Anyone who has travertine can you say if the fact that there's uneven pieces and pieces popping up if that is common or not at all? There's numerous spots where there's "toe stub" spots and not level. My PB keeps saying that it's how it is with travertine because it's "tumbled" and that it won't be even.
Pool build turned into a nightmare - travertine help
- Thread starter homesteadpool
- Start date
Leik
Silver Supporter
Do you have a contract or warranty? I would not make any payments until they make the corrections. When hey are long gone, you are the ones that will see it everyday and have to live with it.
Yes, both. He's agreed to rip out the stone wall, but is saying the travertine is fine. My concern is that it's uneven in many spots and I don't know if that's typical or not. I don't know if I'm fine having him order a pallet of travertine and popping up the ones that aren't level and leveling that spot and putting new pieces down (if the one they pulled up cracked) or if I really would need the entire decking pulled up, and then everything under it fully re leveled and re done. I'm trying to figure out what exactly I need to "demand" basically.
Leik
Silver Supporter
Well, it really should be level. That means his sand base is not level.
That's what I thought. Some parts are level, then others aren't. Plus there's tons of aesthetics issues, but the uneven spots are my biggest concern
I'm no expert in this area but I am empathetic to your problem. If this happened to me I would pull out some travertine pieces on a surface that you know is flat (garage, inside hardwood, etc). Edge to edge. If the edges are level and you wont stub your toe then I would argue if he leveled your base layer it would fix the problem and make him do it to your satisfaction. If the edges aren't level then I could see how that might just be the nature of the product. I'd be concerned and second guessing too based on the wall and some of the other experiences you've had. I hope you get the resolution you want!
Yeah he needs to level that. That wouldn’t be fun to trip and fall on or stub your toe. Especially bad for kids
Ya know, nothing is every perfect and I generally give people the benefit of the doubt. However in your case, I cannot agree with the PB that "thats the way it works". If it was, there would never be a pool with travertine tile, or any other sort of stonework.
As for the PB, he is likely not a stone mason and hired cheap contractors to do it. Thats how most PBs operate is by farming out the different types of work.
I sure hope this gets better for you....
As for the PB, he is likely not a stone mason and hired cheap contractors to do it. Thats how most PBs operate is by farming out the different types of work.
I sure hope this gets better for you....
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
That's not French Paver pattern.. that's a lazy paver pattern... Here is a French Paver Pattern:
Credit image source: french-pattern
This guy doesn't know what he is doing. He thinks its random because he is too lazy to do it right. I have done plenty of paver patios, brick and flag stone, for friends and family.. I haven't done Travertine but laying pavers in a sand set is the same for any stone.. you have to have a solid compacted and uniform base or you get rockers.. those are the pavers that tip up when you step on one edge.
Also See this pic here that you posted.:
You do not bring four corners together like this. It makes the pattern weak, you want to interlock in a way where only joint lines come together in a "T" Notice in the above diagram there are no four corners coming together. This is brick laying 101. This guy has NO idea what he is doing.
This Pic shows me he has no idea how to run a straight course. even if you are laying random or rough stone. it should not look wavy. ah look more four corners
As for the uneven stonework... and high corner toe stubbers, that is just sloppy.
I would fire this guy and not pay him..
Credit image source: french-pattern
This guy doesn't know what he is doing. He thinks its random because he is too lazy to do it right. I have done plenty of paver patios, brick and flag stone, for friends and family.. I haven't done Travertine but laying pavers in a sand set is the same for any stone.. you have to have a solid compacted and uniform base or you get rockers.. those are the pavers that tip up when you step on one edge.
Also See this pic here that you posted.:
You do not bring four corners together like this. It makes the pattern weak, you want to interlock in a way where only joint lines come together in a "T" Notice in the above diagram there are no four corners coming together. This is brick laying 101. This guy has NO idea what he is doing.
This Pic shows me he has no idea how to run a straight course. even if you are laying random or rough stone. it should not look wavy. ah look more four corners
As for the uneven stonework... and high corner toe stubbers, that is just sloppy.
I would fire this guy and not pay him..
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I like what @mguzzy said. None of that is correct. Clearly your guy doesn't care that he doesn't care about doing it properly.
If you would like people who know a lot about this subject to look at your pictures and give you advice, try the good folk at John Bridge Tile Forum, DIY Tile Advice, Tile How-to Information, Tile Your World
If you would like people who know a lot about this subject to look at your pictures and give you advice, try the good folk at John Bridge Tile Forum, DIY Tile Advice, Tile How-to Information, Tile Your World
That is definitely NOT a French pattern. No two pieces placed together should be the same length.
I missed the part where you hadn’t paid yet. Sorry. Yay. This gives you exponentially more leverage and changes my recommendation. Be firm yet polite while you are telling him he can fix it all or give you a free patio. (Or however much your deposit was)
I have some experience with travertine pavers (good and bad). This type of stone is 3cm thick and it is always recommended to be layed on top of a concrete base and either with a thinset mortar or with sand & concrete (2/1 or 3/1) dry mix set. The uneven part will get much worst in future years if you dont have a concrete base. These are not regular pavers so installing them on just a gravel base with sand is not recommended.
I agree that this is not a French pattern, the french pattern never has a cross between pavers.
I agree that this is not a French pattern, the french pattern never has a cross between pavers.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,136
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
My guess is 10 people jumped into his truck when he asked for a travertine expert in the Home Depot parking lot and he randomly told 9 to get out. That 10th person just might not have been the expert he thought he was.
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
I couldn't tell how thick the tiles were from the pics.. did the OP say? I'll have to reread the OP. .. so Yes I agree.. the thinner tiles are not intended to be sand set. More evidence this guy doesn't know what he is doing.
travertine pavers are 3cm, that is the standard... I know that there are 2" coping travertine pavers but thats what I have seen around.
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
Yeah, like I said I never worked travertine tiles before, so that is good to know. thx
I have seen installs where they mix sand and cement (and a little mortar clay too I think) and used that as the substrate to dry set the tiles.. Then they hose it all down expecting the water to turn it all into concrete underneath. From my perspective it only kinda works. But that might be a solution here. . If the pattern is as screwy as the pics it will all have to be re-layed anyway. Just a half thought out an idea off the top of my head,
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Here is a good guide on how to install travertine: How to install travertine pavers | Travertine pavers in Cold Climate | Two Brothers Brick Paving
mguzzy
Gold Supporter