LataKids - Twins !

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LataKids

Brady and Brayden Forsythe

Adam's twin sons

Creative Ceramic & Marble

Dazzle Me Again !

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Add Dazzle to SpectraLOCK "Stainproof" Grout!

Laticrete SpectraLOCK Grout is a patented, high performance epoxy grout which offers excellent color uniformity, durability, stain protection, and beautiful, full grout joints in an easy-to-use, non-sag formula.
Laticrete SpectraLOCK Dazzle is a unique design component that adds metallic and "Glow-In-The-Dark" enhancements to SpectraLOCK Grout. These high-end design elements offer limitless imaginative applications. Use Dazzle on walls and floors. Add a metallic look to plain tile and stone. Accentuate metallic tiles, glass tiles, mosaics, stone and listellos with Dazzling color combinations. Use Dazzle in your pools and spas. Use Glow in your bathrooms, hallways and entryways. For use in interior and exterior applications on floors and walls.
Click here for more info

Stone Veneer Problem and Solution

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Stone Veneer - missing a few pieces!

Stone veneer installed with conventional "normal" Portland Cement / Sand Mortar

Jobsite mixed and bagged conventional PC/ Sand mortars usually have good compressive strength but poor or marginal bond strength.  They make poor quality bonding mortars for installing thin stone veneers.

A better choice would be a factory prepared, engineered, adhesive mortar.  A brick adhesive mortar as part of a Masonry Veneer Installation System such as LATICRETE MVIS mortars.

Our masonry veneer installation system includes sealants and a variety of products including: air and water barriers, adhesives and pointing mortars. Learn more about the entire product line, find testing reports and request brochures. 

Surfaces

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Surfaces - The leading floor covering industry event, brings together thousands of retailers, distributors, installers, designers and home builders for three days of face-to-face networking, education and product sourcing.
Held annually in Las Vegas, NV, Surfaces brings together buyers and sellers from all over the world to see the latest floor covering products, tools, services and technologies. Surfaces also offers an unrivaled educational program and networking opportunities focused on increasing business opportunities and driving sales. 
Click here to visit the Surfaces website for additional info.

Productivity !

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Back Butter Buddy

Click on the image to view the video

And now for the Rest Of The Story:

Message from a tile guy who is a clever inventor:

                               TO BB or Not to BB, That is the question       

                                                by tile contractor Phil Green

Shakespeare said it a little different in the opening of Hamlet. But, if he was talking about the concept of back-buttering tile, he may of stated it as above.

Back-Buttering tile may not of been an issue in his day but it is still debated among seasoned tile setters in 2013.

To educate, or refresh what is meant by “Back-Buttering”. The phase Back-buttering describes the process of applying a thin layer of thin set adhesive to the back of the tiles using the flat side of the trowel . This is done in an attempt to provide as close to 100% coverage of the setting mortar to the tile just prior to setting it into the combed thin set that has been applied to the surface wished to be tiled. The objective here is clear. Set the tiles in such a way to reduce the possibility of failure. Many factors must be taken into account in every tiling situation, and no two installations are exactly the same.  

The folks in tile industry have provided us with many exciting choices these days. Many of the tiles are large format tile. The TCNA ( Tile Council of North America ) and the NTCA (National Tile Contractor’s Association ) describe large format tiles as “any tile measuring 15 inches or more on any one side.” With these types of tiles it is VERY important to apply enough supporting adhesive under them. One of the best ways to insure proper amount - and coverage - to these tiles is by back-buttering them. All natural stone products also need to be back-buttered. Travertine, marble, granite, slate …. etc. are “natural” materials. Many have voids in the reverse side of the materials. By back-buttering these types of tiles the installer is filling in these voids giving additional strength to the weaker areas. This is again done in the attempt to achieve the original goal, “Set the tiles in such a way to reduce the possibility of failure.” 

I think by now you have figured out which side of the fence I have landed on.

I can’t see why an installer wouldn’t back-butter every tile he or she installed.

The additional time it takes to back-butter tile can be greatly reduced safely by using a tool called, “The Back-Butter Buddy.“ Tiles can be stacked safely and securely onto the tool and with a simple spinning action, thin set can by applied to the tiles.

 
Phil Green
backbutterbuddy@aol.com
www.primo-tools.com/products/back-butter-buddy.html

Australian Laticrete Guys In Texas

 Nice Bear, Nick !

 Alex has this Bison by the horns

 Alex & Nick about to enjoy Texas BBQ lunch

 Nick & Alex with a Laticrete style LataRig

Alex and some "Sweets !"

Large & Thin

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Click here for additional information on the Installation of Large Format Tile.
Click here to request a copy of the Crossville Laminam Architectural Specification

Laticrete Australians In Texas

 Self Leveling Underlayment

 Mixing Discussion

 SpectraLOCK "StainProof" Grout

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Product "Hands-On" Training during the day

 Cowboys Honky Tonk Dance Time

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Honky Tonk at Night at Cowboys

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Nick Rides The Bull

More Mosaic Art !

