Brampton, Ontario: MAPEI supersizes new plant in Canada

Transcription

[MAPEI]
Realtà
AMERICAS
Brampton, Ontario:
MAPEI supersizes
new plant in Canada
ISSUE 19
Daniel Libeskind interview • Shangri-La Hotel and Condominiums • Selecting grouts • 2014 trade shows
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
MAPEI goes to work
In this issue of Realtà MAPEI Americas, we are taking the opportunity to
give you a peek into the inner workings of MAPEI operations. We have
expanded in Eastern Canada with the opening of a newer, larger facility to
replace an older production plant in Brampton, Ontario, which gives us a
chance to show you the inside of one of our production facilities.
At MAPEI we continually update and improve our plants, incorporating the
latest processes that lead to labor savings for our employees and added
efficiency for the company. The MAPEI family is always at the top of the list
when it comes to safety and health conditions; you’ll see that in the brief
histories of several of our plants and in the comments by the Ministry of
Labour inspectors, who spoke so highly of our Brampton plant.
Luigi Di Geso,
President and CEO,
MAPEI Americas
Another thing you’ll see in this issue is the way “MAPEI goes to work”
electronically. Our technical team has developed up-to-date, interactive
CAD drawings and specifications for architects. A new MAPEI app for Apple and Android
systems on smartphones and tablets is now available, thanks to work by our Marketing
Department. We have also added grout color palettes for each of our grout lines to our
Website and to our app.
“Socially” speaking, MAPEI has a lot to offer too. You can follow us on Twitter, like us
on Facebook and see the latest MAPEI videos on YouTube. We use our social media
to keep you up to date on training offerings in the industry and to introduce you to new
products and processes from our Research and Development team. We also highlight
examples of work where you have used our products.
As you can see, we work hard to make you a part of the World of MAPEI and to make
the World of MAPEI a part of your everyday life. As we say in our corporate ad:
In your home, at your office and bank, in your children’s schools, and at
your places of worship and theaters, you will find the same quality of MAPEI
products that have been used in some of the world’s best-known engineering
and architectural projects. MAPEI Group, with 68 subsidiaries including 63
plants in 31 countries, is today the world leader in the manufacturing of
adhesives and complementary products for the installation of all types of floor
and wall coverings. The company also specializes in manufacturing other
chemical products for building, concrete restoration systems, and special
decorative and protective coatings for walls. Developed through 18 research
centers worldwide, MAPEI’s innovative product offerings can transform your
visions into reality. Discover our world at www.mapei.com.
Thanks for working with MAPEI!
CONTENTS
TOP STORY
2 Supersizing a plant
SINGLE-SOURCE SYSTEM
9 The waterproofing solution for shower
renovations
10 26 SPECIAL FEATURES
Great architecture for a new renaissance:
An interview with Daniel Libeskind
2014 Trade Shows:
World of Concrete and Surfaces
INSIDE SCOOP
14 New MAPEI resources for architects/contractors
18 3 3 38 PROJECT REFERENCES
Metro Bank
Aquarius Mews II Condominium
Shangri-La Hotel and Condominiums
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS
22 Kerabond T ™/ Keralastic ™
36 Ultratop ® PC
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
23 Talking Grout: Selecting the correct grout
for your tile
2
41 MAPEI TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
42 BUSINESS NEWS
TECHNICAL FEATURE
30 A peaceful oasis in a noisy world: Mapesonic ™ 2 44 PROJECTS IN THE WORKS
EDITOR
Diane Choate
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Adriana Spazzoli, Dan Marvin,
Dr. Neil McMurdie, Tiziano Tiziani
PRODUCTION EDITORS
Brian Hedberg, Corey Siggins
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Stephen Gil
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Stephen Gil
ON THE COVER
Brampton, Ontario:
MAPEI supersizes new plant in Canada
OPERATIONAL MARKETING MANAGER
Steven Day
PRESIDENT & CEO
Luigi Di Geso
PUBLISHER
MAPEI Corporation,
Headquarters of the Americas
1144 E. Newport Center Drive
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
MAPEI GLOBAL CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS
Mapei SpA
Via Cafiero, 22 – 20158 Milan (Italy)
PRESIDENT & CEO
Giorgio Squinzi
DIRECTOR
Adriana Spazzoli
COORDINATION
Metella Iaconello
Keyword: MAPEI Americas
1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734)
www.mapei.com
Copyright ©2014 by MAPEI Corporation (“MAPEI”) and all
rights are reserved. MAPEI does not guarantee or warrant
the accuracy or completeness of this publication. Nor does
MAPEI assume any responsibility arising from the reader’s
reliance on the information in this publication. MAPEI denies
all liability for damages of any kind arising from any errors,
omissions or inaccuracies in this publication, or resulting from
any reader’s reliance on this publication. Therefore, MAPEI
disclaims all express and implied warranties, including, but
not limited to the implied warranties of MERCHANTABILITY and
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. All intellectual property
rights and other information contained in this publication
are the exclusive property of MAPEI (or its parent or related
companies), unless otherwise noted. No part of this publication
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the
prior written consent of MAPEI.
NOTE: The electronic version of this publication is found on
MAPEI’s website at www.mapei.com and shall be exclusively
governed by that website’s terms and conditions of use.
RM Americas 19/2014 1
TOP STORY MAPEI PLANTS IN THE AMERICAS
SUPERSIZING A PLANT
MAPEI expands to a new
plant in Brampton, Ontario
Communities grow, and their needs for construction
and renovation grow along with them. Wherever
there are homes being built, malls being constructed,
commercial areas being developed and public
spaces being erected, MAPEI is part of that growing
world. In the Americas today, MAPEI has production
facilities and warehouses in five Canadian cities, eight
U.S. cities, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela
and Argentina. The company also has representation
throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
2 RM Americas 19/2014
New operation expands Canadian
production
One of the newest facilities in the “World of
MAPEI” is the Brampton production plant
in Ontario. Increasing demand throughout
Eastern Canada prompted the decision
to relocate from leased facilities at 2130
Williams Parkway E. to an expanded, wholly
owned MAPEI property at 95 Walker Drive
(about 2.7 miles [4,35 km] to the southeast).
The lease on the older facility was assumed
by MAPEI when the company acquired
Chembond in 2001. The production layout
was set up to manufacture primarily liquid
adhesives for carpet and resilient floorcovering installations. With the move to
the new plant, products for Tile & Stone
Installation Systems (TSIS) and Concrete
Restoration Systems (CRS) were the first
focus of production operations in Brampton.
First into production were the mortars and
grouts used by professional installers to
set tile and stone. “After the existing TSIS
formulas and equipment were qualified for
use at the new plant, we gradually began
adding products for the CRS line,” said
Jim MacNeil, the Brampton Unit Manager.
“Of note is the production of Ultraplan ® 1
Plus, a high-volume leveling material that
had previously been manufactured at our
sister plant in Fredericksburg, Virginia. There
is a very large demand for the self-leveling
underlayments in Ontario construction.
As soon as we were able to manufacture
Ultraplan 1 Plus here at the Brampton plant,
we experienced a huge savings in freight
costs.”
Ideal location for MAPEI and its
employees
Ontario Highway 407, a major toll road in
the area, stretches across northern Toronto
and runs right by the new MAPEI plant,
generating a lot of brand exposure due to
the plant’s MAPEI sign. When the building’s
sign was raised, people driving by on 407
called to learn more about MAPEI. The plant
has generated some great conversations,
and community members are excited about
the new addition to the area. The plant
tower, which is the second tallest in the
worldwide MAPEI Group, can be seen as far
away as 15 miles to the west and 20 miles
to the east.
When MAPEI moved from its old location to
the new plant, the entire MAPEI family from
Williams Parkway moved to Walker Drive
as well. Following MAPEI’s policy of more
than 75 years, no layoffs took place. The
turnover rate of Brampton employees was
only 2.5% in 2013, including the temporary
employees involved in the physical move
and the retirement of one employee.
There is less manual work for the employees,
but they are actively climbing a big learning
curve as they move from older processes to
newer ones. Mixers, packaging equipment
and palletizers are all new, and everyone is
busy becoming efficient at using them.
The physical plant nearly doubled its
floor space in the move. Whereas MAPEI
occupied 80,000 sq. ft. (7 432 m2) at the
former plant, the new operation now
occupies 133,000 sq. ft. (12 356 m2). The
main features of the plant include a huge
mixer, silos and mixing chambers, packaging
equipment and palletizers for shipping.
The packaging machines are changing
packaging over to recyclable plastic from
the former lined paper bags that take
longer to decompose in landfills. The new
plastic packaging makes for a much cleaner
environment in the plant, reducing dust in the
packaging and warehousing areas. When
Ministry of Labour representatives came to
inspect the Brampton plant, both inspectors
were highly impressed by the facility’s
cleanliness. One inspector commented,
“These people work for employers who
really care about their employees.”
Large and small silos feed raw materials into
the batching process. The increased building
space and manufacturing capacity have
resulted in steadily increasing production,
allowing MAPEI to efficiently manufacture for
large on-site jobs in the Toronto area.
When the existing building at 95 Walker Drive
was renovated, numerous improvements
were made:
• As with all MAPEI facilities, there is
a Quality Control (QC) lab on the
premises to ensure the quality and
workability of raw materials and
finished products. The QC areas
added new testing equipment, and an
environmental system for enhanced
temperature and humidity control was
installed. Ultraflex™ LFT ™ gray mortar
was used to set new tiles in the lab, and
Ultracolor ® Plus grout was used for
grouting.
•The MAPEI Technical Institute (MTI),
where installers and distributors are
trained in the use of MAPEI products,
was enlarged to accommodate a
classroom as well as a training space
under the mezzanine. The training
space and an area in front of the QC lab
were improved with the use of Primer
L™ acrylic latex primer and Ultraplan
M20 Plus self-leveling underlayment.
The MTI classroom was tiled using
Ultraflex LFT gray mortar and Ultracolor
Plus grout.
• Scales were added to the exterior of
the shipping area for measurement at
entry and exit of transportation trucks,
and the shipping and warehousing
space was enlarged.
•The areas for customer service
and sales on the second floor were
enlarged, and a small conference room
was added for customer meetings. The
tiles in this area were also set using
Ultraflex LFT gray mortar and Ultracolor
Plus grout.
• Office space was also increased. In
the shipping office area, vinyl tiles were
installed using Ultrabond ECO® 711
vinyl tile adhesive and the cove base
was installed with Ultrabond ECO 575
wall-base adhesive.
Many other MAPEI products were used in
the renovation of the Brampton plant. In
the public restrooms, new tile was set over
existing tile, so the installers used ECO Prim
Grip™ primer to preclude the need to rip
out the old tile. Ultraflex LFT white mortar
was used to set tiles on walls and floors,
and Kerapoxy® was used for grouting in
the restrooms. Mapecem Quickpatch
concrete patch was used in any areas where
small concrete repairs were needed.
The most interesting parts of the building
renovation were the first-floor lobby and
conference room, and the stairs leading to
the second floor. After Mapecem 202 was
used to repair the floor surface, it was coated
with Planibond ® EBA bonding agent.
Then, members of MAPEI’s own Technical
Services team used Ultratop® gray selfleveling topping to produce a flat surface
throughout the lobby and conference room.
Integral colors were added to Ultratop White
to form swirling patterns and the MAPEI
logo within the gray surface. The stairs were
coated with a mixture of Planicrete® UA
admixture and Ultracolor Plus grout to form
a sturdy skid-resistant topping.
When all the renovations and the tower
construction were finished, the dedicated
employees of the Brampton plant had a
new home in the World of MAPEI. MacNeil
congratulated everyone by saying, “We
want to thank all our colleagues in the plant
and those who helped us make 95 Walker
Drive such a great success!”
