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| + Q1: |
What type of Marble tiles will you recommend for high traffic area. We want something that looks great but is not slippery. We are tiling the main living area, formal living room and dining room. |
| Ans: |
I would recommend using Travertine in your high traffic areas. If you are concerned with the tile being slippery, I would recommend using a tumbled travertine or a brushed chiseled edge travertine. The tumbled tiles are normally only 12"x12" or smaller but the brushed chiseled edge tiles come in larger sizes.
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| + Q2: |
We installed travertine tile in our bathroom shower. The edges of the tile are straight and unfinished. What is the best way to smooth the edges and get a more finished look? |
| Ans: |
There are several ways to get a finished look to the travertine tile on the shower walls.
The first option is the purchase a bull nose or pencil molding piece to attach to the edge of the tile. This will give the tile a rounded edge.
The second option would be to take a piece of rough sandpaper and round the edge, once you have the edge rounded take a smoother piece of sand paper and sand the edge to a smooth finish. This will give you a rounded finished edge.
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| + Q3: |
I would like to use 1/2" Travertine 12X12 tiles to face the outside of my home, going over new 3/4" plywood. I live in Philadelphia Pa and am concerned with the below freezing temps in the winter. I used 1/2 travertine on the walls in my kitchen, applied with a mastic, looks so good I want to keep going. |
| Ans: |
You can use travertine 12x12 tiles on the face of the house but I would recommend you put a backer board over the plywood to help the travertine stick better. If the plywood buckles over time the travertine will crack off. |
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| + Q4: |
Considering a travertine stone with chipped edges for great room floor (tile has holes that will be filled with grout). Can we use the same tile on outside deck? Is there a potential problem of cracking during freezing weather if water gets into holes? |
| Ans: |
You can use the brushed chiseled edge tile outside. If you are concerned about the tile cracking when water gets in the holes, you can grout the holes. |
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| + Q5: |
Are travertine pavers strong enough to be used as driveway pavers? If so, can they be layed over the top of an existing cracked driveway or should the existing driveway be pulled up? |
| Ans: |
The travertine pavers are strong enough for the driveway but there are some things to consider. You can install the pavers over the existing concrete with a thin set or using sand. This will raise the driveway up about 2". If you decide to thin set the pavers over the existing concrete you can use a larger paver, like a 12"x12" or a French Pattern. If you install them over the concrete with sand, I would only use a 6"x12" or smaller paver.
The other option would be to rip out the old concrete driveway and lay a 6"x12" paver over crushed concrete bed. This would ensure that the driveway would not be raised up and cause any problems with meeting up with the sidewalk or garage. |
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| + Q6: |
A. If i want to lay travertine and want heated floors will they conduct the heat if I lay them over a radiant floor heating system? http://www.thermosoft.com/thermotile2?gclid=CLm8-bbFz58CFQ7yDAodbVnCxw
B. Can i lay the travertine directly over ceramic tile with a mortar set.. I am remodeling a sunroom that has smooth 1/4 inc thich uniform ceramic tile. I was wondering if i can just lay the travertine right over the top. Or should Iay a green/board/backerboard down first...or should i just dig out the old tile down to the slab?
Thanks |
| Ans: |
A. Yes they will conduct the heat if installed over a radiant floor.
B. Yes you can lay the travertine over a ceramic tile with a mortar set. You should use a really good multi-purpose thin set. This is not the recommended way to install the floor but it can be done. You have the possibility of the ceramic tile cracking and then cracking your travertine tile. Most installers would not warranty this type of work. The best thing to do is to rip out the ceramic and install the travertine on top of the clean concrete floor.
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| + Q7: |
We live in Alberta, Canada. We are looking for something to put on our outdoor covered deck. Would you recommend these tiles, or what tiles would you recommend? It would be covered. But we do get temperatures from -49 in the winter to 114 in the summer! |
| Ans: |
WOW, those are some extreme temperatures! The travertine tiles will need to be installed with a thin set mortar which might crack and cause the tile to crack. I would recommend using a travertine paver installed over a bed of sand. The pavers are 1 1/4" thick so make sure you won't have an issue with doors that need to be cut. |
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| + Q8: |
I am considering installing travertine, french pattern, in our upstairs bath room, and continuing that around the shower.
1) Will the travertine work well on shower walls?
2) The floor is wood flooring boards, laid diagonal. Should I put something between the wood floor and the travertine? At 1/2 in tile thickness, I am concerned about the height difference with the adjoining floor.
Thanks very much for your suggestions. |
| Ans: |
Excellent choice to use the french pattern, it is a beautiful stone.
1) The travertine will work on the walls or the floor. I would recommend using a 1/4" backer board under the tile.
2) Install a backer board on top of the wood floor to prevent cracking and it will allow the travertine to stick better than wood will. You will need to use a transition strip between the adjoining floors. I used a piece travertine bull nose, 1/2" wide and 1" high. There are other products that you can purchase from Home Depot that will provide a transition. |
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| + Q9: |
How do I buy tile from you? All I can get into my shopping cart are samples. |
| Ans: |
You will need to call in your orders for tile since the shipping charges will need to be calculated by one our staff members. |
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| + Q10: |
I'm considering putting travertine tile on the great room floor at my beach house. The house is on pilings and we get strong winds that sometimes shake the house, because we are right on the coast. The floors would have 3/4" OSB and 1/2" tile backer under the tile. Would you recommend using travertine tiles, and if so, what size tile would you use?. |
| Ans: |
I would recommend an 18"x18" tile or the french pattern for your floor. When you install the tile make sure you use a good thin set such as Kerabond/Keralastic. It is a high-performance, two-part system: Keralastic ™, a second-generation “flexible” acrylic latex additive, is used to enhance the performance of Kerabond ™, which is a premium-grade dry-set mortar. This system has exceptional bond strength, flexural strength, elongation and freeze/thaw durability. To ensure proper flexibility, always use a latex additive when applying a dry-set mortar over plywood or to set nonvitreous tiles. |
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| + Q11: |
Can I buy Travertine in 8' lengths by 4'' to use as base on top of Travertine tiles ?
Thanks, Tony |
| Ans: |
That would be a custom order that would take about 8 weeks and would cost a lot. I would recommend you cut down the scraps that you have from your floor and use that as the baseboards. You can sand the top edge of the travertine to give it a 1/4" round edge. |
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| + Q12: |
Can you lay travertine without any grout lines? So that it looks like one solid surface? |
| Ans: |
You can lay travertine without any grout lines as long as you purchase good quality material that is perfectly cut. If the sub floor is new, I wouldn't recommend laying them without a grout joint since there might be some settling and push the tiles together and pop them up. |
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| + Q13: |
We want to install a shower with travertine on the floor and walls. Should we be using the premium grade? Does the premium grade have less holes (more stone)? Do I have to worry about mildew getting in the holes between cleaning? |
| Ans: |
I would recommend a first quality material for the shower since it will have less holes than a standard or commercial quality material. If you seal the tile several times with the Stone Tech Heavy Duty Sealer this should prevent any mildew from growing on the tile or grout. |
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| + Q14: |
I'm going to use your 2x4 Classic Mosiac for my kitchen backsplash. Can you tell me what the best process for sealing the tile? Should you seal the tile before you install? Then just seal the grout after installtion? Or should I seal it both before and after installtion? Also which of your sealants would be best for a kitchen? I see you have a Stone Tech Sealer and a Heavy Stone Sealer.
