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How to Lay Travertine Tiles: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Lay Travertine Tiles: A Comprehensive Guide

24 Jan 2025

When it comes to building materials, there are many options to choose from—but Travertine tiles top the list as one of the hottest picks in Australia. Renowned for their captivating charm and outstanding functionality, these tiles are innately durable and resistant to everyday wear and tear. Now, if you are an Aussie, who is already in love with this gorgeous natural stone and wishes to install it outdoors, then this post is for you! After all, in this piece, we are going to discuss How to Lay Travertine Tiles to enhance your exterior spaces.

Truth be told, laying these paving stones is an easy job provided you know all the steps correctly. Think about it, who would want their paving to have complications such as stones that are not levelled properly or drainage issues? Therefore, the need to know the correct laying process is self-explanatory.

But before we learn the “how to” or let’s just say the “Best Way to Lay Travertine Tiles”, it’s important to take a moment to understand a little bit more about this beautiful stone. So, let’s begin.

What is Travertine?

Made of compressed shells and debris of aquatic organisms, Travertine is a terrestrial Limestone that has a dense, fibrous texture. One of the best features of this natural stone is its organic look.

For those who do not know, tiles crafted out of this natural stone are quite a famous pick for outdoor paving. You can use Travertine tiles for projects that see low to medium traffic. Being a natural stone, this building material is porous in nature. To put it simply, it is easy for it to be etched, stained or damaged due to moisture. Therefore, it is advised that you seal your Travertine tiles so that they are protected against dirt, dust, moisture and other such elements.

At Stone Centre, we supply premium-quality tiles such as Classic and Silver Travertine to make your projects stand out. With us, you can get them in a Honed and Filled finish (for interior spaces) and a Honed and Unfilled finish (for exterior spaces).

Now that we have a decent understanding of the stone, let’s see How to Lay Travertine Tiles.

Guide: Best Way to Lay Travertine Tiles

As mentioned earlier, these paving tiles are one of the hottest picks in Australia thanks to their versatility, charm and strength. However, laying them requires some expertise, planning and prior experience for good results. But don’t let that discourage you—if you are a DIY enthusiast with a little patience and attention to detail, you can absolutely tackle this project yourself. Here are the tools you would need to lay these stone tiles:

  • A Rubber Mallet
  • Safety Gear (Knee Pads, Goggles and Gloves)
  • A Trowel
  • A Bucket
  • A Shovel
  • A Tape Measure
  • A Spirit Level
  • A Wheelbarrow
  • A Sponge
  • A Straight Edge String Line
  • A Rake
  • A Long Straight Edge
  • An Angle Grinder

Also, make sure you have the below-mentioned materials too:

  • Stone Centre Travertine Tiles
  • A Wet Saw
  • Sand or Blue Metal Dust
  • Concrete Mix
  • Timber Pegs
  • Grout
  • A High-Quality, Stone Specific Sealant

Now that you are ready, have a read at the steps:

Step 1: Prepare the Area for Paving

The very first step that you need to follow is to make sure that the site is ready. To do the same, begin by levelling the soil. With the help of a rake, get rid of the debris such as rocks and organic waste (such as weeds and grass). Then, with the help of a straight edge, begin levelling the soil. Once it is evenly spread, use a tamper or a plate compactor to compact the soil, ensuring a solid foundation for the tiles. Simultaneously, dip-seal your tiles by taking some high-quality sealant in a bucket and letting them dry.

Step 2: Prepare a Base for Your Tiles to Rest On

This is about making a stable base for your tiles so that they have support and are levelled. Now, with the help of sand or blue metal dust, make a base for your tiles that is levelled. Once you are done, follow the steps below:

  • Make sure to disperse the sand or blue metal dust in an even fashion 80mm deep if you are making a light to medium-trafficked walkway, patio or pathway. Compact the same and ensure that everything’s levelled and firmly positioned. No need to hesitate if you want to put in more sand and blue metal when needed.
  • Once you are sure that the base is levelled and feels firm, then use your string line to designate the position where the Travertine tiles will be laid. Next, you should mark the edges of the site using timber pegs and make sure to extend the sting line between the same. Take care that your tiles appear levelled and straight when you lay them makes a significant difference.

Step 3: Laying the Stones: How to Lay Travertine Tiles Over Concrete

Now, you must pick a pattern for your tiles. Once you are done picking the same, begin with the laying process. Now, follow the below-mention methods to successfully lay your tiles:

  • Mix up the concrete as per the instructions mentioned by the manufacturer and spread it over the base with the help of a trowel. Make sure that you are spreading your concrete over a small area that is sufficient to lay just 1 or 2 tiles initially. As far as the cement depth is concerned, make sure that it is around 25mm.
  • Begin with one corner and lay your tiles in a pattern of your liking. With the help of some concrete mix, fill any visible holes on the back side of every tile prior to laying it. Make sure to place every piece of tile properly over your concrete mix and then with the help of a rubber mallet or wood block, tap down the same. Clean and remove any extra concrete mix. Were you wondering How to Lay Travertine Tiles Over Concrete? Now you have your answer.
  • Make sure that your tiles are straight and levelled. You can use the spirit level as you inspect every piece of tile.
  • Further, you must ensure even spacing between your tiles. The recommended spacing is between 3-5mm. This is for the grout to fit appropriately in between the tiles as and when you reach the step.
  • After getting done with laying your first tile row, make sure to refer back to your string line to ensure they are still being laid in a straight fashion.