A snapshot of other MAPEI Americas plants
A number of other MAPEI plants in the Americas have interesting histories too:
1
West Chicago, Illinois
– Jose Granillo, Unit Manager
Plant opened: 1996
Plant size: The West Chicago campus houses
three buildings:
• 530 Industrial Drive – the manufacturing plant,
at 194,000 sq. ft. (18 023 m2 )
• 1600 Western Drive – a warehouse, at 78,000
sq. ft. (7 246 m2 )
• 430 Industrial Drive – a warehouse and MAPEI
Technical Institute, at 119,000 sq. ft.
(11 055 m2 )
Brief history:
• The West Chicago plant was first located in Elk
Grove Village, IL, from 1989 to 1996. • 1996 – The manufacturing plant was then
moved to 530 Industrial Drive.
• 2003 – The 1600 Western Drive building was
purchased.
• 2006 – The new polymer plant was added.
• 2012 – The 430 Industrial Drive building was
purchased.
1
2
Garland,Texas
– Under the direction of Mark Sheffer
Plant opened: 1994
Plant size: 160,000 sq. ft. (14 864 m2 )
Brief history:
• 1994 – Opened with production of powders
for Tile & Stone Installation Systems
• 1994-1998 – Housed MAPEI Americas
headquarters
• 1999 – Added production of mastics, carpet
and vinyl adhesives, and Kerapoxy
• 2003 – Added a urethane production line
• 2008 – Expanded the warehouse
• 2009 – Added a plastic packaging line
• 2013 – First plant to introduce UltraCare™
tile, stone and grout care and maintenance
production line
• 2014 – First plant to introduce Ultracoat ™
wood-floor finishing and maintenance
production line
2
3
Dalton, Georgia
– Michel Henrie, Unit Manager
Plant opened: Acquired in 2009; additional
building purchased in 2010
Plant size: The building at the 2424 Abutment
Road is 46,945 square feet (4 361 m2 ), while the
second site is approximately 78,000 (7 246 m2 )
square feet in size.
Brief history:
• 2009 - MAPEI acquired the APAC facility at
2424 Abutment.
• 2010 - MAPEI purchased a second building at
the 2308 Dalton Industrial.
• 2010 - The R&D Center of Excellence for
SBR and Acrylic adhesives was located in this
building.
3
4
Fredericksburg,Virginia
– Luis Aponte, Unit Manager
Plant opened: 1998
Plant size: 62,000 sq. ft. (5 760 m2 )
Brief history:
• 2008 – Installed plastic packaging unit in
December, with the first bag coming off the
line January 8, 2009
• 2013 – Began operating 24 hours a day
4
5
Dorado, Puerto Rico
– Jose Escobar, Unit Manager
Plant opened: 1998
Plant size: 19,000 sq. ft. (1 765 m2 )
Brief history:
• After a long history of working with partners in
Puerto Rico, the first manufacturing plant was
built in 1998.
• The plant was remodeled completely after a
2006 fire.
5
6
San Bernardino, California
– Ron Pickinpaugh, Unit Manager
Plant opened: 2004
Plant size: 126,000 sq. ft. (11 706 m2 )
Brief history:
• 2004 – MAPEI became a corporate citizen
in San Bernardino, California, with opening
ceremonies that included dignitaries from local
and state government.
• 2008 – Switched to a new production line to
package materials in plastic bags
6
7
8
9
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9
Tempe, Arizona
– Al Fornaro, Unit Manager
Plant opened: 1983
South River, New Jersey
– Lou Genzlinger Jr., Unit Manager
Plant opened: 1989
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
– Robert Piatek, Unit Manager
Plant opened: 1997
Plant size: 31,000 sq. ft. (2 880 m2 )
Plant size: 12,000 sq. ft. (1 115 m2 )
Plant size: 91,000 sq. ft. (8 454 m2 )
Brief history:
• First plant in the United States
• MAPEI’s Eagle Manufacturing Award winner
(2011)
• Member of OSHA’s Safety and Health
Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) –
only 21 companies in the state of Arizona have
been admitted to date and MAPEI is the only
company in the program that is involved in
industrial manufacturing
Brief history:
• 1967 – The South River plant was originally
built by then-owner L & M-Surco.
• 2014 marks 25 years that the South River
plant has been operated by MAPEI.
• One South River employee has worked at
the plant for more than 25 years, while three
others have been employed for more than 20
years.
• A brand-new 230,000-square-foot
(21 368 m2 ) plant will be opening in Logan
Township, New Jersey, very shortly; this plant
will supply all MAPEI products to service
customers in the Northeastern United States.
Brief history:
• 1999-2001 – The headquarters for MAPEI
Corporation were located in the Fort
Lauderdale plant.
• 2008 – Plastic packaging equipment was
installed.
• 2012 – Plant won the Florida Manufacturers
Association's “Manufacturer of the Year
Award.”
10
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11
Laval and Maskinonge,
Quebec
Cagua,Venezuela
– Maria Pieretti, Unit Manager
– Michel Durocher, Unit Manager
Plant opened: 1995
Plant opened: 1976 on Cunard Street; moved to
Francis-Hughes Street in 1982
Plant size: Laval – 147,000 sq. ft. (13 657 m );
Maskinonge – 8,000 sq. ft. (743 m2 )
2
Brief history:
• Laval is the Canadian head office with R&D,
Human Resources, Finance, Technical
Services, Sales (Quebec), Customer Service
and Marketing located there.
• 1985 – Addition of a polymer reactor, a
reception area and a shipping area at Laval
• 1999 – Additional reactor at the Laval plant
• 2005 – Most recent expansion took place in
the warehouse and shipping area in Laval
12
Plant size: 8,136 sq. ft. (756 m2 )
Brief history:
• Started business in 1995 with a 1,610-sq.-ft.
(150-m2 ) warehouse and four employees,
three of whom remain with the company today
• The first products sold were imported mainly
for the brewing industry.
• The production plant was built in Cagua,
Aragua in September 1996
• 1998 – Purchase of extra land
• 1999 – Installation of new silos
• 2001 – New commercial office in Caracas
• 2011 and 2012 – Additions and
enhancements to the production facility
12
Delta, British Columbia
– Robert Allaby, Unit Manager
Plant opened: in New Westminster in 1988;
moved to Delta in 2001
Plant size: 80,000 sq. ft. (7 432 m2 )
Brief history:
• 1988 – Plant start-up in New Westminster, BC
• 2001 – Plant moved to a 40,000-sq.-ft.
(3 716 m2 ) facility in Delta, BC
• 2009 – Plant expanded to 80,000 sq. ft.
(7 432 m2 )
• 2009 – When the plant was expanded, the
new warehouse and offices were built to LEED
standards.
SINGLE-SOURCE SYSTEM
The waterproofing
solution for shower
renovations
Challenge:
When it is time to install new tile in a
bathroom, waterproofing is at the top of
the list of considerations. Whether the
bathroom is in a condominium residence
or a national hotel chain, property owners
are concerned about leaks and underlying
damage as well as mold and mildew.
Contractors can set new tile over old
during bathroom renovations and include a
waterproofing membrane in the installation
at the same time.
A liquid-rubber waterproofing and crackisolation membrane, such as Mapelastic™
AquaDefense, provides a thin, continuous
barrier to protect adjacent rooms and floors
below from water damage. For common
problem areas like coves, corners, cracks
and drains, the membrane can be combined
with reinforcing accessories (cove roll and
drain flash) to provide additional protection.
A reliable membrane has added qualities;
for example, Mapelastic AquaDefense can
be flood-tested after 12 hours of drying
time, is IAPMO-listed for use as a showerpan liner, and exceeds ANSI A118.10
and ANSI A118.12 standards. Mapelastic
AquaDefense is also listed by the ICC and
the Los Angeles Board of Building and
Safety Commission.
Solution:
Step 1: If the renovation will include tiling
over existing tile, first examine the existing tile
to ensure that it is sound, well-bonded, clean
and free of residues.
Step 2: To enhance the performance and
adhesion of the following layers, ECO Prim
Grip™ is rolled or brushed on over the
existing tile. The bond-promoting aggregates
in this low-VOC, synthetic resin-based primer
give it excellent versatility with an easy, lowodor application.
Step 3: Apply Planipatch Plus™ over
ECO Prim Grip to smooth its coarse
texture, allowing application of Mapelatic
AquaDefense at the recommended mil
thickness to cover the aggregate.
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5
3
1
6
4
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2
Step 4: Any in-lane cracks up to 1/8" (3 mm)
should be pre-treated when the floors
and walls in the bathroom and shower are
waterproofed with Mapelastic AquaDefense.
Because Mapelastic AquaDefense can be
applied with a roller or brush, it is easy to use
on flat, curved or irregular surfaces.
Step 5: Mapeband ™ accessories are the
ideal reinforcements for environments where
waterproofing membranes undergo change
of plane, dissimilar materials, vibrations, etc.
The cove roll tape can be used at corners,
floor and wall intersections and expansion
joints. The drain flashing is used for sealing
around drains.
Step 6: A lightweight, thin-set mortar for
floors that can also be used as an nonsag,
medium-bed mortar for wall tiles is the
perfect solution for tile and stone installations
in bathrooms, and MAPEI Ultralite™ Mortar
fills this role flawlessly.
Step 7: Epoxy grouts make the best joint
fillers in wet areas such as showers and
bathrooms. The proprietary colored quartz
aggregate in Kerapoxy ® CQ makes it easy
to install and maintain. Kerapoxy CQ cleans
to its original color and contains BioBlock ®
technology to help prevent mold and mildew
in the grout.
Step 8: UltraCare™ Low-Sheen Sealer &
Finish produces the final touch to a faultless
bathroom tile renovation if natural stone or
quarry tiles were used in the installation. It
provides a durable, non-yellowing satin finish
and maximum stain resistance.
SPECIAL FEATURE DANIEL LIBESKIND
Daniel
Libeskind
American architect,
and protagonist
of international
architecture and
urban design
GREAT
ARCHITECTURE
FOR A NEW
RENAISSANCE
The optimism, culture and eclecticism of Daniel Libeskind are
revealed in an exclusive interview
by DrSsa Adriana Spazzoli, Operational Marketing Communication
Director for Mapei SpA; and Tiziano Tiziani, Editorial Contributor for
Realtà Mapei International
Shortly before the inauguration of his exhibition in Rome – titled Never
Say the Eye is Rigid: Architectural Drawings of Daniel Libeskind
and featuring 52 of his drawings on display for the first time ever
– American architect Daniel Libeskind spoke with Adriana Spazzoli
and Tiziano Tiziani of MAPEI Group in Milan. During the interview,
Libeskind talked about the guidelines that have helped make him feel
more artistic and architectural. His personal memories and visions
of a changing world are interwoven with technical observations on
architecture and on the materials used to create buildings.
How do music and your training as a musician influence your
style?
A lot. I think that being a professional musician is not just something
from my past. It’s also there when I work; music becomes a part
of architecture because music is very important for life and for
architecture. Music and architecture are very similar because they
are both very highly intellectual activities, very precise, but also very
emotional. They have to communicate with the soul, not just with
the mind, so everything about music and architecture is very close
to my heart; and also the way music is produced is very similar to
architecture. It’s very similar to creating a project. It’s like an orchestra
– you have to be able to have a piece of music and conduct in a
large orchestra. There has to be harmony, genuine reverberations
and echoes for the soul.
What role does the imagination play? Do you imagine what a
building will be like?
Sure, because you cannot do it otherwise. The imagination plays a
fundamental role. But as architect and sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi
said when he was building The Duomo in Florence, there’s no other
way of showing drawings, models or virtual reality except by building
them. Because you cannot physically embody gravity, the sky or the
horizon, then you have to be able to imagine before you’re able to
build.
