THE VOICE OF THE HARD SURFACES INDUSTRY LA VOIX DE … · 2017. 12. 6. · 163 Buttermill Avenue,...

TERRAZZO, TILE AND MARBLE ASSOCIATION OF CANADA / L’ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DE TERRAZZO, TUILE ET MARBREP

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Volume 26 Issue 2 Fall / Winter 2017

THE VOICE OF THE HARD SURFACES INDUSTRY LA VOIX DE L’INDUSTRIE DES SURFACES DURES

Calgary International Airport wins Project of the Year

The Joys and Pains of Floor Restoration

2017 HARDSURFACE AWARDS WINNERS

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HARDSURFACES | www.ttmac.com 3

Published for:

Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada L’Association Canadienne de Terrazzo, Tuile et Marbre

Head Office: 163 Buttermill Avenue, Unit 8 Concord, Ontario L4K 3X8 T: 905.660.9640 800.201.8599 F: 905.660.0513

Western Office: 4510 Beedie St., Burnaby, BC V5J 5L2 T: 604.294.6885 F: 604.294.2406

TTMAC 2017 / 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS – EXECUTIVE President – Bill Wright Vice-President – Craig Wood Secretary / Treasurer – Brent Fisher Past President – Duigan Mitchell General Officer – Tod Valickis

DIRECTORS – CONTRACTOR DIVISION Nicola Capomasi, Vince Lamont, Brent Fisher, Craig Wood, Benoit Giroux

SUPPLIER DIVISION

Tod Valickis, Pierre Hebert, Connie Barillari, Geoff Duck, Bill Wright, Sherri Wildman

OPERATIONS MANAGER Violeta Ivanescu

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mediaedgepublishing.com

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531 Marion Street Winnipeg, MB Canada R2J 0J9 Toll Free: (866) 201-3096 Fax: (204) 480-4420 www.mediaedgepublishing.com

President Kevin Brown

Senior Vice-President / Publisher Robert Thompson

Business Development Director Michael Bell

Branch Manager Nancie Privé

Senior Editor Ali Mintenko-Crane

Senior Design Specialist Krista Zimmermann

Design Specialist Kelli McCutcheon

Sales Executives Brenda Ezinicki, Ashley Huston, April Krysowaty, Kari PhilippotPublished November 2017Publication Mail Agreement #40787580All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the association.Please return undeliverable magazines to: Terrazzo, Tile & Marble Association of Canada 163 Buttermill Avenue, Unit 8, Concord, ON L4K 3X8

DEPARTMENTS 4 Message from the President Bill Wright, Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada

21 Calendar of Events

22 Professional Services Directory

Volume 26 l Issue 2 l Fall / Winter 2017

ON THE COVERPhoto courtesy of Flesher Marble & Tile 1910 Ltd.

14

Hardsurfaces is printed on 10% post-consumer FSC certified paper using soya based inks. When necessary to mail an issue in an enclosure, we use an environmentally-friendly, 100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap.

FEATURES6 2017 Hardsurface Awards A Celebration of Imagination: As TTMAC recognizes the 2017 Hardsurface Award Winners

12 Calgary International Airport Triumphs as the 2017 Project of the Year

14 The Joys and Pains of Floor Restoration

19 Attend the 2018 Convention And help TTMAC celebrate 75 years

4 Fall/Winter 2017 | HARDSURFACES

President’s Message By Bill Wright, President Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada

As 2017 begins to wrap up I can look back happily at a very busy year for the Association. 2018 is looking good for the TTMAC and its members. It is certainly my distinct honor to be named president this year.

We have a group of wonderfully dedicated volunteer directors who have been working on many new items for you. Some highlights have been the great convention in Banff, Alberta, where many of us were together in June to enjoy some training seminars. A group outing to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a great dinner, great fellowship and spectacular views was just one of many notable moments together.

The first STONEX show sponsored by the TTMAC earlier in the spring was a success. The seminars and roundtable discussions were well attended and certainly cemented our position as the “voice of the industry.” The trade show floor was busy with new products and suppliers, and we expect an even better turnout next spring.

We are continuing to bring more to our members with exciting initiatives such as our web based training. New and renewed partnerships with both the TTMGO and the RTCA have us working closely to complete our online training program. This is a major leap forward for us. The various modules can be used as independent learning topics or as a whole program.

Our new marketing PowerPoint on “Who we are” is fantastic. This presentation is for prospective new members, to show them what we do and who we are. It will be used at trade

shows, other industry events and in-person to companies interested in joining us.

We continue to search for a Membership Services Manager and remain hopeful the right fit will come along.

The brand-new fabrication manual is coming along with input from both supplier and fabricator members; we hope to have this completed by year end.

The jointly produced Reference Manual from the TTMAC and NTCA on problem characteristics, causes, cures and preven-tion is a must have for any installer. The manual addresses a wide variety of installation issues and the remedies.

