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Annette Callari, Allied ASID

Good design is all about solutions, and here’s a solution worth sharing. Glass tile is a shining star in both commercial and residential designs, bringing color, light and translucence to any interior.  Getting creative with glass tile nets big results, but can also net some installation headaches as well.  The crystal clear elegance of glass requires a grout that can enhance its beauty—and I believe I’ve found it.

StarGlass™ translucent grout from StarQuartz, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, offers the solution.  Regular grout products used in glass tile installations can bleed under the tile and give a muddy, irregular appearance.  StarGlass™ is designed to let your glass tile be the star, because it enhances the look of the glass.  Besides being translucent, it’s three-dimensional and reflective.  The secret ingredient to this grout is a round glass bead aggregate that combines with a urethane grout binder.  What a brilliant idea!  It brings out the beauty of the glass (or metal) tile without weighing it down.

The manufacturer states, “StarGlass™ can be used on vertical or horizontal surfaces for both interior and exterior tile installations.  Approved uses include grout for ceramic, porcelain, glass tile, metal tile, or natural stone tiles.” 

Here are some of the interesting features/benefits that I discovered:

• Pre-mixed, ready to use
• Excellent chemical, stain and mildew resistance
• Semi-flexible, low shrinkage, and high crack resistance
• No color fading, streaking or shading—even when wet
• Fast, easy clean-up when compared to epoxy and cement grouts
• Proprietary coloring system
• UV stable colors (non-yellowing)
• Self-sealing (no sealing required)
• Non-sag formula for vertical surfaces
• Installs up to 50% faster than other grout systems
• Contributes to LEED credits
• Contains over 80% post-consumer recycled content

Pretty impressive line-up of features, but most important, we finally have a product specifically designed for glass tile installations.  It’s possible your tile setter hasn’t even heard of it yet, but be persistent if this is what you want in your home or office.  A little research and your professional will be a convert too.  I believe in this product—to the point where I have specified it for a vertical glass tile installation in a commercial design I am working on.  With this product discovery, I brought something new to my company and to our installation crews.  StarGlass™ may now become a star player for all of our future glass installations. 

Before I close, let’s talk color for a moment.  This grout comes in 15 amazing colors (Diamond, Onyx, Opal, Jade, Bronze, just to name a few). The colors are gemlike and almost dance with reflective qualities. You can see the entire color line on their website, www.starquartz.com—and you need to know that Daltile is the national distributor for this amazing new product.  What fun!

How do I clean hardwood floors? 

How can I restore the luster to my wood floor? 

Is it okay to wear stilettos on hardwood flooring? 

What cleaning products should I use to clean hardwood floors? 

Get answers to these common questions and more!  Recently, Chris Davis (president and CEO of WFCA) was interviewed by Allison Lind (writer for AOL’s blog shelterpop) on this topic.  To learn more about the dos and don’ts of cleaning hardwood floors and to read the full article, click on the picture of the adorable puppy below.

Annette Callari, Allied ASID

This is the story of how a product started out as one thing, and evolved into something entirely different.  Back in 1943, a family-owned company named Richlite produced materials strictly for industrial purposes:  aerospace applications, fiberglass reinforcements for marine industries, and materials for commercial food industries. But in the late 1990’s architects and designers discovered Richlite and began specifying it for high-end residential and commercial countertops, as well as reception areas.  And, to date, this story just keeps getting better and better.

Richlite is made primarily from paper purchased from FSC-Certified sources.  The paper is treated with resin, then pressed and baked to create solid sheets of material with exceptional strength. Because of its blend of waste paper, corrugated cardboard, soft woods and wood fibers, Richlite is able to create Herculean surfaces that satisfy aesthetics as well as function. (And brings “Green” specification to a new level.)  If you are wondering just how strong Richlite could possibly be, it’s a fact that the action sports industry has successfully used this material for outdoor skate ramps!!!  Enough said.

These countertops have earned GREENGUARD certification for indoor use residentially, but are also approved for school and institutional environments.  The material has a natural appeal and matte finish that gives it a clean, architectural look–very urban chic by nature.  Its strength is inherent for the life of the product and enables the surface to accommodate long spans and cantilevers without extra support.  No wonder designers and architects love it.  Its uses, of course, are not limited to countertops.  The product can be used for interior wall cladding, wainscots, work surfaces, wall caps, stair treads, and even free-form architectural features. 

If you happen to be intrigued by this chameleon product, log on to www.richlite.com to find out more.  There you can also see the color choices, which include dark green, rich chocolate tones, deep blue, golden amber, light maple, and even a deep red.

I love bringing versatile, innovative products to your attention, especially when they further the cause of sustainability.  I’ve given you some interesting applications as food for thought.  But its uses are limited only by your imagination.  Now it’s up to you to get creative!  Let me know what you create and I’ll share your story with our readers in future blogs.