Grouting pitted travertine

[diytrainee]

Hello all

I'm in the process of tiling my kitchen splash back. They are travertine tile that is pitted and riven.

Could any of you offer any advice or guidance on how to grout these tiles as I suspect my normal grouting process will fill much of the holes in the tiles which I'd like to keep.

Pic attached.

Cheers

 

[J Sid]

Hi. Looking good.
Perhaps you can tell me, if there is no grout in the holes what do you think will end up in them? Yes dirt and grease when they get washed down. Very hygienic. Grout it all, it will look better long run.

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

Make sure you seal prior to grouting and after. As julian said fill the holes with grout or buy a resin filler to match the trav.

 

[diytrainee]

Make sure you seal prior to grouting and after. As julian said fill the holes with grout or buy a resin filler to match the trav.

Many thanks for your replies. I'm surprised by your responses however they make perfect sense. One question if I seal the tiles before grouting wont that stop the grout from adhering? or will it adhere fine anyway.Why would I seal before and after grouting?

Cheers

 

[cam_low]

So the grout colouring doesnt stain the travertine.

Aftetwards it will protect against staining from food splasges etc if cleaned up quickly.

You may want to look into a matt or a glossy sealer

 

[High Peak Tiling]

All above comments are good, just remember when washing off after grouting to keep it clean and buff the tiles when grout is dry.
This will just eliminate the chances of sealing and dirt or grout residue in.

 

[diytrainee]

Guys thank you all so much for your advice.

if I seal the tiles before grouting wont that stop the grout from adhering?

 

[Ian]

Guys thank you all so much for your advice.

if I seal the tiles before grouting wont that stop the grout from adhering?

Use LTP mattstone, and a polymer modified grout such as Mapei ultra colour plus or tilemaster grout 3000. You'll have no problems.

 

[beanz]

I don't usually seal these tiles before grouting, to be honest.. Just after. I had a customer once that didn't want the larger holes filled, so I just grouted around them.. Looked good, but as others have said, it's a breeding ground for bacteria.

 

[Plumbing Tiler]

I've been using the LTP Mattstone for travertine for years, its good stuff, thoroughly recommend it!

 

[Concrete guy]

I used to fit these for an upmarket kitchen firm a fair few years ago, they insisted the voids in the stone was ungrouted.

I used to use a pointing gun and would combine wall and floor grout to give a nice consistency that was able to fill the larger voids but still had a creamy consistency for a nice finish.

I'd dry mix BAL white or ivory wall grout with BAL Ivory wide joint grout 50/50. Thoroughly mix dry then add to water in another bucket and mix mechanically. Used to give a lovely finish and leave all the interest in the stone.

In areas behind hobs/cookers and sinks it wasn't uncommon to fit a sheet of glass over the times to keep things clean but still retain the look.

 

[Dan]

The more and more I see trav' the more I don't like it.
Sorry that was of no help whatsoever. Just saying.

 

[High Peak Tiling]

The more and more I see trav' the more I don't like it.
Sorry that was of no help whatsoever. Just saying.

Trav ? Trav Trav

 

[thompsonbrown]

I think the grout helps blend the overall look of travertine
Pictures of trav before & after

 

[Bradma9]

If you use a jasmine colour grout and grout it all they look really good and the colour still brings out the holes, just finished three bathrooms in travertine and thy look really good! Sealed with stain stop before and after grouting!