Dear Chris:
Unfortunately, as for DIY, you're out of luck.
L
Of course it is indeed possible to grind the floor and all that, but regardless of the specialized and expensive equipment and abrasive means that you would need and that you can't fin at any rental place, the major problem is the skill necessary to do a job like that. No matter how handy one is, this is not – by far – a DIY job.
Just to give you a quick idea of what's involved: 1. you have to “flood” the floor with unsanded grout (the very same used to grout – hoping that unsanded grout was used, or else it will need to be replaced) to create “slopes” so that the grinding element will not hit the lips too hard. 2. After two days for curing, the grinding begin and there is were you separate the men from the boys: you screw up here and you're going to have so many waves on that floor that you will need to take some serious dose of Dramamine before walking over it! 3. After the second grinding cut and the first resin-bond one, you will have to refill the travertine, for the two grinding cuts will open up lots of holes by removing the filler applied by the factory. Filling travertine is easier said than done! And so on. All in all, if the floor is at least 300 sq.ft., figure something on or around $10/sq.ft. if there's no need to replace the grout.
May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at:
http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm?
Ciao and good luck,
Mauri
Article ID: 736
Created On: Fri, Nov 2, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Last Updated On: Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Authored by: Maurizio Bertoli [mail@mbstone.com]
Online URL: https://marblecleaning.org/knowledgebase/article.php?id=736