Thank you. |
| Ans: |
Excellent choice of tile for your backsplash. I would recommend installing the tile prior to sealing it. Once you have the tile installed, you can seal the tile, wait 24 hours and then grout. This will help prevent the grout from sticking to the tile when you wipe it off. Once you wipe and clean the grout, you can apply a second coat of the Stone Tech Sealer. There are several ways to seal the tile. You can apply it with a roller, brush or spray it on. |
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| + Q15: |
Can travertine be used as counter tops in a kitchen? if so, what is the appropriate grade and finish? |
| Ans: |
We would not recommend using travertine on a kitchen counter top since it is very porous. Even if you seal the tile there is still a chance of food and bacteria getting into the tile. If you insist on using it, you should use something honed and filled and a very high quality with little filler. |
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| + Q16: |
Considering travertine flooring in the bath and kitchen but unlike porcelain or ceramic, its pores and needs to be sealed. How often does it needs to be sealed? Can I just clean it and seal it or does the old stuff need to come off? Is there a color change from the sealer? Finally, can I seal the grout with the same sealer?
thanks
nick
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| Ans: |
I would recommend a honed and filled travertine if you are concerned with the porosity of the tile. The travertine should be sealed every 3 - 5 years depending on how you maintain it. If you use harsh chemicals to clean the floor, the sealer will be stripped off sooner than 3 three years. You do not have to remove any old sealer, you just need to ensure that the floor is clean and clear of any marks prior to applying the sealer. The sealer shouldn't change the color of the stone, if you want the color to change use an enhancer sealer. Yes you can seal the tile and grout at the same time. |
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| + Q17: |
How do you cut travertine pencil molding for inside and outside corners? |
| Ans: |
You can use a diamond blade to cut the angles. |
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| + Q18: |
We are considering having travertine on the counter, floor and walls in the bathroom. What should I use to clean it on a regular basis? And what kind of sealer should we use?
Thank you for helping us.
Angela |
| Ans: |
Once you install the travertine, you should seal it with Stone Pro Sealer or Enhancer Sealer. Daily or weekly cleaning should be done with a mild detergent or the Stone Tech Tile and Stone Cleaner. You can use bleach to disinfect the shower and counter top but this will break down the sealer and you will need to apply the sealer sooner than the recommended time frame on the bottle. |
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| + Q19: |
We are considering travertine pavers for our patio. What are the benefits of using travertine over the traditional concrete paver? Also, how thick does the travertine paver need to be to avoid cracking? Thanks in advance for your help! |
| Ans: |
Travertine pavers are an excellent choice for pools and patios. There are several benefits of using travertine over concrete. The travertine pavers are a natural stone so there is variation in the color which provides a more natural beauty to the stone. The travertine pavers do not get hot in the sun so you can stand out there in the middle of summer without burning your feet. The travertine pavers are a lot denser than concrete so they only need to be 1 1/4" for pools and patios. If you are installing on a driveway, I would recommend a 2" paver or use a smaller size paver (6"x12") in the 1 1/4". |
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| + Q20: |
I am considering using travertine french pattern to go around my ingroung pool. i ripped up the wood decking around it what would you recommend I put down as a base and how deep of a base and how deep do you make the sand you lay it on? Also what is recommended to do at the coping of the pool |
| Ans: |
The travertine pavers are installed the same way a concrete paver is installed. I would check with your local installers to see what they recommend. Most people install the pavers over 4" - 6" of crushed concrete. It will depend on what type of furniture you will be placing on top.
There are several options for the coping, you can use a straight coping (1 1/4") with a bullnose or use a remodeled coping that extends down into the pool. |
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| + Q21: |
what do you recommend for travertine pavers over CDX (cool/ epoxy deck? |
| Ans: |
You can either sand set the travertine over the cool deck or use a multi-purpose thin set. |
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| + Q22: |
we are remodeling our master bath, i am having trouble getting the travertine from a local, how long would it take to get 150 sq ft . and do you have it in a 3x6 smooth edge size? What else is needed with installing - will it just be a sealer? THanks |
| Ans: |
It depends where you are located, but we ship to most places in the US within a few days. We do not have the 3x6 in a smooth edge, but we do have it in the 3x6 tumbled edge.
You will only need a sealer once you install the tile. |
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| + Q23: |
I am interested in your Ivory French trav. and or your 18x18 Walnut Travertine. I am building a new house and wondered if I could use a Flex-Bond type of adhesive under this directly applied to the plywood sub-floor? I have other areas of new wood floor abutting which is the same 1/2" thickness of the tile and don't want an elevation difference or toe stubber. Can this be done without the breaking of tile or popping of grout in traffic areas?
Thanks |
| Ans: |
This can be done but is not recommended, you should install a backboard. If you decide to do it anyway, you might have problems with grout popping out or tiles cracking. I installed tile in my bathroom this way four years ago and haven't had any problems. |
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| + Q24: |
I am replacing a polypebble pool deck. The polypebble rests on solid concrete. I wish to avoid replacing the coping tiles. The thickness of the polypebble near the coping tiles is 1/2" The deck slopes away from the pool edge to the point that a couple of feet away from the coping, there is over a 1-1/4 inch dip below the surface of the coping. I was thinking I could use 1/2 inch travertine tiles with thinset for the first couple of feet from the coping edge and have these meet with travertine pavers (leveled with sand over the polypebble) at the point where there is sufficent clearance to accommodate pavers. Thus there would be thinset under the tiles built up to about an inch at the point where the pavers set on sand and polypebble begin. Is this a workable approach? Looking over your offering of tiles and pavers, I find it difficult to match tile/paver color styles. |
| Ans: |
This is a workable solution. You can use a 12"x12"x1/2" tumbled tile around the edge near the coping and use a 12"x12"x1 1/4" paver to meet up with that tile. We have a light beige(classic), rustic gold, and a noche(brown) color. |
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| + Q25: |
We have an existing concrete pool deck that is cracking and there has been settling beneath. Is it best to remove concrete decking and then install new travertine or are we able to put travertine right over existing concrete deck? |
| Ans: |
There are several ways to go about installing the travertine pavers.
1 - Remove all of the concrete, install crushed concrete base, a layer of sand and install the pavers. This could be costly to remove all of the concrete.
2 - Lay sand over the existing concrete and install the pavers over the sand. This will probably be the cheapest route. This will help with settling of the concrete since the sand will absorb the cracks. The pavers will be easy to remove If you need to rip out a paver for repairs.
3 - Use a thin set mortar to set the pavers down over the concrete. This is a more permanent solution so it will be harder to make repairs if needed. If the concrete settles and cracks occur, you have a chance that the pavers may crack as well. |
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| + Q26: |
I saw a travertine at a kitchen store that was 3 or 4 shapes (4x4 4x6 2x2 in a pattern on a 12" sheet. You have this? |
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| + Q27: |
We are building a new bathroom. We are thinking about using 12x12 travertine tiles for the shower walls, 18x18 travertine tiles for the bathroom floor and a textured 1x2 split face (Daltile TS 09) for the area in front of the bathtub.
1. What backer board do you recommend?
2. What is the smallest grout size that I can use?
3. What should I use to make the transition from the travertine to the split face?
4. What sealer do you recommend for honed and filled travertine? What are the steps? Can the Stone Tech Heavy Duty Sealer be used to seal the grout as well?
