The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:28 pm**

Iâ€™m looking to lay a patio out of honed and filled travertine tiles 600mm wide x 400mm wide x 12mm thick and was after some advice/thoughts on the idea.
I am considering using the same tiles that are laid on the kitchen floor so when the door s are opened fully (bi-fold doors) there is a consistency to the aspect.

Can you guys please give me some advice on the following?
â€¢ Base/sub-base?
â€¢ Is 12mm adequate if laid on a full bed?
â€¢ The relative pros/cons of travertine if it is honed, filled and coated for outdoor use in UK
â€¢ A possible alternative material (needs to be light in colour and/or a good match to the kitchen floor) ?/ supplier
Iâ€™m looking at laying around 80 square meters. FYI the travertine tiles are Â£18 per square meter

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:44 pm**

i laid a travertine patio and it was laid the same as normal block paving- i.e sharp sand screed, 30mm thick and 30mm travertine blocks.

i dont think it will last and told the customer that- but he still wanted it and wanted me to do it that way......

with those slabs i would lay on at least 50mm solid bed- any less and to me it isnt very solid if you know what i mean.

I think the main problem with it is it can be damaged by frost, or so i,m told anyway.

Either way it did look stunning.

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:35 pm**

I'm often accused of being too negative about Travertine in Britain and Ireland. Some folk love it and say they have never had a problem, whereas I see at least one a month, such as this....

...which is a perfect example of why I believe Travertine is not suitable for our damp and soggy climate.

However, if you must lay it, then full mortar bed over a concrete base with 3-12mm joints (do NOT butt-joint). If you've any sense, you;d put an extra layer of concrete over the top of it, too! :;):

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:07 am**

I think you have successfully put me off that idea .
Indian sandstone it is

The Brew Cabin

Travertine tiles as a patio??