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TEC Grout meets requirements at The Fashion Mall at Keystone

Words: Dan KamysIndianapolis’ The Fashion Mall at Keystone recently underwent a 150,000-square-foot expansion and renovation. TEC’s Fast Set Ultimate Large Tile Mortar and TEC Power Grout Ultimate Performance Grout were used to install floor tiles rapidly and effectively.

The Fashion Mall at Keystone is an upscale shopping center with anchor stores Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, owned by Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group. In February 2012, the decision was made to renovate and expand the facility to modernize its design, accommodate new store space and build a new food court.

As with most retail facilities, the mall needed to remain open for regular business hours during the construction phase. But this project’s time table was especially short. Installers needed to have tile laid, mortar set and grout applied in just 10 hours. To achieve this, the team turned to TEC Fast Set Ultimate Large Tile Mortar and Power Grout Ultimate Performance Grout for more than 100,000 square feet of tile flooring.

“Fast-setting products were necessary for this project because it is a public space,” says John Santarossa, president of Santarossa Mosaic & Tile Co. Inc., who served as tile contractor and installer. “We laid tile at night, while the mall was closed and needed to complete our work for the mall to reopen the next business day. TEC Fast Set Ultimate Large Tile Mortar and Power Grout Ultimate Performance Grout allowed us to do just that.”

Tile was installed in the mall concourses, food court and restrooms. The concourses feature 12- X 24-inch border tile and 24- X 24-inch fill tile installed over existing flooring material. Large-scale patterns use three colors of tile that are different from the field tile. This contrast adds visual interest to the corridors and makes them feel less confined. The food court features six tile colors and three tile sizes that give the space a contemporary look. A circular band of terrazzo between the food court and corridor separate the spaces, giving each its own feel.

Power Grout Ultimate Performance Grout was used with the Fast Set Ultimate Large Tile Mortar to create a cohesive same-day installation system. The mortar was chosen for its fast-curing formula, specifically for large format tile. In addition, it provides non-sag and non-slump characteristics, contains recycled materials and exceeds ANSI A118.4 and A118.11 shear bond specifications. The grout was chosen for its high stain resistance, fast setting capabilities, color consistency, efflorescence resistance, crack and shrink resistance, and mold and mildew resistance. It also was chosen because it exceeds ANSI A118.7 specifications.

“We were confident in recommending the TEC brand of products for the Fashion Mall at Keystone Crossing,” says Tracey Kessens, architectural specifications manager with Louisville Tile, product distributor. “Their products are a great fit for this type of application, and we know we can always count on great service and support.”

The Fashion Mall at Keystone renovation and addition began in February 2012 and was completed in November 2012. The project team included architect Ratio Architects, installer Santarossa Mosaic & Tile Co. Inc., and distributor Louisville Tile.

The TEC brand is offered by Aurora, Ill.-based H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc., a provider of construction materials and solutions to the commercial, industrial and residential construction industries. For more information, visit www.hbfuller-cp.com.
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