Thanks! |
| Ans: |
1. You should use a Hardie Board for your backer.
2. I would use a 1/6" grout joint if you are a good tile layer.
3. To make the transition to the split face, you can use a pencil liner, or ogee listello.
4. I would recommend the Stone Tech Heavy Duty Sealer for your tiles. You can roll it, or spray it on the tile. This will seal the grout as well. You can apply one coat prior to grouting to minimize the grout sticking to the tile.
Good Luck! |
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| + Q28: |
I have thick travertine pavers (Ashler Pattern) around my pool deck. I removed the baby security fence and would like to fill the approximate 1 inch wholes from the removed fence poles. How can i do this and not make it look like a patch... ? Do you sell the hard resin material I read about in your FAQ's on your website. The color i have would be considered maybe walnut very natural color. I have purchased tiles in the hopes of just replacing the various tiles with the holes but color is an issue when they get wet. i live in Boca Raton FL.
Please call me or send me your suggestions. I want to do it right. |
| Ans: |
You can replace the pavers with the same ones and use an enhancer to match the color. You can also purchase some sanded grout from Home Depot that matches the color of the paver. Fill the holes in with the sanded grout and that should work just fine. |
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| + Q29: |
We have a cool deck surface around our free form pool. The decking has cracked and we want to cover with travertine. What is the best way to approach a coping edge that is free form shape and what is the best way to install? What would be the largest size square recommended and how thick should it be? We do not want to have mold in the grout area. We are in Florida. |
| Ans: |
We have a remodeled pool coping with a 3" overhang that works perfectly for existing pool decks. Simply cut the edge off the existing pool coping if there is one. Take the new remodeled coping and use a thin set mortar to secure the coping to the edge of the pool. This will be 4" wide x 9" deep and will cover the edge that was cut off. If you do not need to cut the edge of the existing coping or you will be replacing the pool liner tile, then you can use a regular pool coping. Some people have painted the existing coping the same color as the new travertine coping and install the coping right over it, creating a look of two bull nose edges. |
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| + Q30: |
We would like to use travertine pavers to cover our existing acrylic pool deck. We currently have a brick coping that is even with the pool deck surrounding the perimeter of the pool. Would we have to remove the brick coping or is there a travertine coping that would cover it? |
| Ans: |
This is a common problem with a lot of our customers. There are several solutions.
1. Cut the existing coping back so that it is flush with the inside of the pool. This will leave you with an exposed brick edge which will not look good. You would then install our remodeled pool coping which will hang down almost 3" into the pool. This option works if you are not going to replace the inside tile if there is any. Here is a link to it http://www.wholesaletravertine.com/6_x12__Classic_Remodel_Coping_Tumbled-details.aspx.
2. The second option works if you are replacing the tile inside the pool with new tile. You would cut back the existing coping so it is flush with the inside of the pool. Then you would install a regular travertine coping with a 1 1/4" bull nose edge and then replace the inside tile with new tile up to the bottom of the new coping. |
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| + Q31: |
what sizes are the tiles in the autumn blended french pattern.. I have a small area 9 x 10 and wonder if this would work and what kind of edge I need |
| Ans: |
The pattern would work in that area, here are the sizes.
8x8, 8x16, 16x16, 16x24
Each set makes up 16 square feet. |
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| + Q32: |
I have a 2000 sqft patio that I am considering instaling travertine paver. The patio is newly built concrete slab with proper drainage. the question is what's the best way to install the travertine to prevent cracking? Morter set or dry set? |
| Ans: |
The best way to install it so you prevent cracking would be dry set. This way if the concrete slab cracks the pavers will not be affected by it. |
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| + Q33: |
Can you install the travertine pavers of brick using thinset? We are intereste din putting pavers on the existing brick outdoor front entry. |
| Ans: |
Yes you can install the travertine pavers using a thin set mortar mix over the existing brick pavers. |
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| + Q34: |
I have a 22x20 foot raised patio that is lightly stamped and colored concrete. The color is peeling off and my contractor is willing to apply pavers over it. My hosue is direct applied stucco and there is a 1 inch space from the bottom edge of the stucco and the surface of the deck/patio which increases to 1 3/4 inches as it goes away from the house. Do you have a 1/2 inch thick paver or tile that is suitable for outside? The plan is to grind the surface smooth then add the pavers. Would they need to add a thin layer of cement to lay the pavers? Would 1/2 paver/tile be stong enough? |
| Ans: |
We do sell 1/2" tile that is suitable for outdoors. You can use any of our tiles that say "Patina" or you can use any of the French Pattern tiles, they are ll brushed with a chiseled edge. This will give you enough grip and will not be slippery.
You can lay them with a thin set mortar and it should be strong enough. |
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| + Q35: |
I couldn't find the right color pencil for our backsplash. The pencil is travertine. Is there a way to paint the pencil to match? |
| Ans: |
I guess you could paint it, but that might look a little un-natural. You might as well get a ceramic pencil to match if you are going to paint travertine. Natural stone doesn't always have to match, you can use complimentary colors and they will look good. |
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| + Q36: |
I am considering the installation of travertine on a second floor deck, half of which is covered. The stone will be placed on a plywood decking that has been waterproofed. Please give me the pro's and con's of using 1 1/4" travertine in this application and what type of setting should be employed. Thanks. |
| Ans: |
I would recommend installing the pavers with a multi-purpose thinset.
Pros: Travertine pavers will not get hot if they are in direct sunlight. Travertine pavers will not be slippery if it rains or the deck is wet.
Cons: The weight of the pavers may be too heavy for the deck.
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| + Q37: |
We are considering installing the french pattern travertine in all of the living areas and kitchen of our home (approx. 2000 sq ft). If we have tile currently and have it removed, can you tell me what a good estimate of the cost of installation would be (including removal and disposal of current floor)? Thanks in advance. |
| Ans: |
Depending on what part of the country you live in will determine what the rates will be, but in Tampa Florida the rates vary from $3.00 - $5.00 per sq ft to install travertine french pattern. The rip out will cost about $1.00 - $2.00 per sq ft. |
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| + Q38: |
What would you recommend for a Master Bedroom (ceramic, travertine, procelain, or granite?)
