Travertine Pavers Installation

A type of sedimentary rock, travertine is naturally available in a variety of colors and patterns and thus, is an ideal paving material. The formation of travertine rock takes place through a geological process in which limestone, which is deposited in the spring season, gets dissolved in the water which flows over it. Aragonite and calacite are formed in the resulting process. The layers of aragonite and calcite form calcium carbonate followed by travertine.

Step by Step Travertine Pavers Installation

It is advisable to take professional help in the installation of travertine stone pavers, however, with the right information, one can carry out the installation on his own. The following steps would prove to be a guide for those who want to install travertine pavers.

• The materials required for installing the pavers should be purchased. These include, the travertine blocks, sanded grout, mortar,etc.
• The area for paver installation should be marked out with the help of wooden stakes. The next step in the process is the excavation of soil to a suitable depth to lay down the paves.
• A base material in the form of gravel and crushed stone is laid after the digging task is over. A 4 inch deep layer is enough to form a strong base. If there are drainage problems in the soil, geotextile or filter fabric can be incorporated in the layer. A plate compactor is used to make the layer compact and strongly bound.
• A 2 inch deep sand layer provides bedding for the underlying layer of gravel. Depending upon the thickness of pavers, the depth of sand layer needs to be adjusted. If all the pavers don't have the same thickness, the depth should be increased. Once again, the plate compactor is used to make the layer firm.
• The travertine stones that are used could be of various different types such as 'filled', 'honed' and 'tumbled'. A rough appearance is given to the pavers to make tumbled travertine pavers.
• Paving should begin at the corner and the first few of the blocks should be laid as closely as possible. A rubber mallet is used for setting the pavers firmly. Spraying the pavers with concrete sealers helps in binding them properly.
• Dry laying is also a technique used in travertine pavers installation these days. It is not only less expensive, but also helps in making any changes easily.
• Cutting stones in order to fit them into spaces is also an important task. Hammers and cold chisels are the tools used for cutting stones. Drawing a line for marking followed by breaking the stone leads to the formation of appropriate shapes.
• Leveling is the next step in the process of laying travertine pavers.
• A spirit level is used to check the level of pavers. High sections need to be removed and the necessary amount soil need to be scrubbed. The process should be repeated till all paver stones are at the same level.
• The joints are filled after laying the blocks. Joint filling is a pretty simple task which requires the sand to be swept across the paved surface. The tile spacers which are ¼ inches in size are used as gap fillers. The grout float is used for finishing 24 hrs. after the paver blocks are laid.
• Watering is done to make the flooring compact, which in turn strengthens the joints. The cycle of sweeping and watering is continued till the joints become firm.

Travertine Usage
The travertine patio pavers and pool pavers are commonly used for home decorating in today's times. Such type of pavers are suited both for indoor and outdoor usage. Nowadays, tumbled travertine pavers are preferred over other paving stones. Travertine acts as an insulator since the heat emitted by sunlight is reflected while the coolness present in the earth is retained by these stones. Apart from keeping the surface cool, travertine also absorbs water and prevents slipping. The porous surface also helps in preventing flooding. Travertine stone is also used for paving driveways, decks, gardens, etc. Thus, travertine proves to be a useful material for paving.

The installation process of travertine pavers is easy and one can install pavers all by himself. However, expert guidance would help to make the process much easier.