66 2017 | TECH 4.8 mm porcelain popular outside of North America – have some sort of backing. Per-project testing with a reliable adhesive brand partnership minimizes risk – we rely on the ARDEX technical department and their war- ranties on installation, as well as MLT for lippage and IQ Power Tools for saws. We primarily utilize advanced mor- tars and adhesives with higher bond, longer open times, working times, and non-sag properties that provide ease of use for our installers. We primar- ily install large-format tile and large gauged thin porcelain tile, so these premium products – with the appro- priate substrate prep accompanied by proper leveling systems – keep us within our lippage tolerances, even with the most challenging applica- tions such a wall washing and light fixture placements. With the amount of “super-format” tiles we have encountered, both in gauged and standard porcelain thicknesses, pourable mortars have become a staple on the submittal process and our warehouse stocking. They aid in higher coverage rates, offering easier and successful installa- tion in large areas. Sintered stone and ultracompact materials have become very popular in our area and market, and advanced- drying technologies for larger, and more impervious materials, eliminate the risk of efflorescence. Some are virtually zero absorption, with fractions of percentages of .2% of open-porosity. One of J&R’s core values is continu- ous self-improvement, with our focus of operations centered on training and education. Collaborations with tile, tooling and other complementary manufacturers include specific recom- mendations, warranties, training and project assistance. Making the time to schedule hands-on trainings and product demonstrations and develop- ing those collaborative relationships are key to having a pulse on the market. It also helps us understand the wide variety of options and keeps our full-time staff educated, and our customers informed. These continued collaborations to advance best prac- tices, methods, materials, and tools allow us to be leaders and educators in our area to architects, designers and owners/GCs. The biggest area of need we have seen is to develop more options for is thin/slim mechanical anchoring sys- tems that are used with direct bond applications for interior and vertical applications. Another area that needs more data and research is exterior facades featuring these applications. Mortars Grouts When it comes to grouts, the newer, high-performance cement products are quickly gaining in popularity. Featuring performance characteristics such as rapid curing and increased color consistency, these products are designed to be easy to clean while offering advanced stain resistance for both residential and commercial applications. As grouts become more specialized – lighter, easier to handle, for example – there are many more to choose from. Manufacturers now offer high-performance, pre-mixed grouts, which are designed to combine the strength and durability of cement-based and epoxy grouts for use in commercial spaces. Both types, cement and pre-mixed grouts, offer fast-curing properties that the contractors of today seek for speedy and easy installations, which keeps costs down and performance high. As you peruse the comments below, as well as the ensuing new products section, you’ll have the oppor- tunity to learn more about what is now on the market designed to make your projects much easier to complete, featuring higher performance. —Louis Iannaco Steve Taylor, director of architecture and technical marketing Custom Building Products www.custombuildingproducts.com High-performance cement grouts are rapidly gaining popu- larity among architects, designers, specifiers and contractors. Designed to deliver attractive, high-quality tile surfaces while preventing costly and time- consuming callbacks, these high-per- formance cement grouts meet ANSI A118.7, are polymer-modified and formulated for higher strength, more resistance to cracking and less water absorption to reduce the likelihood of staining. This allows a cement grout installation with improved per- formance, but without the cost of an epoxy or premixed grout. Arthur Mintie, senior technical ser- vices manager LATICRETE www.laticrete.com With green and sustainable con- struction currently a standard prac- tice, the building industry is con- tinuously advancing technologies and developing new products that not only benefit the environment,