7 May 2024

Travertine Pavers Installation Guide: Tips and Tricks

Travertine pavers make a magnific difference to the overall aesthetic of your property. From patios and alfresco to pool decks and courtyards, these exquisite pavers can highlight any area. They are high on beauty and durability and low on maintenance making them a perfect choice for outdoor pavers. So, if you’ve chosen Travertine pavers for your home renovation project-kudos to you! If you’re a DIY enthusiast, you would know, installing Travertine pavers is a breezy project. But even if you’ve never dealt with installing pavers before, don’t stress! In this blog, we’ll share tips and tricks to tackle an installation process smoothly. We will also reveal some dos and don’ts to avoid common mistakes people make while laying pavers. So, let’s get going!

What are Travertine pavers?

Travertine paver is a paving material used to create stunning outdoor spaces such as patios, alfresco, walkways, backyards and pool surrounds. Travertine can be used to enhance indoor areas as well when used in a honed surface finish. Due to their robustness and straightforward installation, Travertine pavers are a preferred choice for paving and landscaping. However, proper installation is vital to ensure a successful and beautiful result.

Step-by-step guide on how to install Travertine pavers

Travertine pavers are a popular choice for indoor and outdoor spaces due to their versatility, beauty and durability. However, installing these pavers requires careful planning and execution to ensure a flawless result. If you’ve never undertaken a Travertine installation before, here’s a breakdown of the steps involved to ensure a successful project.

• Plan the design and layout: To start with, draw and plan the layout of your project area. This will let you determine the paving style you want to choose and the number of pavers you will need to cover the space. A measuring tape, level and chalk will come in handy for this step.
• Ready the base: Clean the area. Remove any debris from the base and excavate the soil to at least six inches deep. Next, add some gravel or crushed stone and compact the area using a plate compactor until the base is stable and level with a slight slope for drainage.
• Set the pavers in a straight line: If you’ve decided on a conventional layout for your design space, use a nylon string line to lay down the pavers in a straight line. However, if you’re going for another paving style such as a French Pattern or a Crazy Paving style, you can skip this step.
• Fill an even layer of sand: This step will create a flat and stable surface for your pavers to rest on. To ensure a smooth and consistent base, using a screen board is recommended.
• Set a boundary line for the pavers: In this step, we will create a boundary for the pavers to define the working area. You can use a strong adhesive or a concrete mix to secure the pavers in place.
• Start laying the pavers: Begin from one corner of the project area in a pattern of your choice and work your way across. Use a rubber mallet to tap the pavers in place to ensure a smooth surface as you go along.
• Adjust the pavers: Now that the pavers are laid, carefully examine if they need to be cut to fit the edges appropriately. If yes, then use a wet saw with a diamond blade to get a clean and accurate finish.
• Fill up the area with joint sand: After the pavers are set in place, fill up the joint spacing with fine sand. This will fix the pavers in place and block any weed growth in the area. You can use a compactor to settle the sand in place and remove extra sand from the surface.
• Finally, seal the pavers: Use a quality sealant, it will help to prevent staining and keep moisture from seeping into the surface of the stone. This final step will act as a protective shield for your pavers and keep their lustre intact for a long time.

Even though Travertine pavers are relatively easy to install, DIYers and professionals can make some common mistakes that can compromise the result.

Let’s discuss some common mistakes when installing Travertine pavers and how to avoid them.

