DIY-friendly, groutless stone tiles are about $12 per square foot. Below is an installation of 2x6 tiles set in a herringbone pattern. Hi, I have been reading the above and still have some uncertainty about how to tile my living room. All tiles have to have a grout joint. Best of all: no grungy grout to repair or refill. Use your spatula or a rubber float and pack the grout into your grout lines between the tiles. Travertine is an outstanding example of tile that can be installed without grout lines. Minimum Grout lines The quick answer is nothing closer than 1/16. Your email address will not be published. The problem I have is the installer grouted the cream-colored travertine without first treating the tile with any kind of chemical so all the tiles picked up some of the medium-gray grout color. As a general rule, floor tiles should have grout lines of 1/8 inch or larger, depending on the type and size of tile; most floor tiles are 8 inches by 8 inches, but larger versions are available. Second, even though the traditional grout line is supposed to be … The grout should fill the grout joint full. We are about to install 450 sq ft of 18x18 inch travertine tile on an indoor concrete floor and I need as much information about the installation process as possible. I don’t do that on big tiles, because it just wastes the grout. Turn your deck into a patio -- they’ll cover any level surface. Grout Lines for Floor Tiles. Apply the thin-set to a small area. Guide to gorgeous travertine tile natural stone kitchen finale travertine backsplash travertine shower 1 8 grout lines best ceramic tile how to fill holes and s in travertine ceramic tile grout color seal gallery baker s travertine travertine tile grout colors. What can we do to fix it without ripping all the tile up? Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive deals you wont find anywhere else straight to your inbox! The chalk lines should cross at the midpoint of the floor at right angles. Houses settle over time, and this edge needs a more flexible material – use caulk instead. However, it’s much easier and cheaper than having to replace the tiles due to damage. Consider where you want your grout lines to be visually because that may affect your layout as well. It is breath-taking when you see the natural beauty of a joint-less counter top or shower produced with this veined stone. Grouting may seem scary, but it doesn't need to be. Tiling Around Outlets. Plus when they are butted together, normally the tile joints don’t line up properly. Yes you can install the travertine without a grout joint. A travertine floor will add value to any room. If you want to know why please keep reading. Aug 23, 2017 … Well, the short answer would be a simple no – you should not attempt to install tile without grout. Bottom Grout Line Cracking. The only way for us to know what your situation is, if we performed an inspection and evaluated all of the conditions. One of the reasons for grout joints is to compensate for the inherent dimension variations in tile and stone. No gap means no grout. In most other tile I will use 1/16 or 1/8 inch lines. This can be scrubbed onto the grout with a small brush, that will allow you to wash the areas between the tiles without scratching their edges and causing damage to the material. The big drawback to Bondera is the price. He said that it is no issue and is a cleaner look less of a chance for crap to get in the grout line and discolor. To clean travertine grout lines, mix equal parts baking soda and water to create a gritty paste. ... Making My Travertine Tile and Grout Look Like New. For most granite and marble tile I install I use either 1/32 or 1/16 inch grout lines. I've seen quite a few questions here and other places regarding butting travertine tile without any grout lines. This natural stone is cut-to-size leaving honed, flat edges that make great grout-less joints. Donato is the founder of CTaSC. Travertine tiles don’t attract or hold onto dirt and dust like carpets and hardwood. Some of the questions I have are: 1. is it best to use spacers and grout, or butt the tiles? First off, this floor wasn’t even part of our original bathroom renovation plans. Under the right or wrong conditions they could fail in the future. We already have tile installed budded up and no one told me or explained me why this was not a good idea. The second reason is if you but tiles together then when they expand, as all do expand due to temperature and moisture fluctuations, it can cause the the tile edges to chip or worst cause the tile to tend/debond. It could be efflorescence staining that can be cleaned easily enough, but the question is what caused the stain and will it reoccur? I had a 4"x4" tumbled travertine tile backsplash installed over a fairly light-colored granite counter. First of all, getting even grout lines is not a simple task. It has unfilled vein cut travertine tiles that are grout-less. How to Grout Peel and Stick Tiles: A Complete Install Tutorial for Vinyl Tiles. You only need to butter the back of the travertine tile with mortar, then push it against the other tiles—no gap necessary. The problem I have is the installer grouted the cream-colored travertine without first treating the tile with any kind of chemical so all the tiles picked up some of the medium-gray grout color. Travertine is a beautiful and popular type of tile to work with for home remodels. It could be a latex film that requires special cleaners to come off. Travertine, Marble and Granite can only be cut with a diamond blade wet saw, unlike porcelain or ceramic tiles that can be cut with a snap cutter or cutting board. Fill the grout line very full of grout. If you pick a grout color closer to the tile color, it will appear that the grout joints are smaller. Travertine tile can be easily cut with a wet saw using a diamond blade. What we suggest is to sweep polymeric sand to the joints after the installation is complete. Other than mosaic and most 'subway' and solid color 4x4 & 6x6 field tile (bc they have built in grout spacers), you can really use any tiles out there that have a smooth straight edge on them. We've had a couple of installation quotes and the most recent suggested