Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116beads to break up the surface of the concrete to remove contaminants. Grinders are another meth- od to prepare a concrete sur- face. However, if an exist- ing top-layer adhesive residue needs to be removed, it’s best to avoid grinding equipment because of the heat they gen- erate. The adhesive residue can actually be pushed into the concrete instead of being removed. Material methods As for the material side of surface preparation, many manufacturers now have fast- setting membranes and self- leveling underlayments that allow for same-day installa- tion. These are ideal for fast- track projects, rendering the floor flat, smooth, durable – and walkable in only a few hours. Other innovations have occurred with skimcoats, patches, crack-isolation sys- tems, and waterproofing. Again, some of these new innovations deliver one or more of these attributes: faster setting times, greater compres- sive strength, lighter weight, feather-edge precision, and moisture resistance. A key recommendation to any tile professional is to seek one manufacturing source TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Application of a high-performance self-leveling underlayment that’s formulated for fast-track flooring installations. Ideal for quick turnarounds, it is walkable in just 2 to 3 hours and provides a flat, extremely smooth, durable surface. A multipurpose primer is easy to apply with brush or roller for non-porous surfaces, or with a push broom for porous surfaces. A multipurpose primer improves adhesion and bond strength of levelers to a variety of different substrates, helping to ensure a successful instal- lation. 62 TileLetter | November 2016