TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– H.B. Fuller Construction Products introduces TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus Polymer Modified Mortar, specifically designed for install- ing gauged porce- lain tile panels/slabs and large heavy tiles (LHT). TEC has developed Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar to meet the particu- lar challenges of installing excep- tionally large, thin, tile panels and LHT on floors or walls. The new mortar offers extreme ver- satility. TEC Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar has a unique set of features that allows grouting in six hours – even when installed over the most impervious sub- strates such as uncoupling membranes. Easy-to-use Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar has an extended pot life of two to three hours and open time of 50-60 minutes, allowing installers much-needed time to get full coverage and make adjust- ments. While this TEC mortar is formu- lated for gauged porcelain tile panels/ slabs and LHT, it also works well on traditional tile for both floor and wall applications. TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar exceeds ANSI A118.4TE and A118.11. www.tecspecialty.com for gauged porcelain tile slabs/ panels ranging in size from 1 meter (39”) in width to 3.2 meters (10.6’) in length. Historically tile did not need a lot of room on the job site for staging pallets, tile cutting station and mixing of mortar and grout. But porcelain tile panels of this size present different and unique requirements that may be underes- timated. It’s necessary to focus on site preparation and choreography in order to successfully and safely install them, starting with these considerations: • It is necessary to know how the crates/frames will be delivered by the distributor • A three-person or more working crew is required • It is important to have a large enough working area to accom- modate all the tools needed to fabricate on the jobsite: when working with full-size porcelain tile panels the staging and fab- rication work area should be a minimum of 400 sq.ft. An aluminum frame with adjustable suc- tion cups is essential equipment, such as the ETM Grip, with 12 suction cups to unload, move, handle and back butter panels. 56 TileLetter | October 2017