Advice Please: Is Travertine Unusually Expensive to Lay?

[mgoodw]

Hi, I have had a kitchen extension built and now have run into a problem with the stone tiling. The builder quoted a price to undertake the overall building work that included the installation of "stone floor covering" and it was agreed that I would source the stone itself.

I have purchase 33 square metres of tumbled Travertine 600 x 400 x 12 tiles. Having seen these the builder says that he doesn't feel confident in fitting them himself so he wants to subcontract it to a specialist flooring tiler. However it seems that this will cost around £****** more than the builder had allowed in his costings (as he had originally planned to lay the stone floor himself in 2 days). In the opinion of the builder the problem has arisen because I have chosen Travertine.

Please can you advise me whether tumbled Travertine is unusually expensive to install and, if so, how much more expensive than laying "standard" natural stone flooring? I am happy to pay the excess cost if it is due to my choice of stone but at the moment it seems likely that most of the discrepancy may simply be down to the original estimate being incorrect.

Thanks in advance for any guidance that anyone can offer.

 

[Gazzer]

Stone needs more time, Lippage , cutting and sealing needs to be considered.

Where as a normal ceramic type tile would be the esiest tile to lay as there would be no sealing needed and most cutting done on a manual cutetr. Stone will need wet cutting etc , therefore more time consuming.

As your builder has already quoted for "stone" I feel he is trying it on. IMO travertine is one of the easiest of the stone to lay. I also notice that you have chosen Tumbled edge travertine which make it even easier.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi Travertine is no different to any stone to lay, ie Limestone, Slate, Sandstone etc. They all need to be wet cut and sealed.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Another post overlap. Neale

 

[Gazzer]

Another post overlap. Neale

I will go and make a coffee, give you a head start

 

[mikethetiler]

yes travetine as with all natural stone tiles are more expensive to lay mainly because of the time consumption due too the sealing of the tiles and all the cuts have to be done on wet cutter

 

[Pebbs]

I think the question is this...travertine anymore expensive to lay than any other stone....in short no... unless Im doing a complex floor, the labour rate will remain the same whatever the material is. The builder may have thought that he could cost it the same as a ceramic to lay, and has now come unstuck.

Stick to your guns, he gave a quote for stone, your using stone, he has to stick to the agreed price, if the pattern hasnt changed.

Pebbs

 

[Homza]

If i was expecting to lay polished stone and found out the client decided to go with tumbled I would be happy. I wouldn't offer a discount after the fact but definitely don't see from what you are sharing that there is a legitimate reason to raise the price.
IMO always best to have a tile specialist do the tiling, not a general building contractor. Of course I claim to be a tile specialist.

 

[nybor62]

as all above , sorry to here about your dilemma ,speak with your builder , he cant move the goal posts , just because he dont have the skills to complete the task,

im sure the price you have paid for the project will more than cover the cost of tiling.

but make sure its installed correctly

 

[johnryan]

he's having you on, and probably trying to squeeze a few more quid from you. tumbled travertine is one of the easiest stone floors to lay. is it a modular pattern or something? i know a couple of builders who'll do straight forward patterns, but won't touch it if it's an opus pattern or something, as they don't know how to start. if he's made a mistake in his quote, there's no reason fro you to pay for it.

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome

 

[mattyg]

I'd be asking the question "do you want a builder to lay your expensive trav tiles" It may be better to pay extra and get a proper job

 

[Time's Ran Out]

:welcome: To the Tilers Forum.

33sq metres of stone in 2 days :lol::lol::lol: some one is not being accurate with their costings!
That could be a 4 day job at least.
Was it a fully inclusive back of a cigarette pack estimate or a summary of works/itemised costing contract?
Others have advised the no difference aspect of your problem, but if he has no confidence in being able to do a professional job for you - it would seem a financial solution has to be found.
Good luck on a satisfactory outcome - and you could get a 'guide price' through Administration or PM a member direct.

 

[kilty55]

not sure i agree he should be putting the price up however he has given you an estimate not set priced job is this right

the case could be argued that hes under estimated it which he has

 

[DHTiling]

Stone is more to lay than ceramics..

Your choice now is whether you want to pay for having them installed... The builder has said he cannot do it and has got a tiler into price it.. this is a separate price and another trade coming in..

So unless you have a written contract with the builder then you will have to pay the tiler or seek another price IMO..