Thank you! |
| Ans: |
Well since we sell travertine and marble, those are the two I would recommend. Ceramic and porcelain are man made and will feel very cold in a master bedroom. Travertine is a much warmer stone will feel much better on your feet than a man made product. |
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| + Q39: |
Is Tompsons water sealer an ok product to use as a sealer, I want the natural look but sealed. |
| Ans: |
I have tried Thompsons water seal once and I didn't like the look but we do have other installers who love it. I would try it on a small area to make sure it gives you the look you want before doing the whole floor. We recommend using Stone Tech to seal your travertine floors. You can use a sealer and buff it to get a polished wet look, or use the high gloss sealer. |
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| + Q40: |
When installing french pattern travertine on a concrete slab for a bathroom floor, should there be a grout line? If so, how wide and how do you keep a consistent grout line when tiles are different sizes laid randomly? |
| Ans: |
The french pattern is designed to be set with minimal grout joints. You can use a 1/16" joint if think there might be a lot of expansion or contraction with the floor. When you grout the french pattern you can use a sanded grout to give it a more natural look. If you want a thicker grout joint, just install the tile tight to each other but leave the grout on a few mintues longer, this will give the look of a thick grout joint. If you want a thin grout joint, make the grout a little watery and wipe it out sooner. |
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| + Q41: |
I have just installed 18x18 Travertine in my 2nd floor bathroom and someone stated that it may be too heavy? Now I am concerned. Should I have the floor reinforced? |
| Ans: |
I would not worry about the tile being too heavy. Im sure the house was built to withstand a few hundred pounds per square foot of weight. The travertine will only add a few pounds per square foot. Each tile is about 5 pounds per foot plus a few pounds for thin set mortar. Enjoy your floor! |
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| + Q42: |
I have UGLY tile. I want travertine. Can I lay the travertine OVER my tile? |
| Ans: |
Sorry to hear about your UGLY tile. You can lay the travertine over your ugly tile, but it is not recommended, since the ugly tile could come loose over time and cause problems for your pretty travertine. I would recommend ripping out the ugly tile and getting the floor level and flat, then install the travertine tile. Ths will create a more solid foundation and you will not have to worry that the tile may become unstable in the future. The other reason to rip out the old tile, is when you install the travertine over the old tile you will be raising the floor up by almost an inch. This might cause problems with appliances and door openings. |
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| + Q43: |
I found an Ivory Honed Filled Tavertine for the floor and walls of my master bath that I liked alot with an accompanying 1 x 1 mosaic tile and pencil edge that I would like to use as an accent on my tub surround and through the shower (all from the same retail vendor on sample display card). Problem is the cost of the Tavertine tile floor and wall tile seems to be above market. Would it be risky to buy the 12 x 12 wall and floor ivory tavertine tiles from you and purchase the 1 x 1 mosaic tiles from the other vendor (also ivory)? Do I risk a real noticeable mis-match? They will be along side one another. Or, am I safe to purchase from multiple vendors as long as I stay within "ivory" tavertine. Also, is the 3/8" width standard for 12 x 12 tiles? Thanks much. |
| Ans: |
It is hard to tell what each vendor considers ivory, but if you receive samples from each of the vendors and they match up pretty close then you should be safe with color. Just remember that it is natural stone and each batch will vary slightly so don't worry so much about the color matching perfectly since it will all look amazing once you install it. |
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| + Q44: |
Would you recommend using travertine on the floor (14 inch wide area) all around a bar plus on the floor in the restrooms on a commercial dining cruise yacht? Mopping with cleaners would occur within 24 hours of an even. |
| Ans: |
Yes, that would look amazing on a cruise yacht. We sell travertine and marble to commercial restaurants and night clubs all the time. I would recommend using a good heavy duty sealer like Stone Tech Bullet Proof to protect the stone. I think our Cappucino marble or Latte for the Yacht. Let me know if you need samples.
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| + Q45: |
We have ripped out an old wooden deck that was around our pool and are extending the deck out further over an apartment. We are casting the new deck in concrete and are looking to tile over the concrete. We like the idea of the tumbled travertine tiles, but you don;t seem to have them in the French pattern - is that an option? |
| Ans: |
Sounds like a great project Joanna. We have the classic (ivory) and walnut tumbled french pattern tile in stock. |
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| + Q46: |
Interested in laying travertine, French pattern, on a slightly sloped side yard (little sun), 80-100 sq.ft., and planting Irish Moss in the joints. Area gets minimal foot traffic, but owners are 225/160 lbs. Southeast Texas, plenty of rain, lots of heat, need some help, how thick should we go? |
| Ans: |
I would recommend the 1 1/4" thick travertine pavers for this application. Use a 6 - 8 crushed limestone base and this will be plenty of support for any weight. |
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| + Q47: |
Thinking of buying travertine to put over a concrete patio. Is this good for outdoors? Also, have travertine in my kitchen less than a year. I think when it was laid they must have put grout in the holes and imperfections to make it solid and smooth. Now all the holes and huge gouges are showing as in natural travertine when it was out of the carton. Did the grout they used come out and should it be regrouted on top? grout lines are okay Thank you. |
| Ans: |
Travertine is excellent for outdoors. You can use the 1/2" tile or french pattern over concrete or you can use the 1 1/4" pavers.
I'm not sure what is happening with the holes in your tile but you can re-grout the floor to fill in the holes. |
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| + Q48: |
1) are your travertine tiles are of premium quality
2) for french pattern travertine, is sealing necessary
thanks |
| Ans: |
1) We carry many different travertine tile and pavers and 90% of them are premium quality. If you see a travertine that is prices below $2.00, most likely it is a lower quality stone.
2) It is not necessary to seal the travertine but it will prevent any damage if something is spilled on it. |
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| + Q49: |
I WAS TOLD MOLD AND MILDEW WOULD NOT GROW ON TRAVERTINE IS THIS TRUE? |
| Ans: |
Most mold that I have seen on travertine grows in the sand between or in some of the holes, but never on top. If you apply the Stone Tech sealer this will prevent most of the mold from growing. |
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| + Q50: |
I want travertine for our pool. I'm looking for an Italian look. What kind of tile would be best-suited for a pool? And how do you seal it.
I had one pool person say that travertine doesn't do well with pool chemicals. Is that true? |
| Ans: |
I'm not sure what the Italian look is so it is hard to recommend a tile, but most people use either a 6x12, 12x12, 16x16 or a french pattern for their pools.
You can seal the stone with Stone Tech Sealer by applying it with a roller or spraying it on.
Travertine does fine with pool chemicals, we have travertine installed in thousands of homes across the US and no one has ever complained about chemicals damaging their pavers. Ask him if he has seen this first hand and can show you the pool. |
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| + Q51: |
Your FAQ section indicates there are three different grades of travertine; however, I can't tell what grade your travertine pavers are. |
| Ans: |
All of our travertine pavers are first quality except for the Roman Blend. |
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| + Q52: |
We are having a pool & patio built. The builder has installed beautiful travertine, and has now acid-washed it to make it "non-slip." Is acid-washing a common practice, and will the tile eventually stop its transformation process - at this point it looks very powdery. |
| Ans: |
Acid-washing is common to make it less slippery. This will not harm the stone and it will stay beautiful for many years to come. If you want the stone to look more vibrant, try to apply an enhancer or sealer to remove some of the powdery look. |
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| + Q53: |
I am installing a 20' x 20' raised paver system on a concrete roof. Pedestals are setup in a grid and each corner of the paver sits on a pedestal which carries the load. There is an empty space between the paver and roof where they do not rest on the pedestal. Are travertine pavers appropriate for elevated foot traffic? Or are they not strong enough to handle the weight. Thanks for your help. |
| Ans: |
Travertine pavers can have a psi rating up to 7,000. This will depend on the color and quality of the paver. Some travertine has natural veining which could weaken the paver and causing it to break. If you are going to do this, I would recommend using the smallest paver you can get away with such as a 6x12 or 12x12. |
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| + Q54: |
Living in Phoenix I have heard differing views on the coolness of travertine (outside patio). Some have stated that it is much warmer than acrylic, while others say it is cooler. Still others have stated travertine is similar to acrylic heat-wise, but only if you remove the concrete decking - e.g. the concrete decking will not let the travertine breath and will hold the heat. What is the verdict? |
| Ans: |
We have hundreds of pools installed over concrete decking in Florida and I have never heard anyone say that the pavers get hot. |
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| + Q55: |
We have chosen tumbled French pattern travertine to be dry laid for a pool deck. We were going to use 2" thick bullnose coping, cutting 12 x 24 straights into smaller pieces to fit freeform pool (cheaper than doing radius cut). But I just found out the coping is honed, not tumbled. Will this be too slippery? (That's my biggest concern.) An alternative is to use 1 1/4 inch thick tumbled straights cut to fit, but I think the thinner coping looks skimpy. The pool is approximately 39 feet long by 20 ft. at its widest. |
| Ans: |
Cutting the 12x24 into pieces will be cheaper than radius custom cuts. The honed will be more slippery than the tumbled but you can put something like an acid on it to rough it up a little. |
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| + Q56: |
I am considering installing a french pattern travertine with the chisled edge in my kitchen. The litchen is over a basement, the subfloor and joists reinforced to L750.