In a recent interview you gave to the Italian daily newspaper
La Repubblica, one of the questions was about the influence
a client can have on the work of an architect. What is the
relationship between these two players?
If you work in a serious way with the client or the owner, you have
to work through creative cooperation in order to make the building
something really fantastic. And if you work with great materials, great
owners and great people with great ideas, you can create really
fantastic architecture. So I have always believed that it’s really a
development together. It’s not just the architect that does something
and the owner writes something; rather, you have to do the project
together to make everybody care for something to be built.
The interview with Daniel
Libeskind (right) conducted
by Tiziano Tiziani (left) and
Adriana Spazzoli.
The work of an architect in Europe and in
America is completely different. For example,
I know that in America, architects usually
choose the materials themselves. How well do
you really want to get to know the materials?
I think that without the knowledge of materials, you
cannot create a good building. It’s not just a matter
of a ready-made product, but the knowledge
of what is behind a specific product. Research
and development by companies like MAPEI,
which create products with high scientific and
technical quality, really influences the quality of the
construction of the building. So I think that it’s very
important wherever you are working, although of
course it’s different in Italy than in the USA.
We are living in a period of economic crisis that
is having quite an effect on the construction
world. Can design and the choice of materials
help us overcome this situation?
Sure, I think this is the time for great architecture. There’s no money
to be wasted on mediocre architecture. This is the time for really
important ideas and buildings. I mean, let’s remember that it was
during a period of economic crisis that the Empire State Building and
the Rockefeller Center were built. And so, money is never wasted
when it is used for something well built; actually, it’s important to
build something that is truly sustainable and that people want. And
it’s for this reason that in the United States [the] Ground Zero [site]
is under development, even though there is an economic crisis. I
think architecture provides more confidence for the future, because
in moments like this it’s very important not to put our heads in the
sand.
So you think we must always stay positive?
Absolutely! I think it’s only through having a positive view that reality
will change, and I would say that architecture is naturally linked to
optimism – you cannot be pessimistic in architecture. Maybe as an
economist or as a political leader you can be pessimistic, but you
cannot be pessimistic as an architect because you’re building for
the future. The future is always going to be better.
Does this also directly involve those who work in the building
industry and in the construction market?
“Without the knowledge
of materials, you cannot
create a good building.”
During one of your interviews you said that, when you arrived
in America from Poland, you were particularly struck by the
skyscrapers of New York. Is that true?
Oh, it really was. I was 12 or 13 years old, and I arrived in America on
a ship. Even if all of us have seen the movies about skyscrapers and
read about them, it’s so different from having them in front of you,
because it’s a miracle to see the power of architecture, the power of
human imagination, of ambition, of progress.
We now see skyscrapers rising up all over the world. Milan
is being transformed: we just have to think about the area
where CityLife* is being built. The impression it arouses is
really positive.
Definitely. I also think it’s true when we just talk about skyscrapers,
because they give us enormous confidence that something fantastic
is going on. Because in these places a lot of people are living, a lot
of people are working. So it’s not just the aesthetics of the building;
there is also the power of a community, and you can feel it when you
are in New York or Milan, the new Milan in particular, where you can
feel that there is a positive transformation of the city.
* CityLife Milano is an ambitious commercial and
residential development on Milan's historic
former trade fairgrounds,
the Fiera Milano.
Exactly. I’m a great believer in great projects, especially because
they provide jobs; they provide employment for entire cities and
countries.
SPECIAL FEATURE DANIEL LIBESKIND
One of the most evocative buildings in New York is the
Flatiron Building, dating back to 1902. When you design a
building nowadays, the materials are obviously different.
Sure, materials are different; we have a greater choice of materials
today compared to when the Flatiron Building was built. In the past,
there were fewer possibilities with the materials available. Now we
have new possibilities by using different materials, lightweight and
with a very good effect on the environment. So I think this is the
power of change.
In the past, a lot of things were still unknown. Now we have
a clearer perception of technology and we are aware, even
if only partially, of all the effort that is put into research. This
means that now we can do things better, especially regarding
respect for the environment, which means positive change
for our lives and for our future.
Exactly; all this helps the environment. Good air, the better methods
used to make the materials and the fact that the materials are not
only technical, but they also become memorable for the life of
the building or of the site. I think that’s a big change; people have
rediscovered how important this is for the cities and for buildings,
which I think is like the Renaissance. Now people are aware that
it’s no longer just a question to build some buildings, but they
understand that it’s important as part of culture, part of civilization.
You are a citizen of the world and your work involves designing
while trying to give an answer to all the requirements in any
country. Which country do you feel responds best to the
challenges we face?
The world is really more united than it is divided. Of course, there
are big differences between the culture of Italy and the culture of
the United States or South America, or between the countries
of Asia – for example, Korea, Singapore and China. So, it’s very
interesting, because each country has a unique history, each
country has a unique ambition. Of course, you cannot compare
them in terms of culture (and Italy is at the top), but the ancient
cultures and the modern cultures have a continuous flow so they
cannot be compared. So I think what is true is that, wherever you
are around the world, you will see an interesting new development
in the people, about how they live, about the importance of design.
There is a more global understanding now that, as more and more
people live in cities – and within a few years more than 50% of the
population of the world will live in cities – there has been a big shift
towards architecture and the environment.
In “old” countries such as Italy, France and Spain, people
are more prudent when it comes to architecture, which is
also because of their cultural heritage. In the new emerging
countries, such as in Eastern Europe, they seem to be freer
when it comes to making architectonic choices. What are
your feelings on this?
The Zlota 44 Tower, in the center of Warsaw, is seen in the center of the photo.
Designed by Libeskind, it is the tallest residential tower in Europe.
An emblematic example of what we are [discussing] is the Zlota
44 building, a skyscraper in the center of Warsaw in Poland. It’s
the tallest residential tower in Europe, and it is located opposite the
Palace of Culture and Science dedicated to Stalin. The countries
in Eastern Europe and Asia are now developing very rapidly, and
they have a certain advantage because they don’t have the kind
of history we have in Europe, so they can really quickly build an
entire city. In the center of South Korea, in Busan, there is the
largest concentration of skyscrapers (30). It is as if there has been
a renovation of a city [that] already has 600 or 700 years of history.
So your designs are influenced by the entire situation? I mean
from renovation work to the buildings of the future.
Every architect has a unique way of working. I work in Germany, in
Poland and in Belgium. Every country has its own sense of how [it
does] things. So, we can’t say this country is bad or that country is
good. Every country has its own process, and I think you have to
be able to understand that process. Of course, there are different
complexities, different cultures and different ways of doing things;
and, sure, those differences should be caught.
Culture and art are connected. What relationship do they
have with architecture?
Culture and art were around at the beginning of history and are
resources for architecture. I think drawings from the beginning of
history are the source of architecture. Now we have computers that
are very quick and they offer new frontiers to the imagination, but the
freedom that drawing offers the imagination hasn’t changed.
MAPEI’s style of communications also opens doors to the
imagination, because we believe that, if we lose our fantasy,
then we lose everything.
The imagination is essential for form, for cities, for possibilities. I
think that, if we don’t have imagination, we don’t have cities. What
is memorable is what has been created with the imagination.
According to your biography, apart from architecture, you
have other passions and skills such as music, drawing and
art in general. It is very similar to Leonardo da Vinci who, as
an architect, completely changed the face of cities, especially
Milan, by knocking down fortifications, widening roads and
bringing water courses into the city. It is like the trigger to
a cultural process that gives a city a new meaning. How do
culture, society and people’s needs influence your designs?
Leonardo was a man of humanistics and of science at the same
time. I think that’s architecture; you have to combine scientific and
artistic ideas. I think that the inspiration from Leonardo came from
music, the world of architecture, mathematics, scientific ideas,
poetry…
How and how much does modern architecture manage to
highlight the differences between different cities and different
countries, yet on the other hand how much is it becoming a
globalizing tool that tends to destroy their identity?
We live in a global world, but we have to take care of identity. Each
place has its own unique identity, unique sky, unique history, so it
is connected with local genius. The world wasn’t built by following
some abstract formula, but by seeing these differences.
Examples of Libeskind’s work: Above, the Jewish Museum in Berlin and, below,
the Denver Art Museum in the United States.
“Buildings… must be
developed from the
inside, from the soul.”
So you believe differences are important, then?
Yes, differences are essential and are linked to the different
atmosphere in buildings, to the different materials used for buildings,
to the different architects who design buildings. Buildings can’t
be imposed from the outside in an abstract way. They must be
developed from the inside, from the soul; that’s the key.
Our conversation started by discussing music, so it would
only be right to end by going back to the subject. What type
of music do you like?
I love all music: classical, ancient, popular and contemporary. It’s
the beginning of dance, which is the choreography of architecture.
MAPEI often invites its friends to La Scala Theatre in Milan,
and we would like to invite you soon. The programs often
include operas by Verdi and Wagner. Which of the two
musicians do you prefer?
I appreciate Wagner, but I love Verdi. He wrote from the heart. Verdi
has the lightness of Italian culture that has influenced the world.
INSIDE SCOOP NEW MAPEI RESOURCES FOR ARCHITECTS/CONTRACTORS
NEW MAPEI RESOURCES FOR
ARCHITECTS/CONTRACTORS
MAPEI’s premium-quality products now
come with added support and resources that
simplify access to specifications and product
information for architects and contractors.
In recent months a new, interactive guide for
architectural CADs and specifications has
been added to the MAPEI Americas Website.
MAPEI has also developed an app that
allows contractors to take MAPEI’s product
knowledge with them when they are on the go.
Architectural CAD and Specifications Guide
The MAPEI Architectural CAD and
Specifications Guide is an interactive tool
on MAPEI’s Website that gives design
professionals the ability to access current
industry-approved methods for ceramic-,
glass- and stone-tile installations that include
a corresponding CSI 3-part specification.
Each of the 143 CAD drawings in the guide
(97 ceramic-tile drawings and 46 stonetile drawings) lists the appropriate MAPEI
products for use on a project based on
ANSI A108/A118/A136 and ISO 13007
standards. The products are in a CSI 3-part
guide specification that includes reference
standards, product description, and
execution requirements.
This easy-to-use tool enables architects
to determine appropriate methods for
specific project requirements. Specifiers
can access the MAPEI Architectural CAD
and Specifications Guide to select CADs
and specifications using any one of three
different methods:
• Word search for keywords (floor, wall,
interior, exterior, etc.)
• Method search (by Tile Council of North
America [TCNA] and Terrazzo Tile &
Marble Association of Canada [TTMAC]
method numbers)
• Description search (bathroom floor,
shower wall, balcony deck, etc.)
When a selection is made, specifiers can
have direct access to:
• A downloadable PDF for each method.
• A downloadable AutoCAD (DWG file) for
each method.
• Technical Data Sheets (TDSs) for MAPEI
products that are listed in the CAD and
specification.
• LEED certification letters for MAPEI
products that are listed.
“These features will help everyone involved
in the building process save time, reduce
liability and maximize the opportunity for a
permanent, problem-free installation,” said
Don Miller, Senior Technical Consultant for
Tile & Stone Installation Systems. Miller
assists MAPEI representatives with special
requests from architects, often customizing
specifications within a 24-hour timeframe.
This guide represents the most current
selection of ceramic-, glass- and stonetile methods/products available. The
guide is continuously updated, ensuring
that architects will always have the latest
information at their fingertips.
INSIDE SCOOP NEW MAPEI RESOURCES FOR ARCHITECTS/CONTRACTORS
MAPEI product information app
MAPEI has produced a free app for tablets
and smart phones that is now available
in the app stores for Apple and Android
applications. “This app will make it easier for
flooring contractors and installers to access
information about MAPEI products on the
jobsite and in other mobile locations,” said
Steven Day, Operational Marketing Manager
for MAPEI Americas. “It can also be used
by distributors in the warehouse when
answering questions for customers. Plus,
architects and designers can use the app
when they want to quickly look up a MAPEI
product for specification.”
