Yacht Hillsboro

Introduction

When the owners of Yacht Hillsboro were ready to set sail with a new floor to replace the aged marble on its main deck, they found that Laminam by Crossville offered an ideal creative solution—the ability to fulfill the unique performance requirements of an ocean-going vessel while also providing elegance fitting of the 98’ yacht.

The  Story

Yacht Hillsboro—based out of Hillsboro Beach, Florida—is a luxury ship that has traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean and has also made several cruises in the Mediterranean. For the renovation of the ship’s interior, the owners contacted the team with Big Apple Marble & Tile Restoration. Big Apple Marble & Tile reached out to D&B Tile Distributors to identify the best material for the project. Rather than recommending new marble slabs, the team determined that Crossville Porcelain Tile Panels by Laminam would be the best option to replace the aged marble that was already in place.

With its ability to skin a variety of surfaces, Laminam by Crossville offers many unique benefits. Only 5.6 mm thick, it is relatively lightweight compared to many materials—such as stone slabs—yet extraordinarily hardwearing and durable. Also, its large size, 1m x 3m, means fewer grout joints. Laminam by Crossville can be used not only on floors but on interior and exterior walls as well. It can also be installed over a variety of substrates, including, in many cases, existing tile. In addition, Laminam by Crossville requires a great deal less maintenance than marble.

Removing the old marble on the deck that was adhered with epoxy proved difficult, but, once that task was complete, the installers found that sailing was smooth. Due to the nature of the jobsite, the team made some cuts to the Laminam in their shop and finished the remaining ones on the ship. Because the installation was within a seafaring vessel, special membranes were applied beneath the tile, and a silicone base was used, rather than grout, for all joints.

Laminam I Naturali in the Calacatta Oro Venato, featuring a rich, beautiful look akin to calacatta marble, was selected for Yacht Hillsboro. The 5.6mm thickness of the panels is durable for use on floors yet is still had a very lean profile that’s optimal for a seafaring vessel. The exceptional material enabled the installation team to fashion a book-matched application, creating a continuous flow in the design throughout the vessel.