If you spend enough time on tile-related social media, you will eventually come across rants about ceramic tile quality and some version of, "this tile is junk."
If you're considering how to install natural stone floor tile, be aware that there's a significant difference between natural stone and ceramic tile, especially when it's over wood framing.
Unfortunately, many consumers, builders, and even some tile installers share the mistaken idea that natural stone tile products may be installed over a wood-framed floor in the same way as ceramic and porcelain tile. This is completely untrue and will many times lead to a very costly replacement.
Why? Because tiles made from natural stone do not have the same strength as ceramic tiles, and they require a floor system that is twice as stiff as what is required for ceramic floor tile.
Let's explore in more detail.
I certainly hope you don't ignore grout manufacturer directions, which just about guarantees that your tile installation will fail. In fact, that's true for just about all the products tile installers use. For the sake of this article, though, I'll focus on grout and more specifically High-Performance Cement Grouts.
Here's why you need to take the grout manufacturer's directions seriously.
You've been in the tile trade long enough to know that two installers can look at the same finished floor and walk away with completely different opinions about its quality. One sees acceptable workmanship. The other spots three problems before crossing the threshold. This disagreement isn't about stubbornness—it reflects a real challenge in our industry: objectively assessing tile installation skills in field conditions is genuinely difficult.
CTEF remembers Dave Gobis, a former executive director whose commitment to education, standards, and shared knowledge helped shape the organization and the tile industry.
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Have you wondered what goes into specifying ceramic tile, stone and glass for kitchen and bath installations - especially if you want those installations to be successful? That's what Scott Carothers focused on in a presentation for NKBA, using stunning installation examples.
Here's a summary with highlights and the actual presentation included at the end of the article.
The June 2026 CTEF Online Auction is over, and we can't thank you enough for being involved and helping CTEF raise $16,004.00!
These funds are critical to supporting the invaluable work CTEF does through its tile installation certification and continuing education programs.
Layout is a big deal in a tile installation. Have you tried snapping a chalk line to ensure that your tile layout is successful?
Would you agree that mortars and grouts matter to a successful tile installation project? And, that you need them to be properly mixed?