With the MAPEI app, users can swiftly
acquire product information that they
can explore and email to themselves or a
colleague, including:
• Product listings by product line.
•TDSs.
• Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).
• Ancillary data (guides, brochures,
bulletins, etc.).
Corporate information is often important to
users, too; this data is also available on the
MAPEI app. If a contractor needs a question
answered, technical and customer support
are available via direct email from the app.
With the locator tool on the main page
of the app, contractors can easily locate
distributor and retailer locations carrying
the products that interest them. The MAPEI
grout color palettes are also a feature of this
new app, giving tile-installation contractors
the opportunity to discuss grout colors with
their customers with just a tap on a tablet or
smart phone screen.
“What we offer customers with our MAPEI
app is a quick, easy, convenient way to
stay in touch with the most up-to-date
information on all available products,”
Day said. “The information on the app is
connected to our core database; whenever
an update is made, it immediately appears
on the MAPEI app. This is just one more
way we support contractors with the latest
resources available.”
Grout color palettes available
electronically
MAPEI supplies grouts in a number of
formulations to meet the many diverse
requirements for filling the joints in tile and stone
installations. Grouts run the gamut from simple
sanded and unsanded cementitious grouts to
specialty cement grouts and various grades of
epoxy grouts. (See the technical article in this
issue on “Talking grout: Selecting the correct
grout for your tile,” pages 23-24.)
Whether an architect is specifying a grout
for a commercial project or a contractor is
discussing the best grout color for the kitchen
tile with a homeowner, having access to all
the colors available for that grout makes the
decisions easier.
A series of charts was developed for each
grout line and loaded onto MAPEI Americas’
Website, as well as into the MAPEI app:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Keracolor ™ U
Keracolor S
Ultracolor ® Plus
Kerapoxy ® CQ
Kerapoxy IEG
Kerapoxy
Opticolor ™
Not only can users view the entire 36-color
palette for MAPEI grouts, but now they can
select by grout product name to view available
colors. The appearance of each grout color
has also been adjusted to give a more realisticlooking hue/texture.
Other ways that MAPEI helps
MAPEI interacts with its customers in many
ways to gain insights into their project
requirements and personal needs. The
personal touch is present in conversations
between Customer Service representatives
and distributors/customers every day. And
through daily communication with members
of the construction industry, MAPEI’s Technical
Services representatives can provide feedback
to MAPEI’s Marketing Department for the
creation of the most helpful customer resources.
Trade shows, conventions, contractor councils
and individual customer visits give Marketing
Department members the opportunity to
talk directly with customers. In addition,
MAPEI’s Business Development Leaders,
local representatives, and specialized team
of architectural and commercial project
managers meet with architects and contractors
regularly, which helps MAPEI to better cater to
customers’ wants and needs.
PROJECT REFERENCE METRO BANK
TILING A FACADE
IN COLD WEATHER
Metro Bank – Douglasville (Atlanta), Georgia
The biggest problem
that Certified Finishes
faced on the project
was the weather.
Metro Bank in Douglasville, Georgia, is
a community bank primarily owned by
shareholders living in Douglas, Carroll, Cobb
and Paulding counties, that is chartered
to serve the needs of individuals and
businesses in the west metro area of Atlanta.
The bank recently built a new main office
that opened in May 2012 in Douglasville.
The exterior of the bank is covered with
18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm) travertine stone tiles.
The tile work was done by Certified Finishes
of Smyrna, Georgia, under the leadership of
Charlie Rapplean. Rapplean and his crew
often work with general contractor New
South Construction; it was their reputation
for overcoming challenges and providing
excellent outcomes that helped land
Certified Finishes this job.
The project consisted of installing the
travertine over cement board attached to
metal studs. The biggest problem faced by
New South was the vertical and horizontal
reveals that the architect designed for the
façade of the bank. The design called for a
2" (5-cm)-wide reveal (with a 3/4" [19-mm]
recess) to match the window mullions. The
reveals were placed at a level along the
bottom of the windows, 8 feet (2,44 m) up
and 12 feet (3,66 m) up. These horizontal
reveals were incorporated all the way around
the building. Where light fixtures were
placed, a 9" (23-cm) reveal was constructed
vertically all the way up the front of the bank.
The tile was 1/2" (12 mm) thick, and the
contractor used a cement board measuring
1/2" to 5/8" (12 to 16 mm). Rapplean’s team
suggested using a 1/4" (6-mm) cement
board at the reveals on the smaller tile
pieces so that the cement board would not
be exposed. Then, where the larger-format
tile was placed, the team used a 1/2" x 1/2"
(12 x 12 mm) notched trowel on the mortar
for the field tile.
PROJECT REFERENCE METRO BANK
We used the
Granirapid System
from MAPEI because
it sets fast and we
didn’t have to wait
several days for the
mortar to cure, as we
would have with other
setting materials.
– Charlie Rapplean,
Certified Finishes
The design intent of a 3/4" (19-mm) recess
was unattainable due to the stone only
being 1/2" (12 mm) thick, which would have
left a gap between the field tile and recess
tile. Rapplean’s team used a 1/4" x 3/8"
(6 x 10 mm) notched trowel on the reveals to
give complete coverage so that the recess
would have a total depth of 1/2" (12 mm);
that way, there would be no exposed areas
in the recesses, which would still look good
while fulfilling the architect’s design intent.
While the reveals were a challenge that
Rapplean overcame with technical savvy
and the trust of the New South team, the
biggest problem that Certified Finishes
faced on the project was the weather. The
exterior tiling had to be completed between
January and March 31 of 2012. The weather
conditions posed a challenge to the installers
because the substrate temperature needed
to be 50°F (10°C) or above for the thin-set
mortar to set and cure.
“We used the Granirapid ® System from
MAPEI because it sets fast and we didn’t
have to wait several days for the mortar to
cure, as we would have with other setting
materials,” Rapplean said. “We first talked
about tenting and heating the substrate of
the bank’s facade, but for a week or two it
was above 50 degrees (Fahrenheit [or 10
degrees Celsius]) for a short period of the
day in Atlanta. We really lucked out there.”
Rapplean managed a crew of 10 to 12
installers who had to move fast, working
from 9 or 10 in the morning until 2 or 3 in the
afternoon during the tile setting because of
the temperatures dropping at night.
Crew members used temperature lasers
on the walls to detect where the substrate
was above 50°F (10°C). “We had to leave
enough time for the Granirapid to set before
the temperatures got too cool,” Rapplean
commented. He likes that there is no
water in the Granirapid System: “The liquid
polymer in the two-component system
makes the mortar easier to use and gives a
much stronger bond.”
Grouting presented the same problems. If
temperatures were too cold, the installers
would be taking a risk that the grout could
pop out of joints. The solution was to use
MAPEI’s Ultracolor ® Plus grout because
it is also a fast-setting product, and this
product’s formula is efflorescence-free.
Before beginning the installation process, the
Certified Finishes crew covered the cement
boards with Mapelastic™ 315 waterproofing
membrane using trowels. Mapelastic 315
also provided crack-isolation protection to
the substrate. The architect had planned
for control joints in the stucco but not in the
tile; with natural stone, this was especially
important. Rapplean pointed out that the
TCNA Manual recommends using control
joints every 8 to 12 feet (2,44 to 3,66 m) for
large-format tile, and the engineer changed
the specifications to approximate the
recommendation.
Because the 18" x 18" (46 x 46 cm) travertine
stone tiles had a chiseled edge, Rapplean
had to use 1/8" (3-mm) spacers to give the
appearance of the 3/8" (10-mm) grout joint
designed by the architect.
The exterior tile job measured a total of 5,500
square feet (511 m2). The walls were 20 to
22 feet (6,10 to 6,71 m) tall, and the front
wall had a tower that was 28 feet (8,53 m)
tall. For the area of the building above eye
level, crew members had to use two lifts to
install tile all the way around the building,
with certifications required for those who
operated the lifts and stood on them. The
exterior façade work also included tiling the
columns on the drive-through lanes of the
bank.
The exterior décor extended to inside the
bank, where Rapplean’s team set the same
travertine – honed, filled and polished –
in the lobby. In this case, approximately
1,900 square feet (177 m2) of the stone
was installed on the floors. Bull-nosed
tiles measuring 9" x 18" (23 x 46 cm) were
fabricated for the wall base in the lobby.
About 200 feet (61,0 m) of 12" x 1" (30 x
2,5 cm) mosaic stone and glass tile was
set in the entrance of the lobby. The crew
finished up the complete tile job by installing
standard 12" x 12" (30 x 30 cm) ceramic
tile on the floors in restrooms and the break
room.
“Overall, we really enjoyed working on this
project,” Rapplean said. “Our lucky ‘warm
spell’ in the winter helped us out a lot, but
we depended on Granirapid and Ultracolor
Plus to get the job done within our daily
temperature time limits. We’re just starting
another project using this same stone,
and we’ll be working with Granirapid and
Ultracolor Plus again.” MAPEI is pleased that
its products helped to contribute toward this
project’s success.
TECHNICAL DATA
Metro Bank, Douglasville, Georgia
Designer: Wakefield Beasley & Associates
Period of construction: 2012
Period of MAPEI intervention: January to
March, 2012
Where MAPEI products were used: Installation
of large-format tile on outside of bank with the
Granirapid mortar system and grouting with
Ultracolor Plus after waterproofing with Mapelastic
315; installation of large-format tiles in lobby of
bank and mosaics on wall of entryway using the
same materials
Client: Metro Bank of Douglasville
Project manager: Charlie Rapplean of Certified
Finishes
General contractor: New South Construction
Tile installer: Certified Finishes
MAPEI distributor: Trinity Tile
MAPEI coordinator: John Brown
MAPEI PRODUCTS
Waterproofing: Mapelastic 315
Setting and grouting exterior and interior tiles:
Granirapid System, Ultracolor Plus
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
NEW! Kerabond ™ T / Keralastic™
Product Performance Characteristics
ISO 13007 Classification
C2ES2P2
Classification Code
Classification Requirement
≥ 145 psi (1 MPa) after standard aging,
heat aging, water immersion and freeze/
thaw cycles
≥ 72.5 psi (0,5 MPa) after 20 to 30 minutes
≥ 0.2" (5 mm)
≥ 145 psi (1 MPa)
C2 (cementitious, improved adhesive)
E (extended open time)
S2 (improved deformation of mortar)
P2 (improved adhesion to plywood)
Shelf Life and Application Properties at 73°F (23°C) and 50% relative humidity
Shelf life
Open time*
Pot life*
Time before grouting*
VOCs (Rule #1168 of California’s SCAQMD)
1 year (Kerabond T); 2 years (Keralastic)
20 to 30 minutes
> 2 hours
24 to 48 hours
0 g per L
* Open time, pot life and time before grouting vary based on jobsite conditions.
ANSI Specification**
Premium, Flexible Medium-Bed
and Thin-Set Tile Mortar
Kerabond T / Keralastic is a high-performance,
two-part system: second-generation “flexible”
acrylic latex additive Keralastic is used to
enhance the performance of Kerabond T,
which is a premium-grade, medium-bed and
thin-set mortar. This system has exceptional
bond strength, flexural strength, elongation and
freeze/thaw durability.
