Stain on Travertine paver

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Looking for help. I just got some ivory travertine pavers installed for a new pool deck. It appears only 1 sections under my terrace has developed these orange stains. Is this normal? The installers claim it's naturally occuring but it seems odd it only appears in one location.

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

5 years ago

"...installed on sand." Sounds like there's your issue.

Travertine is porous. It LOVES to discolour from things leeching UP from the ground. Wait. Why isn't it happening in the SUN? Because the sun is drying out the sand/travertine 100% every day.

In the shade cast by the house, the sand underneath will stay DAMP the entire time. And damp = moisture/water. The ONE thing you need to have "leeching" is moisture. Water emulsifies elements in the ground/sand and allows it to travel upwards (we call this wicking). The water (with all the soluble elements) leeches from the damp area to the dry area (the surface of the travertine).

Once the water/element solution hits the surface of the travertine, the water evaporates off - leaving all the elements/colour left to sit on top of the travertine.

Look at the colour of your sand/earth base. It looks like the same COLOUR as the stain on top of the travertine. That's telling us the stain is coming from underneath and is coming from the earth it is sitting on.

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Comments (7)

David Cardenas
Original Author
5 years ago
Photos of stain
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
How were they installed and with what? Photos of this area from the outside so that we can see the structure. In rainy climates we have seen metal stain the exterior stones/etc.
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David Cardenas
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi McCarthy. The tiles were installed on sand around the perimeter of the pool and under the terrace. The only area where the stain appears is under the terrace in a concentrated spot. I've check around the perimeter of the pool and everything else is ok. When installed the tiles looked great. Over time the stain appears to get darker and more so now that we haven't had rain lately. There is no metal around the structure. Any recommendations?
David Cardenas
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you!! Makes sense. What method do you recommend the travertine in the patio be placed? Concrete? I am talking to my pool contractor to have them replaced but I want to make sure they are doing it correctly.
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
I will leave the 'hows' to the exterior pros. I'm great at indoor installation and theory...but I loose traction as soon as stuff goes outside.

Hopefully Joseph will pop by...he's awesome with stone, etc.
David Cardenas thanked SJ McCarthy
PRO
Bath
3 years ago
David, what did you decide to do with replacement? I’m having same issues