My question is, the tiles apear to be saw cut fromt eh bottom half up then a chisled edge up top.
Does this mean that I wouldn't space the tiles apart like traditional tiles?
Does this mean that the grout line only fills in the chisled edge?
Does that make the grout joint weak since it will not go all the way through?
or do I space the tiles? |
| Ans: |
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| + Q57: |
Hello,
I am building an outdoor kitchen and considering to use travertine tiles as the countertop material. Would you recommend this application in freezing temperature area such as Ohio? Can you dry-lay the travetine tiles on top a backer board which is on top of a treated plywood? What would you recommend for installing travertine tiles for outdoor kicthen countertop for Ohio cold winter weather? I heard that the motar may crack. |
| Ans: |
If you install the travertine tiles with a mortar that has a flexible agent built in, this may prevent the tiles from cracking. |
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| + Q58: |
I wondering what my best option is? I am redoing a 100 yr old shell property with a brick facde. Do you think travertine tile would work well over top of the brick facade? I would go with pavers but I think they are too heavy. What do you think? I was looking for rectangular tile almost block like.
Thank you |
| Ans: |
You can install a 1/2" travertine tile or a nice splitface travertine tile. Those would look great on the face of the property. You can install the pavers since they will be stacked on top of each other, the weight will not be an issue. |
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| + Q59: |
if i use 12x24 travertine coping around our new pool, which is bullnosed on one edge, how would the coping be laid on the hot tub? Where does the bullnose edge go, and does both ends have to be bullnosed since both sides are completely out of water? And do you offer bullnosing both ends? |
| Ans: |
If the hot tub is square or rectangular then you can use the larger 12x24 coping but you will have an issue with one edge being straight. We can have the other side bull nosed for you or you can ask you installer to bull nose it for you. The travertine is soft and can be sanded down to get a bull nose edge fairly easily. The other option is to use a smaller coping like a 4x8 around the hot tub. You would install them back to back, but this would create more grout lines and have a different look than the pool. |
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| + Q60: |
We want to use travertine to finish a 2nd story exposed deck. The deck is built with mason columns, framed in treated wood and wrapped in stucco. How do we keep the tiles from freezing and popping up in the winter. We live in NC and although we don't have extremely cold temperatures, but it does reach zero from time to time - but very rarely. |
| Ans: |
If you install the tiles with a flexible thin set, grout the tile and seal it well this should prevent the water from getting under the tile and freezing. You may want to install a flexible underlayment to help with and cracks that might show up on the stucco. |
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| + Q61: |
Do I have to use a special stone cleaner b-4 I seal my travertine? |
| Ans: |
We sell the Dupont Stone and Tile Cleaner. This is an excellent stone cleaner that can be used for normal cleaning to prevent the sealer from breaking down. |
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| + Q62: |
We are remodeling our bathroom and I would love the look of the tumbled travertine, for both the shower area and the floor. Would I have a problem with mold? Can they be sealed and waterproofed? WOuld that change the look? |
| Ans: |
Most people use the tumbled travertine tiles for their shower floors and do not have problems with mold. You can seal them with a sealer that will prevent mold and will not change the look of the tile. If you have a water softner it should help with any mold and using an exhaust fan in the bathroom will help as well. |
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| + Q63: |
I have a 500 sq feet concrete patio, and is interested in putting down some tiles, not sure the best and most inexpensive route to go at this time, interested in possibly travertine tiles, since it is such a huge area to cover i am considering large tiles. What would you suggest? |
| Ans: |
If the patio is covered you can install a larger 18x18 or 24x24 honed and filled travertine tile. This size and textured tile will get slippery when wet. Most people who have an outdoor patio use a brushed chiseled edge or tumbled tile. You can use a french pattern that is made up of four different size tiles. They are usually brushed and chiseled but you can find a few colors in tumbled. |
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| + Q64: |
i WANT TO DO MY POOL DECK BUT I ONLY HAVE 1 INCH FROM MY COUPLIN CAN I INSTALLED 1/2 INCH TRAVERTINE AND FILL WITH SAND THE OTHER HALF AN INCH OVER CONCRETE DECK |
| Ans: |
The 1/2" tile must be installed over concrete or it will crack. You can install the 1 1/4" over crushed concrete or with sand over concrete. |
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| + Q65: |
I had a contractor leave my job (travertine tile)undone; he started by using crush & run gravel; was using oblong tiles in herring bone pattern in a circular design; now I see French pattern travertine tiles I like better. Can the French pattern be set effectively in the circular design and how thick do these tiles have to be for a patio and walkway? I live in Virginia where the weather fluctuates from snow to very high humid temps, is there a preparation to use to keep mold from settling on the tiles that will be sand set? And last, is sand set appropriate for the tiles mentioned? Thanks for your help. |
| Ans: |
The Travertine French Pattern pavers are a perfect choice for your project. You can install them in a circle area without any problems. They can be installed in a sand set or over concrete with a small amount of sand or thinset. As long as you have good drainage and you seal the travertine pavers, you shouldn't have any problems with mold growing. |
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| + Q66: |
We have a second floor exposed sunny deck on which we would like to use travertine (our house is in Northern Florida). We are pretty sure that pavers are too heavy, but travertine tiles should be just right. Two questions:
1. Are travertine tiles real stone?
2. Will they still be fairly cool underfoot even in July/August? |
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1. All of our travertine products are real natural stone quarried from Turkey. 2. The tiles will stay cool in the Florida sun even in July and August.
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| + Q67: |
hi,,i have a travertine polished table that has unpolished rounded moulding on all the edges. i wanted to cut--chisel the rounded moulding to give it a less contemporary look to duplicate a table that has unfinished corners,,, what tools should i use to give my moulding an unfinish look thanks a million |
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You can use a grinding wheel to cut into the edges and then come back with a softer sand paper to smooth out the edges. Or you can just use a very coarse sand paper to rough up the edges, then hit it with a finer sand paper to soften it out. Hope that helps! |
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| + Q68: |
We have tumbled travertine in our bathroom what kind of sealer do we need? |
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We recommend using Dupont Stone Tech Pro sealer. We sell it on and can ship it to you anywhere in the country. |
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| + Q69: |
Planning to replace existing deck with chiseled edge travertine in a Versailles pattern. I would like bull nose around the pool edges.Will the bull nose look OK with the chiseled tile or should I just have a straight edge at the pool edging? |
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The bull nose will look good with the chiseled edge tile or paver. We have several customers who have installed this and it looks great.
