Grout Travertine Tile On A Wall

Travertine is a stone tile that's full of random craters and holes on the surface, the result of the natural formation of the mineral-rich stone. The holes are part of the classic look of Travertine, though in most cases, those holes are filled with grout so they don't collect dirt and moisture. By using grout of a different shade than the tile, it highlights the shapes of the holes while still giving you a flat surface on the tile itself. Travertine should be pre-sealed before grouting so the grout doesn't stick to the face of the tile.

Instructions

1. Apply tile sealer over the surface of the newly hung tile using your paintbrush. Work from the top of the wall and make sure to apply the sealer only to the flat face of the tile. Don't get it in the lines between the tiles or in the holes that are in the tile surface. Let the sealer dry for several hours.

2. In a bucket, mix your unsanded grout with water using your putty knife to stir it. Add the water slowly, mixing the grout to the consistency of thick mud. Let it sit in the bucket for 10 minutes so the chemicals meld (this is called ``slaking'').

3. Re-stir the grout. Use your grout trowel to apply it to the wall, starting at the top. Scrape the trowel across the tile at an angle, with the long side pressed tightly against the surface so the grout is squeezed into the lines and holes in the tile face. Do the entire wall, making sure to go over every inch of it so all the lines and holes are filled.

4. Wipe down the wall with a damp sponge. Run the widest span of the sponge flat against the tile so it takes up the excess grout but doesn't dig it out of the lines or the holes.

5. Let the grout cure for a week or more. Re-apply tile sealer as before, but this time go over the whole tiled surface, grout and all.

Tags: lines holes, face tile, grout doesn, holes filled, surface grout, tile sealer