laying it with no grout divisions. Keep in mind that unfilled travertine has holes in it that collect dirt and are difficult to clean. Have a question about Tile, Stone, or a related topic? Should travertine tile be set with a grout joint or no grout? The issue is the grout. Litigation and Insurance Claims Investigation Services. We have investigated many tile installations where the tile or stone are butted together and they end up getting what we call a chattered edge with little chips because of the expansion and compression of the materials. Grouted on edges but it appears no gap was used in some joints. They applied a sealer after resting the grout. Then it’s time to grout. Grout lines for non-rectified tiles tends to be 3-5mm to allow for the variations in tile size. Behind the missing grout is the butted joint. The best way to ensure the least number of cuts is to start your pattern in the corner of the room rather than trying to centre it. Yes you can install the travertine without a grout joint. Even if you push the tiles up against each other very tightly, you will always have a crack through which liquids can enter the substrate and cause damage. And it appears there is no grout between the joint and the sub floor. Applying clear sealer or enhancer is recommended on travertine before grouting, so that the grout color does not penetrate the travertine tiles. They have been buffing these for days and to me they look worse than before they were buffed. I was just wondering if drilling through the grout line (3mm) with a 5mm flat pointed bit (Screwfix type) will snag and cause the tiles to crack. I looked up the idea of no grout lines using travertine and someone said you must have a grout line … Grout Locks or secures the tile besides “assurance” of straight lines. You only need to butter the back of the travertine tile with mortar, then push it against the other tiles—no gap necessary. Travertine tiles don’t attract or hold onto dirt and dust like carpets and hardwood. Not very practical for floor applications. Sheet vinyl is getting better and better at reproducing the look of real stone tiles, complete with (fake) grout lines that you’ll never have to seal or repair. Let us know if you have any further questions. If you do not see your question, please click the "Contact support" button on the right side and we … This can lift the dirt from the tiles without dropping the solution onto the grout. As a general rule, floor tiles should have grout lines of 1/8 inch or larger, depending on the type and size of tile; most floor tiles are 8 inches by 8 inches, but larger versions are available. I am wanting to replicate a floor seen in a midcentury house in Connecticut designed by Philip Johnson in the 70s. Featured: Ice Interlocking Pattern Mosaic Tile The grout joints to some degree can mitigate movement, but not to the extent of a movement joints with resilient sealants. Let the tiles dry/cure for 2 days. Simply remove the grout in between the lines entirely and then replace it with new, fresh grout. Market Research for Exporting to the U.S. Catalina Ceramic Tile and Stone Reports Special Discount Offer, Kitchen and Bath Cabinets Countertops Reports, “Ghostly” white blotches/stains on ceramic tile in my kitchen. Prior to even thinking of grouting tumbled travertine tile, you first need to apply a deep penetrating sealer. It was repaired once by the installer but it looks like they just applied the grout on top of The cracks. It is sorta like fancy double-stick-tape for tiles. But, its better to use at least a thin groutline  like 1/16" joint with a grout color of your choice. Water vapor escaping the … Bottom Grout Line Cracking. Grouting tile. We're planning on installing this Marazzi Montagna smoky black wood look tile in our entire main living space of our house. Travertine has tons of benefits for homeowners and commercial users, but no material is without its downsides too. How to Grout Tumbled Travertine Tile. Some with move more than others. Standards are recommendations and not mandatory, but they are established to prevent reoccurring problems and failures. Another problem is the stone tiles debonding and tenting particularly if there were no movement joints installed at the perimeters and within the field of stone. Maintaining Travertine Floors. Whether it is a natural stone tile like Travertine or a ceramic tile like a porcelain tile, all have to have a grout joint for two reasons. However, typically you'd use at least 1/16"  (the thinnest grout line available) grout joints, especially in the instance of a countertop, so that any moisture won't seep through and damage the integrity of the install. Make sure you still grout it to fill all of the voids. I’ve seen non grouted ceramic, granite, marble, limestone in a wide variety of locations, airports, subways, palace and museums all without grout lines/spaces cannot recall in my 81 years noticeable ugly signs of an issue caused by lack of grout space. The most common tools used to install Travertine tile - or most tile for that matter - include a tape measure, a rubber mallet, a power drill and mixing paddle, a marker or wax pencil, a level, a tapping block, a torpedo level, a chalk line, tile spacers, a margin trowel, a notched trowel, ... install and grout and seal Travertine tile. If done incorrectly, the mistakes can be very costly. This is referred to thermo movements and moisture movements. The medium bed holds its consistency better than the thin set, which will sag a bit in the middle of the tile. Grouting and Cleaning . Grouting and Cleaning . The width of the grout joint is dictated by how much variation in sizing the tile as so it can compensate for the variation. Tiling Around Outlets. I’m not a paid tiler…this question is about Travertine and grout spaces needed or not. If you look closely you can see that the grout line varies between roughly a 3/16 and 1/8 grout line to adjust to the tile size. It is possible to cut in grout joints with a dry cutting saw blade, but it would be a tedious job, and there is a good chance they would tend to chip the tile edges. As long as the travertine tiles are well bonded to the substrate, that you cut open the joints so they are about 1/8 inch wide, that you clean the joints thoroughly, and let them dry, and then if you install a polymer modified cementitious grout meeting ANSI A118.7 per … Grout Lines for Floor Tiles. I thought it was dust but it is not. Here are a few of the most common cons you’ll hear about travertine tile: Weight. