Help!: (400 M2) Travertine installation around a pool

[tileboy]

Hey guys...

I need some serious professional advice from the best of you lot. I have a job I need to quote for and its MASSIVE. Its close to 400 square metres in fact it may even be more than that.

The area to be tiled is around a pool. I'm not sure of the current state of the area around the pool so it may require a cement slab to be laid down. So I need advice on how to do this as professional as possible because I gotta do it myself and I CANT screw it up.

Then, the tiles will need to be sealed. Anti slip painted over. Grouted and the rest of it. So what adhesive should I use? White? To prevent adhesive colour shining through? What grout? Colour? How to avoid effloresence. Grout sealing cuz it's outside? So many questions....Adhesive bed thickness? Grout line width?

Ok let me make it easier by numbering the questions so you don't miss anything, here goes:

1.) If cement slab is to be put down, what kind of cement? How do I do
this? And how thick should the slab be? What about sloping for
drainage?

2.) Sealing the Travertine. How? Which sealant?

3.) It's around a pool so anti slip must be painted over. How?

4.) What kind of adhesive? Flexible? White?

5.) Grouting. What type? Flexible? Epoxy maybe? Colour? Must grouting
be sealed or will tile sealer naturally seal grout too? Grout line width,
5mm ok? Removal of grout from Travertine pits?

6.) Adhesive. Bed thickness?

7.) Water proofing immediate area around pool?

Thats all I can think of at the moment in terms of question. I would massivley appreciate any help at all. If you could answer the questions in number form as the questions are laid out just to avoid confusion.

If there is anything I've missed that you think may be worth my while knowing it would be great if you could add that. Thank you in advance guys, you all rock....But you knew that, ha ha!!!

I look forward to any replies...

Regards,
Tileboy

[davy_G]

Hey guys...

I need some serious professional advice from the best of you lot. I have a job I need to quote for and its MASSIVE. Its close to 400 square metres in fact it may even be more than that.

The area to be tiled is around a pool. I'm not sure of the current state of the area around the pool so it may require a cement slab to be laid down. So I need advice on how to do this as professional as possible because I gotta do it myself and I CANT screw it up.

Then, the tiles will need to be sealed. Anti slip painted over. Grouted and the rest of it. So what adhesive should I use? White? To prevent adhesive colour shining through? What grout? Colour? How to avoid effloresence. Grout sealing cuz it's outside? So many questions....Adhesive bed thickness? Grout line width?

Ok let me make it easier by numbering the questions so you don't miss anything, here goes:

1.) If cement slab is to be put down, what kind of cement? How do I do
this? And how thick should the slab be? What about sloping for
drainage?
What is the slab for? ie making the substrait for tiling on? If so set up all the levels with straight wooden planks as a perimiter. Nail it all together, remember expansion gaps and pour a wet mix. Get advice from the architect on the mix slump and strength. The bed of stone will need compacted and levelled plus drains etc put in before pouring
2.) Sealing the Travertine. How? Which sealant?
Find out who supplied the trav and get them to advise, sort of passes/shares the responsibility. I would seal them all before with an impregnator if they are filled and again after. If they are not filled then discuss with client about filling & sealing them prior to fixing. Price this work accordingly
3.) It's around a pool so anti slip must be painted over. How?
Never done this, again take advice from tile supplier and might change process of sealing/filling. I would push for a anti-slip tile if it was that important.
4.) What kind of adhesive? Flexible? White?
Something waterproof, external use, submerged areas, frostproof & flexible. What coulor are all the tiles? Colour of addy to match. Do not skimp on poor quality addy, again seek suppliers recommendation. Might be worth thinking of decoupling membrane and good tanking system.
5.) Grouting. What type? Flexible? Epoxy maybe? Colour? Must grouting
be sealed or will tile sealer naturally seal grout too? Grout line width,
5mm ok? Removal of grout from Travertine pits?
Colour is up to client, but make recommendations based on tile. ie trav then ivory, limestone or white/light grey even. Wouldnt fancy epoxy over trav or over 400m2 but charge accordingly. Sealing after tiling will seal grout as well, might take 2 coats, follow impreg instruction. What size are the tiles? The smaller the grout line the better in water lying areas. Fill pits prior to fixing.
6.) Adhesive. Bed thickness?
What size are the tiles, use notch to suit. Prep the surface so no build up of addy required.
7.) Water proofing immediate area around pool?
Definitely
Thats all I can think of at the moment in terms of question. I would massivley appreciate any help at all. If you could answer the questions in number form as the questions are laid out just to avoid confusion.

