Lots of Snow in Upstate NY

We Encourage People To Visit Us

Thank you Henry! You are a very gracious and very involved host! I look for some significant results that will be directly related to my time with you! As I wrote in the Guest Book "Quality people make a Quality organization". The statement truly reflects Laticrete. I look forward to the future!!

All the best
Ken

Richie and his Green Gator

Does Your Supplier ....

Does Your Supplier of Installation Materials - grouts, thinsets, membranes - pay attention to you ...?

Does your supplier provide Technical Support when you need it ...?

Are they your "Partner ..?"

I received a message from a tile contractor today:

"Hi Henry,

Greg and Gary were by today to visit us and they took us to lunch.

They told us about the new Spectralock changes and the XLT thinset, both sound like great additions to your product line.

We enjoy seeing both of those guys, they really do a good job representing Laticrete.

Wil"

started the subway tile today

" .... started the subway tile today. spent some time with the layout. like I said in the other thread the 4XLT is good stuff and setting white tile on the light blue Hydro Barrier is soooooo relaxing"

www.Ceramictec.com

4XLT - More info here

HydroBarrier - More info here

Our first experience with Laticrete products

“The renovation to the University of Tennessee Lindsay Nelson Baseball Stadium was our first experience with LATICRETE products. Not only did LATICRETE provide good technical phone support and product literature they also provided on-site training and installation observations to ensure proper application. LATICRETE was able to easily color match grout to maintain a consistent appearance with the new and existing traditional masonry. Rouse Construction Company built the original stadium in 1992 and with using quality building products, like LATICRETE, we are confident that the owner will continue to be satisfied with their facility for years to come.”

Jason E. Cathey, P.E.
Project Engineer, LEED AP
Rouse Construction Company
Knoxville, TN 37934-2890

The Laticrete LEED Project Certification Assistant

Some positive feedback regarding the Laticrete LEED Project Certification Assistant:

"I just wanted to compliment Laticrete International, Inc for bringing legitimacy to LEED reporting.

As a LEED consultant I have spent untold hours tracking down non-existant or misinterpreted data for LEED templates. It is apparent that the Technical Services division at Laticrete not only understands how LEED criteria applies to your product line, but how it should reported.

The LATICRETE LEED Project Certification Assistant Instructions system is an invaluable tool. I appreciate the free resource and the accuracy of the information provided to me as a LEED consultant.

Sincerely,

Ted Krause
Sue Barnett Sustainable Design [SBSD]
LEED-AP/Compliance Analyst"

More information regarding the online, web based Laticrete LEED Project Certification Assistant can be found here.

We Do Presentations In Architect's Offices

One of our Laticrete people received this message from an Architect:

"Tom thanks for the information, also I would like to tell you that your presentation was one of the most useful lunch presentation I have been to in years and I’ve been in this business for the past 25+ years and have seen many lunch presentations.

Again Thanks……………… Bill………………."

If you are an Architect and are interested in an AIA CES or CSI CEN presentation please let us know.

We have a library of Educational presentations on a range of Tile & Stone subjects.

More info here.

Masonry Veneers

Thin Brick & Thin Masonry Veneers are growing in popularity.

Fast & highly productive installation materials, methods & techniques are available.

Read more here.

Louis & Elmo at Laticrete

Louis Fowler from New Hampshire visited Laticrete for one of our PTK Educational Programs

OK, So What Is It .....?

Interesting Visitors At Laticrete Today

We had some interesting visitors at Laticrete today. Their company has some rather interesting technology and concepts regarding "Stone Work"

Ken Jackman & Mike Butler of New World Stoneworks

The Future of Stonework starts here. Visit their website for more info. Visit their website to see their videos of rather fast installations of stone.

And now for something fun, the doghouse above ...

.... an interesting stone doghouse assembled with Latapoxy 310.

Watch a video of this stone doghouse being assembled at:

http://newworldstoneworks.com/video3.shtml

The Wooden Bowl

A frail, old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor"

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Source: MTP - 10 Competencies YPO August 2005

Large Module Tile & Stone Installations

Check this out.

New Technology.

Fast, Productive thin bed & medium bed installations of Large Module Tiles & Stone.

On Floors & Walls.

Read more here.

Interesting Jobsite Device

Eliminate dust from mixing mortar and grout in buckets

More info at http://www.waletale.net

Purchase Online here

Watch the Video here

SpectraLock - Nothing to fear

A recent posting on the John Bridge Tile Forum:

"SpectraLock, used it for the first time on Friday. All I can say is WOW!!! Nothing like the epoxies of my childhood. That stuff was a pain in the A??, if you know what I mean. I actually called my Pops on the way home and told him about it. This stuff is almost like regular grout. I had used another manufacture's "easy to use" epoxy and can say it was as painful as the old stuff. My Hats off to the fine folks at Laticrete for a product that delivers everything that they promise."

Greg Hiens
Hiens Tile & Stone
ghiens@mac.com
859-983-6087

Chemical Resistant Grout - Fast To Install

SpectraLOCK 2000 IG vs. SpectraLOCK Pro

A tile contractor asked about the SpectraLOCK 2000 IG vs. SpectraLOCK Pro:

"What's the difference in the product, in performance, or workability, and I don't mean just that it's better. HOW is it better?"

The SpectraLOCK 2000 IG is more chemical resistant. It combines the speed of installation of the SpectraLOCK Pro with the Chemical Resistance of Latapoxy 2000 and IMPROVES upon them.

It is an Industrial Grade Epoxy product that meets the Chemical Resistance requirements of highly chemical resistant Furan type grouts.

The "official" info on the 2000 IG:

LATICRETE® SpectraLOCK® 2000 IG

LATICRETE® SpectraLOCK® 2000 IG is a 100% solids epoxy industrial grout specifically formulated to provide maximum chemical and stain resistance with exceptional ease of installation.

Easy to trowel and clean, LATICRETE SpectraLOCK 2000 IG offers extended working time and a fast cure for same day installations. Combined with unmatched non-sag performance and up to 39 color options, LATICRETE SpectraLOCK 2000 IG provides you best-in-class features and performance at an economical price!

* Easy to Install - Creamy consistency, easy to spread and clean.
* Non-Sag Formula - Stays in the joint for easy installation and cleaning.
* 80 Minute Working Time - Allows you more time to install.
* Expanded Color Availability - A full range of color options now available in an industrial grout.
* Equipped With Microban® - Inhibits the growth of stain-causing mold and mildew in grout joints.
* Meets ANSI A118.3 and A118.5 - Meets requirements for both epoxy and furan grouts.

My usual "money-where-my-mouth-is" offer applies ..... If you have an installation that requires Chemical Resistance such as in food preparation areas, dairies, breweries, food factories .... let me know and we'll provide some No Charge SpectraLOCK 2000 IG for you to "work with & evaluate ...!"

Feedback & Comments From The Field

Part of a message that I received today from a tile installer:

"....Times have changed for me since then. I started a family that continues to grow, and things have been good. I was amazed at the level of hospitality that Laticrete provided for me during my stay. It was only for two days, but I felt welcome as soon as I landed in Hartford. I feel you have a good sense of what relationship means in a business environment, and that's evident by the level of service that your company provides (I know many members applaud the effort you make to answer questions with direction).

Keep up the good work......

Mike"

An Interesting Comment

"It's been awhile since we spoke, but I'm glad to see you're taking an active role on this forum. In today's environment of company policy and procedure it's nice to see a company representative (especially at the top) that's truly involved."