LATICRETE Out and About

LATICRETE QLD Technical Sales Reps, Mitchell Haw and Shane Anderson, recently conducted hands-on demonstrations with staff at Beaumont Tiles in Woolloongabba. Those who participated had the opportunity to try their hands at SPECTRALOCK® PRO Premium grout*.

SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout is a patented high performance epoxy grout which offers all the great features of SPECTRALOCK PRO Grout - colour uniformity, durability and ease of installation - with enhanced performance.

SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout is designed for use on tile, glass tile and stone applications, both residential and commercial. It can be used both interior and exterior on floors and walls. Ideal for re-grouting applications. SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout is perfect for swimming pools, fountains and other wet area applications. 

Call us on 1800 331 012 to find out more about our products, training and to schedule a trade event for your store or email us here.

*United States Invention Patent No.: 6881768 (and other Patents)

Pool+Spa Features LATICRETE

LATICRETE is featured on the Pool+Spa website with MVIS™ Veneer Mortar!

An extract of the featured product MVIS Veneer Mortar:

"LATICRETE has commenced manufacturing its MVIS Veneer Mortar in Australia. The bag size has been increased from 18 to 20kg. The packaging for the 20kg product has been updated and rolled out to the market.

The patented, versatile polymer fortified mortar has been designed specifically for the installation of adhered masonry veneer, stone and thin brick. The mix provides maximum non-sag performance for vertical installations and also obtains maximum bond strength to the substrate and selected veneers, exceeding ANSI A118.4 requirements." Check out the full feature here.

Are you getting ready to start a project? 

Contact us about your next project or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.

Countdown Is On For Commonwealth Games

Matt Shirvington, Peter Beattie AC, Cam McEvoy,
 the Honourable Kate Jones MP, Amelia Michael and Amy Pejkovic
Photo Credit: Media Net

Recently Swiss watchmaker Longines unveiled its countdown clock for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) at the domestic terminal at Brisbane Airport. Children from St Pius' Primary School, Banyo helped GC2018 Ambassador and swimmer, Cameron McEvoy, and Commonwealth Games hopeful, Amy Pejkovic, unveil the clock which will count down the minutes, hours and days until the commencement of GC2018.

The 5.2 metre tall, 1.75 tonne clock took 800 hours to build, and was installed by Landells Signs Melbourne. The team used 254 Platinum to bond LAMINAM® tiles to the fibre cement boards within the pylon. 

254 Platinum (Previoulsy 345 Platinum) is the ultimate one-step, polymer fortified, thin-set adhesive for interior and exterior installation of ceramic and stone tile, reduced thickness porcelain, quarry tile, pavers and thin brick. 254 Platinum provides long open time with unsurpassed adhesion and workability. Suitable for immersed installations. Read more here. 

Contact us to discuss your next project, visit your job site or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.

High Performance Renders and Screeds

An article by Fred Gray, LATICRETE Australia Technical Service Manager, provides tips on how to achieve high performance renders and screeds:

"Want exceptional, known performance and productivity with your screeds and renders? 3701 Mortar Admix gauged with 226 Thick Bed Mortar delivers! We realise that not every project needs this exceptional level of performance, but when contractors want to ensure their mortars and adhesives are of a higher standard, that’s when LATABOND™ comes in. 

Use internally or externally to increase, amongst other things, the flexibility, compressive/tensile strength and shock resistance of your mortar. Use diluted or un-diluted to determine your own level of performance and economy with adhesives, grouts, slurry bond coats, renders, screeds and those alike. Anything that has Portland cement in it can benefit from LATABOND.

The more concentrated and less diluted it is, the better the performance. You’re in control of the working and physical properties of your mix for permanent and trouble free installations. LATABOND, like most LATICRETE products, is non-hazardous, low VOC and safe to use. For more complete information see Data Sheet DS-1078."

