32 2018 | TECH that is much lighter in weight than other high-perfor- mance surfacing options. And due to their expansive size, there are fewer grout joints visible. That means a wall application, for example, can give the appearance of stone veneer at a lower price point, because single slab appearance is now possible.” “You can’t learn how to use the system overnight,” declared Fulton. “So, we decided to have all our installers take as much time to learn this system as they needed. Both Bostik and Crossville helped us with educating our team at optimal levels. Generally in our business, some of the more seasoned installers want to stick with methods they’ve used in the past. I thoroughly understand that. But when we were able to prove to all our installers that not only was Bosti-Set easier to use, it allowed them to finish projects earlier and the move on to the next one. I think they were all very much sold!” Fulton Tile & Stone depends upon its major distributor, Louisville Tile, for the great percentage of tile and sundry materials used in the many installations for which the firm is engaged. Don Kincaid, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Louisville Tile, believes gauged porcelain tile panels have a very, very bright future. “In particular for the commercial sector, these mate- rials are gaining more and more acceptance,” Kincaid said. Designs calling for gauged porcelain, at this early stage of its existence, most likely are coming from savvy architectural designers who understand it doesn’t just add a monolithic look due to having minimal grout lines. It offers many more solutions, one being because it is so much lighter in weight than natural stone, it can be directly installed on vertical surfaces as a viable alterna- tive. And, because of the realism generated by today’s amazing high-definition inkjet printing processes, very few people will not know the product isn’t an actual stone slab. “We also believe,” continued Kincaid, “that gauged panels will soon be specified on a regular basis for resi- dential applications, one example being shower walls. Forward-minded installation professionals such as those at Fulton Tile & Stone understand how glass panels are adhered to walls, and will continue to embrace the best ways in which to install these products. Now that there is a product such as Bosti-Set, which offers so many instal- lation performance benefits, we at Louisville Tile are even more positive about this product category.” Kincaid was also extremely positive about the University of Southern Indiana gauged porcelain panel project. “And why not?” he declared. “That’s my alma mater!” CASE STUDY (continued) Bosti-Set immediately grabbed porcelain tile panels in a single coat, did not allow any sag, yet made it possible for panels to be reposition- able for at least 30 minutes. A single layer of adhesive is troweled only onto the back of the panel, cutting the square footage necessary to trowel in half.