Laying Travertine Tile

[Keith Boeheim]

We have a window seat in the living room that is made out of 3/4" plywood and 2x4 framing 16" OC and is painted. We are interested in laying 18x18 in travertine tiles but I have a few questions.

1. Since this is a low impact area mostly used for plants can I use mastic or do I have to use thinset.
2. If I have to go with thinset can I rough up the painted surface or do I need to put down a backerboard? If so I was going to use 1/4" Hardiboard because there will be almost no weight on the tiles.
3. We will be edging the front with 2"x12" travertine moulding. Can I use mastic and hold in place with painter's tape until set?

Thanks in advance for any advice

kb

[RicodJour]

Someone will end up standing on that window seat - it's inevitable. There's little to be saved by not doing it the right way so it can take any foreseeable load. The right way is to use thinset or construction adhesive plus screws/roofing nails to adhere the backer board to the plywood, then to use thinset to adhere the travertine. You would probably be alright with mastic on the front trim pieces, but I'd just continue with the backerboard/thinset method throughout.

R

[Edward Hennessey]

KB:

You have good advice on the underlayment and setting. But I'll raise a question based on your usage. You do know that travertine is precipitated calcium carbonate, meaning it is pretty soft as far as scratching goes. As well , it is often porous and quite reactive to acids or sullying from the fertilizer or soil components that may overflow from potted plants or the wrong kind of drinks. If those cautions don't dissuade you on travertine, get a variety at the upper end of its Moh's hardness (4) and do think about periodically sealing it depending on the exposure.

If the hardness and sealing questions throw your supplier, you might want to find one they don't.

Regards,

Edward Hennessey

[bobaristide]

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Have you looked into imitation travertine? It's not porous and can be glued with regular construction adhesive.

[RicodJour]

You're responding to a question that is almost a year and a half old. People that post through that stucco spam forum do that a lot. Why is that?

R