Happily, we have welcomed many new contractor members into the Association this year. I hope you find our many training programs and social events beneficial. Please come out and get involved. More events are being planned across Canada in the next year with more info to come.

I would like to send my thanks to our departing director Sal Maida. Your years of dedication and service are greatly appreciated. A special thank you to past- past president Francis Chisolm and current past president Duigan Mitchell. Thank you for your guidance and passion; you have left us in capable hands. I hope I can continue to lead us forward as well as you both have.

We will continue to strive for better ways to address your needs and the betterment of the industry and us all.

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2017 HARDSURFACE AWARDS

A Celebration of Imagination As TTMAC recognizes the 2017 Hardsurface Awards winners

The Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Hardsurface Awards. Presented during TTMAC’s annual convention held at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta over June 8-10, the awards recognize and celebrate imagination in hardsurface installations.

Awards are presented in the following categories: Terrazzo, Manufactured Tile, Natural Stone, Restoration, Unique Special Award, Historical Award, Technical Product Application, International and Residential. A panel of judges consisting of architects and interior designers base their decision on quality of workmanship, level of difficulty, synopsis of the project, special features of the project and quality of the images submitted. All entries are TTMAC contractor and/or supplier members in good standing with the association.

TERRAZZOA shopping mall located on Tsawwassen First Nations land in Delta, B.C., Tsawwassen Mills features 1.2 million square feet of retail space, a food court, and provides 3,000 full- and part-time jobs.

A 2,000 sq. ft. circular design named “The Coast Salish” was installed, consisting of nine colours of Terrazzo, composed of marble glass and mirror chips. The medallion was created in 4 ft. x 8 ft. sections of strip work which were hand formed and soldered to diamond lath sheeting by the contractor’s shop. The strip design consisted of symbols meaningful to the Tsawwassen First Nations. The completed 2,000 sq. ft. medallion was shipped in sections, where it was assembled on top of a ¾ in. epoxy and sand under bed which helped to create a super flat floor and ensure that the finished terrazzo was flush with the surrounding hardwood flooring.

Installed elsewhere in the mall was a compass named “Outdoor Life” made up of four colours of terrazzo composed of marble, glass and mirror chips. The centre circle, arrow tips, notches and North, South, East and West symbols are made of solid zinc.

TSAWWASSEN MILLS Franklin Terrazzo, Apex Granite and Tile, and Domus Terrazzo

Architect: IPRA Architects

General Contractor: Ledcor Constructing Ltd.

Trade Contractor: Franklin Terrazzo, Apex Granite and Tile


2017 Hardsurface Awards

MANUFACTURED TILEGrandview Heights Aquatic Centre is the newest and largest aquatic facility in Surrey, B.C. The centre features a 10-lane, 50m FINA-standard Olympic size competition pool, a 500 sq. meter leisure and lifestyle pool with a lazy river, spray features, a tots area, world-class diving facilities; two hot tubs, a steam room and dry sauna, spectator seating for 800-900 people, a large family-friendly universal change area, fitness and weight room facilities, and an exterior terrace.

The first step – and one of the biggest challenges for the crews – was waterproofing the entire 85,000 square-foot space, including floors and walls. They began by waterproofing all of the structural concrete, as well as the floors and walls in the changing rooms, pool decks, hot tubs, and steam room.

The greatest aesthetic challenge in the installation lay in lining up the tiles on all the floors and walls. The gray and white porcelain tiles came in 1-foot by 2-foot sheets and all the 2” x 2” tiles in the pools and the 1” x 1” tiles on the surrounding decks had to line up with each other. Plus, the tiles from the decks surrounding the leisure pool had to line up with the 2” x 2” tiles in the changing rooms so that there was a seamless transition. In addition, all floor tiles had to line up with wall tiles, both in the pools and in the changing rooms. The crews faced a tremendous challenge in the layout, and had up to 35 people working on the project during this phase.

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS AQUATIC CENTRE Mapei Inc. and Apex Granite and Tile

Architect: HCMA Architecture + DesignGeneral Contractor: Ellis Don Construction

Trade Contractor: Apex Granite and Tile

NATURAL STONEThis tower was a new 42 storey office building with granite flooring and limestone wall cladding to the ground floor lobby, elevator lobby, concourse, and parking levels. The project took 16 months and involved 12-15 skilled tile setters. The company used 12,800 sq. ft. of granite flooring, and the entire floor was installed on a dry pack mortar bed system. The floors were depressed 50mm.

The interior wall cladding was installed using the traditional wire and plaster method (side wire included) to a maximum height of 33 feet. The heritage wall (punched windows) was installed using mechanical fasteners. Circular solid curve marble pans 2 inches thick were fabricated and installed in an offset brick pattern, each piece weighing over 400 pounds and installed 32 feet high. There were a total of three columns.

