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M A R C H 2 0 2 3 | 31 Hard Surface Flooring The Herringbone pattern will show up in kitchen designs on both floors and walls but is especially dominant in backsplash designs. The backsplash designs tend to be monolithic in terms of colour with accenting grout lines where tile flooring will often incorporate multiple shades and sometimes colours to create an interesting accent. The pattern is not exclusive to kitchen design as it is also being seen on tile shower walls in a single colour. Installing Herringbone on both floors and walls can be a time-consuming process, explains Fisher: "Each piece must be laid out and finished with preci- sion to make sure the design stays in alignment. For tile it may be advisable to hire a professional for your project. If installed professionally, you can be sure you'll have a floor or wall finish for the ages." Shnier, a Canadian-based national floor-covering distribution company, recently announced its rebrand plans for Richmond. This comes in the same year Shnier celebrates 85 years in the Canadian flooring industry. Shnier's proprietary Laurentian Hardwood brand was relaunched under the Richmond brand umbrella and Shnier now houses 100 percent of its hardwood offerings under the Richmond brand. Richmond Hardwood is an exquisite collection of timeless North American wood species and unique exotic woods – there is something for every taste. The new clean Richmond look is designed to embody the heritage the brand has represented since its conception, while demonstrating its aspiration to transcend its impact in the industry. The endeavour to reimagine and simplify Richmond involves a consolida- tion of brands along with changes for others. Casa Roma Ceramic Tile will become known as Richmond Tile & Stone. This move to bring Casa Roma into the Richmond family of brands will leverage the existing brand equity in the industry while increasing it. MEMBR ANES, ADHESIVES, GROUTS, & DR AINAGE In 1987, Schluter Systems revolutionized the tile industry with the introduc- tion of Ditra, the original uncoupling membrane designed to prevent cracked tile and grout. "Today, Ditra is even better," says Tod Valickis, global product manager. "The same trusted and reliable uncoupling membrane now features innovative enhancements that will help get the job done even faster. Ditra features a new look with design improvements that facilitate installa- tion of the roll. Cutting grooves are now included to provide a guide for straight and precise cuts. Air release vents appear at the corners to allow for faster filling of the membrane with fewer trowel passes. The membrane is now more flexible to enhance workability and lay perfectly flat. Lastly, the enhanced undercut design allows for an even stronger anchoring of the tile. Valickis adds that the four essential functions of Ditra that make for a long-lasting tile installation are: uncoupling, waterproofing, load-distribution, and vapour management. Floor warming continues to be a growing trend for new and renovated homes and businesses alike. Flooring installers are using uncoupling membranes with floor heating cables because they offer the luxury of warm tiles, combined with an ease of installation. "Schluter Systems is introducing two new peel and stick floor warming membranes – the Schluter Ditra-Heat-PS and Ditra-Heat- Duo-PS," says Valickis. "Both new products are available in rolls and sheets to accommodate various room sizes. These peel and stick membranes feature a pressure-sensitive adhesive [PSA] to bond the membrane to the substrate, replacing the need for thin-set mortar. Simply remove the transparent release film from the fleece side of the membrane to expose the layer of adhesive and embed into the substrate." Valickis notes the membrane can easily be repositioned until pressure is exerted. Quick and easy to install, Ditra-Heat-PS and Ditra-Heat-Duo-PS integrate customizable, comfortable electric floor warming. "Both peel and stick membranes are designed to secure the Ditra-Heat-E-HK electric floor heating cables and provide uncoupling, waterproofing, vapour management, and support to ensure a long-lasting installation. Ditra-Heat-PS features a nominal 1⁄4-inch thickness to minimize tile assembly thickness and reduce transitions to lower surface coverings." Ditra-Heat-Duo-PS is 5⁄16-inch thick and additionally offers sound control and a thermal break. Custom Building Products has introduced its Prism Ultimate Performance Cement Grout, designed to deliver beautiful, long-lasting ceramic and natural stone tile surfaces. "Prism is ideal for virtually any tile assembly, with reliable, proven results at some of the largest projects in North America," says Garett Diamond Polished Concrete. A Strong & Beautiful Concrete Flooring Solution Diamond Polished Concrete is a unique, advanced flooring system that brings out the natural beauty of concrete, helps reduce maintenance costs and enhances the natural durability of concrete surfaces. The Tri-Con Diamond Polish System employs an innovative 7-step grinding and polishing process that utilizes progressively finer diamond grinding heads. This system also uses the most advanced penetrating sealer technology. Tri-Con Concrete Finishing is an industry leader with more than 30 years experience in the concrete industry. We are a one-stop supplier capable of pouring new floors to exact specifications as well as restoring existing concrete surfaces with endless versatility. We guarantee that we deliver on time, on budget and on spec every time. ASK ABOUT OUR I.C.I. JOINT FREE CONCRETE FLOORS TRI-CON Concrete Finishing Co. Ltd. 835 Supertest Rd., Suite 100 North York, Toronto, ON M3J 2M9 Tel. 416.736.7700 Fax. 416.736.6686 www.triconconcrete.com 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2017 GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD WINNER FM37428.indd 1 7/23/20 8:23 AM

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