How to Install Dry Travertine Pavers

Excavate the area for the pavers to reveal a soil base. Dig the area deep enough for a base of 6 to 10 inches of aggregate and 2 to 4 inches of construction sand.

Compact the soil with a plate compactor or hand tamper, adding and removing soil where necessary to make the soil level.

Install landscape edging material in the ground around the excavated area; this serves as a guide for setting the pavers. Plastic edging, available at any home and garden store, usually has round holes through which to drive stakes.

Fill in the area with 6 to 10 inches of aggregate material, such as gravel or crushed rock; use more gravel in areas with poor drainage. Work the aggregate into the corners and compact to fill air pockets.

Add a 2 to 4 inch layer of construction sand, using a thicker layer of sand if the pavers are various heights. Use a 2-by-4-inch board as a screed to level the sand and then pack the sand with a plate compactor.

Begin laying the travertine pavers in place starting in one corner. Check them with a level and adjust the amount of sand underneath to make the surface level. Work with only a small section of a few pavers at a time so you can adjust them as you go.

Cut pavers as needed with a diamond blade circular saw to achieve the best fit. Pavers should be placed close together to reduce shifting as a result of friction.

Pour sand or polymeric joint sand onto the tile surface and sweep it to fill the joints between tiles; polymeric sand has an added binding agent that hardens when it gets wet, reducing the amount of sand that washes away. Lightly spray the travertine floor with water to help pack the sand in the cracks, and then refill the joints with additional sand as needed.

Protect the travertine finish against discoloration and wear with a travertine sealer, following the instructions on the product label. If you filled the joints with polymeric sand, you must wait until it cures as prescribed before applying sealer.