For more information on LATICRETE permanent trouble free installation products, training, or technical advice, contact your local LATICRETE representative on 1800 331 012 - or email: sales@laticrete.com.au

Employee Announcement

LATICRETE Australia Continues To Grow

We are excited to announce Glenn Mannix has joined the LATICRETE Australian team as a Technical Sales Rep servicing NSW, alongside Joe Tabone and Craig Hunter. 
After a three year break, Glenn rejoins the team with a strong tile & stone background and we wish him every success in the future!

For NSW enquiries please contact:
Glenn Mannix - 0434 781 227 or gmannix@laticrete.com.au
Craig Hunter - 0418 761 428 or chunter@laticrete.com.au
Joe Tabone - 0412 358 944 or jtabone@laticrete.com.au

For QLD enquiries please contact:
Shane Anderson - 0422 177 973 or sanderson@laticete.com.au
Mitchell Haw - 0432 564 752 or mhaw@laticrete.com.au

For VIC enquiries please contact:
Erin Fraser - 0418 393 642 or efraser@laticrete.com.au

Award Winning Pool Project

Photo Credit: Manuele Rinaldi

A private residence project in Indooroopilly, QLD, consisted of nearly 1200m2 of construction including a pool, spa and water feature. Skilled designer, Owen Rentoul, helped in the creation of the project design, and Tim Stewart Architects were engaged to assist with the project drawings. 1200x600mm large format marble from SNB Stone and 40x40mm glass mosaics from Trend Mosaics were used throughout the project. The installation of these tiles required more than the above-average application technique; with award winning skills from Sam Gardener Tiling and LATICRETE solutions, the project was completed with exceptional quality and ease of mind.

To overcome challenges throughout the installation of the pool, spa and water feature Sam used a wide range of LATICRETE products including HYDRO BAN®, 226 Thick Bed Mortar, 3701 Mortar Admix, 211 Crete Filler Powder, 4237 Latex Additive, 335 PremiumFlexible Adhesive White, SPECTRALOCK® PRO Grout and LATASIL™. LATAPOXY® 310 Stone Adhesive was also used to bond the marble slab, nominally 50kgs/m2, to the front protruding featured face the of the pool.

Both the home owner and Sam Gardener were happy with the end result, and for the project Master Builders Association awarded Sam the 2017 “Residential Trade Contractor of the Year” for Brisbane and he was also the overall winner for Queensland, in the same category. Read the full Project Spotlight here. 

Click here to view/download the LATICRETE Pools, Spas and Fountains System Brochure.

Contact us to discuss your next project, visit your job site or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.

SkillsTech TAFE QLD Worldskills Competition

Silver Award Winner Tyler Sutton 

Overall Gold Award Winner Andrew Hartley 

LATICRETE Supports TAFE Facilities

Recently QLD LATICRETE Technical Sales Reps, Mitchell Haw and Shane Anderson, had the opportunity to be judges at TAFE Queensland SkillsTech for the 2017 Regional Worldskills Competition for QLD.

6 apprentices participated, from first year to fourth year students, all vying for the win and the opportunity to represent QLD in the national competition. The task was to complete wall and floor tiling in a particular pattern and with only 7 hours to finish.

A big congratulations to Tyler Sutton who was awarded the Silver medal, and Andrew Hartley who was awarded the Gold medal and the overall winner. Well done guys! 

Industry Profile: Don Macdonald - "Where it All Began"

The Night Stars

Unveiling the artwork

Lifting the artwork over the house

In position

An Australian Master Mosaicist 

Don Macdonald and his team from The Orchid Group^ have just completed an iconic mosaic artwork for Cairns Regional Council in QLD incorporating six Australian Indigenous designs and containing 1,000,000 hand cut glass mosaic tiles.

So how does someone land a project of such epic proportions? Well it certainly doesn’t happen by accident.  Over the coming weeks we’ll take you on a journey behind the scenes of how it happened, the highs, the lows, the technical challenges and the artistic beauty.  So where did it all begin?

Don Macdonald has close on 30 years of experience in the building industry having first started his company in 1989 offering a high-end stone fixing service to Sydney's Eastern suburbs.  He started fixing mosaics in the early 90's which was expanded when he moved to Queensland in 2003 culminating in mosaic training in Italy in 2005 and 2013.

