Tile Brings New Life to Rebuilt Limelight Condo Building
Limelight Hospitality rebuilt one of its residence buildings in ski town Ketchum, Idaho, adding safety and design improvements after the structure was destroyed by fire. The modern design includes stunning new tile that elevates the aesthetics and function of the building’s facade and the 26 condominiums’ interior spaces. Through a long-standing relationship with the project’s General Contractor, Conrad Brothers Construction, Ben Rivkin, Owner of River Building Group (RBG) was awarded the tile work. Rivkin credits his business success to his team of highly talented craftsmen, hired from as far away as California to join RBG. For the Limelight rebuild, RBG installed tile on the building exterior, in bathrooms for 20 units, and one ultra high-end kitchen.
Tackling Exterior Tile in Harsh Winter Conditions
Safety was top priority, and fire resistance guided many material decisions. Each of the 12 new condo entryways was clad in massive gauged porcelain panels (GPP)—specifically Neolith Sintered Stone 60”x120” at 6mm thickness. Facing RBG’s largest GPP installation to date and winter conditions, Rivkin turned to Marc Dollahite of TEC Specialty Products for technical advice. Dollahite recommended TEC® TotalFlex® XMS Tile Adhesive, an innovative ready-to-use tile adhesive designed for tile’s most challenging wall applications such as exteriors, submerged applications, and even clear glass.
RBG first prepped the building entryways with TEC® HydraFlex™ Waterproofing Crack Isolation Membrane to ensure protection from moisture and cracks caused by Ketchum’s climate. With temperatures below the 50ºF minimum needed to cure traditional cement mortars, Rivkin was eager to try TotalFlex XMS which uniquely cures from 40ºF to 95ºF and sets in just 12 hours—giving RBG confidence that the panels would set properly in the cold. TEC Installation Systems also provides a warranty on exterior applications, an assurance few competitors offer.
Installation Efficiency, Performance, Reliability
TotalFlex XMS proved to be a game-changer for RBG. As a ready-to-use adhesive, it eliminated the need for mixing with water, saving labor time in the cold conditions. Rivkin’s team appreciated the adhesive’s unique advantage of only needing to be applied to one surface—tile or substrate— effectively cutting troweling time in half. Additionally, the product’s strong grab eliminated the need to prime the mesh-backed GPP.
Rivkin praised the product’s excellent grab and generous 60-minute open time, which allowed more time for adjustments: “We troweled the TotalFlex XMS onto each of the 44 panels and placed them on the building without incident.” TotalFlex XMS’s non-sag and non-slump properties prevented movement or cracking caused by air pockets. Just 12 hours after the GPPs were installed, the Limelight’s exterior was grout-ready.
Tile Makes a Statement for Interior Spaces
Inside the condos, RBG installed tile in 20 bathrooms and one standout kitchen. Wet areas needing waterproofing and crack iso protection were prepped with HydraFlex Membrane. For bathroom floors and walls, they chose TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus Polymer Modified Mortar, prized for its versatility to install just about any size tile. Its smooth troweling, minimal need for back-buttering, excellent non-sag/slump properties, and extended open time and pot life helped the installers set the 12”x24” floor tiles and various size subway wall tiles. Ultimate 6 Plus also allowed grouting in just six hours—ideal for the tight project timeline.
The RBG team became one of the first contractors to use TEC® Pure-Color™ Grout, an innovative unsanded grout engineered to provide ultra-strong joints from 1/16” to ¼” for a wide range of tile types – ideal for even the most delicate tiles. Delivering lasting color uniformity throughout the joint, Pure-Color Grout is fast-setting, silica-free, and highly resistant to stains and shrinkage. This durable grout also stands up to scrubbing, especially important for tile enduring wet conditions. RBG installers appreciated that the grout was user-friendly, even when they had to remove cured grout after several owners made late-stage changes.
During the rebuild one condo went up for sale, and Conrad’s Limelight project manager quickly purchased it. The new owner enlisted RBG to install all tile in the unit, including showstopping kitchen porcelain slabs. The stunning tile was Constantino Dekton Khalo porcelain inspired by Patagonia granite, used for decorating the kitchen backsplash, countertop sink and nearby fireplace surround. RBG meticulously installed these 710mm x 710mm and 3200mm x 1440mm, 20mm-thick, porcelain showpieces using Ultimate 6 Plus Mortar and 1/16” Pure-Color grout joints. As the finishing step for all RBG’s Limelight tile installations, TEC AccuColor 100® 100% Silicone Sealant was applied to all expansion joints and transition locations, ensuring long-term protection.
Conclusion
From fire recovery to luxury transformation, Limelight’s rebuilt condominium building showcases what is possible when craftsmanship meets innovation. With smart product selection and expert execution, RBG delivered efficiency, durability, and beauty to the tile installations inside and outside the new Limelight residences. With support from TEC Specialty people and products, RBG helped return the Limelight condos to the ski town’s thriving hospitality landscape.