1. The most common mistake is not planning and preparing for the installation in advance. This includes measuring the design area, deciding on the layout style and knowing the number of pavers required beforehand. Failing to do this can lead to confusion during the execution and a last-minute shortage of material quantity.
2. Not considering the shape of the area and the overall design of the place. Sometimes, people don’t pay attention to the overall aesthetics of the place when choosing pavers. Travertine pavers come in a range of sizes, colours and textures. One must select a paver style that complements the design and suits the project requirements. For instance, while selecting pavers for the pool it is very important to choose pavers with a Honed and Unfilled finish as it offers a good grip on the ground. Travertine pavers with a filled surface finish offer a smooth surface and are unsuitable for pool areas.
3. Not preparing the base properly. It is essential to accurately excavate the soil to a specific depth of six inches and level the surface thereafter. If this process is not carried out properly, pavers can shift, crack and sink over a period of time.
4. Not using a nylon string to lay pavers in a straight line. When laying pavers in a traditional style it is beneficial to follow this step. If not, the result with crooked lines and uneven spaces between the pavers can disappoint you.
5. Not making use of spacers. This leads to an uneven joint gap between the pavers during installation. It is essential to maintain a consistent gap between the pavers for stability, aesthetics as well as proper drainage function.
6. Not using the right tools such as a wet saw or a rubber mallet for installing Travertine pavers. Using the right tools makes the installation process faster and more efficient and ensures beautiful and consistent results. Not tapping the pavers with a rubber mallet can give them an uneven and loose look to the pavers.
7. Lastly and most importantly people forget to seal the pavers or think they can do it later. It is the most crucial step of the installation process and missing out on applying a sealant is a big mistake one should avoid. Sealed pavers develop additional resistance to weathering, staining or any other damage. Always apply a top-quality sealant after the pavers have been installed and are completely dry to avoid discolouration.

So, now that you know, please avoid making these common mistakes while installing Travertine pavers and you will have a beautiful and durable space to enjoy for years.

Does a successful installation lead to easy maintenance afterwards?

Of course! Installing Travertine pavers correctly can make maintenance easier over time. Pavers made from durable materials such as natural stone are designed to endure a lot of wear and tear, weathering and heavy foot traffic. But regular maintenance goes a long way to keep natural stones looking their best for a very long time.

Travertine pavers are naturally porous and susceptible to staining. They are also relatively soft and prone to moisture. But when a Travertine paver is sealed during installation it makes the surface less prone to staining and prevents too much moisture from seeping in and discolouring the stone's surface.

When installed correctly, Travertine pavers provide good drainage and prevent water from pooling on the surface, which can lead to erosion and other forms of damage.

When pavers are installed with a proper gap in between they are less likely to move or shift over time, therefore, reducing chances of heavy maintenance or repairs down the line.

Overall, Travertine pavers can function with very little maintenance. Here are some tips:

When cleaning a floor, use a dry dust mop or a soft brush to sweep the area. Dust and grime can also be removed with a hoover. Avoid using rough brooms since they may cause scratches on the travertine surface. Use a portable vacuum cleaner instead of a full-sized canister vacuum cleaner. For regular upkeep, it's a good idea to dry clean your Travertine pavers and tiles.

Use a premium neutral cleanser on any travertine surface. Make sure the product you use is safe for natural stone by reading the label carefully. Steer clear of over-the-counter cleaning solutions with acidic ingredients since they can etch and harm stone.

Travertine just requires a microfiber cloth or mop, warm water and mild cleansers. After using this to clean the surface, use a dry microfiber towel or mop to remove any remaining moisture. Performing mopping just once a week is sufficient.

If something spills, clean it up right away. This will prevent etch marks and stains.

Use carpets and rugs to shield your floors and treat your furniture with rubber protectants. On kitchen countertops, use trivets, placemats, coasters, and caddies. Use placemats to shield mantlepieces and use vanity trays on bathroom surfaces.

Using an automated scrubber or vapour steam cleaner, you can thoroughly clean your floors and other surfaces twice a year.

If you seal the stone, your Travertine surfaces will stay organic-looking for a longer time.

The final rundown!

Overall, installing Travertine pavers involves some skill and attention to detail, but it's a manageable DIY project many homeowners can pull off. If you're not comfortable with the process, or if you have a large installation space, it may be best to hire a professional installer for the job to ensure the best results.

If you have any questions on how to select the best Travertine pavers for your space, don’t hesitate to reach out to our stone experts. Stone Centre is a one-stop shop for all your natural stone requirements. We have a wide range of pavers in Travertine, Granite, Sandstone, Limestone, Bluestone, Marble and Slatestone. Explore our range to request a sample and ask for a free quote!