White Travertine UNFILLED Tiles for A Bathroom have been Grouted???

[Searly]

Hello,

We have just spent quite a bit of cash on Travertine White Unfillled Floor and Wall Tiles for our bathroom.

They are beautiful tiles - with a natural chalky white appearance with lots of irregularities in the finish - pockmarked, a bit like pumice stone etc which we really liked. We bought the advised sealant from the shop and the correct colour grout to match the tiles.

Our tiler has laid them, and grouted them and sealed them BUT on closer inspection he has filled in all the natural irregularities with the grout - as he said that otherwise they would not be waterproof??

Is this really the case? Would the sealant not do this anyway...am very distressed as this has completely changed the look we were going for?

Also - what should the daily rate for a tiler to tile with travertine - is it anymore expensive than normal? What is the going rate for a tiler anyway?

Many Thanks

[wetdec]

The grouting of unfilled travertine is general practice to prevent the ingress of soap, dirt etc unless otherwise requested.

Working with stone is far more specialist than ceramic and for this you could expect to pay in the region of £25 to £50 per m2 but this must act only as a guide as there are various considerations.

On closing I am sure your tiler would have worked to the best of his ability to make a good job for you and unless specifically asked to leave voids empty has done his job.




Tiler


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[frogeye]

spot on wetdec

frogeye

[Turkish]

Yeah tnaks Wetdec, got similar job coming up and already told client that the grout is likely to fil in all the voids, glad to hear it`s usual practice, be a nightmare grouting otherwise!

Turkish

[Searly]

Thanks for your hasty responses.

So... if we HAD requested that the voids were left unfilled - once they were sealed the tiles would be waterproofed???

I do understand the thinking behind filling to eradicate dirt and soap build up etc.

Unfortunately, our tiler just went ahead and filled the voids, without discussing it us - and we didn't know this was standard practice.

Many Thanks

[wetdec]

Then really the onus would be on the retailer where you purchased the tiles and yourselves to of established the suitability for use, had this been done then the fact that they would be grouted filling the voids would have been apparent.

As I said the tiler will carry on his work as per general practice unless instructed otherwise, and correctly wouldn’t have queried the grouting.

If in any doubt about my reply, I trouble shooted stone installs over a period of 6 years for a major UK stone importer and have yet to see an un-filled travertine fix that has not been grouted.





tiler


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[frogeye]

I think this is down to communication on all sides.

When we first looked at travertine for our kitchen a few years back, (at Topps Tiles funnily enough), the chap there took the time to explain to us the potential problems with it. The need for powdered adhesive, the weight issue, sealing and grouting etc. We discussed the filled and unfilled - a mini masterclass I suppose looking back - and as a result we decided against.

Most tilers I have spoken to would have done the same as your chap, grouted to fill the holes or left you to grout or charged you more.

A pity the results aren't exactly what you want, but I honestly think you are better off than having the potential dirt trap or the chance of the seal not being as good on the filled finish you now have.

frogeye

[Searly]

Thanks so much for the advice!

It makes me feel better about it - it still looks lovely, although not as 'au naturel' as we would have hoped.

I should have posted this before we started!

[Turkish]

Turkish

[wetdec]

tiler

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