Natural Stone & Marble Tile Installation
Travertine, limestone, slate, and marble each have their own requirements. We know what each stone needs before the first piece goes down.
Natural Stone Is Different From Manufactured Tile
Every piece of natural stone is unique. The veining, color variation, and surface texture differ from tile to tile even within the same batch. That variability is part of the appeal, but it also means installation requires more care than working with uniform manufactured tiles.
Stone is also porous to varying degrees. Travertine has visible pores that need to be filled before grouting. Marble can be scratched by sand-based grout. Slate is often uneven in thickness, requiring more adjustment in the mortar bed. These are not problems, they are just the realities of working with natural material, and they require the installer to know the stone they are working with.
Stone Types We Install
Marble
Polished marble requires unsanded grout to avoid scratching. We use white or gray polymer-modified thinset to prevent bleed-through on light-colored marble. Expansion joints are critical in large marble floors.
Travertine
Unfilled travertine gets grouted twice: once to fill the natural voids and once to finish the joints. Filled travertine can be set like standard tile. Both require penetrating sealer before use.
Slate
Slate thickness varies across a single tile, so we use a thick-bed mortar method or adjust the trowel application piece by piece. Cleft-face slate is not suitable for wet shower floors due to grip and drainage concerns.
Limestone
Limestone is softer than marble and more susceptible to acid etching. We recommend it for lower-traffic areas and seal it with a penetrating impregnator rather than a topical sealer that can peel.
Sealing: What We Do and Why
Most natural stone needs a penetrating sealer applied after installation and before grout. This step prevents the mortar and grout pigment from staining the stone face. After grouting and cleanup, a second sealer application protects the grout joints as well. We use impregnating sealers that do not change the surface appearance of the stone. You will need to reseal periodically depending on traffic and use.
Where We Work
Natural stone and marble tile installation is available in San Marcos, Kyle, and New Braunfels. We work in both residential and commercial settings. If you are considering natural stone for a bathroom, entryway, or living room floor, contact us to discuss the specific material and the substrate conditions at your home.
Natural stone installation starts with a conversation about the material and your space. Call us or send a message.