Our Expertise
Hard surface materials pass through a lot of hands: design, specification, selection, repair, restoration, ongoing maintenance, etc. We can provide the sound and unbiased scientific and technical expertise you need regarding new or existing installations.
Stone
We have decades of experience working with marble, limestone, travertine, granite, and all other natural stone, as well as terrazzo and engineered stone on floors, walls, countertops, vanities, showers, and more, both indoors and out. We also have extensive knowledge about the life cycle of stone, from geological formation, quarrying, and slab production to fabrication and installation.
We understand how material and product selection, application methods, substrate requirements, adherence to industry standards, environment, sealers and coatings, and other factors can contribute to the success or failure of an installation. Our expertise encompasses all post-installation concerns as well, such as repair, restoration, stain removal, slip resistance, and more.
Problems with stone may include de-bonding and delamination, tenting, cracking, stuns and crystal fractures, lippage, grout failures, and more. Many stone problems are caused by substrate problems. For example, a low water-to-cement ratio can affect concrete slab quality. Slabs may be subject to moisture problems or soluble salts that cause efflorescence or sub-florescence. Wood substrates must be installed according to industry guidelines in order to avoid deflection problems.
Our inspection procedures are extremely thorough and involve both gathering information and interviewing the client and others. In addition to visual inspection, we are fully equipped to conduct field tests and provide laboratory analysis, as needed.
With our services, industry pros can avoid potential problems, resolve existing problems, and identify the true causes of stone failures. Many restorations and installation contractors, architects, building engineers, maintenance staff, attorneys, insurance companies, and other professionals who deal with stone installation and restoration have benefitted from our expertise both on the job site and in legal cases.
Tile
Our many years of experience includes working with tiles of all sizes, from mosaic to large format, and materials, such as porcelain, ceramic, clay, and more, as well as grout lines, on floors, walls, countertops, vanities, showers, and more, both indoors and out. We also have extensive knowledge about the life cycle of tile, from raw materials and production to distribution and installation.
We understand how material and product selection, application methods, substrate requirements, adherence to industry standards, environment, sealers and coatings, and other factors can contribute to the success or failure of an installation. Our expertise encompasses all post-installation concerns as well, such as repair, restoration, stain removal, slip resistance, and more.
Problems with tile may include de-bonding and delamination, tenting, cracking, stuns and fractures, lippage, grout failures, and more. Many tile problems are caused by substrate problems. For example, a low water-to-cement ratio can affect concrete slab quality. Slabs may be subject to moisture problems or soluble salts that cause efflorescence or sub-florescence. Wood substrates must be installed according to industry guidelines in order to avoid deflection problems.
Our inspection procedures are extremely thorough and involve both gathering information and interviewing the client and others. In addition to visual inspection, we are fully equipped to conduct field tests and provide laboratory analysis, as needed.
With our services, industry pros can avoid potential problems, resolve existing problems, and identify the true causes of tile failures. Many restorations and installation contractors, architects, building engineers, maintenance staff, attorneys, insurance companies, and other professionals who deal with tile installation, cleaning, and repair have benefitted from our expertise both on the job site and in legal cases.
Masonry
Our expertise with masonry includes veneer to solid material, concrete, and the most popular of masonry materials, brick. The mortar that holds masonry in place is also an important component of an installation. We also have extensive knowledge about the life cycle of masonry, from raw materials and production to distribution and installation.
We understand how material and product selection, application methods, adherence to industry standards, environment, sealers and coatings, and other factors can contribute to the success or failure of an installation. Our expertise encompasses all post-installation concerns as well, such as repair, restoration, stain removal, slip resistance, and more.
Problems with masonry may include de-bonding and delamination, bowing and bulging, cracking, seepage, and more.
Our inspection procedures are extremely thorough and involve both gathering information and interviewing the client and others. In addition to visual inspection, we are fully equipped to conduct field tests and provide laboratory analysis, as needed.
With our services, industry pros can avoid potential problems, resolve existing problems, and identify the true causes of tile failures. Many restorations and installation contractors, architects, building engineers, maintenance staff, attorneys, insurance companies, and other professionals who deal with tile installation, cleaning, and repair have benefitted from our expertise both on the job site and in legal cases.
