26 2017 | TECH Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar to resolve the installation issues. Designed for gauged porcelain tile panels/slabs and large heavy tile, the innovative mortar offers extreme versatil- ity. Easy-to-use Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar has an extended pot life of 2-3 hours and open time of 50-60 minutes, giv- ing installers enough time to get full coverage and make adjustments. This additional work time became essential for the Tipton project during May, when the installation work had to pause intermittently for students and install- ers to move between construction areas. Another prod- uct benefit is that TEC Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar enables grouting in six hours. Grouting for gauged porcelain tile panels/slabs usu- ally employs a minimalist approach. The Tipton proj- ect required 1/8” joints for the Laminam 747 series. Given the many student hands that would be touching the new walls, Grout Boost® Additive was used with TEC Accucolor® Premium Unsanded Grout. Grout Boost replaces water for mixing cement-based grout and offers superior stain protection. Grout Boost also eliminates the need to seal the grout. With Grout Boost and Accucolor Premium Grout, the TCSC grout joints will maintain a just- installed appearance. The TCSC restrooms and locker room walls update faced technical challenges related to the existing sub- strates, the choice of the large gauged panels, and the project timetable. Blakley’s overcame these challenges with help from TEC products. There was one more challenge to address. Tiling around many intricate plumbing extrusions for this project meant that there would be many left-over tile pieces. In keeping with their envi- ronmentally friendly and high-efficiency building approach, Performance Services made provisions for Blakley’s to use any remaining Laminam pieces to create sur- rounds for the schools' drinking fountains. While utilizing the left-over panel pieces minimized waste going to landfills, the new Laminam drinking fountain surrounds also brought the contemporary restroom/ locker room wall design into the hallways throughout the building – helping to, in effect, dress up the entire school. FEATURE STORY (continued) TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus® Mortar TEC® Multipurpose Primer SECRET WEAPON FOUND ON PAGE #49 tileport half page ad new size.indd 1 9/14/17 9:39 PM