Edging for Travertine Tiles

jimbugalee

We are about to tile our bathroom using travertine tiles and wondered how we would finish off the edges? If the tiles are 12mm there is potentially that bit which is exposed around the window. Usually you would get some strip to put down the side but not sure if you can with this.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

beaker141

I cut mine square and flush so that around the window reveal you can see the edge of the tile, they look fine.

I had a professional tiler guiding me and that was his preferred method, providing you can get a good clean cut of course.

jimbugalee

I did wonder whether we just left the edge. The place we are getting the tiles from said they would polish the edge but we need to work out how many we need to be polished etc.

Out of interest - what did you put your travertine onto? We're having debates on whether our walls is strong enough. We have brick (plaster all taken off) then dot and dabbed waterproof plasterboard on top.

hotcookie101

there is info re wall strength from bal here on page 6

munkypuzzel

Hi, I have used travertine a couple of times and my prefered method is to leave a square edge which keeps a 'natural' look to the tiling. A friend of mine took the time to bevel all the edges around the window at 45 degrees, it looked terrific but took some extra time. (proff. tile cutter required!)

What ever you do, dont use a chrome strip as the corner piece, it looks a bit cheap and deserves to be on cheap ceramic, not natural stone!!

jimbugalee

Ah that's a good point - I had seen the chrome from a distance and in pics but maybe it's not so good up close? The window is the only rough edge we'll have and maybe it'll look ok?

ukmaggie45

munkypuzzel wrote: »

What ever you do, dont use a chrome strip as the corner piece, it looks a bit cheap and deserves to be on cheap ceramic, not natural stone!!

We have a sort of brushed effect chrome (or possibly steel?) corner piece around our bathroom window - it's not super shiny. We have large expensive ceramic tiles that look a little like travertine (but glossy ceramic finish), and it looks OK. Mind you, due to the nature of our bathroom walls, and the window, the tiles only go part way up the window, so it isn't completely surrounded. If we'd taken the tiles all the way up we wouldn't have been able to open the window. It's an old terraced house (1905-ish) with new double glazed tilt and turn window.

And yes, it probably would have been better to replace the old sash window with a new sash window, but I like a relatively draught free bathroom!

andyhop

Either mitre or soft cream trim

Use jasmine grout to finish

beaker141

jimbugalee wrote: »

Out of interest - what did you put your travertine onto? We're having debates on whether our walls is strong enough. We have brick (plaster all taken off) then dot and dabbed waterproof plasterboard on top.

I panicked about this a lot when I did mine, there is all sorts on forums over the web about the weight of travertine and what to put it onto etc.

I did same as you, moisture resistant p/board dot and dab onto brick, I then sealed it with something (defo not pva) approved and then used the correct adhesive, they have stuck firm for 2 years with no sign that they would ever budge.

Interestingly I think I read that this concrete tile backer board that a lot rave about isnt actually strong enough for travertine !

andyhop

beaker141 wrote: »

I panicked about this a lot when I did mine, there is all sorts on forums over the web about the weight of travertine and what to put it onto etc.

I did same as you, moisture resistant p/board dot and dab onto brick, I then sealed it with something (defo not pva) approved and then used the correct adhesive, they have stuck firm for 2 years with no sign that they would ever budge.

Interestingly I think I read that this concrete tile backer board that a lot rave about isnt actually strong enough for travertine !

Hardibacker will take approx 45kg per sqm, Compared to plasterboard that can take 32kg per sqm

jimbugalee

beaker141 wrote: »

I panicked about this a lot when I did mine, there is all sorts on forums over the web about the weight of travertine and what to put it onto etc.

I did same as you, moisture resistant p/board dot and dab onto brick, I then sealed it with something (defo not pva) approved and then used the correct adhesive, they have stuck firm for 2 years with no sign that they would ever budge.

Interestingly I think I read that this concrete tile backer board that a lot rave about isnt actually strong enough for travertine !

Oh now I feel a little better. I read the 32kg per sqm thing and 10mm travertine works out at exactly that. Problem is ... we are going to use 12mm!

Good point re the sealing - maybe we should do that also. I'll ask the stone warehouse people.