I’m currently having a pool built and I chose to go with ivory travertine for the coping as well as deck. Most of the travertine has been laid down, but something doesn’t look right to me. I’ve read about travertine deterioration and discoloring due to sun and water. I’m wondering if maybe some of these pavers were on the top of a pallet and sat there getting rained on or something? There seems to be quite a few that look way more white than the rest, along with black specks all over (tried scrubbing with a brush, but they won’t come off). Also some of the coping looks a good bit rougher and not nearly as “new” as the others Take a look at the pictures and let me know what y’all think. I’m new to this stuff, so I may just be blowing this out of proportion and everything is really ok. Should I bring this up to the pool builder or no?
Are travertine pavers supposed to look like this?
- Thread starter Nlandr7
- Start date
Jen318
Member
I’ve had my ivory travertine 6 months and I’m no expert. 2 of those light colored ones look like they belong with the gray colored travertine or maybe came from a different lot or they were out in the sun/weather more and started to get mildew , travertine does have variation. The rest of your circles look fine to me and blend. Your travertine looks gorgeous!
If they bother you I would ask pb to replace those as its easy enough to exchange a few pavers. Thats one of the main benefits travertine pavers you can easily replace pavers if they crack or look bad.
The pits on your travertine decking look normal to me (I don’t have travertine coping) . My travertine came all nice and smooth with no pits, but it’s filler, it eventually got washed away. I notice more and more holes as time goes On. Im considering putting some polymeric sand or grouting the pits as they get worse. My pavers were bonded to concrete base with a mortar sand mixture.
If they bother you I would ask pb to replace those as its easy enough to exchange a few pavers. Thats one of the main benefits travertine pavers you can easily replace pavers if they crack or look bad.
The pits on your travertine decking look normal to me (I don’t have travertine coping) . My travertine came all nice and smooth with no pits, but it’s filler, it eventually got washed away. I notice more and more holes as time goes On. Im considering putting some polymeric sand or grouting the pits as they get worse. My pavers were bonded to concrete base with a mortar sand mixture.
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Toxophilite
Silver Supporter
Yes, Travertine will have lots of color variation, which is what attracts folks to it. And, in a pallet, some out of category pieces make their way into the pallet. And, some installers are not as conscious about it and lay them anyway. You should just ask the PB or paver crew to swap out those grey ones if they are too far off, which some of those definitely are. With sand leveled, it's an easy swap. Are yours fixed down to a slab?
White ones appear to be from another color set imo. Place blue tape on all the ones you want replaced by the builder; should not be an issue. I was really picky and got rid of many of the pitted ones that didn’t match the others well enough.
Thanks for the feedback. My pavers are being laid on a concrete slab, with some (looks like) sand and mortor mix. I didn’t want to be “that guy” that nitpicks things, so it’s good to know that swapping them out at this stage is common.
Toxophilite
Silver Supporter
The ones that are clearly wrong base color should be non-disputable. The ones in variation of same color, just not quite to liking, are a subjective call as to who is responsible, given the nature of natural stone. My contract, don't remember the wording, spelled it out. For ones that just didn't meet my eye, I would be charged a nominal fee per paver to swap, but I was on site during laying and didn't need any swapped after the fact. They simply lift it out and set in another. But, if yours were bonded to the slab and not sand leveled, there's going to be bit more work involved with chipping out the previous set paver.