grouting travertine

[enduro]

I always seal prior to laying, just a quick wipe over with sealant, i have done miles of the stuff wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[wetdec]

I always seal prior to laying, just a quick wipe over with sealant, i have done miles of the stuff wouldn't do it any other way.

Why would you seal a surface that you want to fill then doesnt this prevent absorbtion by the porus surface so reducing or eliminating the opotunity of grab for the grout you are using.

As well as the above I would think stone is rarely dry on arrival, is re-wetted when laid by the adhesive and wiping down, if you seal it where does all the moisture go assuming you use a water based sealer as a chemical one won't work anyway will it ?

tiler

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[enduro]

I always get the stone a week before i need it, and it has to go into the house before i lay it, so its dry. I do work for a guy who has been laying stone for 20 plus years, he also imports it, got a shop and all he does is natural stone, thats the way he taught me.

 

[wetdec]

I always get the stone a week before i need it, and it has to go into the house before i lay it, so its dry. I do work for a guy who has been laying stone for 20 plus years, he also imports it, got a shop and all he does is natural stone, thats the way he taught me.

Then its not your fault :lol:

To be honest then you have the perfect circumstances for a stone lay but in 9 out of 10 fixes these tiles are holding moisture as they are cut and crated within a short period of time so have no oppotunity to dry at all.

My experience and the reason I push laying correctly is I troubleshooted floors for a big stone importer for 6 yrs so have seen the results of bad lays 6mths after the tiler has left the building. Where it can look good on the day popping of fillers and grout expecially on wooden floors is a very disheartening sight and part of the reasoning behind dirty stone.

Please dont think I was patronising you just trying to explain the thought process.

tiler

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[enduro]

I think any advice people can have wetdec about natural stone the better, your post have been very good for new people who want to lay stone. keep them coming.

 

[maudegonne]

No knickers in a twist just that if you can lay ceramics it doesnt give you the qualification to lay stone as you are finding out.

You asked the question and you were answered but then you questioned validity of the answer I have found these 2 threads which you have obviously missed in your search. They will give you an insite ........


http://www.tilersforums.com/tiling-forum/7934-unfilled-travetine.html?highlight=unfilled

http://www.tilersforums.com/tiling-forum/7599-sealing-travertine.html?highlight=unfilled


Please learn by this............

tiler

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Thank you for that. I indeed missed those.... Those treads were very informative!
I always like to understand the reasons for doing things......
The grouted walls that I did look absolutely fine, but it was indeed a lot harder than ceramic tiles. I was wondering if I did something wrong.. but you are clearly pointing out that natural stone and ceramic are very different to work with.

Thank you for your help!!

 

[wetdec]

It is no trouble at all, I will talk all day if it means helping anyone learn the basics of stone as there just isnt enough understanding out there.

If you dont ask you dont learn no matter how silly you may think the question there is always an answer !!!!!

tiler

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PS, threads has a h in it even in Ireland :lol:

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[TilingLogistics]

Why would you seal a surface that you want to fill then doesnt this prevent absorbtion by the porus surface so reducing or eliminating the opotunity of grab for the grout you are using.

As well as the above I would think stone is rarely dry on arrival, is re-wetted when laid by the adhesive and wiping down, if you seal it where does all the moisture go assuming you use a water based sealer as a chemical one won't work anyway will it ?

tiler



I have to ask for my own peace of mind a couple of questions!!!

If you preseal prior to grouting as indeed Enduro does and I used to in some situations?

How does a penetrating sealer with a water carrier prevent grout from grabbing the surface?

Whether the stone is dry or not what is to prevent you using a sealer with a water based carrier?

Kev

 

[maudegonne]

Sorry about that. Although I live in Ireland, English is not my native language...... Next time I will use the spell check.

Wow... learning tiling and english at the same time!!!!

 

[wetdec]

How does a penetrating sealer with a water carrier prevent grout from grabbing the surface?

But it doesnt does it you should know that so why would you bother using it !! We are talking about filling If you fill a hole that has had a sealer aplied then where is your moisture going to go it will have to dry inwards and the grab has to be reduced

[FONT=&quot]Whether the stone is dry or not what is to prevent you using a sealer with a water based carrier?[/FONT]

Nothing thats why I said

[FONT=&quot] assuming you use a water based sealer as a chemical one won't work anyway will it ?
[/FONT]