The uncompromising quality, fast-tracked schedule and cost control of the project resulted in an extremely satisfied construction manager, architect, designer, and owner.100 ADELAIDE OFFICE TOWER

Maple Terrazzo, Marble & Tile

Architect: HCMA Architecture + DesignGeneral Contractor: Ellis Don Construction

Trade Contractor: Apex Granite and Tile


TECHNICAL PRODUCT APPLICATIONMany years go into the design and planning of an endeavor like IFP Concourse E (an extension of the Calgary International Airport). Choosing a flooring material is a major considera-tion as airports are designed for an extended life cycle with reasonable annual maintenance. It needs to be aesthetically pleasing and durable, but also needs to be installed with the right setting system to achieve lifecycle expectations.

The combined Calgary airport projects (including Concourse E) contained 489,000 sq. ft. of tile flooring with 424,000 sq. ft. of it a mixture of three granite products. The quality of the natural stone tile was explicit.

Contractors were brought into the process well in advance to assist with the flooring specification. It was decided in principle that the general contractor would not be responsible for achieving a concrete floor tolerance acceptable to install 12”x24” granite; instead, the tile contractor would bear that responsibility. This meant the tiler was tasked with the final 2” of elevation so that the natural stone floor was supported by an accurately flat surface.

Another critical step in the installation process was incorpor-ating a properly engineered crack isolation membrane and medium bed thin-set mortar system to bond and protect the integrity of the granite floor. Suppliers and contractors visited the jobsite at regular intervals throughout construction to ensure that the installation specifications were being followed exactly. The final key component was the inclusion of mech-anical control joints spaced to allow for adequate deflection within the concrete slab.

CALGARY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Flesher Marble and Flextile Ltd.

Architect: Dialog

General Contractor: Ellis Don Construction

Trade Contractor: Flesher Marble and Tile Ltd.

RESTORATIONThe cathedral restoration involved 25,000 sq. ft. of various size, colour and thickness of slate and marble flooring. Prior to installation the contractor had to grind the existing flooring using a self-levelling mortar followed by anti-fracture membrane to treat all cracks and control joints. This process was followed by a mortar seeing material.

It was challenging for the installers to work with three different thicknesses, eight different colours and five different countries of origin where the slate and marble was imported and fabricated. The flooring pattern was all water jetted off site upon approved shop drawing. This project was a 24-month process.

ST. MICHAEL’S CATHEDRAL Maple Terrazzo, Marble & Tile

Architect: Plus VG (Ventin) Group

General Contractor: Buttcon Ltd.

Trade Contractor: Traditional Cut Stone


2017 Hardsurface Awards

INTERNATIONALArtist Scott Parsons has named this Installation “Foucault’s Dream.” He describes it as “a pendulum design which engages in a series of references to celestial mechanical ideas about time. The kinetic movement of the installation reminds each one of us that our viewpoint is not fixed, that we are bodies in motion like the planet orbiting around the sun.”

The base of a 110 pound sculpted and cast bronze pendulum swings a three tiered terrazzo floor with a series of LED lights driven in sequence by the movement of the pendulum.

This very intricate terrazzo installation consisted of 1,200 lin. ft. of 1/16 in., 1/8 in. and 3/8 in. zinc divider strips. The artist’s interpretation of various shapes and design were filled with 17 different colours of terrazzo in varying shades of purples and blues, consisting of 100 per cent recycled glass and mirror chips.

Prior to the general contractor placing the three tiered concrete pad which the terrazzo would be installed on, the installer coordinated the placement of 47 junction boxes which needed to be installed under the concrete slab, with the electrical contractor. These junction boxes had to align exactly with the intersection of the 3/8 in. divider strips in the terrazzo design; the exact location of the boxes was very critical. After the terrazzo installation was completed the installer drilled 1 in. diameter holes through the terrazzo and concrete into the junction boxes and installed the 1 in. fiber optic lights.

All the strip designs were prefabricated by the craftsmen at the installer’s shop and shipped to the job site in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to be pieced together and installed.

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY Franklin Terrazzo and Domus Terrazzo

Architect: TSP Architects + Smith Group

Designer: Scott Parsons + David Griggs

Apex Granite and Tile Inc. Providing high quality commercial tile and stone

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UNIQUE SPECIAL AWARDThe building was the original headquarters for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and the federal government moved in in the 1970s. 180 Wellington is recognized as a Federal Heritage Building which will house meeting rooms, a library and offices for 70 members of Parliament.

A $425 million restoration has brought the building back to its original splendor, while incorporating new and modern touches. At the peak of the six-year project, 400 workers and more than 100 contractors were at work in the building.

It has 30,000 sq. ft. of 3/8 in. epoxy terrazzo system. In prep-aration for installing the terrazzo floor it was shot blasted to ensure a suitable surface. A Moisture Mitigation System and Fibre Reinforced Crack Isolation Membrane were utilized, and the terrazzo was composed of 100 per cent Canadian white marble chips.

15,000 square feet of this project was installed on a heated slab. To allow for the anticipated expansion and contraction of the terrazzo topping the area was divided into various panel sizes and ¼ inch wide expansion joints were used for all divider strips.