Features and Benefits
• High-performance bond
• Best for most difficult tiles, substrates and
conditions
Uses
• Most interior/exterior residential and
commercial installations on floors, walls and
ceilings
• Installation of ceramic and porcelain tile,
glass tile, quarry tile, pavers, Saltillo tile and
most types of marble, granite and natural
stone
Test Method
Specification Standard
Test Results
ANSI A118.15E – (extended open time)
≥ 75 psi (0,52 MPa) at 30 minutes
Pass
ANSI A118.15 – shear strength,
impervious ceramic (porcelain) mosaics
> 400 psi (2,76 MPa) at 28 days
400 to 600 psi
(2,76 to 4,14 MPa)
ANSI A118.15 – shear strength,
impervious ceramic (porcelain) mosaics,
heat aging
> 400 psi (2,76 MPa) at 28 days
400 to 600 psi
(2,76 to 4,14 MPa)
ANSI A118.15 – shear strength, glazed
wall tile
> 450 psi (3,10 MPa) at 7 days
450 to 600 psi
(3,10 to 4,14 MPa)
ANSI A118.15 – shear strength, quarry
tile to quarry tile
> 150 psi (1,03 MPa) at 28 days
500 to 700 psi
(3,45 to 4,83 MPa)
ANSI A118.11 – shear strength, quarry
tile to plywood
> 150 psi (1,03 MPa) at 28 days
250 to 400 psi
(1,72 to 2,76 MPa)
** Anything that meets A118.15 by definition exceeds A118.14.
Approximate Coverage*** per 50 lbs. (22,7 kg)
Typical Trowel
Coverage
1/4" x 1/4" x 1/4"
(6 x 6 x 6 mm)
85 to 95 sq. ft. (7,90 to 8,83 m²)
1/4" x 3/8" x 1/4"
(6 x 10 x 6 mm)
65 to 75 sq. ft. (6,04 to 6,97 m²)
1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2"
(12 x 12 x 12 mm)
40 to 50 sq. ft. (3,72 to 4,65 m²)
3/4" x 9/16" x 3/8"
(19 x 14 x 10 mm)
35 to 40 sq. ft. (3,25 to 3,72 m²)
*** Trowel dimensions are width/depth/space. Actual coverage will vary according to substrate profile and tile type.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING TALKING GROUT
TALKING GROUT –
Selecting the correct grout for your tile
Years ago, choosing a grout was pretty easy
– all grout was gray and made of Portland
cement. The advent of thin-set installation
systems, challenging service environments
and more sophisticated consumer tastes
has led to a proliferation of grout options,
and choosing the correct one can be the
difference between a satisfied customer
and an angry one.
Because Portland cement products are
porous, they can absorb liquids. Therefore,
any Portland cement-based grout can stain
unless it is treated. Additives like MAPEI’s
Grout Maximizer have been developed
over the years to help minimize staining
in these grouts. Topical sealers such as
UltraCare™ Grout Sealer can also be
applied after installation.
Selecting the right grout depends entirely
on where it will be used and what conditions
it will be used in.
Portland cement-based products are also
prone to a condition called “efflorescence,”
when salts from the installation materials
migrate to the surface of the grout and
leave white mineral deposits. While staining
and efflorescence can be minimized with
sealers, cleaners and careful installation
techniques, specialized grouts have been
developed over the years that are much
less sensitive.
Cementitious grouts
The most basic grout is a cementitious
grout based on Portland cement, typically
with latex added to give it some flexibility
and with pigments or dyes added to give
it color.
If the grout joints are going to be larger than
1/8" (3 mm) – a typical size for porcelain
tile, tumbled stones, and floors – a sanded
grout should be used. Sanded grouts
like Keracolor™ S include grains of sand
(aggregate) that help bridge the gaps
between the tiles.
For grout joints less than 1/8" (3 mm) – a
typical size for wall tiles, mosaics and
backsplashes – an unsanded grout like
Keracolor U should be used. Unsanded
grouts will not scratch delicate surfaces
such as polished stones, metallic or resin
tiles, and they are better at filling narrower
spaces because they do not contain any
aggregate.
Ultracolor® Plus is one specialized
grout that is free of efflorescence and
ensures color consistency. Instead of
traditional Portland cement, Ultracolor
Plus uses MAPEI’s High-Hydrated Cement
Technology to eliminate mineral migration
(the cause of efflorescence). In installations
where color consistency and ease of
maintenance are critical, grouts of this type
should be used.
While cementitious grouts are suitable
for most residential and light-commercial
applications, some commercial applications
have their own challenges that require more
specialized grouts.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING TALKING GROUT
“Ready-to-use” grouts
Reaction resin grouts
As do-it-yourselfers have increasingly
tackled tiling as a home improvement
project, ready-to-use (sometimes called
“premixed”) grouts have become popular.
These grouts have good stain resistance
and do not require the addition of water
that can impact color consistency if over- or
under-hydrated. In addition, performance
is ensured because too much or too little
water can weaken the integrity of the grout.
One class of grouts developed to solve
commercial and challenging residential
problems is reaction resin grouts (more
commonly referred to in the United States
as epoxy grouts). These grouts are two- or
three-part systems made up of an epoxy
resin and a hardener to cure the grout,
plus, in some cases, a separate colorant.
Epoxy grouts never need to be sealed;
they are used in applications where the
grout must stand up to high traffic or may
be subjected to high humidity, chemicals,
stains, alkalinity, chlorine or bacteria.
MAPEI Flexcolor ™ CQ is a professionalclass, “ready-to-use” grout for both
commercial and residential installations
with porcelain, ceramic and naturalstone tiles. It can be used to grout interior
and exterior tile and is formulated with
DropEffect™ technology, which provides
water repellency to the surface of the grout,
thereby preventing water-based stains. No
sealer is required.
In addition, the latest innovation in
aggregates is formulated into MAPEI
Flexcolor CQ. Its coated quartz (CQ)
aggregate offers the benefit of MAPEI’s
Coated Quartz Technology, which ensures
color consistency, ease of cleanability and
improved workability, and will not stain
sensitive tile surfaces. MAPEI Flexcolor
CQ cures naturally via evaporation, which
is uniquely different from hydraulic or
chemical curing of grouts.
Some of this specialty grout’s features
include:
•Mold and mildew resistance thanks to
BioBlock® technology.
•
A crack-resistance and shrinkagecontrolled
formulation
with
no
efflorescence.
• For grout joints from 1/16" to 1/2" (1,5 to
12 mm).
•Useable straight from the pail without
dilution.
Kerapoxy® CQ is one of the industry
leaders in this grout category because it
includes another key feature mentioned
in the “‘Ready-to-use’ grouts” section –
coated quartz technology that dramatically
improves cleanability during grouting and
provides for consistent color at all times.
By removing free pigment from the system,
this grout will not readily stain tiles or stones
that have pits or pores, and the aggregate
duplicates the look and feel of sanded
grouts.
The most demanding conditions – such
as industrial, commercial and institutional
wall and floor installations – require a grout
such as Kerapoxy IEG, which provides
an extremely chemical-resistant and heatresistant resin system. This grout can stand
up to steam cleaning, corrosive chemicals
and the heaviest of foot traffic.
Other considerations
Another grout consideration is the color of
the grout. The surface of Portland cementbased grout is porous and, if not sealed,
will typically darken over time as dirt and
grime stain the grout. While they tend to
be cheaper up front, maintenance costs for
light-colored cementitious grouts on floors
tend to be higher over the long term.
A final consideration for grout selection is
the environment. Choose grouts with low
volatile organic compound (VOC) ratings.
Identify grout manufacturing facilities
that are close over those that have to be
trucked in from long distances. Purchase
grouts from companies like MAPEI (with
13 strategically located plants throughout
North America) that make sustainability a
core component of how they do business.
It is important that one understands the
limitations, benefits and requirements of the
grout chosen. Careful attention to a grout’s
technical data sheet can prevent a variety
of issues and help in choosing the correct
grout for a particular application.
About
the author:
Dan Marvin
Dan is the Associate Director of Technical
Services for MAPEI Americas. Dan has
more than 20 years of technical expertise
in the tile industry and sits on technical
committees for TCNA, CTDA, ASTM,
ANSI, and the Handbook for Tile and
Stone Installation, working closely with
these committees to improve existing
standards and create new ones as the
industry continues to evolve.
New MAPEI Flexcolor ™ CQ
targets your grout problems
callbacks
mixing
cracking
sealing
staining
efflorescence
Ready-to-Use Grout with Color-Coated Quartz
MAPEI Flexcolor CQ is formulated with the latest innovation in quartz aggregate,
which ensures color consistency, ease of cleanability and improved workability. The
next-generation formula will give you flush joints and incorporates DropEffect™
technology, which helps prevent most stains. This professional-grade, ready-to-use
specialty grout was made for precision commercial and residential installations.
Available in 26 designer colors and 2 packaging sizes (1 & 2 gallons).
Your reputation relies on being precise every time.
Trust the new MAPEI Flexcolor CQ !
SPECIAL FEATURE 2014 TRADE SHOWS
2014 TRADE
SHOWS
Inquisitive attendees excited
about new MAPEI products
World of Concrete
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
January 21-24, 2014
Attendance at World of Concrete this year
was down by 7,000 visitors, as many people
waited to attend the CONEXPO-CON/AGG
show, which is held only once every three
years. The people who did attend World of
Concrete 2014, however, were very busy at
MAPEI’s booth, asking questions and lining
up to see the technical demonstrations held
each day.
MAPEI brought a number of products to
World of Concrete this year, reinforcing
its sharing of the company’s European
technology with the American market.
Products and systems shown through
demonstrations and exhibits included:
•The
Mapefloor™
parking
deck
system for heavy pedestrian and
vehicular traffic: This new system
is specially formulated for interior
and exterior concrete surfaces that
require waterproofing, flexibility, and
high resistance to wear and abrasion.
Mapefloor products include a primer, a
basecoat and two topcoats – one for
areas exposed to constant sunlight and
one for areas without sunlight.
• Planitop® 11 SCC self-consolidating
concrete mix with a corrosion inhibitor:
Planitop 11 SCC can be used for
full-depth structural concrete repairs
in above-, below- and on-grade
applications. It is ideal for structural
repairs to tunnels, bridges, dams,
parking garages, balcony edges and
columns.
• Ultratop® PC polishable, self-leveling
concrete topping: Suitable for both
interior and exterior use, Ultratop PC
has been engineered to provide a thin
resurfacing material that is very dense,
hard and durable, with the ability to
hold a brilliant polish.
MAPEI customers took time out of their
busy itineraries one afternoon to stop by the
MAPEI booth and enjoy the VIP hospitality
event. There was a lot of talk about the
latest MAPEI products, with a high level of
interest in the Mapefloor system.
One of the highlights of the MAPEI booth
was the new “World of MAPEI” branding.
Many of the graphics in the booth depicted
the work of architectural illustrator Carlo
Stanga, who designed the images that
highlighted projects around the world where
MAPEI products were used for construction,
restoration and renovation. During MAPEI’s
annual press conference, Luigi DiGeso,
president and CEO of MAPEI Americas,
talked with the media about the new look
and what it means to the company and its
customers.
MAPEI’s CRS demo team shows the audience how to use Planitop 11 SCC concrete repair mortars.
A demo team member explains various surfaces in the Mapefloor system.
World of Concrete attendees meet and mingle with MAPEI staff during the VIP event.
SPECIAL FEATURE 2014 TRADE SHOWS
Surfaces Expo
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
January 28-30, 2014
The first thing people noticed about
the MAPEI booth at Surfaces was the
“whiteness” of everything. What they were
seeing was the new “World of MAPEI”
branding, showing a white background on
which colorful images portray architectural
illustrations of many places where MAPEI
has become a part of people’s daily lives.
The second thing that visitors noticed was
the new applied-sample presentations.
Everyone highly approved of the waist-high
displays, which gave a horizontal view of the
various layers involved in floor covering and
tile/stone installations. Large posters that
rose above the applied samples explained
the MAPEI products in use along with their
features and benefits.
During the MAPEI press conference, the
business managers for the various flooring
installation categories introduced to the
press the new products being exhibited at
the show:
• MAPEI Flexcolor™ CQ next-generation,
ready-to-use grout has been designed
to provide uncompromised cleanability
while maintaining color consistency
with its color-coated quartz technology.
