Modern Farmhouse Shiplap Bathroom Update – Sealant Needed!

With every home improvement project I take on, a new lesson is born. Back in a prior post, I discussed remodeling our powder room from a traditional to a modern farmhouse style using shiplap (HERE).

During the remodel, we installed a travertine countertop on our new white cabinet. At the time, I was under the impression the countertop had been sealed. Low and behold…it HAD NOT been sealed. How did we discover this, by the  ring marks left behind by water stains .

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The ring marks were permanent and wouldn’t come out. Travertine is a natural stone and very porous, and can stain easily if left untreated. The company that we purchased the cabinet and countertop from were wonderful and sent us a new stone countertop.

The new top was lighter and more of a silvery color, the original countertop was more pink.  I also changed the edging when I ordered the new top and chose a jagged edge over a straight edge. I liked the new countertop much better than the old one, so it was well worth the cost to replace.

So this time….I wasn’t going to risk it, I wanted to make sure the travertine was sealed… by sealing it myself. I took the recommendation from the cabinet company for the best sealing product on the market (HERE).

The sealant was very simple to apply. Using a small roller, I applied 2 coats to the top and edge of the stone. Make sure to keep the sealant wet when applying, don’t allow it to dry on your stone. After 15 minutes, dry with a clean cloth. It’s that easy!

The sealant worked great, no water stains to date, even with kids testing it out! 

We had to drill a new hole to install the pop up knob for the drain on the side of the countertop.

I love the jagged edge, gives the room a more rustic feel.

Another lesson learned…seal your stone! Any home improvement lessons you would like to share? I’d love to hear from you.