The project has five incredible terrazzo staircases; the feature case consisting of 65 stair treads. It is installed in 360 degree visual and takes you from first, second and third floors. The single piece tread and risers units consist of white matrix and Canadian white marble chips and have three black carborundum strips which were added for slip resistance and to assist those with visual challenges to recognize each stair. These treads are 3 inches thick and designed to be walked on for many lifetimes.

WELLINGTON BUILDING Franklin Terrazzo

Architect: NORR Architects

General Contractor: Ellis Don Construction

Terrazzo Contractor: Franklin Terrazzo

JUDGE’S AWARD OF MERITAudain Art Museum is a brand-new museum located in the heart of Whistler, British Columbia. The museum exhibits a diverse collection of art and cultural artifacts from local first nations groups as well as many large collections of works by Emily Carr and other local artists.

Constructed with nature in mind, this project was unique from the aspect of the flooring installation – specifically the tile installation – because of the large open areas with glass walls separating interior from exterior. The tiles selected were large format porcelain and natural stone, so special consider-ation and attention was given while installing. For cases like the exterior bridge and stairs, specialty equipment had to be brought in, as each piece had to be placed perfectly to tie in with the rest of the stairs and to make sure everything lined up for the long run down the tiled bridge, into the atrium of the museum. Several challenges had to be overcome at this stage regarding the drainage system which was an integral part of the bridge.

The entire exterior installation portion was done in fall and winter requiring a tent installed around it with continuously running heaters to ensure the mortars and grouts would be able to cure appropriately to create the best bond possible to deal with Whistler’s extreme winters.

AUDAIN ART MUSEUM Custom Building Products

Architect: Patkau Architects Inc.

General Contractor: Axiom Builders

Trade Contractor: Continental Flooring

The monumental Wellington Building, located at 180 Wellington Street in Ottawa, was listed on the Canadian Historical Register in August 2005. It was designed by noted American architect D. Everet Waid, in collaboration with his Ottawa counterpart J.A. Ewart, in 1927 in the Beaux-Arts design style.

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Calgary International Airport Triumphs as the 2017 Project of the YearBy Richard Woodbury

When Brent Fisher looks back on the tile installation project at the new inter-national terminal at the

Calgary International Airport, a few things stand out to him, but especially this: “The part I’m most proud of is we were never anyone’s problem on the job site. We were the ones that were always pushing somebody else, not somebody else pushing us,” says the general manager at Flesher Marble and Tile Ltd. “We were very proud of the fact that when we went to these weekly trade meetings, 99 per cent of the time we were not the topic of conversation, and that’s what we wanted. We didn’t want to be the topic of conversation,

we wanted to be the guys getting their stuff done without a whole lot of hoopla about us not meeting the schedule.”

Given that, it’s rather fitting Flesher Marble was selected by the 2017 Hard-surface Awards as the Project of the Year. “We are very honoured as it was a big undertaking by us and the results demonstrate how hard we worked as a team,” says Fisher.

The job required installing about 550,000 square feet of flooring and wall tile. Of that, granite flooring accounted for 425,000 square feet, porcelain tile (including washroom floors) repre-sented 85,000 square feet, and porcelain

tile for washroom walls amounted to 45,000 square feet.

According to the Calgary International Airport’s website, the amount of granite flooring installed in the new terminal works out to the equivalent of the square footage of 177 average residential homes.

While most of the work on the project was done in the new terminal, there was some overlap in an area connecting the old terminal to the new one.

At the high point of the project, as many as 35 people were on site at the airport working for Flesher Marble. Asked


Project of the Year

why things went so smoothly for them, Fisher credits a number of factors. He says the team Flesher Marble assem-bled did a fantastic job. As well, the general contractor on the project, Ellis Don Construction, was very helpful and experienced.

As well as the project went, it did face a number of challenges, the biggest of which related to the mixing of drypacks. Flesher Marble was responsible for installing a two-inch mortar bed above the concrete and the tile on top of this mortar bed. Drypacks are a mixture of sand and cement, but need an acrylic or latex material to be added to act as a binder as part of the mortar bed instal-lation. “If it had just been a tile job, it would have been a lot simpler than it was. This drypack work was the biggest challenge, no question,” says Fisher.

The plan was to mix the drypack in whatever location Flesher Marble was working. However, safety officials and occupational health and safety workers claimed the mixing was broadcasting too much airborne silica. Because of this, shacks with air-handling units were introduced in which to mix the drypacks. Also adding to the challenge of this was the logistics of getting materials in and out of the building, and the regular need to move the mixing shacks because their location would inevitably become too far away from wherever installation was taking place. “It was an absolute miracle that we didn’t have more problems than we did knowing full well that our logistics for our mortar bed got turned upside down a quarter of the way through the project,” says Fisher.

