Hi Maurizio, I've read several of your responses to other travertine countertop questions (thank you), but still am on the fence about installing the product. We are considering going with a honed travertine slab, but my question is about staining. I understand the etching won't be as much of a problem since it is honed, but what will the normal kitchen use do to the counters. If my son spills lemonade on it, will it be completely ruined? The rest of the house is old (18th century) so I do not mind the counters developing a patina, but I am afraid that it will look splotchy rather than an even patina. HELP!!!!

 

Dear Drew:

 

“ The rest of the house is old (18th century) so I do not mind the counters developing a patina ”

 

Don't you worry about that: a slab indoor will never develop any patina. If you want patina, put that slab outdoors at the mercy of the weather for a few years!...

 

“ If my son spills lemonade on it, will it be completely ruined? ”

 

Here's the solution: kill the darn kid – Now!!

Well, maybe not… I kept mine two alive for 38 and 34 years respectively!!

No, it will not be completely ruined. All you have to do is re-hone it again.

How?

With some good old metal grade sand-paper! (Betcha didn't think of that, did ya?!...)

 

Easy enough for ya?... J

 

Now remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. The issue of what you'll be doing day in and day out to your stone is – as it should be intuitive – vastly more important than its sealing (if and when possible and/or advisable) and it's all too often neglected. As you can tell by reading many of this site's postings, you're not likely to get good information about routine care from your dealer or installer. Don't become another statistic! By logging into the Helpful Hints section of our website at:   http://www.mbstone.com/HH_promo/helpful_hints.htm , you will be able to get the short version of our maintenance guidelines at no charge. The full version of it – a 7-page document considered by many as an industry benchmark – is available in pay-per-download format in our Educational Literature section at:   http://www.mbstone.com/literature/literature.htm .  

And remember, every single penny of the cost of the literature will be used to support this site and its cause: your cause.

While you are in the “Helpful Hints” section, do spend some time reading all of the interesting FREE articles you'll find in there!

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Thank you  

Ciao and good luck,

Mauri z io Bertoli

 

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