Does travertine pool coping need to be sealed? Can it be dyed?

Q. Does travertine pool coping need to be sealed? Can it be dyed? We are not really loving our new travertine pool coping. We love the material but not the color. The stone has a honed finish. We were thinking about putting some kind of dye into stone sealer to make the travertine darker. Currently it is beige, but we want a richer color.

A. Some types of travertine are dense and will not take sealers or color enhancers well. Even if your travertine does absorb a sealer, color enhancers tend to be very short lived in an outdoor environment. We recommend that you do not seal or color the stone. If you decide to go ahead and take your chances, we highly recommend you contact your stone PRO to select the most appropriate product, apply it properly, and test in an inconspicuous area first so that you know exactly what to expect. If you do not have a stone and tile restoration contractor, contact us. You may need to have the coping replaced to get the look you want.