I have called around to the companies my pool builder buys from and WOW... and I thought I didn't know what I was talking about!

Seems many in the business don't either. Each place contradicted the last place. One woman told me a vein cut look has to do with the way it's installed, not cut (which isn't even logical obviously).

The last guy I spoke with was excellent IMO though.

I'd like to write some of his opinions/suggestions here and maybe you experts here can tell me if I'm on the right track?

OK...first off we are talking about travertine:

Initially I wanted to mortar set on cement instead of sand setting my decking for a more formal look. But I was talked out of it because I as told mortar setting is MUCH more expensive, higher maintenance, prone to cracking the tile more, staining the travertive, etc. This man I spoke with said he didn't think the costs should be tons more because of the high cost of cement and the difference in cost between a 5/8" tile and a 3" paver. SO, my question is...should both applications be close in costs? If so, should I re-look at tile/mortar setting instead of the sand setting for a more formal look or will using tile be too hot on the feet?

He also said they can provide cross or vein cut. but he suggested that if I do a vein cut that I should NOT do the French pattern I wanted because it would look too busy. opinions? And WHY don't many people use the vein cut look instead of cross cut? Anyone know?

He said he did not recommend using honed and filled for decking around a pool, and yet everything I've read says that honed and filled is not more slippery, is it?

I have been reading here, NOT seal travertine because it becomes a maintenance pain. Yet this man said to absolutely seal & enhance it and those people with "peel or fading from the sun and heat" issues just did not have it sealed correctly to start with. Opinions?

On a stone forum they say do NOT seal...but then travertine looks chalky and blah.

He also said Mexico's travertine is superior to Turkeys. Is this true?

Thanks all!

Deb