Carved from natural stone, travertine pavers are ideal for outdoor surfaces. Travertine resists erosion and fading, providing a low maintenance patio or walkway that can last for years. Install the travertine surface over a gravel and sand base so you can easily repair or replace pavers as needed. Once complete, seal the porous surface to prevent water damage and debris from building up.
Instructions
1. Define the borders of the site with landscaping paint. If you are laying a straight patio or walkway, trace the sides of a wood board to ensure your lines are straight. If the surface is curved, trace a rope or garden hose.
2. Using a square-tipped shovel, excavate the area within the painted border. If you want the travertine surface to be ground level, dig out 11 inches of soil plus the thickness of your pavers. To raise the surface an inch from the ground, the depth will be 1 inch less. Slope the floor of the site for drainage, digging 1 inch for every 4 feet that you get away from the house.
3. Make three passes over the site with a compactor machine. Once compacted, the ground is less likely to shift beneath your foundation.
4. Fill the site with two 5-inch layers of aggregate or crushed limestone. Spread the material out evenly with the shovel and compact it between each layer. The sharp edges of the rocks enable it to fit snug together, providing a solid base that will allow water drain from beneath the patio.
5. Position edge restraints around the interior walls and connect them at the ends as directed on the manufacturer's instructions. Sink 12-inch nail spikes through the slots with a hammer to lock the restraints in place.
6. Layer 1 inch of course sand over the aggregate or limestone, and smooth it evenly over the top.
7. Set the travertine pavers in a corner about 1/4-inch deep into the sand bedding. Butt the pavers according to your design, tapping them with a mallet or adding sand to level them. Continue outward until the surface is complete.
8. Use masonry sand or stone dust to pack the joints between the pavers. The sand or stone dust joints will pad the travertine as it settles and prevent debris from building up between crevices.
9. Apply stone sealant over the travertine surface with a spray pump or roller paint brush. Use a penetrating sealant to fill the pores, and plan to reapply sealant every other year.
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