Laying travertine

[Kingsley's]

Good evening fellow tilers, :hurray:

I'm going to look at and quote a job tomorrow evening to tile a travertine bathroom. From what I understand it's a standard size bathroom; 3m-4m on the floor and 10m on the walls.

Before I price the job and agree to do it, I want to be 100% sure that I'm doing everything right, so if people could help answer my questions it would really appreciated.

Floor substrate? I'm reading no less than 18mm ply plus backerboard. Is that true? Can it be no less than 18mm? Can I use Ditra matting instead of backerboard (surely that's better)?

Wall substrate? Should that be mechanically fixed with plasterboard or Kerdi Board? Are there other solutions?

Adhesive? Is Keraflex Maxi white ok? Is that to be spread with a normal 10mm trowel?

Grout? Mapei Ultracolour?

Sealing? Lithofin seems to be the sealer of choice. Do you know which one of their products would be best?

Cutter? I know this seems a stupid question, but I guess it is all wet cutter and grinder. Will a TX-700 ruin the tiles?

As I say, I'd be really grateful for any help and please pick me up on anything I've missed.

Cheers

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Good evening Kingsley's - you seem to have every thing sorted!
Is the plywood fixed direct to the joists?
If its floorboards I cover with 6mm plywood then Ditra matting for Travertine.
Walls to be able to take the weight of the Travertine.
I always use a fast set flexible white to allow for build up without shrinkage.
Mapei Jasmin 130 or Beige 132 depending on colour of Travertine.
Lithofin stain stop to seal.
Only cut with a wet cutter.
Make sure you round/seal/polish any exposed corners.
Enjoy.

 

[White Room]

I would use a 12mm ply

 

[Kingsley's]

That's great, thanks for your help. I'm not sure if it's joists or floorboards yet, tomorrow's the first time I see the job - I just wanted to go in with my head screwed on a bit firmer.

As this is the first time I've used travertine, could you tell me what I need to round and polish the exposed corners?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I would a 12mm ply

Too much shrinkage in plywood these days - better to use 6mm hardibacker boards!

 

[DHTiling]

You stated 6mm ply above TJ..?


Must have been a typo

If its floorboards I cover with 6mm plywood then Ditra matting for Travertine.

 

[Kingsley's]

Thanks Whitebeam. Is that 12mm onto the joists or floorboards?

 

[david campbell]

floorboards,if it's onto joists then it would need to be 25mm or 28mm

 

[Scott]

I use the wet cutter but cut them dry (without water) Blades dont last as long but its a LOT cleaner to work with and you dont have to dry the tiles off. You can get them to break with a really good score on a dry cutter but its not a pretty edge.

Make sure you back skim the tiles with adhesive to fill all the holes on the back

 

[Kingsley's]

Cheers David.

 

[Kingsley's]

Cheers Scottley. I understand some travertine is filled and other travetine isn't. I take it I only need to do that if the travertine isn't filled?

 

[Scott]

No the filled stuff is only filled on the front, the back will still be full of holes. Make sure you use a white adhesive too as it can bleed through trav. Filling the back with addy can also stop any filler on the top falling through

 

[Kingsley's]

Lovely. Cheers Scottley.

 

[doug boardley]

I'd use LTP mattstone impregnating sealer mate

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I'd use LTP mattstone impregnating sealer mate

Is it good?

 

[doug boardley]

Is it good?

I find it excellent to use TJ, assuming that a matt finish is what you want, I've tried the other brands quite extensively over the years and find LTP very hard to beat on quality and price

 

[Kingsley's]

Cheers Doug. So assuming they want a Matt finish LTP is the trick. If they want a gloss finish shall I go back to Lithofin?

 

[doug boardley]

I'll post a link here for you kingsley
LTP Online | Pick Finish

 

[Kingsley's]

Cheers. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[hillhead]

I have a travertine bathroom on my books too,i'll get to in within the next 3 weeks i hope.
Looking forward to it.
Mine is onto scratched rendered walls and screeded floor.

 

[doug boardley]

I have a travertine bathroom on my books too,i'll get to in within the next 3 weeks i hope.
Looking forward to it.
Mine is onto scratched rendered walls and screeded floor.

great stuff Joe, hope you post us the pics

 

[Kingsley's]

Just out of interest, wouldn't scratched rendered walls have the same problem as plaster - i.e not able to take a weight of more than 20kg per m2?

What would be the best substrate for travertine on an existing bathroom wall?

 

[diamondtiling]

Just out of interest, wouldn't scratched rendered walls have the same problem as plaster - i.e not able to take a weight of more than 20kg per m2?

What would be the best substrate for travertine on an existing bathroom wall?

Sand and cement rendered walls will take around 40kg weight wise, Cement backer boards take 55 kg.
Here is link to a lot of invaluable information for you, its a good read.



http://www.tilersforums.com/tiling-forum/13313-all-questions-i-asked-when-i.html