Page 28 - Demo

28|July 2020
Stone Restoration & Maintenance Corner
Slippery rock Gazette
Building Code Update Allows Larger Exterior Adhered Porcelain Tile
"It's Done!"
SinkBot CNC
Portable CNC for Cutting your Sink Cutouts
less than $400 per month (60 payments)
Simple & Easy to Program
SinkBot CNC Router is Portable for L-shaped and oversized tops Includes Control-Work Station to lift and carry the SinkBot CNC Variable-speed Spindle with center waterfeed to run finer grit bits
Call for details 612-741-6510 EdgemateStoneTools.com
Cut your Sinks for
$100
/ week
ANupdate to the International
Building Code (IBC) will allow designers to use adhered por- celain tiles as large as 48 x 48 inches or 36 x 72 inches on building facades.
The proposed change, driven by the International Masonry Institute (IMI) and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), was certified by the International Code Council Board of Directors In April 2020 and will go into effect in the 2021 IBC.
Prior to the update, the IBC limited adhered porcelain tile to a maximum of 24 inches on one side and a maximum of 3 square feet per tile. In common tile sizes, that means the largest permissible tiles were 20 inches x 20 inches and 12 inches x 24 inches.
Advances in porcelain tile manufacturing have resulted in extremely large and thin tiles, as thin as 1/8 inch, now being
As always, I recommend submitting a test area to confirm both the results and the procedure prior to start- ing a stone or hard surface restoration or maintenance project. Also the best way to help ensure success is by partnering with a good distributor, like Braxton- Bragg, that knows the busi- ness. They can help with
widely available. Moreover, tile setting mortar is now more resistant to tensile and shear forces, thanks to advances in polymer- modified Portland cement mortar technology. The combination of these factors — thinner, lighter tiles and stron- ger mortars — already allow larger tiles to be successfully adhered to exterior facades. The 2021 IBC will make it possible for designers and builders to specify such without requiring the code variance process.
With this update, designers, building owners, and construc- tion professionals will have more flexibility to select tile as an alternative to precast con- crete, metal panels, and other materials for building exteriors, expanding the tile market and work opportunities for qualified tile contractors and installers.
technical support, product purchase decisions, logis- tics, and other pertinent project information.
I pray you all stay safe and healthy.
Bob Murrell has worked in the natural stone indus- try for over 40 years and is well known for his expertise in natural stone, tile and
TCNA is a trade associa- tion representing manufac- turers of ceramic tile, tile installation materials, tile equipment, raw materials and other tile-related prod- ucts. Established in 1945 as the Tile Council of America (TCA), it became the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) in 2003, reflecting its membership expansion to all of North America.
The Tile Council is recog- nized for its leadership role in facilitating the develop- ment of North American and international industry quality standards to benefit tile con- sumers. Additionally, TCNA regularly conducts indepen- dent research and product testing, works with regula- tory, trade, and other govern- ment agencies, and publishes installation guidelines, tile standards, economic reports, and promotional literature.
decorative concrete resto- ration and maintenance. He helped develop some of the main products and processes which revolu- tionized the industry, and is currently the Director of Operations for M3 Technologies.
Before and After: Left, Tennessee Cedar marble conference table base in its faded, etched condition; Right, base restored after using dip 200 grit, 400 grit, and Majestic 5X Gold Polishing Powder.
“When people don’t have a hopeful vision before them
or the possible resolution of their difficulties by
peaceful means, then they can be attracted to violence and to separatism.”
— Condoleezza Rice
Tennessee Marble, office wing. This modest marble -clad exterior contains a wealth of beautiful and historic marble floors, trim and furnishings.
Continued from page 26
There were some issues with some of the grout, but it was decided that a deep cleaning with wire brushes and Majestic Deep Cleaning Stripper/
Degreaser was the extent of the effort that would be given.
To me, this facility is part of the famed Tennessee Marble history, and a his- tory that I am actually part of. So I take great pride in
knowing that it was restored to much of its original con- dition. That’s one of the many beautiful things about natural stone, it almost al- ways restorable to original – or even better than origi- nal condition.