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| + Q70: |
I'm tiling a kitchen backsplash using Greecian White 2x2 polished marble in12x12 mesh sheets, do I seal before or after grouting and do I use a penetrating sealer, and do I seal the grout lines? Any help on installing this tile would be appreciated. Thank you |
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If you are using a polished marble on a backsplash you will only need a topical sealer since the polish will prevent the sealer from penetrating into the tile. You can seal it before you grout to prevent the grout from sticking to the tile. This will help when you try to wipe off the grout. You will need to seal the tile again after you grout so the grout has a sealer on it. |
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| + Q71: |
i have 18" travertine tiles that were sealed with, i guess they had a gloss on them, and my son rides his bike on it and i was woundering if i have to do anything before i seal them again? |
| Ans: |
You may have to clean the tile very well before sealing them to ensure there are no tire marks prior to sealing. |
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| + Q72: |
We just installed tumbled travertine pool coping and did not seal it because stone vendor said it was not necessary. But leaves drop on it and cause prominent stains. Should we clean it, then seal it? MiraMatte stone cleaner didn't work. Can we use mild bleach solution to get off worst stains? We tried this on an extra piece of stone, and it seemed OK. Should we use water based or solvent based sealer? |
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The bleach will not harm the stone. You should clean all stained areas, then use a good stone sealer like Stone Tech Exterior Stone Sealer. This product is water based and will be fine for your coping.
We sell this product on our website or you can find a local supplier. |
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| + Q73: |
I would like to put some great looking concrete pavers on the patios in my back yard. we also have a pool back there with kool dec and a 3 1/2" cantilever. This is seperate from the other patios and connects to them via step pads. I would like to cover the kool deck with a travertine tile turned upside down is porous and will help with the heat. I also like the way it looks as it's completely different than the concrete pavers. This is in arizona, hot!!! My question is
1. What do i do with the expansion joints, they are somewhat random. The deck is in really good shape, no cracks.
2. Can I used a 4x4 travertine turned over to match others to cover the cantilever edge? The tile is also a good solution as it doesn't add a lot of height to the deck.
Thank you. |
| Ans: |
1. Answer: You can use a crack isolation membrane to cover any cracks and prevent the tile from cracking later on. 2. Answer: You can use the 4x4 tumbled travertine tiles to cover the cantilever edge.
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| + Q74: |
I would like to change my carpet in the formal living areas. I have wood in the informal living areras. What do you suggest? I am thinking of travertine---how much is installation? If you don't install-do you have someone who can install? |
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I would suggest the 18x18 Honed and Filled travertine tiles or the French Pattern tiles. We do not install the tile but we may be able to recommend someone in your area. Please email me your city and state and approximate square footage. I will try and help you find someone. |
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| + Q75: |
We are about to clean our dry laid travertine pool deck. Planning on spreading a dilute muriatic acid wash over stone (is 20 parts water to 1 part acid good enough, or is 10 to 1 closer to what is needed?), then power washing with an electric machine (not as forceful as gas). Will power washing damage stone? Do we need to refill the joints with sand before sealing stone? Do you just toss the sand over deck, then sweep off excess? Most of original sand just got washed away with recent storms, anyway, so not sure it's worth bothering. |
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Im not sure if you will even need to use the acid unless the deck will not come clean from the pressure washing. You can pressure wash the pavers but I wouldn't use anything higher than a 1500 psi washer and do not use a zero point tip. Once the deck is clean you can seal the pavers or put the sand in and then seal the pavers. Simply pour the sand over the pavers and sweep it into the joints. You should only need sand if the pavers feel like they are loose. |
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| + Q76: |
I am installing travertine tiles in 1500 sq ft area that includes a small powder room. My first choice is to use 24x24 tiles instead of 18x18 because I want that "grander" with less grout look. I was told that the 24X24 might look awkward if you end up with a lot of "cut" pieces like around the edges by the walls etc.... Is this true? Also is it true that the bigger the tile the bigger the area will look? |
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That is correct, the 24x24 tiles will make the rooms look bigger since you will not have all of the grout lines. I don't think it will look awkward unless the rooms are smaller and more cut up. The only downside to using 24x24 vs 18x18 would be the installation cost and you will need to add more mud when installing the 24's which will raise the floor up more. |
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| + Q77: |
I am thinking of laying travertine in my office and laundry room, but I will have to move an 800lb safe to do so. I wanted to see if travertine tile in the versai pattern would be strng enough once layed on the concrete foundation to be able to bear the weight of an 800lb safe on a dollie. |
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The travertine tile should be able to hold the weight of the safe as long as there is enough mortar placed evenly over the entire tile when installing. |
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| + Q78: |
Is there a show room in the Tampa Bay area that I can see samples of the actual tiles? If there is, is there a knowledgeable person also there that can answer installation questions? |
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We have a location in Tampa, Florida at 5113 W Knox St.
Someone there will be able to answer your question. |
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| + Q79: |
Would travertine tiles be water-proof for the floor of a balcony with enclosed area below? If not is there a way to make them so? |
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Travertine is a porous stone so any water will pass through the stone. You can seal it which will prevent some water from passing through but the sealer will fade over time. The best bet would be to use a protective water barrier under the stone to prevent the water from passing through to the room below. |
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| + Q80: |
Our travertine was installed with many uneven edges. The congtracter is having someone sand these down. It is such a dirty arduous process that I told him to concentrate on high traffic area. My first question is, is this sanding dangerous to our health? The next is will this process damage the tile? Would you have ignored these errors in installation? I am beginning to think I should have made him remove the bad tiles. |
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They can sand the floor down with a wet sander and that will cut down on the dust. The dry method will cause a lot of dust and a big mess in the house. It won't be dangerous to your health unless you are in the house during the sanding and breathing in the dust.
The tile shouldn't get damaged but it will be hard to get the entire floor completly smooth and perfect so they may wind up causing more headache for you. Just make sure they have done this before and you can get so references before you let them touch the floor. |
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| + Q81: |
I was consider mosaic decorative travertine for a kitchen backsplash with glass tiles incorporated within. My concern is the sealer since it's in the kitchen or may I use epoxy, as I believe it is used in commercial settings.
Thank you. |
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You can use an epoxy but I don't think it will be necessary. Most people just use a water based sealer for backsplash material. |
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| + Q82: |
We have put down travertine in our bathroom, and then cleaned and sealed, but it looks cloudy, and dull. Something is not right,
what do you suggest? |
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It sounds like you may have grout haze on the travertine. I would recommend you use a heavy duty stone cleaner to strip the sealer off and then clean the stone again with a tile and stone cleaner. Wait until the stone is completly dry, then apply a fresh coat of sealer. |
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| + Q83: |
Iam using travertine tile on my bathroom walls and want to cut and bullnose all of my baseboards and door trim out of travertine. what should I use to attach the travertine trim to the travertine tiles? |
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I think you want to create a bullnose out of the travertine tile. If this is correct, then you can simply use a multipurpose thinset to attach the travertine to the wall or to another piece of travertine. |
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| + Q84: |
Hi,
I want to install travertine tiles on my bathroom wall (around bathtub) and want to know if this will be too heavy. I use almost 1/2" thick 8"x16" tiles which weight 2.3 kg each. I removed the drywall and want to know what kind of drywall to choose to support this weight.
The wall is 60" width by 69" height and has steel frame.
