Tips on Travertine installation

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Travertine is a form of stone that's a mineral cousin to marble and shares some of the same qualities. Like marble, travertine displays a beautiful natural mix of patterns and colors, the result of mineral deposits. And like marble, those same natural characteristics make it slightly tricky to cut and install in tile form. Because of the porous nature of travertine, it's not recommended for countertops, where it could take on food stains, but it can make great floor and wall tiles when properly installed.

Surface Preparation
As with all hard tiles, you need a strong, immobile backing to lay travertine. For walls, use 1/4-inch cement board. For floors, stability is even more important, so use 5/8-inch cement board. Affix the cement board to the wall or floor with carpenter's glue and screws. Use thinset mortar to tape any seams between the boards, as you would drywall, and sand the seams smooth. Go over the cement board surface with a flat putty knife to ensure there are no bumps or obstructions.

Mortar the Tile
Generally, you'll lay the tiles from the middle of the area, so any cuts on the edges are the same on either side. Use a square and pencil to divide the area into four even squares, and use those lines as your starting guides for the first rows of tiles, starting from the intersection and moving out.

Spread thinset mortar down with a notched trowel, and press the tiles int... ...read the full guide >>>