Step 4: Cut the Tiles and Fill in the Joints

After laying all your tiles successfully, there may be some tiles towards the end that need to be cut. In that case, you must use a wet saw to trim them to the appropriate size. Make sure you have your safety gear (knee pads, goggles and gloves) on.

Once you are done cutting all the tiles, with the help of a brush, sweep all the loose debris prior to jointing (using the grout to fill the joints). As far as the grout is concerned, we recommend going with a colour that complements the colour of your paving tiles and preparing them as per the instructions on the package.

After your grout is prepared, take some on your trowel and put the same over the tile joints. Don’t forget to firm-press. Now, when you are finished with the joint filling process, with the help of a damp sponge get rid of the extra grout. And voila! This is How to Lay Travertine Tiles. Just ensure you wait for 24-48 hours (curing time) so that the grout is dried before you step onto your gorgeous paving.

Things to Remember About Sealing and Maintenance

As important as it is to learn the Best Way to Lay Travertine Tiles, it is important to know about their sealing and maintenance. To put it simply, these two, collectively, are very important aspects of increasing your tiles’ lifespan. So, let’s learn about them too. Starting with the sealing, as we mentioned, it is recommended that you dip-seal your outdoor Travertine tiles before they are laid. This is because as a natural stone, these are porous in nature. Meaning they can be damaged by moisture, dirt and other external factors.

Sealing not only secures the stones from all these but also helps retain the natural colour of your tiles. To add, sealing these stone tiles isn’t a one-time job. You must re-seal the same every 2-3 years or as and when required. This ensures that your stone stands tall against all odds and lasts for generations.

Now coming to maintenance, keeping your Travertine tiles clean is crucial to maintaining their aesthetic and charm. To clean them, you must use a pH-neutral cleaning agent and a soft-bristled brush or a microfibre mop. There must be a routine cleaning process for you to follow. Further, never use anything acidic or abrasive (both chemicals and tools) to clean your tiles’ surfaces. After all, these can cause permanent damage to the same.

Common Issues You Will Face While Laying Travertine Tiles

Now that you have learned how to lay Travertine stone tiles, it is crucial to know the common issues you could face during the process. Have a read below:

  1. Uneven Surface: This happens when the base has not been levelled or compacted appropriately. This results in uneven positioning of the tiles, cracking, chipping or shifting.
  2. Poor Application of the Grout: If the grouting is not done properly, then the same can result in cracks, uneven joints and penetration of moisture.
  3. Skipping the Sealing Process: One of the common problems of Travertine is that as a natural stone, it is organically porous. This means that there are pores present on its surface. These pores make the stone vulnerable to moisture and stains. If you miss sealing it appropriately, the same can result in discolouration, staining and moisture damage to the stone.
  4. Not Cutting and Laying Out Your Tiles Properly: Cutting your tiles poorly and inconsistently laying them can result in non-aligned patterns, paving stone wastage and bad-looking edges.

Additional Tips for Ensuring the Best Way to Lay Travertine Tiles

Now that we know about the common challenges and problems of How to Lay Travertine Tiles, let’s have a look at some of the additional tips you should know of:

  1. Thoroughly Checking the Order: Once you receive your order for Travertine paving stones, make sure to give them a thorough check. See if there’s any chipping, cracking or inconsistent colour variation.
  2. Randomly Selecting the Tiles for Laying: This ensures that you have a beautiful and natural colour pattern outdoors by randomly selecting the tiles for laying.
  3. Using Stone-Specific Sealant: Do not use just any over-the-counter sealant for your Travertine stone tiles. Double-check the sealer and see if it is suitable for the stone you are working with.
  4. Calling for Expert Advice: Lastly, do not hesitate to ring up the Stone Centre experts to consult if DIY isn’t your thing or if you are feeling confused before starting the laying process.

The Bottom Line Is

Travertine is one of the most gorgeous options one can choose for one’s home. In addition, learning How to Lay Travertine Tiles outdoors is not extremely difficult if you know the steps correctly. Just follow the instructions and trust the process and the rest will be okay. Lastly, do not forget to remember the common challenges and the additional tips to make sure you follow the Best Way to Lay Travertine Tiles.

FAQs

Q: Can we lay Travertine floor tiles on concrete?

Yes! These tiles can be easily laid on concrete. Just make sure that the base is smooth and free of dirt and debris.

Q: Do you need to seal Travertine tiles prior to grouting?

You should seal your tiles before laying them. We recommend dip-sealing the same.

Q: What causes damage to Travertine tiles?

Unsealed tiles crafted out of this stone are permeable to dust, dirt, moisture and stains. Therefore, your tiles can be damaged permanently if they aren’t sealed. Also, using acidic cleaning agents and abrasive tools can damage the stones.

Q: Is it too difficult to lay these stone tiles?

No! Laying these stone tiles is not that difficult if you follow all the steps properly.

*Disclaimer: All information and advice given above in the blog are to the best of our knowledge. Please reconfirm at your end before execution.

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