French Pattern Travertine: Sizes, Layout and How to Order
French pattern travertine is a floor laid from four tile sizes that repeat as one interlocking set. The standard set combines 8x8, 8x16, 16x16 and 16x24 inch pieces, and one full repeat covers 8 square feet. You order it by the square foot, the four sizes arrive in proportion, and the installer repeats the same module across the floor.
The same layout is sold as Versailles pattern and, less often, as Roman pattern, though some suppliers use that last name for other layouts. What changes from one product to the next is the stone, the finish, the edge, and the thickness, and those four things decide where the floor can go.
What is in a French pattern set
| Piece size | Pieces in one 16 sq ft repeat | Share of the area |
|---|---|---|
| 16x24 in. | 1 | 33% |
| 16x16 in. | 2 | 44% |
| 8x16 in. | 1 | 11% |
| 8x8 in. | 2 | 11% |
| Total | 6 pieces | 8 sq ft |
The two larger sizes carry more than three-quarters of the area, so the floor reads as large stone with small pieces locking it together. No joint runs the full length of the room, which is the point of the pattern: there is no long line for the eye to follow.
Tile sets and paver sets are different products
French pattern is cut in two builds, and they are not interchangeable.
| Tile set | 3 cm paver set | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | Tile thickness, confirmed per product | 3 cm, about 1 3/16 in. |
| Where it goes | Interior floors; exterior only when bonded to a concrete slab | Patios, pool decks, walkways |
| How it is set | Mortar over a sound, flat substrate | Mortar on concrete, or dry-laid on a compacted base where the product allows it |
| Typical finish | Tumbled, or brushed with a chiseled edge | Tumbled |
| Our minimum order | 50 sq ft | 100 sq ft |
Minimums are the ones shown on our product pages at the time of writing. The Versailles pattern collection holds both builds, in travertine, limestone, and marble.
A tile set has to be fully supported by mortar. A 3 cm paver is thick enough to span a bedding layer, which is why pavers can be dry-laid for foot traffic where the product allows it. Check each product page for its installation method, since some specify mortar. Our 3 cm sets, such as the Silver travertine 3 cm French pattern paver, are listed for exterior use and are not recommended for interior floors, where the extra thickness creates height problems at doors and transitions.
Finishes and edges
Tumbled
The pieces are tumbled until the edges and corners soften. The surface is matte and usually unfilled, so the natural pits stay open until grout fills them. This is the relaxed, aged version of the pattern.
Brushed and chiseled
The face is brushed to a soft texture, and the edges are chipped by hand or machine. Ivory travertine in a brushed and chiseled French pattern is the cleaner, more architectural version, with a flatter face and a deliberately irregular edge.
Color
Ivory is the lightest and most even. Silver runs gray with cream. Noce and Walnut are the browns, and Scabos mixes rust, gold, and gray in the same piece. Travertine varies from tile to tile by nature, and a multi-size pattern spreads that variation across the floor better than a single-size grid does.
How the layout goes down
French pattern looks random and is not. Every repeat is identical, and each one keys into the next.
- Start from reference lines, not from a wall. Snap two perpendicular lines near the center of the area. Walls are rarely square, and an interlocking pattern magnifies the error.
- Dry-lay one full repeat. Set all twelve pieces without mortar, using the layout diagram for your set. This is the template for everything that follows.
- Repeat the module in the same orientation. Turning a repeat breaks the interlock and produces a visible seam.
- Blend as you go. Pull pieces from several crates or boxes at once so color and veining distribute evenly.
- Hold one joint width across the floor. Tumbled and chiseled edges are irregular, so they need a wider joint than a straight-cut tile. The ANSI installation standard sets the joint at no less than three times the variation in the tiles' facial dimensions, and never under 1/16 inch, so the installer should measure the actual pieces before choosing a width.
- Cut only at the perimeter. A cut in the field of the floor means the module has drifted.
