Acid Washing Travertine Deck?

[ShantellyLace]

Sorry I tried to search but the search shows any post with those words and hard to find the answer.

Today a guy was out picking up the concrete and scrap travertine pieces and was talking to hubby about random things. Apparently he was a pool builder in the past but has now retired and just does clean up for extra cash.

He mentioned that the PB will use the acid wash that will be on the pool finish on our pavers as well. Everything I am reading online about travertine says not to use strong chemicals like bleach, magic eraser, etc. So I would imagine the acid in the wash would fall into that category.

I am not one of those people who cares if "all the pool builders do it" bc hearing they don't follow national standards on glass tile installation and my PB doesn't pull permits on the gas firepits and just has them done, connecting to existing gas lines, and it doesnt make me have a lot of faith in following the masses.

So is this guy correct in that they are going to acid wash the travertine as well as the pool? I didnt want to post this in our build thread in case it got lost. But I haven't found anything that says spraying acid on the deck is a good idea.

Thanks!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I've never heard of a pool start up acid wash going on the decking too.... can't say it doesn't splash on it a bit, but never read any one mention it here.

I'd just tell 'em to make sure to protect the decking from any splash out of acid spray or they'll have to replace the tile. Talk to the manager and ask them how they protect the tile from the acid and let him know you're concerned.

Maddie

 

[ShantellyLace]

Thanks Maddie. I know we are new to all this but hearing that sounded CRAZY to me. Will talk to PB and prep crew and make sure it stays covered.

 

[Big Will]

Acid can and will put holes and pits in travertine! I have one on my coping to prove it, so tell them to be careful

 

[Foxy]

I have a small piece of leftover travertine tile, I can pour some acid on it and see what happens, I don't think it will be a good thing! I've never heard of acid washing travertine, I've heard to only use gentle cleaning agents.

 

[ShantellyLace]

Thanks everyone. Those were my same thoughts.

We got Stonetech cleaner as recommended by Travertine Mart, where we got the pavers, and are trying to remove rust stains from the deck. This whole process has taken so long, the sump pump has been running non stop for months, pumping orange, disgusting iron water into the grass which the dog runs through and then he runs onto the deck. Hoping we can do multiple cleanings and pull the iron out of the stone. Love how the deck has stains and tons of scratches long before the pool is even finished and we can enjoy it.

 

[Foxy]

I poured straight acid on a piece of travertine and let it sit for a minute, it bubbled and hissed a lot! I thought it was going to eat away at it, but it just seems to have made the surface just a tiny bit rougher, so there is some etching and it also did change the color slightly. The acid changed the color to how it looks when wet and it stayed slightly darker when dry, so no color difference when wet and dry for the piece I put in acid. The damage isn't as bad as I expected, but there is noticeable changes.

Sorry to hear about the staining, I hope you can get it all out.

 

[carolinacruiser]

Thanks everyone. Those were my same thoughts.

We got Stonetech cleaner as recommended by Travertine Mart, where we got the pavers, and are trying to remove rust stains from the deck. This whole process has taken so long, the sump pump has been running non stop for months, pumping orange, disgusting iron water into the grass which the dog runs through and then he runs onto the deck. Hoping we can do multiple cleanings and pull the iron out of the stone. Love how the deck has stains and tons of scratches long before the pool is even finished and we can enjoy it.

How did this turn out? I have the same issue(dirty light colored travertine). I was also told by a PB to wash it with muriatic acid mixed with water. Thanks.

 

[mlggator]

As a geologist, I can tell you that travertine and acid do not mix. Like limestone, travertine is a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) which reacts strongly with acid in a typical acid-base reaction. Putting acid on your travertine will cause it to initially bubble and fizz (CO2 escaping in the reaction). Then you will find that you travertine will feel rough and maybe have some pits forming. Each time acid is added, it will eat away at the travertine. The stronger the acid, the more damage will be done.

 

[JJ_Tex]

How did this turn out? I have the same issue(dirty light colored travertine). I was also told by a PB to wash it with muriatic acid mixed with water. Thanks.

I would save the acid wash as a last resort. Can you elaborate on how it is dirty? Is this just soil, a particular stain, etc?