Custom Building Products Goes to the Extreme

MEDFORD, Ore. – The latest home-building-in-a-hurry involved with the ABC-TV series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition got the work done here, in part, with products from Custom® Building Products (CBP).

The project, broadcast in late October, featured the rebuilding of a home for a family that includes two young sons with autism.  The work included the installation of approximately 1,000 ft² of natural stone, ceramic tile, porcelain and glass.

Tile contractor Herbert Meierl of Herbert Meierl Tile in Rogue River, Ore., faced an a 10-hour timeframe for work involving three bathrooms, a laundry room, and a kitchen backsplash. Tom DeNure, a CBP technical sales rep, recommended  a system using ProLIte® Rapid Setting Tile and Stone Mortar, Prism® SureColor® Grout, and Custom’s new Uncoupling Mat Mortar.

“I have worked with Custom products, and with Tom, many years, and knew that Custom was the only choice for this difficult, high-profile project,” Meierl said. “Tom was with us on-site as part of the team for the entire 10 hours, which was critical to our success.”

During the process, described by DeNure as “controlled and well-orchestrated chaos,” the tile team had to work with – and around – at least 18 other teams responsible for doors, cabinetry, windows and other construction elements in the home. Within 90 minutes of laying the floor tile, contractors were able to lay planks and walk on the installation without causing any damage.  

“One of the most critical keys to success in this case was having the right products specified and installed correctly,” said Tom.  “There was absolutely no room for error, and our products performed exactly as they were designed to.”
    
Tiling the shower stalls in both the master and the secondary bath proved a little unorthodox, because shower pans were specified for the floor-to-ceiling stalls, and could not bear the weight of a ladder. Because the installers were using ProLite RS, they were able to remove the pan temporarily, place a ladder in the stall, and tile the shower from the top down, without slippage. Once the tile was down to within arm’s reach, the ladders were removed, the shower pans replaced and the remainder of the tile was installed.

“It was a privilege to be involved in this project, with some of the finest construction professionals in our industry coming together to make a difference for a wonderful family who has spent so much time giving to others.  It’s an experience I will never forget,” DeNure said.

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