should new travertine floor (honed finished) be sealed w/ epoxy

Q.we are having honed finished travertine installed in kitchen/family room/dining area and are concerned about maintenance. Our contractor recommended using epoxy sealant for easier maintenance, he said stain would have to wipe w/in 24 hour period vs. right away.

A. Most travertines are very dense stones which you can check yourself by performing a simple water test.

To put a topical coating on a beautiful travertine would be a pity. Make life simple just use a high quality impregnating sealer like MB-4 and call it a day.

Stu Rosen