Making the decision to complete your home renovation using travertine tiles or pavers is gratifying on many levels. The beautiful, natural stone is a wonderful way to liven up a space while adding a touch of elegance and class. Because of their natural look, these tiles and pavers blend well in just about any type of space. DIY travertine installations can also be fairly simple products as long as you have detailed installation instructions and access to the right equipment.

One of the most crucial components of a successful DIY travertine installation is the bonding agent – or mortar – used to cement the tiles firmly in place. When preparing to complete your own home renovation, you'll need to choose the best type of bonding agent for the task.

Travertine Mart recommends using any high-quality "thin-set" mortar for use with travertine tiles, which can be found at your local reputable hardware store. It's also a good idea to look for bonding agents that are labeled as "crack prevention" mortar, especially if you live in a colder climate where the freeze and thaw cycle is a major consideration for outdoor paving projects.

FlexBond is among the leading brand name thin-set mortars and works well with the travertine tiles and pavers you'll get from Travertine Mart. Other top-quality brands include MegaFlex, VersaBond Flex and VersaSet. You can find information about these and other suitable thin-set mortar options for your home installation here.

When choosing a bonding agent, you should consider both the type of materials you'll be working with (for example, tiles or pavers) as well as the environment you'll be installing them into. Outdoor installations using pavers would benefit from using a premium quality thin-set mortar, such as FlexBond, to lock the paving stones into place. Those in colder climates should also consider using an extra layer of the bonding agent to protect against the freeze and thaw cycle.

If you're considering your options for a good thin-set mortar, talk to your local hardware experts or call the customer service representatives at Travertine Mart. These friendly professionals can help you select the bonding agent that's perfect for your DIY travertine installation, and they may even give you a few pointers to make sure you get the job done right!