Situation
Built in 1891, the George Lawrence House underwent a full renovation starting in 2015 to bring the original historic décor back to life. Using extremely rare and expensive tiles from Italy and across Europe, ARDEX Tile and Stone Installation Systems were selected solely for the setting of over 2,400 square feet of marble flooring, walls and shower tile throughout the home. Working on a 125 year old original structure, lacking heat during the cold winter months in Galesburg, IL proved challenging.
Installer: Garrick Sweeney
Tile Contractor: Timberidge Flooring Inc.
Designer: Ultimate Interiors
ARDEX Products
ARDEX UI 720™ FLEXBONE® Floating Uncoupling Membrane
ARDEX X 77™ MICROTEC® Fiber Reinforced Tile and Stone Mortar
ARDEX X 7 R™ Rapid Set, Flexible Tile and Stone Mortar
RDEX FL™ Rapid Set, Flexible, Sanded Grout
Challenge
- 125-year old structure
- 10 month renovation schedule
- Extremely cold weather during installation
Solution
Timber Ridge Flooring Inc. owner Garrick Sweeney reached out to ARDEX for recommendations on ARDEX Tile & Stone Installation Systems for the demanding tiling renovation work on the George Lawrence House.
ARDEX UI 720™ FLEXBONE® Floating Uncoupling Membrane was used overtop flooring substrates in various rooms of the home before the installation of marble tile. A loose laid floating system providing 100% uncoupling, ARDEX UI 720 provides significant time and cost savings to installers while simultaneously providing the highest level of bond strength due to its unique bone-shaped pattern with GripLock Technology. ARDEX X 77™ MICROTEC® Fiber Reinforced Tile and Stone Mortar with a creamy consistency, 3-hour pot life and 60 minute open time, was selected for the 1,800 square feet marble floor installations.
ARDEX X 7 R™ Rapid Set, Flexible Tile and Stone Mortar was used to along transition planes to allow for tile that could be walked on in just 3 hours, so that other trade work could be started as early as possible throughout the home. A mortar formulated with enhanced properties of adhesion and flexibility, X 7 R gave installers the confidence needed that tile set between flooring planes would be secure while other trade work was taking place. ARDEX FL™ Rapid Set, Flexible, Sanded Grout was selected for grouting 600 square feet of the four (4) showers in the house. A highly versatile, rapid setting sanded grout, ARDEX FL saved installers time due its very easy to apply creamy, fluid consistency and can be trafficked in just 90 minutes.
“The highly-modified ARDEX Mortars, especially ARDEX X 77, were exactly what I’d needed for a job like this. High bond strength, extremely long workability, pot life and creamy consistency, yet sticky were key to my successful install at the Lawrence House”, boasted Garrick.
The George Lawrence House renovation was completed and re-opened to the public on time and on budget.