PRIVATE RESIDENCE, CHICAGO, IL
A midcentury modern residence, in iconic Usonian linear architectural style, was acquired by newly-retired owners for their golden years. Nestled in an oak forest, the Frank Lloyd Wright-protégé design was environmentally sustainable ahead of its time, with gravity drainage into the forest and low, broad eaves shading the interior from hot summer sun. Walkable areas fronting the building had been, over a half century, resurfaced with river rocks, flagstones, gravel and built-up mulch and shrubs. The result was an inconsistent surface of insufficient stability, unsafe and unusable by the homeowners.
PRODUCT SELECTION
The primary objective of this project was to ensure safe access to outdoor space, replacing unstable materials with a singular slip-resistant, trip-free level surface. A second objective was to select a stone color that would visually blend hues of the surface material and the building’s exterior flagstone base, creating the illusion of greater building height. Third, a bright surface fronting the home would reflect much-needed natural light into the home’s interior. Near-white sandstone tile was optimal, but presented challenges. Natural stone is porous. If set on sand, tiles would wick up water and Midwest soil minerals causing permanent staining. An installation technology was required that could respect natural gravity drainage design and prevent wicking. Project contractor Oak Brea Ecologic Home and Landscape specified ROMEX 10-year-warrantied fully bonded permeable setting system to underlie Unilock’s Indian Coast natural stone tiles. These were expertly installed with close consultation, innovative recommendations, and onsite training and certification provided by ROMEX.
PROJECT NEEDS
- Bright-colored, slip-resistant natural sandstone tile to blend visually with exterior flagstone, and reflect natural light.
- Maintain surface gravity drainage, while shielding sandstone tiles from wicking and mineral staining.
- Provide a safe, stable walking surface without introducing a concrete pad.
- Install ant-resistant, weed-resistant highly permeable mortar in 1/8” joints that will remain level with the tile surface and trip-free.
- Create an illusion of greater building height, abutting color-matched tiles against the flagstone exterior and grading the tile surface out to ground level, with no visual obstructions such as raised edges or water-retention constructs.
- Facilitate heavy rainfall runoff into surrounding forest without introducing drainage pipe.
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Materials must withstand extreme Midwest temperatures.
PROJECT SOLUTION
The solution meeting all requirements was ROMEX’s fully bonded, permeable setting system of Trass-Bed permeable bedding mortar, Adhesion Elutriant bond bridge, and ROMPOX Easy permeable jointing mortar. Trass-Bed is polymer modified, and unlike Portland cement, has no lime particles to efflorescence. Elutriant applied to the undersides of the tiles cures them to the Trass Bed adding additional bonding strength and stability. The system allows rapid draining through the jointing mortar and trass bed, allowing natural stone tiles to quickly dry. At the lowest grade, forest-facing edge of the project application, an innovative 13-foot 6”x 6″ block of fully permeable Trass Bed provides unencumbered sub-surface runoff of heavy rainfall into the forest.
PROJECT GALLERY
RSG Permeable Paving System with ROMPOX® ECOFINE Jointing Mortar
Permeable patio and walkway paving for private residence system
Chicago, IL
2022
Oak Brea Ecologic Home & Landscape
Private Homeowner
Residential
