Laying a seamless (i.e. no grout) travertine tile floor is a skill that you can easily develop. It just takes a little knowledge, a few tools, patience, and diligence to complete this job successfully.
There is no need to be intimidated by this type of project. After all, if the ancient Romans and Greeks could do it, why couldn’t you?
In addition to the tiles, only a few things are required to complete this type of home improvement job: a thin-set mortar, a notched trowel, a level, and a soft rubber mallet. The difficulty level of this DIY project is considered medium or moderate; however, that is due to the fact that some tiles may need to be reset to ensure a level plane on the floor.
It’s all in the preparation
Preparation is key to a perfect installation of this type of natural stone. Ninety-nine percent of all successful home improvement jobs begin with proper work surface preparation. For any surface, whether it’s a floor, counter, or wall, make your work area as level as possible before doing anything else. Check your work with a level before any travertine tile installation.
Thinset application on floors – Give it a push
Working from the center of the room, use the notched edge of the trowel to apply an even layer of thin-set mortar to the surface of the floor, spreading it evenly across the area where the travertine will be installed. Take your time doing this to avoid ruts and/or air pockets that could cause the tile to set incorrectly.
Thinset application on the back of tiles – Flat Is Beautiful
Now it’s time to use the flat side of the trowel to apply a thin layer of skim coat to the back of the travertine tile. Make sure it is evenly distributed throughout, taking care to cover the edges of the tile.
Apply the tile with gentle but firm persuasion
Set the tile in place on the floor, apply pressure and move it back and forth in all directions to form a good bond and eliminate any unintended trapped air pockets/bubbles.
Then it’s time to place the second tile next to the first, lining up the corners and moving that tile back and forth as you did with the first.
Make sure the tiles are the same height. Using a soft rubber mallet, gently tap the second travertine tile until it butts against the first. There should be a tight fit with no gaps.
Keep a level head and get a level floor
Place a level on the tile floor to make sure the tiles are flat and flush. If a tile is too low, remove it and add more thinset on the floor. If the opposite occurs and the tile is too high, lift up the travertine and remove the excess thin layer. Either way, there is a remedy for you to get a level floor by keeping your head level and doing what needs to be done to get a perfectly even travertine tile floor.