Flesher Marble was awarded the contract for tile installation in the beginning of 2012 and it began ordering materials around mid-2012. The tile was sourced from two firms in Quebec; Ancor Granite Tile Inc. and Polycor. Fisher says the companies were a pleasure to do business with, noting there weren’t any issues sourcing product or delivery problems, which was done by rail. “They were given a lot of notice. They

had a lot of time to secure their supply. I think the planning was far enough out that that wasn’t an issue. Both of those suppliers were absolutely exemplary in the supply of the material,” says Fisher.

Flesher Marble began working on site in February 2013 and substantial completion was in September 2016. The new terminal opened in October 2016, a year later than originally planned.

For Flesher Marble, the project was a huge one. It was “by far and above”

the largest project the company had worked on, says Fisher. As a point of comparison, the second-largest one it had ever undertaken was the renova-tion of the Southcentre Mall in Calgary, which also included a new food court. Product installation on this project measured 180,000 square feet, or about one-third of the Calgary airport project. This is all the more noteworthy given Flesher Marble has been in business since 1910.

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The Joys and Pains of Floor RestorationBy Nicola Capomasi, VD and Director, thor&partners Inc.

An old floor hides precious information that has to be carefully decoded: how many people walked on it over

the years? Did anyone take care of it regularly? What products were used to clean it and maintain it? What is the superficial patina made of and how can we restore the floor by maintaining the old patina at the same time?

The challenges to be faced are numerous and the questions are the kind of ques-tions that can keep you up all night, especially if you are dealing with a client who will not accept any result but perfection. Moreover, my respect for old materials and the desire to treat

them the way they deserve to be treated also poses an ethical dilemma: how can I provide restoration excellence without disrespecting the work and the creativity of those who came before me?

Having said that, certain materials react to the passing of time much better than others. Marble or natural stone installed outside, for instance, do not possess the same resistance qualities as granite. Interestingly enough, one of the most elaborate floors in the world, terrazzo, is actually one of the most resistant and one of the easiest to maintain. In contrast, limestone is very delicate and can be irreparably damaged if not treated with the utmost care.

An example of what I just said is the work we did on the terrazzo floors at a prestigious jobsite in Toronto. During the design phase and after an accurate analysis of the material, we realized that no effective regular maintenance had ever been done. Stains were every-where, as were patches of discoloration and big holes. Moreover, there were several structural cracks, some of them very deep and long. To make things even worse, the only “maintenance” had been the application of several coats of wax, which very conveniently hid the damages but also turned an ugly yellow over time. All of this could have been avoided with regular maintenance with the right products.


Floor Restoration

The restoration strategy, therefore, had to encompass a wide range of techniques: diamond pads combined with a bit of stripper for wax stripping, diamond pads and special poultice for stain removal, epoxy mixed with terrazzo matrix for crack and hole patching, diamond pads to close porosity and floor polishing up to 800 grit. Finally, the application of a specific impregnator for terrazzo floors aimed at protecting the floor from water and oil penetration. Since modern tech-nology has come up with very effective and easy-to-maintain sealers, there are a lot of very good choices out there, according to what the client requires. The one thing to absolutely avoid is the application of old-style wax.

Once the restoration job is finished, we always provide the client with mainten-ance guidelines, because maintenance is actually even more important than the restoration job itself. Maintenance for this specific case, for instance, only requires a special pad with an auto-scrubber machine and a bit of neutral cleaner every day. Every six months, it is mandatory to refresh the sealer.

Since we are on the topic of mainten-ance, let me underline why regular maintenance is more important than restoration. One of our big private clients installed 22,000 ft. of limestone last September. After only six months

of mop-cleaning maintenance (that is, no maintenance) the floor looked as if it were 30 years old and showed all the kinds of 30-year-old damages: missing grout, deep oil stains, deep etch-marks, heavy scratches and salt damages. Need-less to say, the overall look was honed and cloudy when it was supposed to be

high-polished. In this case, after several tests, the client trusted our experience and advice and accepted our proposal for an extraordinary cleaning every three months. This cleaning is done with two different pads and alkaline cleaner. Every stain and every etch-mark is removed by the pads and the

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sealer is re-applied on the high-traffic areas. In the areas near the entrances, we apply a special limestone densifier to increase the strength of the stone and its resistance to the high traffic coming from outside. In addition, we provided the cleaning company with the right neutral cleaner for the daily mainten-ance. This way, the floor looks perfect all year round.

In general, it is much easier to maintain the historic flavour on old walls than on old floors, because in many cases, what gives a floor the beautiful historic flavour is the very thing that makes it dangerous. Think for instance of a beautiful old marble floor inside a hospital, a station or a school. Very often, these floors have sinking areas due to the high number of people who have walked on them for years and years. The wavy effect is fascinating and gives the floor great personality, however it also represents a trip hazard. In cases like this, the restoration work can do wonders for bringing the surface back to life in terms of quality, however it has

to eliminate the sinking areas and there-fore, unfortunately, change its shape and appearance. Are we disrespecting history? Maybe we are, but the safety of people has to come first. Please bear in mind there is no easy, universal answer to this and that is exactly the kind of thoughts that cause the sleepless nights I was referring to at the beginning of this piece. Luckily, when answers seem contradictory and the path looks like a dead-end street, people like me, who have devoted years and years to the study of old materials, can rely on a precious companion: experience.

