Blogspot Press Release

Lemont, IL

Known as the nationwide company to experience normalcy, Resicom strives

ways to bring clarity and options for solutions to facility maintenance

challenges.

We are pleased to announce that Executive VP Michael Fairclough has again

been published in Retail Facility Business. His article “Voc”abulary discusses

how volatile organic compounds affect the environment, and what that

means for the painting industry. The abundance of chemical compounds in

our atmosphere and oceans, mixing through the soil has created an

unsustainable cycle. In response, regulations to reduce the amount of VOC

allowed in a given gallon of paint have been enacted. A can of paint from

1989 is much different in application and aesthetic from one purchased

today, and facility maintenance providers must plan accordingly.

With a background in chemistry coupled with a project specific approach to

solutions, Michael has written and implemented solutions for hundreds of

projects- ranging from historical preservations to the latest retail concepts.

As Executive VP, Michael focuses on research and development and

information systems to create and audit the unique processes which drive

Resicom’s business structure. Michael is equally insightful in researching

and implementing new technology systems that promote our ability to

leverage innovative programs and communication tools into knowledge for

our clients.

Tile installations date back to 2500 BC – yes, BC. People discovered that if you take natural clay and mix with minerals, heat them to extreme temperatures then allow them to cool, you end up with the world’s first honey-do task – maybe. Tile has proven to be the most versatile decorative finish that humans have engineered, in fact silica tile is used to protect the space shuttle as it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere. This monograph will offer an abridged but accurate description of a two tile types that are used in retail environments, ceramic and porcelain.

Though the terms are often used interchangeably, they are in fact different. To add to this confusion, Ceramic is also the term used to define the entire set of inorganic materials prepared by heating and cooling, which includes ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles. For sake of clarity, when the term ceramic is used to reference the tile type (subset), it will not be underlined.

Constituents of Ceramic & and Porcelain tile types-

Much like concrete, tiles are a mixture of materials found in the Earth’s crust.

Clay + sand + feldspar + minerals + water comprise the bulk of the mixture for both ceramic and porcelain.

Differences between Porcelain tile and Ceramic tiles-

Porcelain tile contains a higher ratio of feldspar and lower ratio of clay than ceramic. Feldspar (pictured) is a silicate mineral which is both hard and can withstand high temperatures. Another difference between ceramic and porcelain are the pressures used to prepare them. Porcelain tile types are made using higher pressures – resulting in a harder surface. As a general rule, porcelain tiles are harder than ceramic. In addition, the porosity of the porcelain tile is less, providing better stain resistance than ceramics. Porcelain tiles are ideal for exterior applications.

To glaze or not to glaze-

Both tile types come in glazed and unglazed finishes. Glazing is an added step in the manufacturing process which involves the coating of the unbaked tile with a glass like film. To do this, extreme temperatures are used, and the glaze penetrates into the bulk of the unbaked tile (bisque) – sealing and encapsulating the tile, rendering it relatively impervious. The higher the luster of a tile, the greater the stain resistance. Although a performance benefit, glazed tile can be an end use disadvantage as it is slippery and will highlight an uneven floor or wall surface.

Mortar and grout-

Mortar is the term used to describe the cementitious compound in which the tiles are set. Once the tiles are set in the mortar, the mortar cures and mechanically locks the tiles in place. The width between each tile is the grout line. In America, these are spaced between 1/16” – 3/4”. Grout selection is made based on the desired width, as well as environment. For small widths (less than 1/8”), a non sanded grout should be used. Between 1/8” – 1/4”, a finely sanded grout works best and coarser grouts for widths greater that 1/4”. In harsh environments, epoxy resins can be added to the grout to provide sealed and chemically resistant spacing.

September 2009

Lemont, IL

Resicom representatives will attend a Nominee Reception for the Loyola University Family Business Center on September 8, 2009 in downtown Chicago.

Each year, the Loyola University of Chicago’s Family Business Center recognizes family based businesses that demonstrate successful growth, positive family-business linkage, contributions to both industry and community, and innovative business practices.  Resicom is honored to be recognized as a nominee for the 2009 Business of the Year Award.  

Resicom employees will have the opportunity to meet other nominees and participate in an interactive panel, “Taking Advantage of the Current Economy: What Your Family Business Should be Doing” which focuses on insights to maximize success during demanding economic times. 

CEO John Fairclough started Resicom over a decade ago in the basement of his future in-laws with only a handful of technicians as employees, and has grown the business to where it is today with the help of brother, Michael Fairclough, and brother-in-law, Rick Detres.