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. I have done a number of ceramic tile jobs, but never laid travertine. I suppose its possible to do but I dont think its a good idea. To clean travertine grout lines, mix equal parts baking soda and water to create a gritty paste. Do not use tile spacers. The Importance Of Sealing Your Stone And Tile Floors The most important role of grouting is hiding any differences in size between tiles.Floor tile without grout. The most common tools used to install Travertine tile - or most tile for that matter - include a tape measure, a rubber mallet, a power drill and mixing paddle, a marker or wax pencil, a level, a tapping block, a torpedo level, a chalk line, tile spacers, a margin trowel, a notched trowel, and a wet saw. Bondera is a tile setting mat that allows you to place, and adjust the tiles without using thin set. Instead, line up the corners of the tiles and use your rubber mallet to gently tap the surface of the marble or travertine until … He said that will go away with the sealer (I don’t know!) Tumbled travertine tile has many dips, curves, holes and natural surfaces which give it its character but also makes it more difficult to grout. Installing Travertine Tile: Cons. Here are insights from the Tile Outlets product experts about how to ensure that your Travertine looks beautiful for years to come. #3 Vinyl That Looks Like Real Tile and Grout. To prevent cracking in the grout between the bottom row of tile and the countertop edge, do not use grout at all. Houses settle over time, and this edge needs a more flexible material – use caulk instead. Here are a few tips to help you clean your travertine floor grout easily. I've seen where pros, after careful planning and inspecting the tiles, can be installed without grout. We were told to mix sanded and nonsanded grout, to grout the tile … I can fix this with a diamond oscillating tool by opening a gap between the tiles. Start with the area where you measured your initial chalk lines and … If there is a white film you don’t want to seal over it or you trap it in. Even though you butt the tile together it will still create a very small grout joint. Why's that, you might wonder. Travertine tile can be easily cut with a wet saw using a diamond blade. We just installed 2x4 travertine tile back splash, I sealed them approx. It may take you a lot longer to get it right. Required fields are marked *. Travertine Paver and Travertine Tile Mud-Set Installation: Just like other types of tiles and natural stone, Travertine Pavers and Travertine Tiles can be laid mud-set on top of an existing concrete surface. Understandably, most installers have a love-hate relationship with grout. Even though you butt the tile together it will still create a very small grout joint. No gap means no grout. We used Polyblend Butter Cream non-sanded grout from Home Depot. It takes up a lot of time, and it requires meticulous work. I've seen quite a few questions here and other places regarding butting travertine tile without any grout lines. I suppose its possible to do but I dont think its a good idea. The general rule of thumb for grout is lines larger than 1/8″ use sanded grout and lines 1/8″ and smaller use unsanded grout. ... Porcelain tile can imitate the look of travertine without the level of upkeep and maintenance that natural stone requires. The 3/16 grout line is by no means thick and leaves a perfect amount of room for the natural variation of the size of the tiles. We are a professional consulting company led by industry expert Donato Pompo and made up of accomplished ceramic tile consultants, stone consultants, ceramic tile and stone installers, architects, engineers, general contractors, construction scientists and other industry specialists. This means that unlike ceramic tile (except for rectified tile), travertine's edges are perfect: both perfectly straight and perfectly at 90-degree angles. The sealer will not take away the shinny condition; it is more likely to make it shinier depending on what type of sealer you use. Karina, I just saw this post regarding the tile you had installed. I use this once every 2-3 years on ceramic tile grout lines and every 3-5 years on my travertine. Tiles should never be butted together per the standards. The simple answer is SHOULD. Featured: Puebla Splitface Travertine. See what your installer says, and do some more research online about installing travertine tile. This means that unlike ceramic tile (except for rectified tile), travertine's edges are perfect: both perfectly straight and perfectly at 90-degree angles. Is there any tile that you can use for countertops that may be installed without grout. It'll cover the foyer, hallways, living, dining and kitchen. Special types, such as slate or quarry tiles, often do not have edges uniform enough to look good with tight spacing. This can be scrubbed onto the grout with a small brush, that will allow you to wash the areas between the tiles without scratching their edges and causing damage to the material. 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It against the other reason for grout joints are smaller was repaired once by the installer but it n't! Using correct technique, with tips for best practices thermo movements and moisture movements exclusive deals you find! Remove the grout color that matches the tile since it ’ s much easier and cheaper than having to the! Inch lines is there any tile that can be incredibly heavy grout color does not penetrate the without. Any room to a polish or butt the tile together it will still create a gritty paste dropping solution... As well to even thinking of grouting installing travertine tile without grout lines travertine tile and the most recent laying., mix equal parts baking soda and water to create a very small joint! Places regarding butting travertine tile: Weight everybody wants to have the but!