Last month, a Toronto client called me with a very peculiar request. He was the proud owner of a 1930’s terrazzo floor located in a building that had not been maintained for more than 20 years. He had found a client who wanted to rent the building, and all of a sudden it had become necessary to restore. The floor, however, was so badly damaged and impossibly dirty that he was torn between two options: do I restore it or do I cover it with vinyl? He called me to

ask for my expert opinion and I just told him: “Please let me do a sample for you and then we can talk.” The challenge was twofold for me: on one hand, it was an economic challenge. If restoration had cost much more than the vinyl cover, he would have said no. On the other hand, it was a quality challenge: my restora-tion work had to be so effective that he just could not say no. And honestly, that was my main concern, because covering such a masterpiece would have been historic and artistic sacrilege.

We did the sample a couple of days later using special pads with no chemical products and a lot of patience. The floor had several holes but they were so small that they did not represent any hazard, so we decided not to do any patching, thus being able to maintain the original look. The layer of dirt was very thick, ensuring we had to use pads for its removal as well. We then applied a clear, no-wax sealer. The final result was so amazing that the client confirmed the job on the spot. That is why I high-lighted the many perks of experience, which gives a company like ours the confidence to convince a potential client and come up with a technical solution that is the best for both the client, who will still own a marvelous floor, and the history of the material.

It is worth highlighting that technical solutions vary according to not only the type of installed material but also according to its geographical location. Here in Canada, for instance, the massive use of salt-based melting solutions during the cold season causes materials to deteriorate very fast. This is the reason why the materials that are affected by these salts need very specific maintenance, which can neutralize the damaging effects of the salt. Consequently, it is very often not possible to stop the deterioration process, it is only possible to slow it down.

Another major factor causing the quick degradation of materials is the uninformed (and wrong) use of main-tenance products. Several products

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nowadays are advertised as “natural, plant-based, non-toxic” and this makes customers automatically think they are 100 per cent safe. Based on the assump-tion that no damage can be done by a “natural” product, marble owners often use dish soap detergents for cleaning counters and floors. Some of them even use vinegar, one of those all-natural cleaners that remind us of older and simpler times. If only they took the time to read the actual labels, these people would find out that the dish soap they are using also contains citric acid, which might be 100 per cent natural, but it also etches marble and stone. The same goes for vinegar, which is probably the most natural cleaner you could ever use but has the same damaging effect.

The same mistakes people commit with detergents are very often committed with sealers. Not all floors actually need a sealer, and those that need a sealer need a high breathability-sealer, which allows humidity to go out and prevent humidity and water from coming in. There are a lot of high-quality cleaners and sealers on the market nowadays, because technology in this field has come a long way. It is always advisable, however, to ask for an expert opinion and trust the advice of those who clean,

seal and maintain materials profession-ally every day.

As highlighted earlier, experience is what makes the difference even when maintenance is concerned. For example, certain types of granite have natural rust inside them. This rust increases in volume once it comes into contact with water or humidity, it is a law of nature and nothing can be done about it. The rust volume-increase, in turn, causes the formation of yellow stains on the surface, which become even more intense due to acid cleaners that are used to try to remove them. They are certainly not very pleasant to look at, but they are part of the material’s nature. An experienced company would never promise a client their removal because

it is simply impossible. An experienced company will first of all advise the client not to use this type of granite on the exterior. If installed inside, the company will recommend the use of a powerful impregnator sealer and its regular maintenance.

In conclusion, it is very clear that restoration requires the careful analysis of different aspects, different levels and different circumstances, each one of them with a virtually infinite number of variables. The right solution, therefore, stems from a mix of technical expertise, hands-on experience, creativity and passion. That is why, when dealing with restoration and maintenance, it is highly advisable to hire companies with long-standing experience in this field. Opting for a cheaper solution will prove to be everything but cheap as time goes by.

Experience aside, my driving force is my passion for materials and therefore I am always searching for new products and new technologies, so that I can always give my clients the best possible solution. Having worked on 500-year-old floors and surfaces, I have been able to acquire the necessary experience and make the necessary mistakes. There is no such thing as a two-year-old experience in the field of restoration. And what makes a company is the presence of the people who can prove their expertise through successful restoration jobs done in the past, because once the damage is done by unexperienced hands, there is no going back. So when in doubt, always go for the experts.


Attend the 2018 Convention And help TTMAC celebrate 75 years

In 2018 the Terrazzo Tile Marble Association of Canada will be celebrating their 75th year, and where better to hold the 75th year

convention than where the association was started, in the largest city in Canada, fourth largest in North America … TORONTO. The Convention will be held there on June 6-9, 2018.

