A travertine shower in Vienna, Virginia, restored without retiling. We repaired broken and missing grout, honed and sealed the walls and floor, and replaced every caulk joint in the stall. The bathroom floor was honed and polished in the same project. Spring 2026.
| Where | Private home, Vienna, VA |
|---|---|
| Surfaces | Travertine shower walls and floor; bathroom floor |
| What needed attention | Broken and missing grout, a dull and stained shower floor, tired caulk |
| What we did | Repair grout; clean, hone and seal walls and floor; replace all caulk; clean, hone, polish and seal the bathroom floor |
What we did, and why
- Grout repaired wherever it was broken or missing, in a color matched to the stone.
- Walls and floor cleaned, honed and sealed. Honing removes the worn, stained top of the stone; sealing slows down the next round of soap and water marks.
- All caulk removed and replaced at the floor pan, perimeter, corners and both sides of the curb, using silicone in the same color family as the grout.
- Bathroom floor cleaned, honed, polished and sealed; the kitchen sink recaulked while we were there.
What a similar shower can learn
A travertine shower that looks finished often is not. When the stone is sound, grout repair, honing, sealing and fresh caulk can bring it back for a fraction of the disruption of retiling.
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 shower restoration · Tile, grout and caulking · Stone restoration in Vienna
Questions
Can a travertine shower be restored without retiling?
Usually, when the stone is sound. This Vienna shower had its grout repaired, its walls and floor honed and sealed, and all its caulk replaced.
Where should a shower have caulk instead of grout?
At the floor pan, the perimeter, the corners and the curb, where surfaces meet and move slightly.
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