Unfilled Travetine - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

dick turpin · 10-03-2008

Hi, i have just been to a job 150*150 unfilled travetine, the tiles are on the walls they just want the grouting done, but dont want the wholes filled. is this something you guys would do or will it be a night mare job.

Cheers Dick

TilingLogistics · 10-03-2008

A nightmare I would have thought! Slow and laborious

Kev

**MICK the Tiler** · 10-03-2008

What a pain 150x150 small as well, alot of masking tape down the verticals grout remove tape then tape and grout horizontals. Not easy and very fiddly.

dick turpin · 10-03-2008

mmmmmmmm, the masking tape sounds like a good idea. 11m2 s**t that will take some time, i have taken a few tiles to lay on a piece of board so they can see what it looks like grouted with the holes filled, hoping the guys wife will like it will save them a few quid and make the job a lot easier.

**MICK the Tiler** · 10-03-2008

Trav always looks better filled IMHO, I still can't see why people buy this stuff and not want the holes filled looks like crap. The sample board should be a big vote winner in getting it your way

**enduro** · 10-03-2008

Try using a grouting gun, i use one when in laying slate.

**wetdec** · 10-03-2008

The Americans do this. Its why you should never seal before you grout, if you do the sealer reduces the grip the grout has. They seal them a couple of times making sure holes are filled then pick the grout out of the holes.

The biggest problem occuring with travertine floors is popping due to deflection, this generally happens on honed trav but if laying unfilled and sealing before grouting you are asking for trouble.

An alternative to picking out would be on Chiaro use Mapei Jasmin on Noce use Mapei grey then sponge the holes deep when you whipe off

dick turpin · 10-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetdec

The Americans do this. Its why you should never seal before you grout, if you do the sealer reduces the grip the grout has. They seal them a couple of times making sure holes are filled then pick the grout out of the holes.

The biggest problem occuring with travertine floors is popping due to deflection, this generally happens on honed trav but if laying unfilled and sealing before grouting you are asking for trouble.

This could be a problem, the guy has already seled the tiles........do you think the grout will fall out then?

**wetdec** · 10-03-2008

I said sealing before reduces the grip of the grout, sealing after grouting is the right way ( its logic ). As with all things the right way is not always followed and there are hundreds of tilers who will seal before grouting because its easier.

You have to look at the job you have in hand, if he's sealed he's sealed nothing you want to be doing about it as your liability starts now and you have to decide how to proceed.

Personaly I would be getting it sealed twice more and pipe the grout into the joints. This can be done easily with Mapei untracolour as the consistancy allows it and it doesnt split. Leave grout until almost dry then run the rounded corner of your grout float over the joints.

Nicobond do empty silicone tubes you could use these to pipe__they call them Gunit

dick turpin · 10-03-2008

cheers guys. if they ant the holes unfilled then i think a grout gun would be the way forward, just had a look around tinternet you can pick them up for 20 ish of the queens finest pounds.

Wetdec; you said to use mapie ultracoluor, would you have probs with other makes?

**wetdec** · 10-03-2008

The reason I say that is I know it works. Grouts have different grain size and differing additives some floor grouts for eg have a pretty heavy grain if you use these in a gun all you do is squeeze the water out and your left with the sand.

Try others by all means but the ultracolour would be my choice especially on chiaro/light trav the Jasmine is a good colour to use.

All the best, if nothing else you will learn something new.

dick turpin · 10-03-2008

thanx wetdec, top advise, you guys are a font of knowledge, would be grouting the walls so partical size shouldnt be an issue, i did say they should look at other colours, i think thats why they didn't want the wholes filled as it may make the wals look a bit to white, jasine is a good idea or a sandstone

cheers again top man