•MAPEI has extended its support of the
tile installation systems market with the
introduction of two ShowerPerfect™
installation kits – one that uses a liquid
membrane for waterproofing and one
that uses a sheet membrane. These
installation systems focus on tub-toshower conversions, with the inclusion
of a linear drain assembly.
•MAPEI is adding another branch to its
growing family tree of wood-flooring
products with the introduction of the
full line of Ultracoat™ wood-floor
finishing materials, plus products for
maintenance of floors treated with those
materials. The Ultracoat line includes
wood-floor
finishing
accessories,
basecoats, finishes, sealers
maintenance products.
and
All the new products were demonstrated and
exhibited throughout the three days of the
trade show by the MAPEI demo team, led
by MAPEI national technical presenter Sam
Biondo. Another new feature of the MAPEI
booth this year was the use of a viewing
screen behind the demo team, which
projected the team’s demonstrations to the
large groups of contractors and distributors
in the audience for each presentation.
MAPEI
colleagues
gave
numerous
presentations at Surfaces and at StonExpo/
Marmomacc during the conference
portion of the expo. The subjects of these
presentations ranged from the problems
associated with remediation of postabatement concrete floors, to the latest
advances in the trend toward installation of
ultra large-format thin-tile panels.
Sam Biondo, MAPEI’s national technical presenter, led the demo team in a series of hourly talks and demonstrations of products.
MAPEI exhibited new products in horizontal sample displays.
One display was devoted to MAPEI's new ShowerPerfect Installation Systems.
TECHNICAL FEATURE MAPESONIC 2
A PEACEFUL OASIS
IN A NOISY WORLD
Mapesonic™ 2 employs a patent-pending
technology for sound reduction
“Please make it stop!”
In a world filled with ever-louder demands
for our attention from every direction, the
most precious commodity around can often
be just a little peace and quiet. Finding
innovative ways to stop the pounding and
tone down the volume in the home and office
has been a growing concern for designers,
architects, builders and owners around
the globe. Many designs and construction
methods have been used in the past, all with
varying results and at a wide range of costs
to the owners.
As the industry has matured within the United
States, engineers have begun to settle on
specific test methods and noise-reduction
requirements to bring the best value and
results to the marketplace. Achieving these
new sound-reduction standards in a costeffective and installer-friendly way has been
the focus of the MAPEI Group research
organization for several years. The end
product, Mapesonic 2, achieves world-class
sound dampening by using patent-pending
technology as a way to bring that needed
relief to MAPEI’s customers.
The science of silence
Over the years, the scientific community
studying the science behind sound
dampening in buildings has come to
recognize that there are two very different
types of sounds that must be addressed in
order to make living spaces comfortable for
the human ear. The first of these is impact
sounds: heels striking floors, furniture
dragging, machines vibrating and banging
– practically any sound that results when
an object comes in physical contact with a
floor or wall. Such sounds that come from
impacts and sound waves traveling directly
through solids are classified by sound
engineers as Impact Insulation Class (IIC)
sounds.
The second type of sounds that engineers
have identified is those sounds that travel
through the air initially and then pass through
a floor or wall to the next room. These
are the sounds of life: people talking and
laughing, music playing, and the occasional
baby crying. They are not all bad, but when
the neighbors upstairs are having a fight at
the top of their lungs, it is not a soundtrack
anyone wants to be listening to at 2 a.m.
Airborne sounds are officially classified as
Sound Transmission Class (STC) sounds
for sound-dampening purposes.
In delving a little deeper into the science, it
turns out that these two types of sounds
require individual tests by sound-reduction
engineers because they require different
strategies for sound dampening. In other
words, the techniques that stop the impact
(IIC) sounds do not necessarily help to
kill the noise from air transmission (STC)
sounds. Accomplishing both goals with
one product truly required an invention that
could achieve the desired reductions now
being specified by engineers and zoning
ordinances: a 50/50 STC/IIC rating.
The 50/50 numbers come from using
three very specific American Standard
Test Methods – ASTM E90 to measure
STC sound reduction, and a combination
of ASTM E492 and E2179 to measure
the IIC and DeltaIIC sound reduction
respectively. Performing these tests
requires highly specialized laboratories and
exacting conditions that specifically test an
exact construction design for its sounddampening properties. Measuring sounds
over the full range of human hearing and the
changes in all the harmonics involved goes
into every test to determine an exact level
of sound reduction. Higher test numbers are
better.
While the ASTM tests are very specific and
exact, they do not specify or standardize the
flooring or ceiling design or the exact flooring
products being tested. Because there was
no universal requirement, a wide variety of
products was offered to the marketplace
with very little, if any, exact side-by-side
comparisons to allow consumers to make
the best choice and to be able to compare
“apples to apples.” Big numbers abounded
on specifications and in product literature,
but how much a sound-dampening product
individually contributed to those numbers
was not always clear.
A great leap forward for the marketplace
occurred with the development and
publication of the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) specification
for sound-reduction membranes, ANSI
A118.13 in 2010. For the first time, the ANSI
A118.13 standard set a specification and
required that sound-reduction membrane
products use the same testing system –
standardized construction with a simple 6"
(15 cm) concrete slab and no suspended
ceiling to achieve a real sound reduction
using the ASTM E2179 test. Products
certified for ANSI A118.13 could now be
compared in a realistic manner, and the
better products could be distinguished
from lesser offerings. The challenge for
MAPEI scientists was to develop a product
that could produce the sound reductions
needed in the controlled test that met the
high standards now being demanded
without any added sound-dampening help
to reach the desired 50/50 STC/IIC rating.
TN
™
TECHNICAL FEATURE MAPESONIC 2
Developing Mapesonic 2
Using Mapesonic 2
The conventional wisdom in the marketplace
is that if a thin sound-reduction membrane
works part of the way to reduce IIC and STC
sounds, a slightly thicker version of the same
membrane should also achieve the desired
50/50 rating. In reality, this is not the case.
The differences in how IIC and STC sounds
must be dampened prevent a conventional
membrane with a reasonable thickness from
achieving both sound-reduction numbers.
Standard membrane materials like rubber,
bitumen, polyurethanes and the non-woven
synthetic fibers used in most sound-control
membranes affect the absorption and
reflection of sound differently; so simply
adding more material is not the solution.
Mother Nature’s offering, cork, will work at
the right thickness; however, it is subject to
mold, mildew and swelling if it is installed on
a floor that contains any moisture. Cork is,
therefore, not an optimal solution for realworld floors that must stand up to all kinds
of conditions.
Mapesonic 2 is a peel-and-stick membrane
that is applied over a clean and primed floor.
Two versions of the primer to be used are
available: MAPEI SM Primer™ and MAPEI
SM Primer Fast. Both are roller-applied
products that dry quickly and prepare the
surface of the floor to receive the application
of Mapesonic 2. MAPEI SM Primer Fast
offers faster grab and allows the product
to be used over floors with higher moisture
levels, up to a maximum of 8 lbs. per 1,000
sq. ft. (3,63 kg per 92,9 m2) per 24 hours
by the calcium chloride test (ASTM 1869).
Once the primer has dried, the peel-andstick Mapesonic 2 is applied and rolled into
place using a heavy roller. At that point, the
membrane is ready for whatever comes
next: tile, stone, wood or any other approved
flooring system.
Mapesonic 2 was born from an extensive
research project to analyze how sound
waves travel and from a full study of the
novel combination of materials needed to
deliver optimal results. In the end, MAPEI
Group scientists developed a patentpending construction of materials that both
reflect and dampen sound waves using
the physics of sound and heat. From the
customer’s perspective, Mapesonic 2 was
developed to overcome the limitations of
existing products to achieve at least a 50/50
rating over a 6" (15 cm) concrete slab with
no ceiling assembly. Mapesonic 2 is truly a
product innovation that utilizes its material
composition and design format to deliver
better sound-performance results with a
thinner membrane than its 90- to 110-mil
(2,3 to 2,8 mm) counterparts.
About
the author:
Dr. Neil McMurdie
Table 1
Results shown below are from ASTM
testing of sound reduction by NGC Testing
Services, a leading independent laboratory.
Sound-reduction ratings were measured
over a 6" (15 cm) concrete slab with no
suspended ceiling and using 12" x 12" (30 x
30 cm) porcelain tile.
ASTM Method Used
Type of Sound Reduced
Test Result
ASTM E492-04 (IIC)
Impact sound
50
ASTM E2179-03 (Delta IIC)
Impact sound
21
ASTM E90-04 (STC)
Airborne sound
52
Neil oversees the development of
innovative new technologies and products
for MAPEI Americas. After completing
his B.S. in Chemistry as a Presidential
Scholar at the University of Texas, Neil
gained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale
University. He has 18 years’ experience in
chemical research and is a member of the
American Chemical Society, the Materials
and Methods Standards Association,
the American Concrete Institute, the
Adhesives & Sealants Council and the
Ceramic Tile Distributors Association. He
received the U.S. EPA Presidential Green
Chemistry Challenge Award in 2001, and
he is a holder of 10 U.S. patents.
PROJECT REFERENCE AQUARIUS MEWS II CONDOMINIUM
ADDING TO LUXURY
CONDO LIVING IN
YALETOWN
MAPEI’s Ultratop® brings the
understated elegance of decorative
concrete to a penthouse in Vancouver’s
Aquarius Mews II
“Yaletown got its name in the 19th century when the
Canadian Pacific Railroad moved its rail yards and
repair facilities from Yale, in the Fraser River canyon, to
the new Yaletown on the north shore of False Creek [in
Vancouver].
“Known to many as Vancouver’s little Soho, Yaletown
has experienced a revival in the past several years
to emerge as downtown’s trendiest residential
neighborhood for urban professionals. Impeccably
hip, Yaletown is brimming with quality restaurants,
boutiques, and galleries. It is a neighborhood where
everyone goes to see-and-be-seen.
“A seven block area bounded by Nelson, Homer Drake
and Hamilton Streets and Pacific Boulevard, Yaletown
retains the red brick charm of its history as a 19th
century rail yard. Warehouses have been converted
into lofts, and railway loading docks now serve as patio
space for martini bars.”
– Quoted from BCPassport.com/shopping/yaletown
PROJECT REFERENCE AQUARIUS MEWS II CONDOMINIUM
Occupying a prime spot at the south end
of Yaletown is Aquarius Mews II, part of
a collection of four high-rise buildings
surrounding a scenic courtyard. The
building houses a fitness center with an
indoor pool, Jacuzzi and sauna room.
Stepping out the front door of the condo
lobby, residents step right into all that
Yaletown has to offer. And if the condo
inhabitants tire of the urban scene, they can
turn around for a view of the marina and
yacht harbor across Marinaside Crescent.
Completed in 1999 as the second building
in the group, Aquarius Mews II is located at
198 Aquarius Mews. It rises 33 stories and
houses 184 units. One of the penthouse
suites on the 28th floor recently got a new
owner and an innovative facelift. After the
closing, the owner – an interior designer
– immediately gutted the unit and began
searching for a fresh new look. With regard
to the floor, sound protection was critical.
In addition, the owner wanted an organic
concrete-looking floor with radiant-floor
heating, making the project a considerable
challenge.
The system solution that MAPEI created
had never been tried with the company’s
products yet proved quite successful. A
cork sound mat was used over the concrete
slab, and was covered with 6-mil thick poly
to provide a separation slip sheet. Expanded
metal lath was placed on the slab, providing
a grid for the heating pipes to be strapped
to and producing reinforcement for the mud
bed. The contractor, Artisans in Concrete,
used Topcem™ Premix mortar mixed with
Planicrete® AC liquid-latex admixture.
Under the leadership of project manager
Anton Vogt, the crew added stainless-steel
fiber into the mix for added stability.
