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Travertine shower - grout sealing?

Article Number: 263 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Sun, Jul 29, 2007 at 12:00 AM

Hi Maurizio, Thanks for all the great info you've posted on the Findstone forums. I'm tiling my shower walls with 4" tumbled Mojave. From what you've said in different posts, it sounds like you recommend 1/16" spacing for the shower tiles, but alas, I didn't notice that until after I've started and I'm using 3/16" spacers. Hopefully that's not too big of a deal. Anyways, my question is, when I apply the grout to the wall, I'm expecting the grout to fill up the little holes/divots in the tile. Seeing as you don't recommend a sealant for travertine, what do I do about sealing the grout between the tiles and the stuff that will be filling the holes? I read in one post that you mentioned sealing the grout may not even be necessary? What would have to happen in that case? Thanks!

Dear Stefan:

My recommendation of 1/16" grout gap is for regular polished and hone-finished tiles. For tumble-finished travertine 3/16" is more appropriate to preserve the rustic loock that tumble-finish is meant to deliver.

However, to continue on the rustic look, you should be using sanded grout, also in consideration of the wider gap.

Which means that you should fill the tiles' holes first with unsanded grout and then grout the whole installation with sanded grout.

Finally, as for the sealing, under the circumstances there's really nothing wrong to apply a good-quality stone impregnator/color enhancer like MB-6 to the whole installation. Polished travertine can't be sealed, but tumble-finish makes it a bit more porous.

May I ask you now to please read and e-sign our Statement of Purpose at: http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm? :-)

Ciao and good luck,

Maurizio Bertoli

www.marblecleaning.org – The Only Consumers' Portal to the Stone Industry Establishment!