In 2006 he settled in Noosa, a small regional centre where he saw the need for diversification of his skills to maintain consistent business activity. Don acquired his builder's license and added a five star specialty bathroom renovation service to his range of skills.

It was 2010 however when the seed of a new direction was born. Already an accomplished mosaicist with an impressive portfolio of high-end pools and bathrooms Don was approached to produce a 3.0x5.0m mural of the New York Skyline. The client also wanted seven firework bursts to silhouette the buildings which consisted of 4000 optic cables that had limitless combinations to provide a different scene every day. Read the full story here.

Keep your eyes peeled for the next stage of Don's journey - "The Art of Opportunity - Finding inspiration from failure."

Contact us on 1800 331 012 for technical support, arrange a demo, free samples, a trade event, or to discuss your next project or contact us here.

^The Orchid Group is also known as Symmetry Mosaics

Happy Diwali

LATICRETE Australia would like to wish all of our customers, colleagues, friends who celebrate the Festival of Lights, a very Happy Diwali! 

May the Glow of Joy, Prosperity and Happiness fill your life. 

Marina Bay Sands® Singapore

LATICRETE has earned a global reputation for the ability to provide the specification details, technical support and complete systems for the installation of tile & stone, with continued success on an increasing number of high-profile swimming pool projects.

In a global effort between U.S. based technical services, and through local supply and on-site support provided by LATICRETE Southeast Asia, LATICRETE materials were selected for Boston architect Moshe Safdie’s ambitious infinity-edge pool design.  The pool spans across three 55-story hotel skyscrapers on top of the exclusive Marina Bay Sands® Singapore.

Measuring over three times that of an Olympic-sized swimming pool on a cantilevered rooftop observation deck, the Sands® SkyPark signature design element was no ordinary pool tile application. Safdie’s elaborate, famous pool that connects all three towers, ultimately relied on the pioneering technology developed by LATICRETE.

Due to the unique structural design, weight, and stresses placed on the three buildings of the Sands SkyPark, it was necessary to bond the tile directly to the stainless steel pool shell. To accomplish this task, LATAPOXY® 300 Adhesive, a high-strength 100% solids epoxy adhesive, was chosen based on its ability to tenaciously bond to stainless steel. Read the full Project Spotlight here. 

Click here to view/download the LATICRETE Pools, Spas and Fountains System Brochure.

Contact us to discuss your next project, visit your job site or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.

Trade BBQ at Mudgee Tile Centre

Knowledge is the Key to Success 

LATICRETE will be at Mudgee Tile Centre, NSW, on Tuesday 31st October 5-7pm for a Trade Information afternoon - come join us for a BBQ, prizes and giveaways!

Chat with Craig Hunter, LATICRETE NSW Technical Sales Rep, about your projects and learn how LATICRETE products are designed to save you time and money when time is critical - reducing job site problems - earning more $$$ through increased productivity. 

Products of focus will be:

• HYDRO BAN® - Fast drying waterproof/crack isolation membrane tile on the same day.
• MVIS™ - Masonry Veneer Mortar.
• PERMACOLOR® Select Grout - High performance cement based grout suitable for swimming pools; commercial and residential. Fast setting - walk on in just 3 hours.

Event Details

Where: Mudgee Tile Centre 

Address: 22 Perry St, Mudgee, New South Wales, NSW 2850

When: Tuesday 31st October, 2017

Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

RSVP

Email: sales@mudgeetilecentre.com.au

Phone: (02) 6372 6655

We hope to see you there!

What a View!

Adept Pools recently completed this beautiful pool project with a glass front at Nelson Bay in NSW. Adept Pools have chosen the LATICRETE Pool, Spa and Fountain Tiling system to deliver the highest quality work. 

Are you planing a pool project in the near future? Check out the LATICRETE Pool, Spa and Fountain Tiling systems brochure which includes a LATICRETE System Warranty. Click here to view/download the LATICRETE Pool, Spa and Fountain Tiling System Brochure.

