-look sealers deepen the warm tones.
- Do you do indoor travertine? Yes — bathrooms, floors, feature walls. Low-odour products for indoor work.
- What should I never use on travertine? Acid cleaners (anything citrus-based, vinegar-based, or generic bathroom cleaners with acid) and abrasive scrubbers. We'll provide a "what to use and what to avoid" guide after every job.