Travertine advice!!

[M83T]

Hi everyone, my friend has asked me to tile their kitchen walls and having recently done my own kitchen splashback I accepted the offer to gain some more experience.
I've just seen that the tiles they have selected are 200mm X 100mm travertine tiles. I'm now slightly apprehensive about doing this as I have no experience of using travertine, I'm happy with setting out and stuff, but the adhesive, grout and sealing side of things is what's concerning me is it a completely different approach compared to normal ceramic? Any advice on working with travertine would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[hmtiling]

Grinder cut or wet saw. Cuts very easily. Use white adhesive. Back skim tile. Seal, grout and seal again. I'd use universeal rapid all in one. Ats vacuum brazed disc will fly through it with a grinder

 

[Pauly tiler]

All I would add to above is to use a low water adhesive, not at all vital but it all helps. Ardex do one I believe.

 

[hmtiling]

All I would add to above is to use a low water adhesive, not at all vital but it all helps. Ardex do one I believe.

7001 binds all the water for water sensitive stone which travertine isn't

 

[M83T]

Thanks for the replies I guess using 6mm notched trowel will be okay? Looking forward to doing it now with the above advice!!

 

[Pauly tiler]

HMT,
Noted, As I said not vital just a preference as I have witnessed travertine allow the moisture of the adhesive passage to the face and bloom under the seal. To me for the extra cost I think its worth it.

 

[Dumbo]

All I would add to above is to use a low water adhesive, not at all vital but it all helps. Ardex do one I believe.
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I have traver

HMT,
Noted, As I said not vital just a preference as I have witnessed travertine allow the moisture of the adhesive passage to the face and bloom under the seal. To me for the extra cost I think its worth it.

The reason it would bloom under The seal is that it wasn't left long enough before sealing .

 

[Pauly tiler]

Exactly, with the reduced water staining of S32 it helps in today fast track situations in the contracting sector. Just a preference on my part that I thought might have been worth a note. A lot of the spec sheets I get call for this type of adhesive benefit with all natural stone and even some ultra large Porcs.

 

[Pauly tiler]

S20 I meant to say.
Pauly

 

[hmtiling]

I did recommend using universeal rapid all in one as it's breathable and can be used on damp stone

 

[Pauly tiler]

Not familiar with that particular sealer, noted no worries.

 

[hmtiling]

Not familiar with that particular sealer, noted no worries.

Give it a whirl mate. You'll not go back to whatever you were previously using

 

[Pauly tiler]

Lithothin normally a specified item by the design team so no substitutes allowed generally mate.

 

[Dumbo]

Exactly, with the reduced water staining of S32 it helps in today fast track situations in the contracting sector. Just a preference on my part that I thought might have been worth a note. A lot of the spec sheets I get call for this type of adhesive benefit with all natural stone and even some ultra large Porcs.

You have probably got a larger risk from the water that is absorbed from grouting and cleaning before and after grouting.

 

[Pauly tiler]

The problem there normally stems from the MC washing the floor/walls down the day before you come in to complete because they have sneaked in other contractors while we are away from site. Its like the wild west out there.

 

[Dumbo]

The problem there normally stems from the MC washing the floor/walls down the day before you come in to complete because they have sneaked in other contractors while we are away from site. Its like the wild west out there.

So how does your low water content adhesive help with that .

 

[Pauly tiler]

It wasn't advice for me remember, it was just a preference of mine that I thought would help a enquirer. If the point of the forum is to nit pick I'll go back to my corner. Presumably the enquirer will not have to contend with the MC like we have to.

 

[M83T]

So just to clarify because after having read all the stuff about water staining and such I'm now not sure. I plan to use BAL white or green star ready mixed addy (I'm still learning and therefore quite slow and I find ready mixed easier). I will then seal with (what's the best sealer to use please?) Grout then seal again.

 

[hmtiling]

So just to clarify because after having read all the stuff about water staining and such I'm now not sure. I plan to use BAL white or green star ready mixed addy (I'm still learning and therefore quite slow and I find ready mixed easier). I will then seal with (what's the best sealer to use please?) Grout then seal again.

Any slow set white c2 powder will be fine. You don't need low water content adhesive. Rapid universeal all in one would be my choice as reduces drying times.

 

[Dumbo]

So just to clarify because after having read all the stuff about water staining and such I'm now not sure. I plan to use BAL white or green star ready mixed addy (I'm still learning and therefore quite slow and I find ready mixed easier). I will then seal with (what's the best sealer to use please?) Grout then seal again.

Green star is rubbish for anything . White star is good but I wouldn't use it for that. I would use a good slow set powdered adhesive . Probably something like kerracoll biogel or isomat ak20 very user friendly if you follow the mixing instructions . As for sealer lithofin mn stainstop if you have time or universeal rapid if you haven't.

 

[M83T]

Ok I've used the green star before and I got on ok with it but guess it wouldn't hurt to move on to powder addy. I know the chap I'm doing it for has bought some cheap white powder adhesive from the builders merchant so I'll try and get persuade them to use something else. The kerracoll would be fairly slow setting as I'm not the fastest (yet)?

 

[Harry Harshaw]

Hi everyone, my friend has asked me to tile their kitchen walls and having recently done my own kitchen splashback I accepted the offer to gain some more experience.
I've just seen that the tiles they have selected are 200mm X 100mm travertine tiles. I'm now slightly apprehensive about doing this as I have no experience of using travertine, I'm happy with setting out and stuff, but the adhesive, grout and sealing side of things is what's concerning me is it a completely different approach compared to normal ceramic? Any advice on working with travertine would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

We always recommend pre sealing stoneprior to installation. Any silicone or paraffin based system will protect and beautify your stone work. Allows for easier cleaning too. You could use AquaTight Hydraguard which protects, seals, protects natural stone image.