This is an opportunity to be fully immersed in the hard surface industry and to associate with other TTMAC members from across Canada, as well as contractors, architects, designers and specification writers from the local industry. This is also your opportunity to have your company’s voice heard at the AGM, Supplier and Contractors annual meetings. Attend industry relevant seminars scheduled during our Tech Expo, and visit the displays and products of other TTMAC members. Enjoy the many events (including the not-to-be missed annual Bocce tour-nament) planned for delegates, spouses and guests, and take the opportunity to visit the many exciting attractions of one of Canada’s most diverse and vibrant cities. This year’s event will also include a special dinner evening at the CN Tower. Be sure to bring your spouse/partner to this year’s event as the committee will have something planned for them.

As with any event of this magnitude, planning, scheduling and team building is essential. Our 2018 Convention Chairperson is Sherri Wildman of ARDEX and Brad Meyer of Domus Terrazzo Supply Company. We are very excited for this 75th year convention and the committee has diligently

prepared to make this the best TTMAC convention to date. We have so many local members and feel this could be our best attended convention yet. The hotel arrangements at the Intercontin-ental on Front Street in the heart of the city are complete, and the structure of the convention finalized.

A package will be sent to all members which includes the Delegate Regis-tration Form, the Sponsorship Form, Table Top Form, the Convention Agenda/Schedule, and the Hardsurface Awards entry forms. This package can also be found on our website at ttmac.com/upcoming events.

This will allow you to make plans for attending the 2018 TTMAC Conven-tion and develop your marketing strategies, which will help to ensure that this convention continues the recent positive trend of staging very successful conventions, such as Banff (2017), Niagara on the Lake (2016), Quebec City (2015), Kelowna (2014), Halifax (2013), and Winnipeg (2012).

Now, for a little insight into the 2018 Convention in Toronto:

On Wednesday June 13, please join us for the President’s Welcome Reception.

Thursday June 14 will be a busy day with the Supplier and Contractor breakfast meetings, followed by our newly formatted Tech Expo. Learn about new products and innovations as you casually wander the Tech Expo table top room. Break for a sit down and take in one of our new current interest, industry related seminars geared

specifically for Suppliers, Contractors, Architects and Designers. Finish off the evening networking at a relaxed social gathering for all.

Friday June 15, we will have the Inspect-or’s Meeting followed by networking and fun while delegates socialize and develop new friendships at the Annual Bocce Tournament and BBQ. At night the attendees will enjoy an evening overlooking the vibrant city while we dine at the CN Tower. If you wish to attend the dinner at the CN Tower be sure to indicate your attendance on the registration form.

The morning of Saturday June 16 is your chance to have your company’s voice heard at the Annual General Meeting.

Saturday evening will feature our 75nd Gala and Hardsurface Awards dinner evening. The Oscars of our industry, this Black-Tie affair is complete with cocktails and a formal dinner followed by the Hard Surface award presenta-tions. Hardsurface award submissions are for outstanding projects in several categories and are a way for suppliers and contractors to showcase their prod-ucts, skills and projects. We strongly recommend submitting your entries AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

All in all there is much to do, and while it starts with the committee, ultimately it is everyone’s responsibility to promote the convention and its activities in order to grow the industry and most import-antly, to promote the TTMAC. Please start planning for your participation in this important event. Please contact the Toronto office with any questions.


Business ShowcaseTILE LTD.

EURO-CANMARBLE AND GRANITE LTD.

John Vani Ron Vit

Serving Your Needs in theStone and Tile Industry.

Fabrication & Installation

Offi ce: 604-540-7670Fax: 604-540-7680

Email:[email protected]

524 Sharpe, New Westminster, BC V3M 4R2

Celebrating Our 25th Anniversary!!

impexstonetile.com 180 caldari road, unit 2concord, ontario, canadaL4K 4L1800.336.3545 or 905.660.9191

Waterjet Cutting Specialists• Layout and Cutting• Custom Flooring/Wall Design• Any Material - Tile, Marble, Granite, Glass...

Intricut, Ltd.

5038 Marshall Road, RR#3Niagara Falls, ON L2G 0M8

T: 905-295-6578F: 905-295-5263

[email protected]

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Jensen Contract Flooring.indd 1 16-01-12 10:53 AM

29 Gervais Drive, Suite 300 Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y9Telephone: (416) 487-3939 www.kneiderarchitects.com

Suppliers ofSLATE

GRANITEMARBLE

LIMESTONEfrom around the world

Phone 604-207-0126 Fax 604-207-0176

E-mail [email protected]

