Author: Jonathan

Seagulls Reuse Community Project

It was all hands on deck when Seagulls Reuse (which amongst other things, delivers community arts projects) got more than 300 residents involved to work on a massive mosaic in west Leeds that represents the local area. The 12ft mural, which features the words ‘Armley’, along with colourful hearts and local organisations’ emblems, was unveiled at a special event. It was attended by Laticrete’s James Broadhead and other invited guests, including local councillors and the MP for Leeds West, Rachel Reeves, who scrambled up scaffolding for the occasion.

The artwork has been placed on the gable end of the St George’s Crypt charity shop, which helps the homeless, the vulnerable, and people suffering from addiction, in Town Street, Armley. The mosaic took months to complete, after going out to community consultation and Seagulls then drawing up the vibrant design. Cat Hyde, Project Manager at Seagulls Reuse, said: “The area suffers from a lot of anti-social behaviour and negative press and this was about creating something colourful and creative that people can be involved with to bring a sense of pride to the area. It was about community cohesion and bringing the people together.” Laticrete 254 Platinum was used in the creation of the mosaic. This is a patented, versatile, polymer-fortified adhesive designed specifically for the installation of adhered masonry veneer, stone, and thin brick.

Laticrete 254 Platinum, formulated to be mixed just with water, has a long open time with unsurpassed adhesion and workability. It is excellent for interior, exterior, and submerged applications, as well as providing superior bond to exterior glue plywood (interior only) and concrete. It is billed as the ultimate thin-set for masonry veneer. “In the past we had discussions about the best adhesive to use,” said Hyde. “Laticrete 254 Platinum seemed to be the best choice, especially for durability. This mural won’t be going anywhere.” 

The design was created during community workshops involving residents of all ages, from elderly people to pupils from four local schools. According to figures from the End Child Poverty coalition, 38.4% of children in Armley are in low-income families and 2,400 youngsters are in child poverty. Giving her verdict on the mosaic, Hyde said: “I think it’s brilliant. We’ve had so much positive feedback – it’s been brilliant!” “We couldn’t have done it without Laticrete’s support,” she added.

Hyde says that there are plans in the pipeline for more mosaic schemes, including completing the second half of a rainbow mural at Leeds Market, as well as extending the project in Armley, as “it’s been so well-received.” There is no doubt that Laticrete will be involved in these ventures. Steve Ball, Commercial Director at Palace Chemicals / Laticrete UK, said: “We are delighted to have been involved with Seagulls in such a community-focused project that has helped all walks of life to come together to brighten up the local area and what’s even better, is that it will hopefully be there for generations to come.”

Click here to find out more about Laticrete 254 Platinum.

Diamonds Are A Grouts Best Friend

What would you expect to find on the world’s most expensive roulette table? Millions of dollars worth of diamonds, maybe? But Spectralock Pro Premium grout? 

In fact, the maintenance-free, easy-to-use, hard-wearing epoxy grout, along with some $4.5 million worth of diamonds, were the main focus in creating the amazing-looking roulette table that formed the centrepiece of a multi-million-dollar birthday cake made by one of the world’s most expensive designers. Mosaic artist David Arnott was approached by Debbie Wingham, who has previously created the world’s most expensive black diamond dress worth £3.5 million, the world’s most expensive abaya (a cloak worn in the Muslim world), costing £11.7 million, and the world’s most expensive cake, worth £48.5 million: a diamond-encrusted cake for an Arabian client.

This time, Debbie enlisted the skills of Manchester-based Arnott to come up with a piece that combined edible art, mosaics, and diamonds for a client’s son’s 35th birthday. The cake featured a look-alike of the son, edible roulette chips, a roulette wheel and a Gucci man bag stuffed with gold money. Arnott also created the table itself; a roulette wheel and a million dollar chip. The flawless gems included pink and black diamonds; while 35,000 24-carat gold tiles were used and bonded together using diamond dust mixed in with Spectralock Pro Premium. The piece was unveiled at an intimate family party at the client’s home. Using Laticrete products throughout the project, Arnott said: “Spectralock Pro Premium is definitely the only grout on the market capable of adding diamond dust, giving a rich shine to the piece.”

