Travertine tile needs a suitable substrate and a compatible setting system. Mortar bonds the tile; grout fills the joints after setting.
Check the floor or wall
Natural stone tile needs suitable support. Ask your installer to assess the substrate, movement, flatness and moisture. Repair causes of instability before tiling.
Bathrooms and other wet areas need a complete water-management system. Stone and grout alone do not provide waterproofing.
Choose setting materials
Use a mortar approved for the stone, substrate, location and tile size. Light stone can need white setting material. Some moisture-sensitive stones need a special system.
Follow the mortar manufacturer’s limits for thickness, working time and curing. Thin-set mortar is not a general-purpose leveling bed.
Do not set tile in grout
Mortar and grout have different roles. Mortar bonds the tile to the substrate. Grout fills the specified joints after the mortar has cured sufficiently.
Do not strike stone with a sledgehammer. Use the handling and setting method specified for the tile and system.
Organize the work
- Confirm the substrate and wet-area requirements.
- Dry-lay a representative area to check tone and layout.
- Select the approved joint spacing.
- Apply the compatible mortar as directed.
- Set tiles with the required support and coverage.
- Keep movement joints clear of rigid grout.
- Allow the required curing time before use.
Plan the finished surface
Review doors, drains and adjoining floor levels. Keep the completed surface within the project requirements. Protect the work while the setting materials cure.
Compare travertine tiles. Read tile thickness and the installation guide with your licensed and insured installer.
Questions and answers
Should I put thin-set over grout to bond tile?
No. Use a specified mortar system on a properly prepared substrate. Grout has a separate joint-filling role.
Can I use the same mortar inside and outside?
Only if its manufacturer approves both applications for the selected stone and exposure.
