Installing Travertine Pavers on a Concrete Base
Travertine pavers should be laid on a concrete base.
Before you lay your travertine pavers:
Have the concrete ready first- Sweep off any loose pieces so that the surface is completely smooth. Any mould or mildew present must be removed.
Patch the holes – Watch out for small and large holes in the concrete base and patch them using a good quality concrete patching product. You can easily get it from a hardware store. Due to their adhesion, patching products bond better than normal concrete.
Make your design – Place your travertine dry on the concrete and move the pieces to design the pattern you want. This will also help you determine whether any of your travertine pavers need to be cut. Measure and mark carefully before making any cuts.
Mortar preparation – The best place to prepare the mortar is outdoors. You can use a wheelbarrow to mix the mortar. If you are not sure about the quantity required for doing small sections, it’s recommended that the whole bag is used.
Avoid any use of black or grey cement as in time it will permeate through the paver.
The holes on the back of the pavers should be filled before they are laid, with the same glue or material being used to lay the pavers. All holes must be filled.
Spreading mortar – Once the mortar is ready, spread it on the concrete using a trowel. Make sure that you hold it at a 45-degree angle. Also, apply a small layer of mortar on the back edge using a small layer. This will join the paver to the paver next to it. Continue with the process until all of the full-sized pavers are laid.
Use only the best quality off white or adhesive glue.
Joints – Joints should be not less than 8mm (irregularity of the natural stone can vary 2-3mm when smaller or longer – hence the reason for the 8mm)
Cutting – Once you have finished laying the full-size pavers, you can start cutting the ones you marked for cutting. Once they are cut, you can apply mortar and lay them down to finish the design. These pieces should be laid in the same way you did earlier.
Grouting – Grouting should be done all over the paver, not just the joints.
Cleaning – DO NOT use acidic agents to clean travertine.
Use non-acidic cleaners for natural stone. There are many non-acidic cleaners for natural stones available.
Sealing – Sealing is very important and we highly recommend you to use only the best – there are a number of excellent quality sealers on the market.
If you are using Travertine as a wall cladding, avoid on spot fixing with the glue – treat the stone as a whole.
In case you use sand and cement to lay your pavers, please use an agent to avoid penetration of efflorescence that will come through the paver over time.
If in doubt, please call us and we will have our stonemason consultant contact you for on the spot assistance
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