Travertine terrace and steps in Vienne

The project

On the hills above Vienne, a stone house had a 1980s tiled terrace. The owners wanted a warmer surface with a southern feel, with four steps down to the garden.

The choices

They chose outdoor travertine paving in a Roman (French) pattern, with Travertine Mix steps leading down to the garden.

Travertine is a warm-toned limestone, pleasant under bare feet, that gives a Mediterranean feel to a pool surround or terrace. Its natural pores, in tumbled finishes, provide a good grip. In regions with cold winters, choose a grade and thickness intended for outdoor use and pay attention to drainage of the base: our advisers will guide you in store.

An outdoor stone staircase can be built with solid block steps or by cladding an existing concrete staircase (treads and risers). A textured finish on the treads and a well-shaped nosing improve safety. Special lengths and cuts can be made to measure in our workshop.

Installation

A local landscaper removed the old tiles and laid the travertine in about three weeks.

For a long-lasting terrace, the paving is laid on a stable, well-drained base with a fall of about 1.5 to 2 % to shed water, using an adhesive and grout designed for outdoor use and natural stone. Our in-store advisers can recommend the right installation products.

Cladding treads are laid on a sound concrete base with a slight forward fall to shed water, using an outdoor-grade adhesive or mortar. Solid block steps are set directly on a stable foundation.

The result

About 75 m² of terrace and four travertine steps that match the stone walls of the house.

Like any limestone, this surface benefits from a suitable water-repellent sealer and cleaning with pH-neutral products; acidic cleaners should be avoided.