Can anyone advise the best way to grout natural stone, Travertine. I have sealed them with one coat, but envisage that they will still catch the grout.
Am I best to use the washboy or piping bag the grout into the grout lines.
I anticipate using white mepei grout.

many thanks

i would think whiye mapei grout would be fine as most mapei grouts are smooth ,the only really sandy/coarse grouts ive come across are bal which may scratch the trav. also i know its personall choice but ivory/cream grouts fair better with trav electric white grout doesnt look good with stone but thats just my opinion

Is this un-filled travetine..?

Little 5 - If its honed travertine 1 coat of sealer will suffice before grouting.
When I get my lads to grout its only with a squegee and pushed into each line of joint and wash off with a good quality sponge leaving the grout high in the joint.
Tend to agree with Kilty55 in that white grout tends to dominate the look of travertine and IMO mapei 130 Jasmin or 132 Beige work very well - assuming it is the cappaccino colour travertine and not this magnificant grey travertine that Dave has shares in!
Remember that the Mapei grouts are fairly fast setting so don't mix or use too much until you get the timing right.
Make sure after grouting and cleaning the surface is bone dry 2-3 days before you give it another coat of seal.

Timeless John.

Dave, your bamboozling me with science, how do I know if its un-filled. some have holes right through, if thats any help.

Thanks for the info re beige grout, ill check with the customer.

Is there a secret way of getting the grout out of the holes? or is it just trial and error?

many thanks

If it has holes it is un-filled...lol...

So you want to leave the holes open ..?

then use a grout bag and just fill the joints...

just like this one from tradetiler..

Grout bag


A giant version of an icing bag BIGGER THAN IT LOOKS 600 mm long x 350 mm wide

Very controllable flow, quick to refill and easy to clean

10 mm hole in the end - You can insert a normal siliconong nozel first for fine joints

weight 200 g


Price: £3.99 £4.59 Including VAT at 15%

Dave , you mentioned so you want the holes unfilled?

Is it an option that I fill the holes with grout??

how would this look?

My preference is to grout the whole tile face with unfilled travertine...it still gives it that rustic look but also makes it easier to clean and not get dirt trapped in the surface holes/pitted area's..

then once dry i seal the whole tile and joints making it easier to keep clean...

Honed and filled is a smoother looking tile altogether and the unfilled even when fully grouted is still rustic looking...

Thats just my preference and not many peeps i know leave them open pored..

Is that the look you are after..?

This is one with the surface grouted...

Little 5 - I did a conervatory a few years ago in an unfilled stone.

When we were about to grout I just happened to ask the client what colour did she want in the joints and holes and she was adamant that the holes were to be left open.
We just grouted the joints - I wonder what mud/food/cxxp is in those holes today!

Timeless John.

Originally Posted by timeless john

Little 5 - I did a conervatory a few years ago in an unfilled stone.

When we were about to grout I just happened to ask the client what colour did she want in the joints and holes and she was adamant that the holes were to be left open.
We just grouted the joints - I wonder what mud/food/cxxp is in those holes today!

Timeless John.

have to agree the holes will collect any dirt that is around and will look awful in a short space of time.....i also would not grout with white either but with a more sympathetic colour such as ivory or limestone.

chris

Originally Posted by Dave

This is one with the surface grouted...

Dave thats a nice lookig floor did you cut some of those tiles to suit the pattern

Originally Posted by Wylie

Dave thats a nice lookig floor did you cut some of those tiles to suit the pattern

Nope....Opus ramano tumbled....nice stone..from purple tree..

Did you have a pattern to follow then

Originally Posted by Wylie

Did you have a pattern to follow then

yep..the tiles are supplied to suit the ramano pattern...you can also randomize but you might run short of sizes ...