Jason Smith
President, Thrive Design Group
Arlington Heights, Ill.
Mapei changed the industry when it released Ultraflex for large-format tile. Let me explain.
About a decade ago, clients started asking for large-format tile, and manufacturers, particularly Italian ones, started shipping 12 by 24 inch (and larger) tiles to the U.S. They didn’t come with instructions because, well, why would they? It was just tile, and U.S. contractors treated it as such. The problem was, U.S. contractors didn’t realize you need a different mortar for these heavier tiles. What happened was you ended up with a bunch of bad tile jobs. K&B guys would use their standard thinset to place the tile and, because of the weight, the mortar would blow out and they’d end up with lips between the tiles and a kind of cupping at the center, where the mortar had been pushed too thin.
Mapei’s rollout of Ultraflex was a game changer for us. It’s a specialty mortar for large-format tile that we now use almost every day. It’s made with a high content of dry polymer that enables it to handle the extra weight of large tiles. And the cool thing is, you can set a bed up to ¾-inch thick, which gives you enough mortar to later use a strap system to level the floor to absolutely perfect.
Add new comment
Related Stories
This New Tech Turns Any Countertop into a Wireless Charger
FreePower for Countertop has swept awards for its innovation—and the company claims installing it is "as straightforward as cutting a sink"
Innovative Products: The Smartest Toilet on the Market?
Kohler's Numi 2.0 is a Bluetooth and Amazon Alexa-enabled smart toilet
Top 100 Products 2022: Lighting
Products from LIFX, Nora Lighting, Lutron Electronics, Kichler, and Lodes
Top 100 Products 2022: Kitchens & Baths
Pro's Picks: RedGard Waterproofing and Crack Prevention Membrane
This Pro's Pick ensures a watertight tile installs
Surfacing Beyond Countertops: Insight into the Movement of Slabs Galore
An insider reveals what’s propelling the use of surfaces in atypical ways
7 Steps for Linear Drain Installation
Follow these steps from linear drain pros to determine the correct product and installation choice for your application.