Showroom: 12380 Vickers Way, Richmond, BC V6V 1H9

See our products and colours online at www.universalslate.ca


2018 Calendar of EventsFEBRUARY February 14-15 Buildex Vancouver

MARCH March 1 Social Night Vancouver

March 2 BOD Meeting Vancouver

APRIL April 4 Bocce Tournament Toronto

April 15 Deadline for the Hardsurface Awards Submissions

April 26 Bocce Tournament Vancouver

MAY May 8 – 11 Coverings Trade Show Atlanta, Georgia

JUNE June 6 Board of Directors Meeting Toronto

June 7-9 Convention Toronto

June 7 Tech Expo Toronto Intercontinental Front St. Hotel, Toronto

June 9 Hardsurface Awards Gala Intercontinental Front St. Hotel, Toronto

JULY July 12 TTMAC Golf Tournament Toronto

AUGUST August 17 TTMAC Golf Tournament Vancouver

NOVEMBER November 1 Social Night Toronto

November 2 Board of Directors Meeting Toronto

DECEMBER IIDEX Canada – The Buildings Show Toronto

“Do it Once, Do it Right, Hire Union”

THE BRICK AND ALLIED CRAFT UNION OF CANADA

Kerry Wilson - President

180 Attwell Dr., Suite 130, Etobicoke, ON M9W 6A9 Phone: (416) 239-7374 ~ Fax: (416) 236-0200 ~ Email: [email protected] ~ Website: www.bacu.ca


ARCHITECTS Kneider Architects .................................................................. 20 www.kneider.com

CERAMIC FLOOR & WALL Jensen Contract Flooring Ltd. ................................................. 20 www.jcfgroup.ca

FABRICATION/INSTALLATION SERVICES Bridgewater Tile Inc. ............................................................... 20 www.bridgewatertile.com

GRANITE SUPPLIER Bordt & Sons Tile & Granite Ltd. ............................................. 15 www.bordtandsons.com

GROUTING MATERIALS Mapei Inc. .................................... 11, Outside Back Cover, Insert www.mapei.com

INSTALLATION SYSTEMS Custom Building Products ...................................................... 17 www.custombuildingproducts.com

MANUFACTURERS Apex Granite and Tile Inc. ......................................................... 9 www.apexgranite.com

Mapei Inc. .................................... 11, Outside Back Cover, Insert www.mapei.com

Proma Adhesives Inc. ............................................................... 5 www.proma.ca

Schluter-Systems Canada ................................ Inside Front Cover www.schluter.ca

Sika Canada Inc. ............................................. Inside Back Cover www.sika.ca

NATURAL STONE & SLATE Universal Slate ....................................................................... 20 www.universalslate.ca

SETTING MATERIALS Mapei Inc. .................................... 11, Outside Back Cover, Insert www.mapei.com

STONE & TILE Impex Stone & Tile ................................................................. 20 www.impexstonetile.com

STONE & TILE CONTRACTORS Star Tile Co. Ltd. .................................................................... 13 www.startile.ca

SWIMMING POOLS & WET AREAS Jensen Contract Flooring Ltd. ................................................. 20 www.jcfgroup.ca

TRADE SCHOOL/EDUCATION Terrazzo, Tile & Marble Trade School Inc. ............................... 22 www.ttmts.org

UNIONS BACU Canada ........................................................................ 21 www.bacu.ca

Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craft .......................................... 13 www.bac2bc.org

WATERJET CUTTING (FLOORS & ACCENTS) Intricut, Ltd. ........................................................................... 20 www.intricutinc.com

Volume 26 Issue 2 Fall / Winter 2017

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY

Robert Roppa

email [email protected] - school 905.660.4816phone - admin 905.660.5094

office 30 Capstan Gate, Units 4 & 5Concord, ON l4K 3E8

Ontario’s only government certified training facility for the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Industry.

Mapeguard ® UMUnderlayment membrane for ceramic tile and stone

• Uncoupling, waterproofing and water vapor membrane

• Fast Track Ready™: Approved for use over young (green) concrete and mortar beds

• Approved for use with polymer-modified mortars

• Prevents transmission of in-plane substrate cracks up to 1/8" (3 mm)

• Reduced “roll memory” and unique tri-layer construction keep membrane flat

• Engineered cavity design with mesh allows easy single-pass filling of surface core

• Extra Heavy Rating: ASTM C627

• Light green translucent color allows visibility of mortar coverage

• Laser and chalk lines are easily visible on the surface

N O T E : C O L O R S V I E W E D O N - S C R E E N A R E I N T E N D E D F O R V I S U A L R E F E R E N C E O N LY A N D M A Y N O T M A T C H T H E F I N A L P R I N T E D P R O D U C T.

1 1 4 4 E . N e w p o r t C e n t e r D r . D e e r f i e l d B e a c h , F L 3 3 4 4 2

File Name: 17-2073 Ad_Resize_Hardsurfaces_MapeguardUMJob#: 17-2073Artist: Georgina Morra Email: [email protected]: August 2, 2017 9:52 AM

Page Size: 8.625" x 11.125"Number of Pages: 1Bleed: Yes Amount: .125"Colors: CMYK Process, 4/0

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