building and flooring challenges that were met by a wide variety of MAPEI’s concrete repair and floor- ing installation systems products for construction, surface preparation and floor-covering solutions. The fast-track schedule of the 38-story tower and the six-story podium required coordination and solu- tions for arising jobsite problems involving moisture mitigation and slab deformation involving post- tension concrete pours. A-American used MAPEI’s Planiseal™ VS alkali-resistant, epoxy moisture-reduction barrier for moisture mitigation throughout the complex. Planiseal VS expe- dites floor-covering installations by eliminating the traditional wait time required for new concrete slabs to reach moisture levels suit- able for installations. After the con- crete surface was properly profiled, the Planiseal VS was poured to cover each level in the building. After moisture mitigation, the floors were primed with one of three primers – Primer L™ , Primer T™ or ECO Prim Grip™ - where appropriate. Then the installers selected two MAPEI self-leveling underlayments – Novoplan® 2 Plus and Ultraplan® 1 Plus – to use in appropriate areas in order to pro- duce a smooth, level surface for installing tiles and stone. Both of these products are quick-setting, self-leveling underlayments and repair mixes for interior concrete and engineer-approved floors. MAPEI’s Mapelastic™ cementi- tious membrane was used for waterproofing and protecting exte- rior horizontal and vertical con- crete spaces, while Mapelastic AquaDefense with Reinforcing Fabric, an advanced liquid-rubber, extremely quick-drying waterproof- ing and crack-isolation membrane, was used on interior surfaces before the tile and stone installations. Mapelastic AquaDefense dries after about 30 to 50 minutes and is then ready to receive any MAPEI polymer or epoxy mortar. Range of mortars and grouts meet varying project demands Installation of exterior and inte- rior tile and stone also used a vari- ety of MAPEI’s mortars and grouts. For the ultimate bond, Lava Stone Veneer pavers and curbs surround- ing the building were installed with MAPEI’s two-part Kerabond/ Keralastic™ system – a premium dry-set mortar that is combined with a flexible acrylic latex addi- tive. Where there was a need for speed, the A-American crews used the Granirapid® fast-curing sys- tem. Outdoor walls and bench- es that used Lava Stone Veneer and Cremino Stone Veneer in all sizes from mosaics to large-format tile were also installed with these two systems. All of these installa- tions were grouted with MAPEI’s powerful Ultracolor® Plus FA – an ultra-premium, fine aggregate, fast- Feature: An island beauty, created with the help of MAPEI 48 TileLetter | January 2018