Workers divided up the rooms into grids
using high-density foam. Foam strips were
bolted to the slab and acted as screed
rails for the mud bed. Topcem Premix was
mixed on the small patio deck, and the mud
bed took two days to install.
TECHNICAL DATA
Next, the Topcem Premix mud bed was
allowed to cure for two days before the
overlay application. Workers applied
Primer E ™ with broadcast sand over the
entire floor area of the condo unit, including
the kitchen, hallways, bathrooms, closets
and bedrooms. Ultratop White was then
installed over the primer on the following
day.
Specifically designed for applications
where a distinctive and creative floor
is desired, Ultratop is a self-leveling,
self-drying topping, based on HighHydrated Cement Technology (HCT™),
that is specially formulated for fast-track
resurfacing and construction of interior
horizontal wear surfaces. It provides the
ultimate palette for designing unique and
artistic floors, and it offers an unlimited
range of interesting effects when mixed
with integral colorants and materials such
as glass, aggregates and metals. Ultratop
White also maximizes the brilliance of
architectural stains and integral coloring
agents.
The Ultratop application process took two
days, due to the layout of the unit. Once
the Ultratop had cured for an additional
day, it was buffed and subsequently
sealed with an acrylic sealer. Several coats
of floor wax were then used to form a
protective sacrificial layer. The floor turned
out amazingly well and gave the home
owner the exact look that she was trying to
achieve. Now her condo truly “tops the list”
of creative locations in Yaletown.
Aquarius Mews II Penthouse Condo, Vancouver,
British Columbia (Canada)
Period of construction: 2011-2012
Where MAPEI products were used: Topcem
Premix mixed with Planicrete AC was used to
form a mud bed around and under a radiant-floor
heating system. The mud bed was then covered
with Ultratop White to form an elegant, decorative
concrete background for the modern décor in the
condominium.
Client: Private homeowner
Project manager: Anton Vogt
Decorative concrete contractor: Artisans in
Concrete – Vancouver, BC
MAPEI coordinator: Dave Randall
MAPEI PRODUCTS
Surface preparation: Topcem Premix, Planicrete
AC and Primer E
Installation of decorative concrete flooring:
Ultratop White
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Ultratop ® PC
High-Performance, Polishable
Concrete Topping
Ultratop PC is a high-flow, quick-setting, selfleveling, cementitious topping optimized for
polishing. Suitable for both interior and exterior
use, Ultratop PC is designed to be applied at
3/8" to 2" (10 mm to 5 cm) thick and cures
quickly for fast-track resurfacing and polishing
of concrete floors. Ultratop PC is suitable for
applications such as high-end residential units,
retail stores, warehouses, schools, kitchens,
airport hangars and loading docks. Ultratop PC is
engineered to provide a thin resurfacing material
that is extremely dense, hard and durable so that
it is capable of holding a brilliant polish.
Features and Benefits
• Very fluid self-leveler; easily installed from
3/8" to 2" (10 mm to 5 cm) neat in a single
lift and up to 5" (12,5 cm) extended
• Polishable in as soon as 24 hours under
normal conditions
• Suitable for both new (28-day cured) and
existing concrete, for interior and exterior
floors
• Polished topping maximizes the brilliance of
natural gray concrete floors.
• Will accept light vehicular and foot traffic in
commercial, light industrial and residential
applications
• Suitable for areas of constant water exposure
Uses
• Suitable for retail stores, mall corridors and
entrances, exterior walkways, showroom
floors, restaurant floors, hotel lobbies and
schools
• For applications where a unique, creative
floor is desired
• For industrial warehouse floors and airports
subject to foot and light vehicular traffic
Product Performance Properties
Laboratory Tests
Results
Compressive strength – ASTM C109 (CAN/CSA-A5) at 73°F (23°C) and 50% relative humidity
4 hours
> 2,900 psi (20 MPa)
1 day
> 5,075 psi (35 MPa)
28 days
> 7,250 psi (50 MPa)
Flexural strength – ASTM C348 (CAN/CSA-A23.2-8C)
1 day
> 725 psi (5 MPa)
28 days
> 900 psi (6,21 MPa)
Approximate Coverage* per 50 lbs. (22,7 kg)
Yield
0.44 cu. ft. (0,01 m³)
Coverage at 3/8" (10 mm) thickness
14.10 sq. ft. (1,31 m2 )
Coverage at 1/2" (12 mm) thickness
10.6 sq. ft. (0,98 m2 )
* Coverage shown is for estimating purposes only. Actual jobsite coverage may vary according to substrate
conditions and setting practices.
Packaging
Size
Bag: 50 lbs. (22,7 kg)
The ULTIMATE choice in
wood adhesives.
MOISTURE VAPOR BARRIER
SOUND REDUCTION
BONDING SYSTEM
ONE product. ONE application. THOUSANDS of happy customers.
Ultrabond ECO ® 995
•
Moisture barrier, sound reduction and bonding system in a single product
•
100%-solids formulation; no solvent added
•
Utilizes rapidly renewable raw materials
•
Excellent green strength to hold planks in place during installation
•
Approved for use with all types of solid hardwood and exotic planks/shorts; parquet; bamboo
flooring; acrylic impregnated wood and laminated plank; cork underlayment; and all sizes of
engineered wood flooring
Scan here with your smartphone
for information about MAPEI’s
Ultrabond ECO 995, or contact
your local sales representative.
PROJECT REFERENCE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL AND CONDOMINIUMS
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL AND
CONDOMINIUMS
An eye-catching addition to the Toronto skyline
uses MAPEI adhesives for its wood flooring
The term “Shangri-la” refers to “a paradise
on Earth,” and that is exactly what the
ultra luxury hotel development of the same
name has created in Toronto. Following up
on its Living Shangri-La Vancouver hotel/
condominium project, Shangri-La Hotels
and Resorts – along with Westbank and
Peterson Group – has introduced the new
Shangri-La Hotel and Condominiums,
designed by James K.M. Cheng Architects.
Christopher Hume, columnist for the
Toronto Star, made the following comments
on the architectural aesthetics of the
Shangri-La:
“...this 66-storey extravaganza brings
an unprecedented level of architectural
intensity to the neighborhood. Nothing
quite like it has been seen before,
perhaps in all Toronto. For the most
part, the recent arrival inhabits its
space well.
One might have preferred a little more
restraint, but that’s not what this
building is about. Indeed, try as one
might, it’s hard to avoid the ShangriLa. From the extraordinary sculpture
on University Ave. to the exquisite glass
pavilion behind it, the gentle geometry
of the tower to the impressive stone
facades of the podium, this is a
complex that will not be denied.
It’s also a complex that doesn’t shy
away from complexity. Though the
design spirit is minimalist in some
ways, the building takes a downright
deconstructionist pleasure in its own
multifaceted nature. With so much
going on, the base reads like a whole
streetscape of its own. Parts extend
out toward the street, others pull back.
The sculpture, by Chinese artist Zhang
Huan, hovers in the narrow space
between creepiness and beauty.
Again, it’s unlike anything in Toronto, a
city where most public art ranges from
the decorative to the commemorative.
The combination of hotel (below) and
condos (above) feels appropriate.
The main entrance, on Simcoe St.,
presents a more sober face to the city.
The residential entrance, on Adelaide,
reads almost like an afterthought. The
main facade, on University, is the public
face of the Shangri-La, a function it
performs brilliantly.”
The hotel occupies the first 17 floors of the
66-story building (222 rooms), while 393
luxury condominiums are located on the
levels above. The hotel features a threestory lobby with a cafe, a mezzanine-level
restaurant overlooking University Avenue,
and Chi - The Spa; these amenities are also
available to condominium owners.
To make sure tenants and hotel guests
enjoy beautiful luxury flooring, Westbank
consulted with Parchettificio Garbelotto of
Treviso, Italy, to obtain the elegant wood
used on all the hotel rooms’ and condo
units’ floors.
The Garbelotto factory worked with
technicians from the Shangri-La to find the
best solution to the wide variety of humidity
and temperature ranges present in Toronto.
Garbelotto produced custom 1/2" x 3-1/2"
(12 x 90 mm) oak planks in three colors –
white, graphite and dark brown. The planks
were pre-smoothed and beveled on four
sides, and all materials were finished with
an anti-flame varnish. The parquet was
supplied in two shapes – one for a “stack
bond” installation (where all four seams
line up on every side) and the other for a
herringbone installation. The complete
production cycle, from gluing to surface
finishes, was completed in the Garbelotto
facilities – “a guarantee of a product
completely MADE IN ITALY,” according to
Garbelotto.
PROJECT REFERENCE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL AND CONDOMINIUMS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Ultrabond ECO 995 is a premium
combination of moisture control
and wood-flooring adhesive. Just
a single application of Ultrabond
ECO 995 provides both superior
bonding and moisture vapor
emission control of up to 15 lbs.
(6,80 kg) in MVER or 85% relative
humidity. This single-component,
ready-to-use, 100%-solids,
moisture-cure urethane system
is excellent for all types of wood
flooring, including exotics and
bamboo. Ultrabond ECO 995
utilizes MAPEI’s “greenest”
technology and naturally
renewable resources, resulting
in an odor-free, phthalatefree installation that can help
contribute additional points
toward LEED-certified projects.
This easy-to-trowel, elastomeric
adhesive offers excellent trowel
ridge hold-out, allowing it to
perform well in commercial and
industrial-grade applications as
well as residential usage.
TECHNICAL DATA
MAPEI also began work on this project
early in the planning stages (2008). The
original specification called for the use
of a double-glue-down technique. Cork
was to be used for sound reduction, and
then the wood was to be glued to the cork
with a second adhesive. MAPEI offered
Westbank a system warranty for use of
self-leveler Novoplan ® 2 to meet the
substrate tolerances for engineered wood,
and Ultrabond ECO ® 995 as a one-step
acoustical membrane and adhesive.
Once the job was awarded to Sterling Tile
of Vaughn, Ontario, MAPEI held several inhouse training seminars with their installers
at the MAPEI plant in Brampton and at
Sterling’s facility. With all the pre-planning
and excellent technical support, MAPEI was
able to meet the needs of the contractors
and the property owner for the successful
installation of 400,000 sq. ft. (37 161 m2) of
wood.
Before the wood could be installed,
however, extensive surface preparation had
to be completed by concrete restoration
contractor Ground Floor Industries (GFI), Inc.
GFI crews applied Primer L™ and poured
400,000 sq. ft. (37 161 m2) of Novoplan 2 to
meet the specified tolerances for substrate
flatness (approximately 1/8" [3 mm] in
10 ft. [3,05 m]). After the initial pours, if any
areas remained out of tolerance, they were
skimmed with Planiprep™ FF.
The result of the teamwork between
the concrete restoration contractor, the
wood floor-covering installer and MAPEI
produced floors that have indeed added
to the luxury of the Shangri-La Hotel and
Condominiums.
Shangri-La Hotel and Condominiums,
Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
Architects: James K.M. Cheng Architects and
Hariri Pontarini Architects
Period of construction: 2008-2012
Where MAPEI products were used:
Self-leveling concrete substrates, patching small
voids and installing engineered oak flooring in
the hotel rooms and high-rise condominiums of
the Shangri-La Toronto
Client: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Project manager: Bruce McCulloch (Westbank
Projects Corporation)
General contractor: Westbank Projects
Corporation
Wood flooring installer: Sterling Tile of Vaughn,
ON
Surface preparation contractor: Ground Floor
Industries, Inc.
MAPEI coordinators: Gaspare Clemenzi and
Jason Zeppieri
MAPEI PRODUCTS
Surface preparation: Novoplan 2, Primer L and
Planiprep FF
Installation of wood flooring: Ultrabond ECO 995
The MAPEI Technical Institute (MTI) provides the highest-quality, basic product knowledge with demonstrations and hands-on training to
architects, contractors, installers and distributors in 9 locations: Deerfield Beach (FL), San Bernardino (CA), Garland (TX), Dalton (GA), West Chicago (IL) and
Swedesboro (NJ), all in the USA; and Laval (Quebec), Brampton (Ontario) and Delta (British Columbia), all in Canada.