August 2009

Lemont, IL

Known as the nationwide maintenance company for retailers, Resicom is always looking to add great people to its team. We are pleased to announce the addition of Marty Durkin to our Solutions Team as part of our national business development.   Durkin will be responsible for expanding our national client base.  

Marty brings proven sales and national account management experience, drawing upon his tenure in the furniture industry, a national film company and most recently as Director of National Sales for a parking lot management company.   

Marty and CEO John Fairclough began a dialogue regarding their prospective businesses several months ago when introduced by a mutual acquaintance.   

“I like the industry,” says Durkin, “Resicom presents a good entrepreneurial opportunity and the right infrastructure is in place.”

Resicom is excited to have attracted such a seasoned and accomplished sales manager, and believes Durkin will be an tremendous difference maker for the company.  

“Marty Durkin is the right guy, in the right position, at the right time,” says Michael Fairclough Executive VP of Information.  

At Resicom, we are committed to delivering world class service. We embrace our role of protecting retail brands through facility maintenance and repair nationwide. Our self performance helps us provide insight and experience that our clients depend on to help solve challenges.

Lemont, IL

July 2009

Resicom takes tremendous pride in both our history and our corporate structure.  From our launch as a small, general maintenance and custom painting endeavor to the dynamic, and tremendously successful company today that provides creative design solution and brand protection through disciplined approaches to project management, we continue to offer service at a level unmatched in the industry.  And while the knowledge that Resicom has earned and enjoys a stellar reputation is certainly its own reward, we are honored to be recognized as a nominee for the 2009 Illinois Family Business of the Year Award.  

Each year, the Loyola University of Chicago’s Family Business Center recognizes family based business that demonstrate successful growth, positive family-business linkage, contributions to both industry and community, and innovative business practices.  Categorized by company size, three winners will be announced at the upcoming Gala to be held in December at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago.  

CEO John Fairclough started Resicom over a decade ago in the basement of his future in-laws with only a handful of technicians as employees.  As the business continued to grow, John brought on his brother, Michael Fairclough, and brother-in-law, Rick Detres, as the executive team to manage the day to day operations and client sales.  Today, Resicom’s 15,000 sq. ft. headquarters is based in Lemont with satellite operations in California.  Although Resicom’s personnel has expanded throughout the years, the family core team remains committed to the strategic vision and development of Resicom. 

Resicom representatives will attend a Nominee Reception for the Loyola University Family Business Center on September 8, 2009 in downtown Chicago.

Each year, the Loyola University of Chicago’s Family Business Center recognizes family based business that demonstrate successful growth, positive family-business linkage, contributions to both industry and community, and innovative business practices.  Resicom is honored to be recognized as a nominee for the 2009 Business of the Year Award.  

Resicom employees will have the opportunity to meet other nominees and participate in an interactive panel, “Taking Advantage of the Current Economy: What Your Family Business Should be Doing” which focuses on insights to maximize success during demanding economic times. 

CEO John Fairclough started Resicom over a decade ago in the basement of his future in-laws with only a handful of technicians as employees, and has grown the business to where it is today with the help of brother, Michael Fairclough, and brother-in-law, Rick Detres.

What you see is what you give
Color differentiates objects from one another and can establish a mood and tempo just like music. Although intangible and not having a specific weight, temperature or size, color can make an object appear heavy or light, warm or cool, large or small. Color only exists when there is a viewer, light source and an object; by removing any one of these factors – color no longer exists.
Turns out, all colors are not on the surface of an object but in your brain! Your brain translates the frequency of the reflected light waves off of an object and instead of telling you a number, it tells you a color.

Hue you callin’ yella’?
The human eye is in effect a spectrometer, but without all the switches. And since we do not have a printer attached to our heads to provide us with the quantitative analysis of the reflected light waves, we must describe color qualitatively – by the use of words alone. In doing so, we will typically start a color description by stating its hue. Hue describes the specific color family like red or blue and is the broadest of the qualitative measurements we use, but least subjective.

Finding value
As we further narrow our description of a color, we use terms like dark or light which describe the overall value of a color. When we see a color, we can render a degree of lightness or darkness based on our experience and memory of that hue on the color wheel. The value of a color provides a much needed qualification, but can be subjective.

Saturation
The third level of qualitative narrowing may be the trickiest. Though you may not have heard the term saturation before, you have probably used it when describing colors. When we say things like “bluish gray” or the infamous “taupe”, we are actually describing a color’s saturation. Simply stated, saturation is the purity of a color and is changed by the addition of any other hue or black and white. Furthermore, the terms tint, tone and shade are used to describe “how” a saturation level was altered.