Thank you. |
| Ans: |
The weight of the travertine will not be an issue on the wall since the thin set mortar will stick the tile to the wall and the weight will not be pushing down. As long as you use a cement backer board and fasten it to the wall securely, you will not have any issues. |
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| + Q85: |
Do I have to fill in the wholes in the travertine. I am using in a steam shower.Also is the travertine to be sealed before it is grouted |
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You don't need to fill the wholes in the travertine if they are not already filled. You can seal the travertine prior to grouting and then again after grouting so the grout is sealed as well. If you seal the travertine prior to grouting it will help when you wipe the grout from the tile. |
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| + Q86: |
I have a client that is interested in a travertine farmhouse sink in her laundry room. What thickness of travertine is used in this type of sink? I have been given some conflicting information on this. Appreciate your help! |
| Ans: |
We carry a farmhouse sink that is 2" thick. |
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| + Q87: |
I live in SW Florida., have a front patio area that I am looking to put down exterior tile or travertine over sand approx. 200 sq.ft.
Will the thickness of tile be sufficient to lay on sand and will the sand be a problem of tracking into the house?
Thanks for your prompt reply. |
| Ans: |
To ensure that you do not have a problem with movement or pavers sinking, you should use a crushed concrete base with a thin layer of sand on top of that, then install the pavers.
As long as you install them tight together you will not need sand between them so you will not have a problem with sand coming into the home. |
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| + Q88: |
I am remodeling our patio. It currently has ceramic tiles and the flooring is raised in some areas and uneven. We do not know what is underneath them. We have one estimate to tear up tiles and lay the travertine pavers and one that says they can level the floor and lay travertine pavers over the tiles. Which is better method? I am nervous. |
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If it were my floor, I would rip out the existing tile, level the floor and lay new material down. This will ensure a level floor and you will not have problems with tiles cracking or splitting in the future and causing problems for your floor. |
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| + Q89: |
How would you recommend installing a travertine outside patio in Florida? Would a French Pattern work over a sand base or do you need to use smaller tiles? How well will this material hold up in the rainy, humid environment?
Thanx Bob |
| Ans: |
We are located in Florida and sell to thousands of customers in Florida and other hot humid climates. You can install the french pattern paver (1 1/4" thick) over a crushed concrete base. The material holds up very well in warm climates, it will not fade or get hot from the sun. |
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| + Q90: |
My friend has lots of extra 18 x 18 travertine tiles. He wants me to install them on his bathroom wall. Will it be to heavy for a wall install? I was thinking to cut each piece into 4 pieces (9x9). Will this idea do? What kind of wet saw blade should I use if I do cut it and what kind of sander should I use to smooth out the edges? Thank You |
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The tile will be fine installing them on the walls of the shower. The weight will not be an issue once you put the thin set on the stone and stick it to the wall. I would not cut the stone up because you may have uneven pieces and a lot of grout joints. You can use any wet saw with a diamond blade. |
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| + Q91: |
Can a very mild dish detergent be used to clean my travertine pavers? I have a few spots that got stained from leaves. I gently power washed, but still hae a discoloration. I would like them cleaned before I seal. |
| Ans: |
Yes, you can use a mild dish detergent or even diluted bleach to clean your pavers. |
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| + Q92: |
I just had my outdoor travertine sealed and it now feels very sandy/gritty on my bare feet. Is this normal? Can it be fixed? |
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I have never heard that happening with a sealer. They may have sealed in the sand. You can try to pressure wash them to remove some of the grit. |
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| + Q93: |
Can 1 x 2 split face noce travertine tile be grouted? It would seem to me very hard to grout because of the relief-style tile. To use in kitchen shouldn't it be grouted, 'though?
Can I add a couple pieces of 1 x 2 random (other color) split face travertine (by taking out some pieces of the noce) to bring out some of the colors of the granite? It would seem to me that the individual pieces come out easily. |
| Ans: |
There is really no way to grout the 1x2 split face since they are so tight together. If you have proper backer board installed behind the tile and they are sealed, you should not have any problems with that tile in a kitchen.
You can try to remove a few pieces and replace them with another color but the pieces are random sizes so you will have to search for the exact size piece to fit into the empty spot. |
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| + Q94: |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Enhance and seal glossy on travatine? |
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The advantages of the Enhance and seal is that it will bring out the color and give the tile a glossy finish like a marble tile.
The disadvantage is that it might make the tile a little slippery and you will have to re-apply the sealer once the glossy finish wears off. |
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| + Q95: |
I would like to lay travertine pavers around my kidney shaped pool. The area is currently concrete in pretty good shape with only 2 small cracks. The coping around the pool is currently elevated approx 1.5 inches above the surrounding concrete surface. Can I dry lay the pavers or do I need to use mud or perhaps take another route and use travertine tile? I live in south Florida btw. Thanks so much! |
| Ans: |
You can dry lay the travertine pavers over the concrete with a small amount of sand. |
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| + Q96: |
We just had travertine laid outside over existing concret. The installer laid sand then the travertine on top. The job is complete and some of the travertine is still loose. The installer is telling us this is normal and will settle in after time. Is this correct?
Please help! |
| Ans: |
The pavers should not be loose and will only get worse over time. You can get some sand and sweep it into the loose areas, this should help with any movement. |
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| + Q97: |
We are looking at Leonardo tile for our bath. Should we go with honed and filled or high gloss marble? Do you have to seal the high gloss marble, or is the high gloss on the marble act as a sealant? Will the high gloss be too slippery for a bath? Thanks alot. |
| Ans: |
The high gloss travertine in a shower is not a good idea and it should be sealed. The Leonardo has a lot of veining and will have more filler. The sealer does not take well to the filler so there will be spots in the sealer where the filler was. |
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| + Q98: |
I have 6" travertine tiles to install on a bathroom floor. I want something clear that I can fill the holes in the tiles and I want to use a white epoxy for my grout lines. I would like my tiles to keep their natural appearance. I want to make sure whatever I use is the proper material. |
| Ans: |
You can purchase a clear epoxy from Home Depot and fill in any of the small holes, then use a bag grout to grout in between the tiles. |
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| + Q99: |
We have travertine installed in our kitchen and entry way in a french pattern. The grout lines are very dirty looking. What is the best way to clean them without harming the tiles? I have tried scrubbing and soap or a little ajax but it makes the tiles look dull and really doesn't clean it good. Also I had a professional come out and buff the tiles for a low gloss but it came out irregular with some glossy and some still dull areas. How can I get a uniform gloss? |
| Ans: |
Dupont Stone Tech sells a grout cleaner that you can purchase. This will help with cleaning the grout. As for sealing the tile and getting a uniform gloss, I would use the Dupont Enhancer pro, which is an oil based product. You can roll it on and then wait 10 - 15 minutes and wipe it up with an old towel. This will give the floor a sheen but not a high gloss. There is also a product by Dupont called High Gloss sealer that will seal the tile and give a high gloss look. |
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| + Q100: |
I would like to intstall travertine on top of an outside concrete patio but also extend the travertine beyond the patio to make the whole area 5 ft by 10 ft larger. Can I just thin set the outside perimeter on the concrete and then use a crushed rock/sand base for the new area beyond the concrete? If I do this would I not be able to grout the pavers since part of it is over concrete and part over sand. If there is no grout between pavers installed over concrete is there an issue of water getting under the travertine and not having anywhere to go? |
| Ans: |
You can thin set the outside tile to the concrete and continue on with the outer area on crushed concrete and sand base. Or you can just level the outside edge of sand to match up to the concrete. Then install the pavers next to each other without thin setting the outside edge. You will need to secure the very outside edge that is in the sand with something. Once you have all of the pavers installed, you can grout the are over the concrete and use sand on the outer edge pavers. |
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| + Q101: |
What size notched trowel should use to install travertine tile 11x9 on walls. |
| Ans: |
You normally use the same notch as the thickness of the tile. |
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| + Q102: |
I live just outside of Phila., Pa., and I am interested in using travertine pavers for a uncovered patio. I plan to use a crushed tamped substrate but I'm worried that the pavers will not hold up to freezing and thawing even if they are sealed properly. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations? |
| Ans: |
Travertine pavers have been tested up to 125 freeze/thaw cycles without cracking. Some Travertine will be weaker than others and might crack easier. You should make sure you have a good quality paver and purchase a few extra to cover and that might crack in the first year. |
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| + Q103: |
I need a piece of travertine for a shower seat. This will be a built in shower seat (not just a piece of travertine attached to the wall). Do you have any pieces that are at least 12 X 28. Would travertine be a suitable material for this purpose.