If there is anything I've missed that you think may be worth my while knowing it would be great if you could add that. Thank you in advance guys, you all rock....But you knew that, ha ha!!!

I look forward to any replies...

Regards,
Tileboy

Good Luck!

[mark l]

Hi

First of all , it sounds like a great job, but couple of things spring to mind, so excuse me if im blunt.

1 are you a tiler? full time, or just do a bit?
2 Do you not feel, that if your asking all these questions, then your a bit out of your depth?

sorry to sound so pessimist, but you dont fill me with confidence

But if you get the job, i hope it goes well..

[foxman]

Hi mate, might be worth your while asking a more experienced tiler to help you with a job this size, sounds a bit much(not being funny) and you will also gain the experience for bigger jobs in the future.

[Leatherface]

Hi mate
first and only thing I would say or ask is :

" anti slip to be painted on tiles " ???? Round a pool ?

There is no such thing that will last !

All sealants, whatever their apparent properties ( even if they work for a while ) Will diminish with time. It is impossible to apply a permanent non slip sealer to travertine.
If the customer wants non slip tiles then get them to source elsewhere - Try pilkingtons.
sort this first, the rest later.

[doug boardley]

Hi

First of all , it sounds like a great job, but couple of things spring to mind, so excuse me if im blunt.

1 are you a tiler? full time, or just do a bit?
2 Do you not feel, that if your asking all these questions, then your a bit out of your depth?

sorry to sound so pessimist, but you dont fill me with confidence

But if you get the job, i hope it goes well..

is there not a shallow end you could start at then lol!

[Prem Tiler]

If I was you I would find a local tiler who can do this job with ease and offer him it in exchange for...

-some more managable jobs for yourself to do.
-or for some hands on paid exsperiance work with him.

yes I will be a good earner if you do it alone well enough, but be honest to yourself the chances of that are slim to none.

[whitebeam]

As far as I can remember (If you do the slab) is that rain water must run away from pool not into it

[medlar]

form what you have said and the questions you have asked,if i were you i would think long and hard about doing this job,especially without some professional assistance mate,400m2 is a big job by anyones standards and if ya not confident,as your post reads to me you will come a cropper.Sorry to put a dampener on it mate but i am being truthful as well as being realistic.If you do decide to take the job on,BEST OF LUCK TO YOU

Jimmy

[enduro]

I would suggest to the customer on an area this size that its concreted and coloured marble chipping sprinkled over the top of the wet concrete, then when its fully dried diamond polish it, i saw one yesterday and it looked brilliant, i was really impressed.

[wetdec]

You arn't qualified for this (toooo many questions) ........sorry


Travertine around a pool will be a pain in no time either an antiqued limestone or a fosil/sandstone. To go un natural then one of the Johnsons or Pilks specifier range.

What ever you use your first thought when asked to do a pool is what edging is available as without it the job will be ****e from the word go.............

[Grace'sDad]

Sorry to repeat this but I suspect you would be best "employing" the services of an experienced pro tiler to help you out with this job. Sometimes we've all got to admit that we are out of our depth with some jobs, but by tackling them sensibly (i.e. with someone more experienced) we can really learn a lot from them.

I would guess that from your questions, even fully armed with all the answers you will v. likely encounter major difficulties with a job like this.

Also, travertine is not a great idea around a pool IMO unless it is a very good grade.

[Saltire69]

As above but have u also thought how long it's gonna take u to lay the tiles. 400m2 by yourself

[dts]

I to think your out your depth sorry to follow on with all others. Have done this type of work in Spain and it isnt easy there were 3 of us so taking on a 400m task like this on your own is enormous. The prep work alone will take you possibly 2-3 weeks if your doing it manually the fall levels are critical and concrete will need reinforcement this aint your diy job. As for the nonslip paint we used it in but your better off with a nonslip tile as the paint doesnt last forever i think it was guaranteed for 2 years cant remember exactly.

Best of British i think you will need it

Andy

[Fekin]

Really sounds like you need to leave this to someone with pleanty of experiance mate.
Or get a couple of others in to lead the way.

[craig t]

2 fixers 1 labourer i.m.o, again if all these questions need to be asked i think you may benefit from working alongside someone with experience in this type of situation. No room for error in jobs like this or you could end up seriously out of pocket!

best of luck!!!

[theyomper]

I reckon this is a Victor Meldrew ..................

[Dave Ramsden]

travertine fitted to the perimeter of an exterior pool sounds like the biggest waste of money EVER!!! Surely on an area that size the quality of the job will fade fast no matter to what standard its fixed to...

PS, like everyone else has said.... your gonna need a very experienced tiler and if you have to ask so many questions, its probably a job best left alone...

Good look either way