“After seeing my collaboration with Debbie Wingham on the world’s most expensive roulette table, I have had many people asking me where I get my materials from. I use Laticrete and Palace Chemicals for my adhesives and grouts. There’s a reason behind this: I only use the best of the best materials on any mosaic I create for stability. If anyone has any projects for mosaic or tiling coming up I would definitely recommend you use their materials. It’s top quality.” “I was honoured to be part of this project and to work with such expensive materials,” added Arnott. “It is very unique adding diamonds in to mosaics and being able to work on projects without many restrictions, although there is no room for error. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Available in 52 colours, Spectralock Pro Premium is a three-component system made up of a resin, hardener, and coloured sand. The three-component system means that the installer is always in control of the mixing and can decide how thick the grout is applied. It is also very easy to clean off of the face of the tiles, unlike other epoxy grouts on the market. Spectralock Pro Premium is designed for use on ceramic tile, glass tile, and stone applications, both residential and commercial. It can be used both interior and exterior on floors and walls. Spectralock Pro Premium is perfect for swimming pools, fountains and other wet area applications and provides a maintenance free solution to a grouting requirement. 

Steve Ball, Commercial Director at Laticrete UK, said: “What a coup for David Arnott and what an honour for the Laticrete brand. To be used in this expensive creation is a multi million-dollar endorsement for us and we thank David for being as supportive of the brand as we are of him. A fantastic piece of work to be proud of and we very much look forward to the next big project with David.”

Click here to learn more about Spectralock Pro

Laticrete Keeps The Community Beating

An Industry-renowned mosaic artist has chosen Laticrete UK’s ‘solid-as-they-come’ products to make stunning new artwork commemorating the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

UK’s ‘solid-as-they-come’ products to make stunning new artwork commemorating the 70th anniversary of the NHS. Carrie Reichardt’s unique mosaic-based design was unveiled at its new home at the Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield Hospitals in London on 19th November 2018 as part of the NHS70: Thanks for Everything exhibition. Reichardt, a self-titled ‘craftivist’ of international acclaim, who makes ceramic tapestry, has incorporated hearts made by patients, families, and staff into one of the pieces. Queen of Hearts Princess Diana, a frequent visitor to the Royal Brompton, also features in the work. The hearts used, were all made from clay with help from community arts teacher and Carrie’s friend Linda Griffiths during workshops in the hospitals. Reichardt, who gets her tiles sent from Portugal, refired them and included them in the central piece. She used Laticrete’s Spectralock Pro Premium Grout and Latapoxy 300 Adhesive on the artwork. Latapoxy 300 Adhesive is a chemical-resistant epoxy adhesive that will bond to most sound and clean surfaces. It spreads easily, and cleans with water while fresh. 

Spectralock Pro Premium Grout is a patented, high performance, epoxy grout that offers excellent colour uniformity, durability, stain protection, and beautiful full grout joints, in an easy-to-use, non-sag, formula. Praising Laticrete, Reichardt, who lives in a mosaic-covered house in Chiswick, London, said: “I used them because I had to guarantee it would last and that stuff is solid-as-it-comes resin. As it will be going outdoors in a hospital courtyard, I used what I knew to be the best quality product.” It took Reichardt around a month to complete the three panels, which incorporated vast amounts of research from the hospital archives.

She added: “I was extremely proud and honoured to be able to make a piece. I think it’s really important – now more than ever that we are appreciative of the NHS because we could well lose it,” says Reichardt. “A lot of the imagery I have used shows people protesting over the years. I wanted to show we are thankful: the NHS is not a given, we’ve had to fight for it.” Paying tribute to Laticrete for its support and sponsorship, Reichardt said: “They have been fantastic. They are huge supporters of everything I have done. I met Steve Ball, Laticrete UK’s Commercial Director, at The British Association of Modern Mosaic conference in September. Laticrete has always been hugely supportive of creative mosaic artists. Thanks again to Laticrete for always helping and sponsoring me, and making sure that my work lasts.” 

Karen Janody, Curator at RB&H Arts, the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust’s dedicated arts team, said: “Carrie’s unique aesthetics and her passion for social heritage will make ‘NHS70: Thanks for Everything’ a perpetual emblem to the care provided by our staff – past, present and future – who are dedicated to caring for their patients. It will be a thought-provoking artwork that patients, visitors and staff can appreciate time and again, still discovering new layers of history.” Steve Ball said: “Just like our NHS, Laticrete’s adhesive and grouts are strong, resilient, and tough, so it is quite fitting that Carrie chose Laticrete to complete such a stunning piece for this prestigious exhibition.”

Click here to learn more about Spectralock Pro.