Travertine is, by nature, extremely porous and practically slip-resistant, but the second you hone the surface and fill the pores, things get slippery.  If you want to use Travertine Tiles outdoors, your only option typically has been to go with a Brushed & Chiseled finish. The brushed surface and chiseled edges give the stone a bit of traction and prevent slips if the stone gets wet.

But what if it is not the look you’re going for? You shouldn’t have to give up your dream of using a smooth and clean Honed & Filled or Polished Travertine Tile outdoors. With a little effort, you won’t have to worry about slipping and sliding when the rain hits your tiles.

Here are a couple ways you can use Honed & Filled Travertine Tiles outdoors:

1) Apply a Shark Grip additive to your current sealer (we recommend DuPont™ StoneTech® Professional BulletProof® Stone Sealer) to give the tile traction. You’ll actually be able to see tiny particles on the surface of your stone. If this isn’t the look you want, you can;

2) Apply a Non-Slip Sealer such as:  Miracle Sealants 511 Anti-Slip

The most important things to remember:

You get what you pay for. Don’t cut corners on sealers and don’t buy cheap sealers. If you have to remove a sealer on Travertine Pavers, it is extremely labor intensive and can get expensive. If you’re DIY-ing, try practicing on a small area, let it dry, and see what happens.

It’s safe to say that every sealer is different and you should test a few small pieces of the Travertine to make sure you’ll be happy with the results before sealing the entire patio.