exceeds ANSI A118.7 for all types of ceramic and dimensional stone tiles on walls and floors,” said Chastine. “It works for grout joint widths of 1/16” up to 1/2” wide, eliminating the need for different grout products and allowing the versatility required on the job.” Convenient sourcing speeds project completion As with all installations, time- lines are always important and the Hotel Bennett was on a fast pace, so it was critical that LaCour chose a company who would be able to get the products delivered and the job completed on time. Merkrete is a brand of Parex USA, one of the largest companies and a worldwide leader in tile-setting materials, façade finishes and tech- nical mortars, established in 22 countries with 68 manufacturing plants and over 4,100 employ- ees. “Merkrete was perfect for this project’s requirements, because we have plants and distribution cen- ters all over the country, so our turnaround time and ability to get our products to the jobsite on a timely basis were no problem,” said Chastine. Over the past decade, Charleston’s popularity as a travel destination has soared. In 2016, it was ranked as the top city in the world to visit by readers of Travel + Leisure, one of many accolades recently award- ed to the Holy City. With the Hotel Bennett set to open in the Fall 2018, the guests will flood in to experi- ence the fine culinary offerings and embrace the tranquil setting and incredible architecture. In the years to come, more renovations may take place, but thanks to Merkrete, you can be sure the stone tiles will be standing strong. Architects: Buck Lindsay of Lindsay Pope Brayfield Clifford & Associates, Atlanta, GA and Chris Schmitt of Schmitt Walker Architects, Charleston, SC Design Architect: Fairfax and Sammons Architects, New York, NY Interior Design Architect: Design Continuum, Inc., Atlanta, GA General Contractor: Balfour Beatty Construction, Dallas, TX Tile Contractor: David Allen Company, Raleigh, NC Merkrete Sales Representative: Brandan Chastine Merkrete Products Used: Underlay C, BFP Membrane System, 735 Premium Flex, 820 Merlite and ProGrout Feature: Merkrete system ensures unparalleled luxury with an unmatched setting 46 TileLetter | July 2018