Choosing hardscape materials - travertine or concrete pavers?
I have narrowed it down to two great flooring options for my backyard remodel. It is between a light ivory travertine and a light grey concrete tile paver with a "limestone" finish. I think the travertine has a nice warmth to it, but I'm afraid that 700 sq feet of it may look cold and 90's. I also like the concrete, but I'm over the 'grey-everywhere' trend, and my house is already a shade of grey so I'm worried about it looking monotone. I'd love any design advice. I've attached photos of the tile and the current yard. The flooring will create a new lounge and dining area. The kitchen area, firepit and other features will be smooth white stucco, with accents of off-white or dark blue "Zellige" glazed Cle tiles. If I can work in board-formed concrete somewhere without it looking crazy, I'm open to that too.
Comments (6)
smstef
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Travertine pavers on Texas clay gumbo?
Comments (7)Today we go an e-mail from our PB that they want an extra $3,500 in addition to the sizable amount in our contract to cover unexpected cost associated with the travertine paver patio install that we selected. The PB also informed us that they did not secure the 6X12" pavers we selected and fell in love with (even though on multiple occasions they said the material had been secured). The supplier no longer has sufficient stock to complete our job so we are going to have to select a different (12X12") paver from a different company. We were presented with the following options: 1) Install pavers on a standard sand bed base with no poly (NOT RECOMMENDED) 2) Install the Travertine pavers on an enhanced cement-stabilized sand bed base with a polymetric screed additive. +$3,275.00 3) Install the Travertine pavers on a concrete subbase. +$3,700.00 4) Remove decking from our contract and refund deck allowances altogether. What would you do? I am not willing to pay the requested amounts and feel the PB should complete the job specified in our contract (it does not specify type of sub base)....See Morewhich would you'd rather? travertine or concrete pavers?
Comments (7)Definitely Travertine without a doubt. We live in Phoenix and you do see travertine a lot but it's popular for a good reason. Out here the brick pavers soak up a so much heat. That's a huge disadvantage here and I'm sure that you guys will have that same problem living in Florida. Travertine is so much less work on the home owner but it's more expensive for sure. My back patio project has started and I'm having approximately 1300 sqft done in the Crema Tumbled Travertine and will have pathways that run from the patio to the front yard done in Belgard Victoria Tumbled pavers. The price difference is about $3 sqft between the two products. My next door neighbor did his backyard in Belgard pavers. I'm so glad that I waited to see his done because although it looks very clean and neat it looks very ordinary. The neighbor on the other side of me had his pool and patio area done in travertine and it looks 100 times better. Your backyard is beautiful already but would look fantastic in travertine....See MorePavers vs stamped concrete vs dyed concrete
Comments (22)On the front elevation I'd get rid of the gable over the garage. All it does is lead your eye to the garage and detract from the main body of the house. It's not a feature. The other thing I'd do is insist on them not doing the pork chop returns. Your house has a historical feel to it and that just screams contemporary mass builder.Below the red arrows point to the pork chop returns. Lastly on the rear, you have one window that isn't consistent with the rest of the windows. The one with the arched top. I'd change it to a transom window top to match the other transom windows. BTW: What is above the window I changed? That's a large blank wall on the exterior....See MorePavers and hardscape. Please help me, please.
Comments (6)We installed concrete pavers around our patio and pool area and clay brick on the front porch. We did not seal the concrete pavers. Both were installed with a sand base. Years later, the brick looks as good as the day it was installed. The concrete pavers look tired, faded and I’d like to replace them. I wish I had installed brick everywhere or at least sealed the concrete pavers regularly. And around the patio area, I wish I’d gone with the largest stone practical, as the smaller the pavers/bricks, the more grout lines and the more weeds trying to grow in the cracks. Ugh! We are constantly spraying weed killer/vinegar on them....See Moresmstef
6 years ago
PROKD Landscape
6 years agoTravertine, as stated above, is touchy about the freeze-thaw cycle and also does not like moisture build-up underneath it. And, as @Red Berm states, "think red wine, and weathers in acid rain." While beautiful, the conditions would have to be perfect for me to consider Travertine for a patio here in Chicago. That being said, if you are in a more temperate climate, Travertine has wonderful character that is hard to duplicate with a concrete paver.
I would not worry about the gray on gray issue. Being monochromatic can be a blessing as well as a curse. You can make the space jump with container plantings, contrasting furniture or other site amenities.
If you look at the monochromatic pool deck below there is an enormous difference from one photo to the other. Orange cushions are original to the design, but two years later were replaced by off-white cushions for an even more subdued space.
Good luck with your project and post a few photos when you are finished!smstef thanked KD Landscape
Red Berm