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What adhesive and grout to use for honed travertine on cement sheeting?

Hi everyone. I am looking to tile two indoor areas:
1) fireplace surround (see photos below)

2) kitchen island benchtop

I have beautfil 300 x 300mm travertine honed tiles.

Questions for the group (I see @Adam_W and @MitchellMc are particularly helpful with other projects)

1. I have cement sheeting for the fireplace surround as substrate. After taping up and compounding the panel joins, what is the recommended tile adhesive, grout (epoxy?) for travertine tiles? Any tips for this tile? And possibly a sealant prior to grouting for all those wonderful tile holes and crags/crannies?

2) The kitchen benchtop. My thinking is to do a) waterproofing, b) tile adhesive c) tiles d) sealant e) grout f) sealant. But do you have any recommendations given this needs to be a prep area/wet area? Ideally preserving the beautiful finish on the tile.

benchtoptiles (honed travertine)fireplace surround 1fireplace surround closetiles (honed travertine)fireplace surround 2fireplace surround 3

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Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @twhitford. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about tiling.

Before choosing your adhesive and grout, it’s important to check with the manufacturer of the tiles to see if they require any special adhesive. Many natural stones, including travertine, can be moisture-sensitive and may need a specialised adhesive to ensure the best bond. If your tiles are moisture-sensitive, the Ardex adhesives team have requested that you contact them so they can guide you through the process. We want to ensure everything goes right for you. They can be reached at 1300 788 780.

If the tiles are not moisture-sensitive, for the fireplace surround on cement sheeting, you can use Dunlop 20kg Mastic Tile Adhesive. This should work well for that substrate.

For the kitchen benchtop, I’d like to clarify—are you planning to adhere the tiles directly to the existing surface, and do you know what the surface is made of? This will help determine whether any additional preparations or materials are needed before tiling. Also, considering the kitchen will be a prep and wet area, it’s essential to ensure the right waterproofing and sealing steps are taken to protect both the tiles and the underlying substrate.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

twhitford

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/45069#Comment_45069

Hi Mitchell,

That's great advice thanks!

The tiles are fine as they are not moisture sensitive. https://www.ctgtiles.com.au/_files/ugd/2d3067_c0cfa9a2951249099ffe8ae6b37c55bc.pdf

My first thought was to use a primer like this: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/davco-5l-primex-surface-primer_p6650246

Then, this EVO for the adhesive: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/davco-20kg-smp-evo-tile-adhesive_p6650266

And then an epoxy grout like: https://tilemall.com.au/products/mapei-grout-ultra-color-plus-alu-111-5kg-silver-grey

Finally, for the waterproofing of the kitchen benchtop (which the original surface is just a white laminate), rough it up a bit, and then coat with: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/davco-4l-grey-k10-plus-waterproofing-membrane_p0029061.

before preparing with the EVO adhesive and then epoxy grout.

Finally, all surfaces to be finished with: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/davco-500ml-sanitized-tile-and-grout-sealer_p6654374

What do you think of this approach?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/84836#Comment_84836

Hello @twhitford

Thanks for sharing the details of your plan to tile your benchtop. Generally, the Davco 5L PrimeX Surface Primer is used on porous surfaces and not on laminated surfaces. Please allow us to contact our suppliers regarding your query. Although you plan to rough up the surface with sandpaper, I'm not sure if this will be effective enough for you to use the primer on it. As soon as we have more information regarding the primer we'll get back to you.

Thank you for your patience.

Eric

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/84836#Comment_84836

Hi @twhitford,

I just wanted to clarify that travertine tiles are considered moisture-sensitive, and this dictates what adhesive you can use. If the manufacturer has told you that they are not moisture-sensitive, that's great as they might have sealed them, but if not, they should be considered a moisture-sensitive tile. Daveco has advised not to use SMP Evo on travertine tiles, regardless of whether the manufacturer has sealed them or not.

Laminate is a waterproof surface, and since it is not a porous surface, it will prevent most products from adhering to it, such as waterproofing membranes. As mentioned, you might be able to create adhesion by roughing up the surfaces but the K10-plus is not designed to be applied over laminate. My thoughts are that you'd likely need to install cement sheeting over the laminate so you can tile on a surface suitable for adhesives.

It sounds like you intend to use the Prime-X on the cement sheeting, which is fine.

Mitchell

twhitford

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107506#Comment_107506

Hi @EricL thanks for checking!

What about a roughened surface, and then an etch primer onto the laminate?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-metalshield-1l-light-grey-etch-primer_p1400540?srsltid=AfmBOooQqkz2Ec0ffK6Qv4gHk-UNf7pIRrOOtuXjWJB8YEYMOLWkkUwh

The other option would be a fibreglass paper coating/cloth coating with an adhesive? https://www.sanded.com.au/collections/fibreglass

I am still not sure with the above two options if I would need to use the waterproofing membrane: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/davco-4l-grey-k10-plus-waterproofing-membrane_p0029061.

All of this would then be used with a tile adhesive like this: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/dunlop-20kg-mastic-tile-adhesive_p6650423

Followed by the epoxy grout like: https://tilemall.com.au/products/mapei-grout-ultra-color-plus-alu-111-5kg-silver-grey

Finally, this surface to be finished with: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/davco-500ml-sanitized-tile-and-grout-sealer_p6654374

twhitford

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107508#Comment_107508

Hi @MitchellMc for the fireplace surround would you recommend the Dunlop adhesive then?

https://trade.bunnings.com.au/dunlop-20kg-mastic-tile-adhesive_p6650423

And then an epoxy grout like: https://tilemall.com.au/products/mapei-grout-ultra-color-plus-alu-111-5kg-silver-grey

Finally, sealer: https://trade.bunnings.com.au/davco-500ml-sanitized-tile-and-grout-sealer_p6654374

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/121010#Comment_121010

Hi @twhitford,

Yes, Dunlop and I recommend the Dunlop mastic tile adhesive.

You'll need to be very careful when using epoxy grout, as it can be difficult to clean off glazed tiles, let alone porous natural stone. I personally recommend you use a traditional cement-based grout. I do not see the need to use grout sealer over epoxy grout, as one of its properties is stain resistance.

Mitchell

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