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Terraces of Phoenix ABHOW Foundation

Message from Mosaic artist:
Here is another mosaic project using Laticrete.  This project is a sponsor wall in collaboration with Presentation Design Group who builds the walls, named glass panels, frames, etc.
This project is located at the Terraces of Phoenix ABHOW Foundation community in Phoenix, AZ.
Kim
Kim Emerson
Kim Emerson Mosaics, LLC
San Diego, CA
(619) 379-1123
kim@kimemersonmosaics.com
www.kimemersonmosaics.com

Linear Drains Detailed

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Linear Drains

Instead of the use of a traditional PVC membrane or copper or lead metal pan in a shower this modern Stainless Steel metal flanged drain design is engineered to work with LATICRETE HYDRO BAN seamless liquid applied waterproofing membrane.  

After the drain is installed in place a double layer of HYDRO BAN liquid is applied to provide a seamless watertight installation.  The HYDRO BAN liquid waterproofing membrane is applied to the walls and floors of the shower. It bonds directly to the metal drain body.
Fast, easy and productive to install.

Watch the video on LATICRETE HYDRO BAN Linear Drains.

Top image used under the Fair Use doctrine as commentary, news reporting, research & teaching. Read the entire article regarding Linear Drains for Custom Showers in the Fall/Winter 2012 issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine.

Dealers' Choice

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Contractors' Choice Also !

Ease of application, productivity and the incredible overall durability and performance of SpectraLOCK "StainProof" grout results in this being the Dealers' and Contractors' Choice across the USA and around the world !
Click here for additional product info or to watch an installation video.
Click here if you would like one of these labels / stickers for your front door or display area.

Snow Today in CT

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Snowed in CT last night

From 2 to 6" depending on location

Good Tools

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Good Tools Help Make Good Results !

Tool photos courtesy of:
Rich Maggio
Primo Tools Company, LLC
22362 Gilberto St., Ste 215
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
O. 949-709-5270
F.  949-766-4198
C.  949-295-4006
www.Primo-Tools.com

Arroyo at UT Austin

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Arroyo at UT Austin selected for 2013 Mosaic Arts International

Recently installed in the Holland Family Student Center at the Jackson School of Geological Sciences, mosaic is one of 44 to be featured at Tacoma Glass Museum in April, 2013.
The artist was quoted as saying "We loved using the Laticrete One Step Method and that Laticrete technical reps were on hand to give advice, counsel and free buckets!"

Julie Richey
julierichey@mac.com
214.543.1558
www.juliericheymosaics.com

Subscribe to the Julie Richey Mosaics newsletter - click here.
Read the first issue of julie's newsletter - click here.

Art !

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Click here to see & read more regarding the Art of Cynthia Fisher.
Laticrete sponsored the MAN Exhibition in Print, an international competition juried by celebrated art dealer Bernice Steinbaum, mosaic artist / teacher / author Emma Biggs and painter / art commentator Matthew Collings. From a field of hundreds of submissions, Cynthia Fisher (US) was selected as one of the 8 artists to be showcased.
Click here to see more of Cynthia's art.

Interesting Stone Brochure

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East West Stone recommends LATICRETE
East West Stone offers "exquisite stone flooring, landscaping and veneer products that bring together two distant cultures — traditional Asian craftsmanship and contemporary Western home design." 
Click here for more information regarding East West Stone.
Click here for more information regarding LATICRETE MVIS products for the installation of East West Stone.

Welcome to 2013 !

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Keep Calm !

The beginning of a new year can be a very busy time, so just remember to Keep Calm :)

Laticrete SuperCap Meeting

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Laticrete-SuperCap Discussions

Yesterday a group of Laticrete-Supercap people from the USA & Canada met to discuss this leading edge technology and exchange sales, marketing & technical ideas.

What is Laticrete-SuperCap ?
The system is a time-saving, cost-effective method of finishing new concrete or capping existing slabs. This proven lean tool provides benefits right from the start of concrete placement in division 3 and flows through to division 9. It's what gives Laticrete SuperCap the confidence to say, "We Own The Floor℠".
The Laticrete Supercap System combines a LEED contributing, GREENGUARD certified, low alkali, self leveling cement-based technology with a computer controlled mobile blending unit - the pump truck.
This revolutionary system benefits the entire project from design to completion by providing predicable results that save time, money, and improve overall quality. We call it .... The Next Generation Slab®.

There’s Nothing Like it in the Industry.

Click here for more information and to watch the video.

209 Floor Mud

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Getting Ready !

Message from tile guy:
Snapped this picture of my son while we are working on a shower project at home. Thought you would like it.

Mosaic Art Uses LATICRETE Products in River of Life Piece

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River of Life

Message from the Mosaic Artist:

Hi Henry,

Here are four images of another project called the "River of Life" floor mosaic located in the main lobby of the Acute Care Pavilion at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.
LATICRETE products used were: HYDRO BAN for tile waterproofing, 254 Platinum, and PERMACOLOR grout in black. Gerard Meyer* was very helpful at the planning stage of this project.
I use only LATICRETE and have done so for 20 years now. 

Cheers Again,
Kim Emerson
Kim Emerson Mosaics, LLC
San Diego, CA
(619) 379-1123
http://www.kimemersonmosaics.com
kim@kimemersonmosaics.com

*Gerard Meyer is one of our local LATICRETE Technical Sales Reps in the field in Southern California.  Need technical support or service or someone to visit your jobsite?  Call or email us!