Replies

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Jan 14, 2005 01:36am | #1

   I have never seen tumbled tiles that large.  I have done a couple that were 4" travertine.  I did not seal first because the tiles I used were not filled ... there were still holes in the travertine where it was formed a million years ago ... and I was concerned that the sealer would prevent the grout from filling the holes.  I but sealer from my tile dealer ... don't remember the name right now.  Follow the directions.  I didn't wipe off properly once, and ended up with a tacky mess that had to mbe wiped off with solvent.

    

   I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

1. 
   kbd | Jan 14, 2005 01:46am | #2

   One books says that you seal before grouting to prevent the grout from staining the tiles. My floor is white marble with white grout, so the staining would not seem to apply. I also wonder about the sealer effecting the grout's bite.

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Jan 14, 2005 05:03am | #3

   It's not only to keep the grout from staining the tile, it's to ease the cleanup.  If you put on  a thin coat and don't let it run into the joints, it should be ok.

    I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

2. 
   HeavyDuty | Jan 14, 2005 06:46am | #5

   How do they tumble tile of that size?

   Travertine usually comes filled already, they fill those little holes before polishing the tiles. With unfilled, most people just leave those holes ungrouted. As Frankie said it gave character.

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Jan 15, 2005 01:51am | #6

   Youi're asking the wrong person about tumbling large tiles.  All I have seen is 4".  Seems that the bigger tiles would break too easily.

   We can get travertine either filled or unfilled. Filled cost more.  When I do it, all the holes get filled with grout.  Some of the larger holes do end up with a slightly dished finish, like a regular grout joint.  It does look good with groiut filling the voids ... looks old.  And tghe holes don't stand out like you might expect, unless you use a veryu contrasting grout color.

    I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

1. 
   EricPaulson | Jan 15, 2005 02:17am | #7

   I'm usually asked to clean em out a bit. Small stiff brush......ever see the ones with the little geodes inside??

   EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,

   With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.

1. 
   kbd | Jan 18, 2005 07:50pm | #8

   Thanks for the info, I am going to seal after grouting.

2. 
   Frankie | Jan 14, 2005 06:23am | #4

   We do not seal before grouting, but as ELCID72 stated, you can brush on a thin coat on the face of the tiles if you want an "easier" clean-up of the excess grout. Do not get any in the joints - edges of tiles of actually in the joints. This will compromise grout adhesion. When brushing on the sealer before grouting, stay 1/2" away from the edges to limit this and go slow. When doing the real sealing it may show as a 1 and 2 coat job if either coat is applied too heavy.

   Some holes in the tiles will fill and some won't. It's called character. That's why you/ the customer bought the tiles.

   F