The two larger sizes carry more than three quarters of the area, so the floor reads as large stone with small pieces locking it together.
Where French pattern travertine works, and where to be careful
Interior floors
Living areas, kitchens, entries, and hallways are where the tile sets are most used. Seal the stone with a penetrating sealer and use a pH-neutral cleaner. Travertine is a calcium carbonate stone, so acids etch it whether it is sealed or not.
Patios and pool decks
This is the pattern's best-known use. Read the product page for the specific set: several of ours are listed for covered outdoor areas or mild climates only. For bonded exterior tile work, the Tile Council of North America calls for better than 95% mortar contact, movement joints, and a surface that drains, and the same discipline applies to stone.
Freeze-thaw climates
Be cautious. The Natural Stone Institute, which classifies travertine as a limestone, notes that the number of limestone varieties with a successful history in exterior paving is relatively limited, particularly in freeze-thaw environments. ASTM's dimension stone committee has not yet adopted a freeze-thaw test method for stone; one is in development. Performance depends on the individual stone, the drainage beneath it and whether de-icing salts are used. Tell us your location before you order.
Shower floors
Skip unfilled, tumbled French pattern here. Open voids hold water and soap, and 16x24 pieces cannot follow the slope to a center drain. A honed-and-filled travertine mosaic is the better choice.
How much to order
Measure the area in square feet and add overage for cuts and future repairs.
- Simple rectangle: add 10%.
- Angles, curves, columns, or many doorways: add 15%.
- One order, one lot. Stone from a later lot can be lighter, darker, or differently veined. Order the full quantity at once and keep the leftover pieces.
As a worked example, a 20 by 20 foot patio is 400 square feet. With 10% overage, the order is 440 square feet. The four sizes have to ship in proportion, so an order may be rounded to full sets. Ask us to confirm the set count for your square footage before you check out. Our tile calculator handles the area math for rooms that are not simple rectangles.
French pattern ships on pallets by freight. Plan for curbside delivery, and inspect the crates before you sign for them.
French pattern FAQ
Is French pattern the same as Versailles pattern?
Yes. French pattern and Versailles pattern are two names for the same four-size repeating layout. Roman pattern is sometimes used for it as well.
How many square feet does one French pattern set cover?
The standard repeat of 8x8, 8x16, 16x16 and 16x24 inch pieces covers 16 square feet with twelve pieces. Confirm the composition for the specific product, because the coverage changes if the set is cut at a different scale.
Can French pattern travertine be used outdoors?
Yes, with the right build. Use a 3 cm paver set for patios, pool decks and walkways, or a tile set bonded to a concrete slab. Check the product page for climate limits, and be cautious in regions that freeze.
What grout joint does French pattern need?
It depends on the edge. Tumbled and chiseled edges need a wider joint than straight-cut tile, and the width should be chosen after measuring the actual pieces. Use one width across the whole floor.
Does French pattern work in a small room?
It works best where at least three or four repeats are visible. One repeat is roughly four feet square, so in a room under about 50 square feet the pattern barely reads, and a single-size tile is usually the better choice.
Does French pattern travertine need to be sealed?
We recommend sealing it with a penetrating sealer before grouting and again after. Sealer slows staining. It does not stop etching from acids. Our guide to sealing natural stone tile covers the method.
- Natural Stone Institute, What Is Travertine & Limestone? Technical Data and Best Practices
- Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, ANSI Standards: A Tile Installer's Best Friend!
- Tile Council of North America, Exteriors (FAQ)
- ASTM International, Work item WK84902: New Test Methods for Effect of Rapid Freezing and Thawing on Mechanical Properties of Natural Stone
Planning a patio or pool deck? See the travertine pavers.
See the stone before you order a pallet
Order samples of the two or three colors you are considering, then send us your square footage, and we will work out the set count. Samples ship free.
Questions? Talk to a tile specialist: 855-797-8453, Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM PST
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