Thanks!!! |
| Ans: |
We do carry a travertine stair tread the is 12"x48"x 1 1/4" thick. This is honed and unfilled with very little holes. We can bullnose one edge to give it a smoother finish or you can sand the edges down until you are happy with the feel. It is light beige in color. This is perfect for the shower seat. |
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| + Q104: |
I have travertine in my bathroom showers and want to fill in some of the holes, especially the larger ones on the base of the shower. What is a good product to fill in the holes? Would I have to seal the hole filler differently? or is it better to just seal the holes and not worry about sitting water in them? |
| Ans: |
You can use a grout to fill in the holes or you can purchase a product called TraverFil. You can seal over the filled area with the same sealer that you seal the rest of the travertine with. |
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| + Q105: |
How much fill is normal in travertine? We purchased some recently but it seems like there is an awful lot of fill present in the tiles. Is this normal? |
| Ans: |
All travertine has some fill in the stone, this will vary depending on the quality. The lower the quality the more fill there will be. We offer two grades of travertine, first quality which has very little fill and second quality which has more fill. This is normal in most travertine on the market today. The price of the stone will usually give you an idea of the quality of the stone. |
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| + Q106: |
travertine stone will the stone ever chip pieces up after installed and if that happens what do i need to do. |
| Ans: |
If you purchased a good quality travertine the stone should not chip up after installation. If the quality is poor and there is a lot of filler, then you may notice the filler pop out and create some holes. You can fill the holes with a mixture grout and epoxy. |
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| + Q107: |
We installed french pattern travertine (semi-filled, tumbled edges) directly over the concrete foundation - in the kitchen, entry, dining and adjoining hallways. The house is about 4 years old and we have been noticing some issues. There are hairline cracks in almost every area. Most are running from front to back (our house is much wider than it is deep). Ive read where cracks are common in travertine. Can the cracks be filled? We also have an issue with the grout staining and it's very hard to clean do to the rough edges and pits. I'd like to add more grout and seal again but not sure this is the best solution. There is no way to scrape out the old grout because the edges are not straight...looking for some suggestions to both issues. Thank you. |
| Ans: |
The cracks are coming from the concrete foundation under the stone. You can put more grout in the cracks to cover it up. I would recommend getting a good stone and tile cleaner to clean the grout and stone well before putting the new grout in the cracks, then apply a few coats of sealer to help keep the dirt off the edges and grout. |
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| + Q108: |
What can I use to put tile over pavers, can I use a Latex Morter
before a thin set, for the out side patio |
| Ans: |
You can use a mortar over the pavers but you have to make sure the pavers are on a solid foundation such as poured concrete slab. If the pavers are dry layed you will have problems putting tile over pavers that might move over time. |
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| + Q109: |
I just completed a travertine floor in my new house. I used 1/8 grout lines. My next step is to wet polish the floor. My question is should I put sealer on before I polish this never sealed travetine. I'm afriad if I don't seal first I may weken the thinset. I used the best thinset available. I plan on sealing the grout lines before I wet polish iregardless. |
| Ans: |
The wet polish will just strip the sealer off the floor so putting sealer down first will only waste your time. I am not an expert on polishing floors so I would recommend you do a little more research and have an expert come in to give you an estimate and pick his brain. |
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| + Q110: |
I am building a new mediteranean style home with a roof covered veranda on the back of the house. It will be suspended over a patio below. Do I need a concrete subfloor to support the weight of the travertine or is a wood subfloor sufficient to support the tiles? |
| Ans: |
The wood is sufficient to handle the weight of the travertine but it might not hold the mortar to the tile. I would recommend you use a Hardy board or concrete board as your subfloor. |
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| + Q111: |
I am interested in putting travertine tiles not pavers on my pool deck over existing concrete. I have been told that tiles are too slippery that I need pavers.....is this true? |
| Ans: |
There are certain tiles that will be more slippery than pavers like a honed and filled tile. This would not be a good choice for a pool deck but you could use the same tumbled travertine material as the paver. Most Travertine pavers are tumbled so I would recommend using the 1/2" tumbled travertine tile in an 18"x18" or the French Pattern. |
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| + Q112: |
how many pieces of 12x12 inch tile would I need for a space 89inches long and 89 inches wide |
| Ans: |
55 |
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| + Q113: |
We're thinking of using travertine just inside the front door--18" tiles, 2 deep and maybe 4 wide. Is this a good choice for a high traffic area? What width grout would be best? Is there any special sealing needed? Any other considerations before deciding on using travertine?
Thanks. |
| Ans: |
Travertine is an excellent choice for high traffic areas. The travertine
tiles are perfectly cut and calibrated so you can install them with a 1/6" grout
joint. We do recommend you seal the travertine tile with Stone Tech Heavy Duty
Sealer. You will need at least two coats of sealer in high traffic areas or in
areas where there will be food.
Just remember that travertine is a natural
stone that will have shade variations unlike a porcelain or ceramic tile. This
is what gives travertine it's natural beauty.
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| + Q114: |
For a pool deck, would you recommend pavers over tiles due to 1 1/4 inch thickness?
Do the tiles/pavers need to be sealed? |
| Ans: |
If you are installing tile over solid poured concrete, you can use 1/2" tile installing them with a thin-set mortar. If you have have dirt or crushed concrete on the pool deck, you can install the 1 1/4" travertine pavers.
It is not necessary to seal the travertine pavers, but we do recommend sealing them. This will prevent and accidental spills of acid liquids such as, wine or orange juice. It will also prevent growth of mildew on the pavers.
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| + Q115: |
We are installing travertine tiles in our kitchen, baths, entry, and want to know if they are installed like regular tiles or is there a special installation? Is this a good choice for these areas? thanks |
| Ans: |
Travertine and marble are not like regular tile in the way you install them. Travertine and marble tiles are much heavier than ceramic and porcelain tiles, so they require a multi-purpose thin set mortar when installing versus a ceramic and porcelain which only require a mastic.
Travertine and marble are an excellent choice for all areas of the home, except the kitchen countertops. Travertine is a natural stone that will add beauty and value to any home.
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Best Sellers |
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Leonardo French Pattern Tile
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Best Sellers |
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18"x18" Leonardo Honed Filled
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