A returning client in Locust Grove, Virginia. Rose had ground the travertine in their foyer years before. Since then, cracks had appeared in the foyer, and the same travertine in the primary bathroom had uneven tile edges. We repaired the cracks, ground the bathroom floor flat, and honed both rooms to match. Spring 2026.
| Where | Private home, Locust Grove, VA |
|---|---|
| Surfaces | Travertine foyer and primary bathroom floors |
| What needed attention | Cracks in the foyer; uneven tile edges (lippage) and a long crack in the bathroom |
| What we did | Crack repair with color-matched epoxy; grind 79 sq ft flat; fill opened holes; hone and seal; replace one tile |
What lippage is, and why grinding fixes it
Lippage is when one tile’s edge sits higher than its neighbor’s, so the floor catches light, dirt and toes along every joint. Polishing cannot fix that, because it follows the uneven surface. Grinding can: it takes the high edges down until the tiles share one flat plane. On this job that meant grinding 79 square feet of bathroom travertine.
Why grinding travertine means filling
Travertine is full of natural holes and pits. Grinding opens more of them, so every void it exposes is filled with travertine filler or color-matched resin before the floor is honed. A 64-inch crack in the bathroom was repaired with color-matched epoxy, and the room was honed to match the foyer and sealed. In the foyer we repaired the cracks, honed with diamond pads, applied an impregnating sealer, and replaced one tile with a matching tile the homeowners supplied.
Afterward
A few months later the homeowners booked a maintenance visit: the bathroom floor cleaned and resealed, and caulk renewed along the baseboards.
Have something similar? Send two or three photos, one of the whole surface and one close-up, and we will tell you what it needs. Send photos or call (703) 327-7676.
Related: Travertine restoration · Residential stone restoration
Questions
What is lippage in a tile floor?
Uneven tile edges, where one tile sits higher than the next. Grinding the floor flat removes it; polishing alone cannot.
Why does travertine need filling after grinding?
Grinding opens the stone’s natural holes and pits, so every opened void is filled before the floor is honed and sealed.
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