Visit our website for comprehensive product application videos, architectural specifications and technical support.

  

Contact us to discuss your next project, or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.

Knowledge Exchange at Amber Orange

LATICRETE will be at Amber Tiles in Orange on Monday 30th October for a Trade Demo. We would love you to come join the fun! 

This event is a great opportunity to enjoy a free sausage sizzle and chat with your local NSW LATICRETE Technical Sales Rep, Craig Hunter. Find out how LATICRETE Systems and Warranties can turn your project into another globally proven tile and stone installation!

Products of focus:

• HYDRO BAN® - Fast drying waterproof/crack isolation membrane tile on the same day.
• MVIS™ - Masonry Veneer Mortar.
• PERMACOLOR® Select Grout - High performance cement based grout suitable for swimming pools; commercial and residential. Fast setting - walk on in just 3 hours.

Details of the Trade Event:

Where: Amber Orange

Date: 30th October, 2017

Time: 5pm-7pm

Address: 26 - 32 Peisley St, Orange NSW 2800

RSVP

Dave: (02) 6361 7366 or

Craig: 0418 761 428

Email: orangemgt@ambertiles.com.au

Attend the Amber Orange Trade Event and get a 15% LATICRETE Rebate* off your next LATICRETE purchase.

Speak to your LATICRETE Rep for all the details.

*Conditions Apply

Elegant Brisbane Bathroom

K Tiling + Stone have recently completed this elegant bathroom north of Brisbane. The project consists of 600x300mm marble look porcelain tiles on walls and 600x300mm dark grey tiles for the floors. A range of LATICRETE materials were used for the installation including: 

• 335 Premium Flexible Adhesive is a high performance thin-bed adhesive for installing a wide range of tiles and stone including low absorption ceramic tile, porcelain tile, natural and manufactured stone using thin-set method of installation. 
• Ultra X8 Polymer Fortified Flexible Adhesive is a creamy and smooth to trowel thin-set adhesive for installing all types of tile and stone over a wide range of surfaces. Mixed with either water or for additional strength and performance with LATICRETE latex admixtures for installing porcelain, vitrified, ceramic and stone tiles on floors and walls in both internal and external areas. 

View/download the LATICRETE Residential Tile & Stone Installation Systems brochure.

Contact us to discuss your next project, or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here sales@laticrete.com.au.

Residential Garage Make-Over

A residential garage recently got a renovation using the LATICRETE SPARTACOTE™ BLENDED CHIP coating system with Mica Chip. 

SPARTACOTE BLENDED CHIP provides a capable, seamless flooring finish suitable for numerous commercial and residential applications, it is also available in a wide assortment of blends and finishes to suit your designer needs. With a contoured finish to allow for optimal traction, this minimal maintenance coating system offers 1-day installation and next day return to service.

Key Features:

• Wide assortment of blends and finishes
• May be used as a floor & wall coating
• Minimal maintenance
• Contoured finish allows for optimal traction
• 1-day installation with next-day return to service

For more information on SPARTACOTE flooring systems click here.

Contact us to discuss your next flooring project or to arrange a mock-up - Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.

Increased Bond and Compressive Strength

LATABOND™ Latex Admixture

Do you need a latex admixture to increase the strength and performance of your cement mix? LATABOND™ is the solution. LATABOND is a specially designed latex admixture for use in Portland cement adhesives. Designed to be used with LATICRETE thin-set adhesives, Portland cement or site mixed sand and cement to make thin-set adhesives, slurry bond coats, cement mortar beds, cement renders, stuccos, cement grouts and other cement mixes to improve the performance of these adhesives and cement mixes.

Key Features

• Reduces water absorption of adhesives
• Interior and exterior installations
• Fortifies thin-set adhesives
• Increased bond and compressive strength
• Superior flexibility
• Shock, vibration, chemical and frost resistant

Click here for more information 

Are you getting ready to start a project?

Contact us about your next project or to arrange free samples. Call 1800 331 012 or email us here.