Article Number : 6514 |
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| Date | 4/5/2011 8:56:57 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=6514 |
| Abstract | LATICRETE, a global leader in the manufacturing of innovative systems for the installation of tile and stone, has impressed Canadian tile contractor and shower installation extraordinaire John Whipple, president of By Any Design Ltd, Vancouver, British Columbia. Whipple was first... |
| Article | LATICRETE, a global leader in the manufacturing of innovative systems for the installation of tile and stone, has impressed Canadian tile contractor and shower installation extraordinaire John Whipple, president of By Any Design Ltd, Vancouver, British Columbia. Whipple was first introduced to LATICRETE® SpectraLOCK® PRO Grout for a shower and steam room renovation project in the Yaletown district of this cosmopolitan Pac-Rim city on the rise. The detailed design program was created by Holger Hoos Design and included an impressive myriad of materials encompassing fixtures from Germany, Italy and France. Using LATICRETE tile and stone installation materials, the bath includes a Roma steam generator, the ProLine Drain by Quick Drain USA, custom-designed LED lighting and an in-wall LED screen to project artwork that appears to be “inside” the mirror. “I did some of the grouting myself on this project and LATICRETE SpectraLOCK PRO Grout was like working with butter,” said Whipple. “I’ve been impressed with all the LATICRETE products I’ve come across. This was quite a detailed project. A lot of research went in to make sure everything fit together right. The customer wanted all top of the line products. Everything had to be the best. We had been hearing great things about LATICRETE SpectraLOCK PRO Grout, and a few days after we finished the owner called in to say it looked fantastic.” With experience and particular skill in channel drain shower installations with tile and stone, By Any Design was searched out by the customer and asked to source only the best for this remodel and steamroom project. Whipple required a grout product with attributes like unmatched stain resistance and durability in a wet area. He chose LATICRETE® SpectraLOCK® PRO Grout for its consistent color and ease of use, as well as its ability to inhibit the growth of stain-causing mold and mildew in the grout joint. The flagship of the LATICRETE range of grout products has earned a global reputation within the industry as the top-performing epoxy-based grout on the market. “What many would think of as mere details matter hugely in this design, said Hoos. “It was very important for us to choose a grouting system that achieved exactly the right look and provided the exceptional quality that we needed. John (Whipple) recommended LATICRETE SpectraLOCK PRO Grout and it worked amazingly well. We couldn’t be happier with the results.” Designing with tile for the full shower and steam room floors and walls, Whipple specified in the ProLine Drain by Quick Drain USA for a linear slot drain installation with large-format, 1’ x 2’ European-style subway tiles. Most of what the ProLine Drain does from a performance standpoint happens below the surface, but above the surface the trench drain can be placed anywhere in the shower for uninterrupted large-format tile designs. In a wet area application complicated by excess moisture from steam, Whipple had the green light to source what he called the “best grout money can buy” to address any concerns he had for the long-term. “With large format tiles and thinner grout lines I was worried about the water getting caught up and discoloring the grout,” Whipple said. “The design meant fewer outlets for the excess water to runoff to the drain. We had very few that went all the through to the shower pan. Everything came out perfectly.” LATICRETE International, Inc. is a family owned business dedicated to innovative, high quality tile and stone installation systems. Based in the USA, the 50-plus year old company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers in its field. It’s well known brands LATICRETE®, LATAPOXY® and SpectraLOCK® are manufactured and sold worldwide. USA /Canada: 1.800.243.4788, outside USA: +1.203.393.0010, www.laticrete.com. |