Surface preparation was carried out by experienced union install- ers from subcontractor and NTCA member Charles McCandless Tile Contractor, Inc. of Santa Ana, Calif. To smooth the surface of the pool shell, workers spread Quikrete® Deck Mud fortified with CUSTOM Thin-Set and Mortar Admix at a depth of 1/4” up to 1” in places. This pre-blended leveling mortar is formulated for low shrink- age and saved the labor of powder-blending at the site, while the addition of polymers improved performance and flexur- al strength. After curing, a bond coat of thin-set mortar was used to pre- pare the shell for receiv- ing a membrane. RedGard® Water- proofing and Crack Prevention Membrane was specified to help iso- late cracks in the substrate and waterproof the surface prepara- tion and mortar bed. A liquid- applied, elastomeric membrane was indicated due to the size of the project and the rounded surfaces throughout. The membrane was roller applied for the best control of wet mil thickness to exceed the requirements of ANSI A118.10 and A118.12. Three full strength coats of RedGard followed an initial primer coat for a total of 45 dry mils. After curing, each successive coat was applied at a right angle to the previous one to provide the highest level of protection. “With RedGard, the ease of application and not having any seams is a huge plus,” offered Mark McCandless, president of McCandless Tile. “On top of that, the team at Custom provided a great system, technical assistance, coordination with the design team and a warranty.” Attaining historical accuracy Hearst Castle is a designated National Historic Landmark to protect the architectural master- pieces located at this unique site in California history. This status required an exact color and mate- rial match to reproduce the classic patterns of the original marble tile installation. Prior to demolition, 3D laser scans were used to map the tile in the pool to within 1/8”. From these calculations, dimen- sioned shop drawings were pro- duced to plot the location of indi- Three full strength coats of RedGard followed an ini- tial primer coat for a total of 45 dry mils. FEATURE: Marble tile at Hearst Castle pool renovated with CUSTOM products 42 TileLetter | June 2019