Is it travertine tile or travertine paver? I have travertine tile, which is thinner, on my balcony and it is disintegrating. The travertine pavers around my pool are still intact after 15 years.

No, it’s a travertine paver from Mexico.

Shouldn’t happen after 6 weeks. If your contractor has been in business for a while, shouldn’t be clueless as to the problem. Get another contractor’s opinion. Just my 2 cents, worth exactly, 2 cents.

The supplier said there are soft spots in the natural stone. I forgot what he called it. The supplier said he could replace the pieces. I asked him to replace the pool deck with a different travertine.

I currently have honed and filled travertine pavers from Mexico.

I have been reading that Turkish travertine is better. Thoughts? Also, what is the best travertine to go with for a pool deck that will last? Tumbled, honed without filler, honed with filler in Texas?

So this is what I have. It was installed by the original owner 16 years ago. It has a chiseled edge and I think it’s tumbled. The only area where its showing wear is near the pool coping where the salty water splashes from the waterfall. Make sure salt water stays away from travertine. Also post pics

Very pretty!

This is what I have. It’s honed and filled.

Here’s some pictures of the travertine.

The supplier is replacing my pool deck. I want a travertine that looks like travertine and is good quality. This travertine looks like tile and not stone to me.

That’s a very nice travertine, but that’s definitely NOT normal. Thank god they are replacing it. How thick are the pavers?

They said 3cm

Sorry to be late to the discussion, but I know that Lucas Congdon of Lucas Lagoons and Insane Pools TV fame gets all his travertine for pool decks from Stone Mart out of Florida. I have seen vastly varying qualities of travertine from different suppliers, and the price range is similarly broad depending on quality. If the builder replaces your deck with a higher quality, it could quickly eliminate their profit margin, so be very careful as to what they bring back in, that it actually is higher quality. You will get just one replacement chance with something this expensive, so double-check and maybe even have an independent expert evaluate the replacement tile before it is laid on the re-do.

I have some disintegrating 1" thick travertine on my lanai, around pool in the sun and also under cover.

I have been complaining about the disintegrating tiles to my contractor continually for the 7 years since it was installed. The contractor said I should have sealed it but only the part under cover is disintegrating and everyone I know who once sealed their tiles feel it was a waste of money and stop repeating it. I think the sub-contractor put the crappy tiles on purpose under the lanai roof.

I don't know if the contractor will pay for replacing the tiles, although I think that is the only solution for some of the really bad ones. Is there any kind of sealer that could be used to fill in the smaller disintegrating parts on the majority of the bad tiles?

After 7 years, I would give up on the contractor. Stonetech puts out some of the best sealer products on the market. Floor & Decor carries many of them. For starters, look at Stonetech Bulletproof sealer. Sealer can help immensely if it is a good one like Bulletproof. You might need to replace a full section of the deck to avoid another patchy effect from new against old, even if the worst ones are discarded. As I mentioned in a previous comment, travertine comes in vastly varying qualities with associated costs. Cheaper travertine will be more porous and more prone to the effects you are seeing. If your contractor claimed the travertine was top quality and put this in, that may be where your original problem was. All travertine is not the same.

Best to use honed and filled Travertine for coping or patios. Especially in freeze/thaw areas.

Patio material that is dry laid, should be at least 2" thick. I've seen contractors use the 1" material and it goes to Hell in a season. Just crumbles. Rocks around, not stable.

If the 1" material is set in a mortar base, it will be ok. We have done this before.

Thanks for putting that into words, @Mystic Pools, LLC -- I had noticed the dry lay and unfilled surfaces but wasn't aware that the base plus thickness would also contribute to the deterioration. It honestly looks like the contractor took the cheapest route. After 7 years, no wonder there are issues.