06/30/2026
When Hurricane Ian struck southwest Florida in late 2022, the widespread damage generated by relentless winds, rainfall, and flash flooding was nearly impossible to avoid. Even the mansion locally awarded “House of the Year” in Cape Coral, Florida was no exception. Featuring a rooftop balcony, second-floor terrace, and a raised pool overlooking the Gulf coastline, the luxury home affords a breathtaking view, but at the cost of being vulnerable to the likes of this intense tropical cyclone. In the aftermath of the storm, severe flooding and structural damage was discovered on the exterior of the property, necessitating extensive repair work. It was clear that a multitude of tile and stone solutions would be needed to not only restore the property to its award-winning status, but to more importantly future-proof it in a landscape that demands peace of mind.
Interior FX LLC, led by contractor Andrew Schaw, were brought in to tackle the job. With a strong reputation in Southwest Florida, the team specializes in luxury large format tile and stone installations and remodeling. Although well accustomed to the challenges presented by Florida’s weather conditions and high moisture, this project required extensive planning. Intricate stone and tilework across multiple floors on a property exposed to the coastal winds and rains inherently called for a gamut of installation solutions that can offer the highest performance when used in combination with one another. The first challenge for Interior FX was evaluating every problem they were up against and identifying a single comprehensive system that would address them all.
It was immediately clear that waterproofing and durability would be the highest priorities for this restoration. The retaining wall spanning the length of the backyard was crumbling and falling apart, massive amounts of water was evident beneath the tile, and the entirety of the terrace was saturated and collapsing. System integrity and moisture mitigation were the essential priorities for Interior FX, but they had the added goal of achieving zero efflorescence staining, an eyesore which can be a precursor for long-term damage. A result of moisture traveling through soil, mortar, or substrates to form mineral crystallization, efflorescence presented a concern amplified by the history of the property and its direct coastal exposure.
Addressing so many challenges in one installation meant that only a comprehensive top-to-bottom system could be relied upon. Formulating an approach tailor-made for the job with their long-term Sika® representative John McIntyre, Schaw and his crew hand-picked multiple solutions to account for everything from the preparation work to stonework installation. The first steps were to address raising the foundational slab using foam injections and the installation of 18” bolts for added integrity. Additionally, Carl Leonard of Cutting Edge Tile, based in New Jersey, was called upon to visit the site and provide his expertise. His knowledge proved invaluable during the first stage of the installation as the plan for the complicated, heavy stonework was formulated.
Following the initial preparation work and planning, the first product was applied to perfect the foundation: SikaTile®-920 Underlay C, a polymer modified Portland cement mortar bed underlayment that trowelled to a smooth and uniform finish. To then achieve positive waterproofing, SikaTile®-100 Moisture Guard was applied. As a fast-drying elastomeric waterproofing and crack isolation membrane, it provides a thin, continuous barrier to protect adjacent rooms and floors below from water damage, making it the perfect match for this multi-story exterior.
With a solid foundational substrate and waterproofing secured, the installation of 3’ by 3’ limestones and various tilework was the next challenge at hand. A combination of three grouts and mortars were chosen because of their high-performance characteristics and their capacity to work as a system alongside the mortar bed and waterproofing membrane. SikaTile®-815 Secure Grout, a rapid-setting polymer modified, dustless and efflorescence-free grout, and SikaTile®-825 Epoxy Grout, a premium epoxy grout and mortar with colored quarts, were both selected for their moisture-sensitivity, durability, and stain-resistance attributes. SikaTile®-475 LHT Premium Set was incorporated to accommodate the heavy limestones. As a premium-grade, single-component mortar, it’s noteworthy for its high flexibility, longer working time, and superior transfer properties.
In the face of the rigorous elements of the project, the value of a strong systems approach was made abundantly clear. Any installation can prove to be excessively challenging or fail altogether if just one weak link is utilized or any communication is hindered. The Sika® Secure System is an example of how an installation process can be streamlined when a combination of products are available from one source, are stringently tested to performance in tandem, and are supported under a single warranty.
For Interior FX, trusting the performance and user-friendliness of each product made a tangible difference each day across the months long project. Moreover, the ease of collaboration between them and just one manufacturer representative cleared away many potential hurdles on the path to completing the job. The entire restoration and installation process was finished in June of 2023, featuring 3500 sq. ft. of aesthetically pleasing tile and stone that once again distinguished this Cape Coral home among its peers. The customer and contractor alike have reported flawless results since that time, with all major concerns proven to have been addressed. Moisture control has held up despite the unforgiving weather of the marshlands, and there have been zero signs of efflorescence or salt-related issues anywhere on the property. After overcoming the devastation of Hurricane Ian, the customer has a property that once again stands to win “House of the Year”.