Travertine Grout Haze Removal Burton on Trent DE15: A Case Study

Last Updated on March 2, 2026 by David

This is a project carried out by Abbey Floor Care in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire DE15, restoring a honed travertine tile floor that had developed significant grout haze after installation.

The Condition of the Floor Before Work Began

After the floor was laid, the grout was never fully removed from the surface, leaving a thick layer of grout haze across the tiles.

The tiles were not sealed, leaving them susceptible to etch marks and spills.

The grout was quite dirty.

Over the years the surface of the tiles had worn owing to foot traffic, making the surface on some tiles dull and a number of holes had appeared.

In areas the tiles were quite uneven — referred to as lippage.

The kitchen had recently been refurbished and areas of new tiles had been laid.

The client wanted the old tiles resurfaced to match the new tiles as closely as possible.

Work began by installing protective sheeting to the walls and adjoining floors to protect them from splashes.

How the Grout Haze Was Removed Without Acid

There are acid-based grout removers that dissolve grout by breaking it down chemically. Acid treatment could not be used on this installation for two reasons.

The travertine tiles had a honed sheen finish, and acids dissolve the surface of the tiles — removing the sheen and leaving them dull and porous.

Most modern grouts are also made with a rubber-like polymer, and these polymers are resistant to acids, making acid treatment ineffective in any case.

The two preferred options for this installation were: a solvent-based treatment to soften the polymer in the grout haze, leaving it ready for removal without damaging the travertine surface; and mechanical removal using diamond tooling to lift the haze while restoring the honed sheen at the correct grit level.

Travertine has a natural cavity structure beneath the surface, so care must be taken not to be too aggressive — over-working the surface can expose additional natural voids below the current surface layer.

A combination of chemical treatment, hard honing, and soft honing was used. The non-acidic treatment was applied to the tiles and left for a couple of hours to soften the grout haze. A rotary cleaning machine with 800-grit honing powder was then used to remove the grout haze and clean the grout lines.

Honing the Surface to Restore Consistent Sheen

After the floor was rinsed and dried, hard honing pads were used to resurface the stone. Starting at 200 grit and working up to 800 grit, the process achieved a light sheen smooth finish. The final stage used 1500-grit soft honing pads to produce an even finish across both the old and new tiles.

Filling Holes and Voids After Honing

Once the floor had dried, visible holes were filled with super-fine colour-matched grout to stabilise the surface before sealing.

Sealing the Restored Travertine Surface

The job was completed by applying two coats of colour-enhancing impregnating sealer. The colour transformation was significant. There was little if any visible difference between the new and the old tiles once the work was complete.

Aftercare Guidance Left With the Client

The importance of correct ongoing maintenance was explained carefully. Using the appropriate stone floor cleaning products is essential — standard floor cleaners strip away the sealer over time, leaving the tiles porous and difficult to keep clean. Using the correct products extends the life of the finish and keeps the floor in good condition for years.