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OCTOBER 2018 | 25 Tiles and exterior walls, floors, and submerged areas. It can be applied from 1⁄8-inch to 11⁄4-inch in thickness to ramp, smooth or level surfaces, especially walls where large-and-heavy-format tiles are being installed. "The product idea for Planitop 330 Fast was generated from discussions at one of our Contractor Councils," says Brian Pistulka, business manager for Mapei's Tile & Stone Installation Systems. "These councils are instrumental in helping Mapei develop products that meet the needs of the industry and enable installers to increase their productivity and efficiency." Over at Maxxon, the makers of Gyp-Crete, the team has developed a new kind of sound control mat ideal for multifamily renovations and concrete multifamily construction. "Acousti-Top, made of a patented blend of acoustical fibres, is less than 1⁄16-inch thick and is compatible with a range of flooring materials and adhe- sives," says Tara Crooker, marketing services. Perfectly suited for carpet to hard surface conversions, Acousti-Top deliv- ers reliable sound reduction without adding to the height of the floor system. "Acousti-Top helps reduce telegraphing of imperfections through LVT and does not produce plasticizer migration," she says. "It is rated high performance for crack isolation and will not support mould growth. Acousti-Top has been tested with some of the leading wet lay and pressure-sensitive adhesives available on the market but can also be loose laid with floating floor coverings." Each roll covers 708 square feet but weighs only 45 pounds, making it easy to carry and install. Exceptional durability makes it resistant to breach, which ensures its sound performance is not compromised prior to flooring installation. Acousti-Top is backed by Maxxon's industry-leading product support. A C C E S S O R I Z E , A C C E S S O R I Z E Custom tiled showers continue to grow in popularity as designers and architects strive to create spaces that reflect the specific needs and desires of their clients. "Each one is a little bit different," says Tod Valickis, product manager at Schluter Systems Canada. "To help create these unique spaces more easily, Schluter Systems is introducing 16 new prefabricated, sloped trays for showers with point drains and linear drains. These additional sizes will make it much easier to choose a tray that suits the shower." In addition to increasing the number of sizes available, all Schluter shower trays now come with integrated KERDI waterproofing on the top of the tray. "Trays with the waterproof membrane pre-installed remove a step from the con- struction process," he says. Barrier-free shower areas have also exploded in popularity in recent years. "Showers without curbs have become a very popular design choice for esthetic reasons and to assist homeowners with aging in place or managing reduced mobility," Valickis explains. "One of the challenges when constructing barrier- free showers is to effectively manage height changes between the bathroom floor and the shower floor." Schluter is introducing three reduced height shower trays featuring perimeter heights of one inch or less to simplify the design and con- struction of curbless shower entries. A Acousti-Top sound control mat from Maxxon. Barrier-free shower tray from Schluter Systems. ESTABLISHED 1964 • BONDED PROFESSIONALS CERAMIC TILE, MARBLE, GRANITE AND TERRAZZO CONTRACTOR PHONE 604-254-9864 www.startilevancouver.ca info@startile.ca 2121 E. HASTINGS, VANCOUVER, B.C. Celebrating over 50 years of craftsmanship Star Tile.indd 1 16-03-11 12:05

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