Travertine (again!)

[pgreen1011]

Hi,

Firstly I'd like to apologise for another travertine thread I will have loads of questions so I thought this would a point of reference for me.

In a few weeks I will be refurbing my own bathroom. I have always liked the look of a natural stone and travertine is top of my list.

I believe they have to be sealed to avoid staining? Is this a one-off treatment or something that has to be done regularly? Are they worth the extra labour or would a ceramic alternative be easier to maintain?

cheers

Paul

[andy allen]

hi paul, you should seal them before grouting, and then best to redo it every 12 to 18 months, sooner if you notice any stains apearing, allways use white adhesive, and what kind of walls are you fixing to? some natural is to heavy to fix on to plaster, ceramics are less upkeep and easier to fix but do not give the wow factor of natural stone.

[aph257]

As above and to clarify "white adhesive" Andy means flexible cement based adhesive and not your ready mixed.

[pgreen1011]

hi paul, you should seal them before grouting, and then best to redo it every 12 to 18 months, sooner if you notice any stains apearing, allways use white adhesive, and what kind of walls are you fixing to? some natural is to heavy to fix on to plaster, ceramics are less upkeep and easier to fix but do not give the wow factor of natural stone.

Hi Andy

They will be fixed to newly plastered (4weeks) brickwork, a pretty sound foundation?
12-18 months doesn't sound too much of a drama for resealing.

As above and to clarify "white adhesive" Andy means flexible cement based adhesive and not your ready mixed.

Hi Paul

Do you have a recomendation for an adhesive?

Cheers guys

Paul

[Alan.P]

Hi Paul, sorry to pour oil on the water but it sounds like your walls will not take the weight of the tile you intend on fixing, the recommended weight for plaster is 20 kg m2, that includes the weight of the the tile, adhesive and grout.

[whitebeam]

Have a look at this for guidence Tile Weights

[Dave]

If sealed correctly and maintained with the correct products then a sealer will last years before any more applications are required

This of course is impregnators and not topical sealers

[pgreen1011]

Hi Paul, sorry to pour oil on the water but it sounds like your walls will not take the weight of the tile you intend on fixing, the recommended weight for plaster is 20 kg m2, that includes the weight of the the tile, adhesive and grout.

Hi Alan,

I appricate your advice. What is the alternative to fixing to plaster?

Have a look at this for guidence Tile Weights

Cheers, I really didn't realise the weight involed

If sealed correctly and maintained with the correct products then a sealer will last years before any more applications are required

This of course is impregnators and not topical sealers

Thanks Dave,

Can you recomend a sealer?

Thank you all for your help

Paul

[Bolter]

Hi Alan,

I appricate your advice. What is the alternative to fixing to plaster?

Plasterboard or any tile backerboard.

[pgreen1011]

Plasterboard or any tile backerboard.

Hi

Thanks for the info

Paul

[Rich]

As above, you could overboard with cement boards or plasterboards (I would prefer cement boards) as for adhesives and sealers, do you have a Tile Giant near you?

Mapei: Tile Giant Store Finder...

If you go in to any of their stores, they will point you in the right direction regarding adhesives, grouts, primers, sealers and so on

[pgreen1011]

As above, you could overboard with cement boards or plasterboards (I would prefer cement boards) as for adhesives and sealers, do you have a Tile Giant near you?

Mapei: Tile Giant Store Finder...

If you go in to any of their stores, they will point you in the right direction regarding adhesives, grouts, primers, sealers and so on

Cheers Rich,

Rayleigh is 10 mins from me. Will pop in.

If I remember rightly Tile Giant had 600 x 400 tiles for £19.99 m2. Does anyone have experience with this product?

Cheers

Paul

[cyclonebri1]

As above, you could overboard with cement boards or plasterboards (I would prefer cement boards) as for adhesives and sealers, do you have a Tile Giant near you?

Mapei: Tile Giant Store Finder...

If you go in to any of their stores, they will point you in the right direction regarding adhesives, grouts, primers, sealers and so on

Ok, look I'm not quite getting this,

Newly plastered walls are not ok.

But overboard with another layer of plasterboard or cement/no more ply and it is???

Doesn't that just about double the weight off wall?

And no mention of method of fixing here either, surely it has to be mechanical to bypass the skim/plaster weak link???????????????????????? Confused Brian

[Rich]

Ok, look I'm not quite getting this,

Newly plastered walls are not ok.

But overboard with another layer of plasterboard or cement/no more ply and it is???

Doesn't that just about double the weight off wall?

And no mention of method of fixing here either, surely it has to be mechanical to bypass the skim/plaster weak link???????????????????????? Confused Brian

Yes it should be mechanically fixed. This will be the recommended technique of installing the cement boards, this info will be given to the customer when the purchase the boards (and screws that are sold with them) and will be in any literature relating to the boards. Nobody was recommending NOT screwing the boards back. Should have been clearer, sorry to confuse you.

[cyclonebri1]

Just put down some travertine mosaics on worktops and shelves in the bathroom, sealed before and after grouting. Boy do they look superb,

[Dave]

[cyclonebri1]

Sorry Dave, mid stream at the moment, BUT, I have been given great advice on here, and when the bathroom is done I will supply piccies, at least if I can figure how too chap