MTI offers three types of training classes:
Tile & Stone Installation Systems (TSIS) and UltraCare™ Stone, Tile & Grout Solutions
– Basic product knowledge with demonstrations and hands-on training that cover surface preparation, moisture mitigation, waterproofing, crack
isolation, tile/stone installation and grouting products, sealers, finishes, and cleaners for stone, tile and grout.
Floor Covering Installation Systems (FCIS) and
Ultracoat ™ wood-floor systems (available in U.S. only)
– Basic product knowledge with demonstrations and hands-on training that cover the understanding and application of adhesives for vinyl, rubber,
carpet and wood flooring, as well as Ultracoat products for wood-floor surface preparation base coats, finishes and maintenance.
Concrete Restoration Systems (CRS)
– Basics and hands-on training that focus on surface preparation, bonding agents, corrosion protection, repair mortars, grouts, joint fillers, epoxies, fiberreinforced polymers, sealants and waterproofing products.
>For registration information on U.S. seminars, please contact Sophia D’Amico-Campbell at (954) 246-8555.
>For registration information on Canadian seminars, please contact Raffaelina Aceto at (450) 662-1212.
BUSINESS NEWS
MAPEI launches new line of products for wood floors
MAPEI, leading manufacturer of adhesives,
mortars and chemical products for the
building industry, is adding another branch
to its growing family tree of wood-flooring
products. The Ultracoat™ line was designed
in Europe, where it has developed a proven
track record of performance. MAPEI
Americas is now bringing the Ultracoat
finishing materials and wood maintenance
products to the United States to round out
its Ultrabond ECO® line of wood-flooring
installation products.
MAPEI meets the industry benchmark for
these products through UV resistance,
traffic resistance and ease of application.
“We are excited about introducing these
products in the United States because
Ultracoat expands our market opportunities
in the wood-flooring industry to include
site-finished wood flooring,” said Jeff
Johnson, Business Manager for Floor
Covering Installation Systems and Surface
Preparation Products. “According to
statistics, approximately 50% of wood
flooring installed is site-finished, and now
MAPEI supports this industry with a line of
exceptional, proven products – the Ultracoat
line.”
The NWFA’s Accepted Product Seal
program identifies wood-flooring products
that meet or exceed established industry
standards. The Accepted Eco Product
Seal identifies specific products that meet
or exceed certain eco-friendly standards.
To gain approval for the Accepted Product
Seal, MAPEI had its product line tested to
ensure that it conforms to established thirdparty testing specifically for finishes, stains
and sealers. The product line will be retested
and re-documented annually to ensure that
the standards are continually met.
Two polyurethane finishes in the Ultracoat
line – Ultracoat Easy Plus one-component,
water-based wood-flooring finish and
Ultracoat High Traffic two-component,
water-based wood-flooring finish – have
received the National Wood Flooring
Association’s (NWFA) Accepted Product
Seal and Accepted Eco Product Seal.
MAPEI’s full line of Ultracoat wood-floor
finishing materials, plus products for
maintenance of wood floors, falls into four
categories:
1. Wood-floor finishing accessories
2.Basecoats
3.Finishes
4. Maintenance products
MAPEI joins SHARP in Arizona
MAPEI is committed to the safety and
environmental health of its employees
throughout
the
company’s
global
infrastructure. One testament to this
commitment is the certification of the
MAPEI operations facility in Tempe, Arizona,
by OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement
Recognition Program (SHARP). OSHA
is the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
“We are extremely proud of our employees
and our safety record,” said Al Fornaro, Unit
Manager for MAPEI’s Arizona operation.
“When we were notified of our certification
by the Arizona Division of Occupational
Safety and Health, Director Bill Warren gave
us some startling facts that emphasized the
significance of our accomplishment. He said
there are 158,000 employers in Arizona, but
only 26, including MAPEI, have achieved
certification by the SHARP program.”
The plant in Tempe, Arizona, joins MAPEI’s
plant in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, which
achieved SHARP status in 2010.
One of the most important results of gaining
SHARP recognition is creating a culture of
safety. The benefits, as stated in the OSHA
program, include:
• Creating a better working
environment that is free of safety and
health hazards;
• Boosting worker morale by involving
workers in creating a culture that
emphasizes a safe and healthful
workplace;
• Improving communication among
workers and management;
• Encouraging safety in the
community as workers may transfer
safe and healthy work practices
outside of the workplace.
MAPEI celebrated the SHARP certification
with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce
and OSHA representatives at the plant on
January 28, 2014.
Mapefloor™ products protect parking decks
The Mapefloor parking deck system was
introduced at the World of Concrete 2014
trade show. The two-component, flexible
polyurethane system has been designed
to provide an elastomeric waterproofing
membrane for heavy pedestrian and
vehicular traffic. It may be used in multistory parking garages and areas with heavy
vehicular traffic, as well as on suspended
pedestrian walkways and balconies.
“The Mapefloor parking deck system
is specially formulated for interior and
exterior concrete surfaces that require
waterproofing, flexibility, and high resistance
to wear and abrasion,” said Roger Pratt,
Business Manager for MAPEI’s Concrete
Restoration Systems line. “In parking
garages, the decks can see a lot of wear
and abrasion, undergo extreme temperature
variations, and be subjected to attack from
aggressive chemical agents as well as salt
and water intrusion. The Mapefloor parking
deck system provides an impermeable,
non-slip surface that will resist this wear
while protecting the concrete from oil, fuel
and salt intrusion.
“Mapefloor is also flexible enough to allow
for above-grade substrate movement and
provide some crack-bridging capability to
prevent water and salt from penetrating the
concrete surface,” Pratt continued.
The Mapefloor parking deck system is
available in two formats. The standard
system is a minimum 40-dry-mil (1-mm)
system, excluding aggregate and primer.
The heavy-duty system – ideal for high-wear
areas such as spiraled ramps, turn and drive
lanes, and ticket booths – is a minimum
55-dry-mil (1,4-mm) system, also excluding
aggregate and primer.
The components of the systems are as
follows:
• Mapefloor Primer (for standard
applications) and Mapefloor Primer
Fast (for heavy-duty applications),
both two-component epoxy primers,
are used for priming and consolidating
the worn concrete surface.
• Mapefloor PU 400 two-component
polyurethane basecoat is applied
over the primer and acts as a
waterproofing membrane.
• Mapefloor Finish 415 NA twocomponent, aromatic polyurethane
topcoat is used in areas of parking
garages not exposed to the sun.
• Mapefloor Finish 450 twocomponent, aliphatic polyurethane
topcoat provides UV protection in
areas of garages that are constantly
exposed to the sun.
Parking garages is a rapidly growing
segment of the concrete restoration sector,
Pratt said. “As new buildings are added in
city environments, a parking garage must
be added adjacent to or beneath these
buildings. Existing garages that were
built in the ’70s and ’80s have lost their
protective coatings through wear and need
replacement,” he added. “New garages
demand this coating to extend the service
life of these concrete decks. The Mapefloor
parking deck system is the most effective
answer to the protective coating needs of
these concrete floors.”
PROJECTS IN THE WORKS
MAPEI partners with a host of flooring professionals throughout the Americas to provide solutions for a variety of product challenges.
“Projects in the Works” showcases some of the installations currently under construction or recently completed. Check out what’s
happening in your area – MAPEI may be right around the corner.
b
c
e
d
b Bayshore Shopping Centre and
Parking Facility
Ottawa, Ontario
Located in the western part of Ottawa,
Bayshore Shopping Centre offers an easily
accessible one-stop shopping destination.
Each year, nearly 7 million people visit
Bayshore Shopping Centre. Patrons benefit
from recent renovation and expansion
projects that make shopping at Bayshore
an even more pleasant experience. Bellai
Brothers (Ottawa, ON) used the MAPEI
FRP systems to strengthen columns in
Bayshore’s parking facility. Inside the threestory mall, Maple Terrazzo (Bolton, ON)
renovated the tile floors, using Ultraplan® 1
Plus underlayment, Mapecem® 100 mortar
and Mapecem Quickpatch concrete
patch for surface preparation. Ultraflex™
RS mortar was used to set uncoupling
membranes, and Mapeguard™ 2 soundreduction membrane was used for crack
isolation in other areas. The Maple Terrazzo
team used the Granirapid® mortar system
to set 24" x 24" (61 x 61 cm) large-format
porcelain tiles, and then grouted the tiles
with Ultracolor® Plus sanded grout.
c St. Joseph’s Hospital-South
Riverview, Florida
The 352,000-sq.-ft. (32 702-m2) St.
Joseph’s South Hospital, to be completed
in 2015, will offer something for just about
everyone in the Riverview, Florida, area, with
90 private patient suites plus an additional
22 observation rooms. MAPEI was the
overwhelming choice made by Gresham,
Smith and Partners (AIA) of Tampa, Florida.
MAPEI’s diverse product offering and ability
to issue a complete project warranty were
important factors in the architects’ decision
about a supplier. MAPEI was able to supply
its best products within their individual
categories for the specification due to the
demands for a hospital facility that will be
open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. St.
Joseph’s Hospital-South showcases nine
different MAPEI products from slab to
finished surface: Mapelastic™ 315 and
Mapelastic AquaDefense waterproofing
membranes,
Ultraflex
LFT
mortar,
Granirapid mortar system, Kerapoxy®
mortar and grout, Planiseal™ MVR
epoxy, Primer T ™ primer, Ultraplan 1 Plus
underlayment and Planipatch® patching
compound.
d St. Regis New York
New York, New York
The St. Regis New York hotel, originally
owned by John Jacob Astor, was completed
in 1904 and was enlarged in 1927. It has
become a New York City landmark, noted
for its beauty and elegance. Renovations of
the marble in each suite’s bathroom, kitchen
and foyer began in 2013, and Jantile, Inc.
(Bronx, NY) did the impressive renovation
work. The Jantile installers repaired and
replaced marble throughout the suites in
the iconic hotel, using MAPEI’s Ultraflex 1
and Ultraflex 2 mortars and Keracolor™ U
unsanded grout.
e Aga Khan Museum
Toronto, Ontario
The Aga Khan Museum, due to open in
2014 in Toronto, Canada, will be dedicated
to the acquisition, preservation and
display of Muslim artifacts – from various
periods and geographies – relating to the
intellectual, cultural, artistic and religious
heritage of Islamic communities. It will also
house the collections of the members of
the family of the Aga Khan. Installers from
Gem Campbell Terrazzo & Tile Inc. (North
York, ON) used MAPEI products for the
installation of granite around the reflection
pool on the grounds of the museum. The
Kerabond/Keralastic™ mortar system was
used to install approximately 30,000 sq. ft.
(2 787 m2) of granite for the pool coping
pieces, pool floor panels, pool wall panels,
pool cap pieces and the granite paving set
in concrete. The Gem Campbell teams used
Mapelastic AquaDefense waterproofing
membrane to waterproof the pool deck
and pool trough walls, and Mapelastic 315
waterproofing membrane for the pool trough
floors. Planitop® 23 and Mapecem 202
mortars were used for surface preparation.
Headquarters of the Americas
1144 East Newport Center Drive
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
Tile & Stone Installation Systems
Customer Service
1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734)
Technical Services
1-800-992-6273 (U.S. and Puerto
Rico)
1-800-361-9309 (Canada)
Services in Mexico
0-1-800-MX-MAPEI
(0-1-800-696-2734)
Floor Covering Installation Systems
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Brampton, Ontario: MAPEI supersizes new plant in Canada

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