CTEF Blog - About Tile Education and Installer Certification

As you might imagine, we love celebrating milestones especially when they reflect hard work and appreciation for the importance of installing tile correctly the first time, adhering to tile installation standards and methods, and generally making Qualified Labor meaningful.

Here's a perfect example: Alex Smith who, after not completing the hands-on portion of the Certified Tile Installer program test in 2015, returned, passed and became CTI #1500. That's a milestone from many perspectives.

We caught up with Alex to learn more about him and his love of tile installation.

If you're serious about installing tile as a profession, you'll become a Certified Tile Installer. That's according to Bill Baptista CTI #834, who feels strongly about certification as a differentiator.

Bill is next in the CTEF Blog series about Qualified Labor based on an article in TileLetter.com titled Bill Baptista: “Don't Be Left Behind; Get Certified”

When it comes to combining tile with a tiny home, you need a solution that is beautiful, functional, and makes the space feel as big as possible. Rita Carson Guest of Carson Guest Interior Design took her inspiration for the Coverings Installation Design Showcase (IDS) tiny home from the Crossville Tile she chose, and which the expert installers from J&R Tile brought to life in the CG Villa of Coverings 2018.  

>> J&R Tile Installs Gauged Porcelain Tile in Coverings 2018 Tiny House

We caught up with Rita to learn more about the design side of this project.

What makes the Coverings Installation Design Showcase (IDS) stand out is how it pairs installation expertise with design brilliance. Especially when it comes to combining tile with a tiny house which needs to not only function, but also bring to life a specific design concept. 

When it comes to the Luxe Cottage of Coverings 2018, Brittney Ferren from The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry conceived the design. She collaborated with Visalia Ceramic Tile for the installation.

>> Visalia Ceramic Tile Installs Luxe Cottage at Coverings18

We caught up with Brittney to learn more about the design side of this project.

Another Five Star Contractor company returned to the Installation Design Showcase at Coverings 2018: Visalia Ceramic Tile, Inc. The company collaborated with Brittney Ferren of The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry to complete the Luxe Cottage using tile products from Ceramics of Italy.

We caught up with Sam Bruce to get the low down on the 2018 installation.

Did you have a chance to witness the first ever CTI Challenge? It took place during Coverings 2018 in the Installation Experience space, pitting two intensely passionate Certified Tile Installer teams to complete an ambitious installation over three days. The installation had to meet tile industry standards and guidelines.  

Here's a recap.

The Coverings 2018 tiny house version of the Installation Design Showcase featured a new installation team from DW Sanders Tile & Stone Contracting which collaborated with Jeffrey Bruce Baker Designs on the Smart Modern Living tiny house.

Owner Woody Sanders is not only himself a Certified Tile Installer (#1295) and his company an NTCA Five Star Contractor, but he is also a CTEF Regional Evaluator.

We caught up with Woody to learn more about his experience participating in the Installation Design Showcase.

The tiny house version of the Installation Design Showcase returned to Coverings 2018 and so did J&R Tile which focused on installing gauged porcelain tile panels in addition to glass tile.

If you missed their 2017 installation, you can learn more about it in J&R Tile's Erin Albrecht Talks Tile in a Tiny House.

We caught up again with Eric Albrecht to get the low down on the 2018 installation which the J&R Tile team completed in association with Rita Carson Guest of Carson Guest Interior Design.

If you're already committed to delivering the best quality and customer service, how can you strengthen your reputation? In the case of Brekhus Tile & Stone, the solution was simple: ensure that as many installer employees and subcontractors as possible become Certified Tile Installers, and apply to the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) to become a part of the Five Star Contractor program.

According to Steve Brace CTI #1152, becoming a Certified Tile Installer has delivered value not just to his customers, but also to his business.

Steve is next in the CTEF Blog series about Qualified Labor based on an article in TileLetter.com titled "Certification translates directly to increased business, fees and knowledge about details of the trade."