Ep 142 How Island Stone Textures Shift The Energy Of Your Backyard Oasis

In this episode Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast Mike and Trey Farley welcome guests Feras Irikat (VP of Brand and Design) and David Futula (Director of Technical Services) from Island Stone, discussing how tile choices shape outdoor living spaces and how to specify products for pools. David explains his role co-authoring the TCNA P602 pool tile installation standard and outlines key performance factors for submerged/exterior use such as freeze/thaw, thermal shock, breaking strength, chemical resistance, and stone-specific issues like rust. Firas describes Island Stone’s origin in Bali creating mesh-mounted pebble sheets, ongoing innovation in dimensional/fractal patterns, and environmentally conscious pebble sourcing. They cover how homeowners should balance emotional goals with functional requirements, the importance of mockups and grout/sealer choices, details on Sukabumi stone behavior and sealing, mesh-backed glass manufacturing differences, V-cap trims, and saltwater pool compatibility.   Discover more and connect: https://islandstone.com/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:12 Meet Island Stone Experts 02:36 Pool Tile Standards 04:47 Firas Tile Journey 06:27 Dave Trade Background 08:38 Indoor Outdoor Design Shift 10:35 Biophilic Home Healing 12:32 Island Stone Origin Story 20:28 Ethical Pebble Sourcing 22:45 Designing for Feeling 25:37 Choosing Tile Basics 30:25 Pool Suitability Testing 36:33 Sukabumi Stone Deep Dive 43:10 Natural Stone Variation 44:05 Patina and Biophilic Color 46:34 Slip Resistance and Formats 49:04 Sealants Grout and Mockups 51:12 Fractal Design Philosophy 55:10 Water Walls and Spec Limits 59:47 Mesh Backed Glass Explained 01:04:14 V Cap Trim and Salt Systems 01:07:58 Ceramic Kits and Coverings 01:11:54 Designing for Client Feelings 01:14:07 Wrap Up and Contact Info 01:16:47 Favorites Travel and Closing