CTEF Blog - About Tile Education and Installer Certification

Imagine being a member of the CFI (Certified Flooring Installers) and taking the CTI (Certified Tile Installer program). Talk about a ground-breaking event!

Flooring and tile are distinct given unique installation requirements for floors and walls. That said, many flooring installers must be proficient in the full range of product options. If they're going to be certified for flooring, they may also want to become Certified Tile Installers.

Thanks to Roland Thompson from Thompson Flooring Installers and Leslie Del Pozo from QEP, that possibility became a reality in this first-ever CFI CTI hands-on test event. It took place in Frederick, Maryland. 

Jason Montgomery was the Evaluator for this CTI hands-on test.

Have you considered that how you manage your tile tools affects how you manage your time? It's a similar thought process to how you go about cutting tile.

Those who are Qualified Labor constantly think about how to manage time. After all, time is money. How well you make use of that time affects how long it takes you to complete tile installations, the quality of your work, and how many client projects you can commit to.

This is true with how you manage your tools. 

When you cut tile for an installation project, do you spend much time thinking about how you manage time?

If you're a professional, chances are that you constantly think about how to manage your time - aka time management. After all, your time is money.

How well you use that time affects how long it takes you to complete tile installations, the quality of your work, and how many client projects you can commit to.

This is true even when you cut tile.

Are You Inspired by Tile?

We are and that's why we're excited to join in on the National Tile Day celebrations by sharing with you highlights from current tile trends.

Have you looked at the photos in this article and noticed a real problem?  They all demonstrate low grout joints which do not meet the tile industry standards.  To meet these standards, the grout must adequately fill the space which obviously these examples do not. 

And yet, when the person who took these photos shared them with his builder on the job site, the builder did not believe that any standards existed or that there were any organizations that develop them.

Have you found yourself in a similar situation?

If yes, here's how to deal with low grout joints and understand tile installation standards.

Happy New Year! Are you ready to make tile installation resolutions for 2024?

If you're already in the know, think of these resolutions as a refresher. And, if you're new to the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation and the Certified Tile Installer Program, then consider this your introduction to a bold, new standards-based, methodical approach to installing ceramic tile.

Are you ready to take the CTI Hands-on Test at TISE24? If yes, you are in for a treat thanks to TEC!

Today, November 28th is #GivingTuesday. Will you support CTEF? 

We're celebrating tile installation training, education, and certification, honoring all those who make CTEF's work possible, and counting on your support for the new CTEF Egg Harbor City, NJ training facility!

Will you participate? Will you join this Global Generosity movement with us to raise funds and awareness for tile installation certification and education? 

Do You Know About the '100 in 100'?

It's a wonderful program that the Floor Covering Education Foundation recently announced. If you're new to tile installation, you can benefit from it.

You'll find details below, including CTEF training programs that are eligible.