The (001) faces of WTe2 and beta-MoTe2 crystals are periodically corrugated perpendicularly to their [010] direction, Nucleation and growth of Au and Ag deposited at temperatures between 350 K and 700 K were investigated by TEM, STM and AFM at room temperature. As already observed for room-temperature deposition, both metals grow with their (112) planes parallel to the substrate (001) surface, contrary to the usually observed (111) growth on the flat transition metal dichalcogenide surfaces. As a result of a preferential diffusion along the existing substrate surface troughs, both metals grow in the form of elongated islands. The deposited Ag reacts with Te from the substrate crystals causing destruction of their surfaces which is more pronounced on WTe2 crystals.