ᐅ Handling natural stone slabs for a terrace?

Hi, a quick question for the pros: we had a terrace made of travertine installed by a company, with the slabs (30x60cm (12x24 inches)) laid on gravel. Do they now need to be brushed with quartz sand and then compacted again? Our terrace builder said this isn’t necessary and that he doesn’t have a plate compactor for such slabs anyway.

Good luck & thanks

Terrace slabs should not be vibrated, as they may break. For the joints, use crushed sand or gravel, not quartz sand (even though many people do that).

Thank you, I had read that there is a special vibratory roller for that. The problem for me is that after almost a year, some slabs have settled quite a bit, by about 3 - 5mm (0.1 - 0.2 inches).

This is the disadvantage of installation in gravel and is almost unavoidable.

Fuchur schrieb:

That is the disadvantage of installing on gravel and is almost unavoidable.

I knew that, but not to such an extreme extent and so much. However, the patio builder will have to fix that, right? It’s not even a year old yet.

Fuchur schrieb:

And for the joints, crushed sand or gravel is used, not quartz sand (even though many people do it that way).

Our landscaping contractor said that fine gravel locks into the joints, reduces shifting, and is what actually stabilizes the surface.
And make sure to sweep it in properly, about 3-5 times, with intervals of 4 weeks.