How to lay travertine tile?

[00bolt]

I wouldnt say im Bob Villa, but i have done my fair share of home projects over the years (laminate flooring, crown molding, etc)...

but now its time to redo the kitchen. currently the flooring is just the laminate or vinyl flooring, lanoleum or whatever you call it. Im wanting to put down some travertine stone. But I have never done tile before.

How hard is this? I assume its pretty much just like when i did the laminate wood flooring, just now it doesnt float and I need a wet saw to cut?

I know there are probably a million youtube videos, and ill watch those... but im just looking for advice from people who may have done this? pretty easy? or hire a pro?

[Scott Mc]

Buy a good wet saw and level. The larger size the tile is the harder it is to lay. FYI if you go groutless may god have mercy on your soul, because the tile wont lol.

[00bolt]

im wanting to do this stuff, its a versallies pattern, so im sure that will be a bit harder and more waste.

[95DRGT]

Hire someone-getting the current floor up is going to be a bitch. There will be glue residue left behind that is a royal PITA to remove to get level for tile

[Tyrone Biggums]

That's a pretty aggressive pattern for having never done tile before. I've done more tiling than I care to remember. It's not "hard", but if you are a perfectionist, it can be very time consuming. Lots of measuring, cutting, measuring, and measuring.

If you hire a pro, be careful, not all of them are. Ask for references and to see pictures of previous jobs. If they can't provide that, move on.

Buy a good wet saw. I've done 4-5 good sized tiling jobs with a cheap $99 QEP and it works, but takes a steady hand, patience, and larger tiles are difficult to cut with it. You could spend a little less than $300 and get a decent saw that has a water table and sliding platform.

You will read online where you can technically tile over linoleum, but I wouldn't recommend it, especially in a kitchen. The first time you drop a utensil on the floor and hear the hollow sound it makes, you'll know why. Take it down to the foundation, removing all the linoleum and as much glue as possible. Several rental places have equipment to aid in this.

Regarding the pattern in your pic, I highly suggested not going without a grout line. The smaller the grout line, the less room for error. That pattern will also require you to basically plan out the entire floor in advance. Laying it out, cutting it, numbering it and mapping it. You don't have to, but you would be a fool not to. I plan and map regardless of pattern difficulty.

As far as other supplies, you'll need buckets, sponges, margin trowel, notched trowel, float, sealer, mixer attachment for a 1/2" drill, a decent corded vsr drill ($40 harbor freight will be find) for mixing mortar and grout. You'll burn the motor up on a cordless.

You'll also find a ton of information here: http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/...isplay.php?f=1

[dcs13]

It was a bitch, but I pulled up the vinyl floor in my rent house in prep for tile. What didn't come up I used a big angle grinder with a 36 grit flap disc. I used the shop vac to suck up the dust and crap as I worked...Wasn't easy, but was effective

[8mpg]

John Bridge forum.. and like they said, that is a very aggressive tile pattern for never doing it before. Laying tile isnt hard, doing a good job doing it is another story. The biggest advice I can give is MAKE SURE THE FLOOR IS LEVEL. Slight imperfections will make your tiles uneven which leads to a crappy floor. The larger the tile the more noticeable the uneven floors are.

[00bolt]

seems like by the time i pay for all the equipment, might be same price as if i hired someone.

i have roughly 200 square feet to do in this pattern, what would be considered a good price to have someone do this for me?

[Tyrone Biggums]

I wouldn't be surprised if you got quotes upwards of a thousand bucks for labor alone.

[8mpg]

Id say about $3/ft for normal install...BUT your fancy Versailles patter will be more labor intensive.

[00bolt]

yea, first quote i got was 5/ft and thats me removing old flooring, scraping glue, removing baseboards and all appliances

[8mpg]

Get more quotes. That price probably includes them paying for all the thinset and grout.

[03mustangdude]

My realtor has a guy that does only big tile for 1.50 sq ft installed. But that's all he does he buys 75 cent tile at home depot in bulk for rent houses.

I highly doubt someone will take the time to do that pattern. Maybe cut it ahead of time?