For a beautiful and long-lasting tile installation, you need to ensure that every facet of the job is completed properly according to tile industry standards and best practices. The key element here is the foundation of the installation, and that's where underlayment for tile solves a multitude of problems.
Tiling over a water problem will not make the problem disappear. Rather, you need to find the source of the water leak before installing any floor surface, including tile.
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Perhaps tiling an elevator isn't at the top of the average homeowner's list of tile installation questions, but it is one that matters to owners, architects, designers, and tile contractors involved in multi-story buildings - including residential ones - with elevators.
In this article, we specifically address a question about using tile for an elevator floor, sharing with you how Mark Heinlein CTI #1112, and Robb Roderick CTI #727 responded in their role as National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Technical Trainers.
Does the word flat have the same meaning as the word level when it comes to floors and, more importantly, tile installation? If we look in various dictionaries, flat and level can have almost the same definition, which can be confusing.
Happy New Year! Are you ready to make tile installation resolutions for 2026?
If you're already in the know, consider these resolutions a refresher. And, if you're new to the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation and the Certified Tile Installer Program, here's your introduction to a bold, new standards-based, methodical approach to installing ceramic tile.
What goes into evaluating a finished tile installation?
At times, this can be the most frustrating part of the project - for both the installer and the homeowner or project owner. Why? Due to finished tile expectations, naturally occurring variations, and other unexpected situations that fall within industry standards.
Let's talk about floor prep. How seriously do you take it?
Realize that the success or failure of most tile projects is largely determined by the amount of floor preparation provided and the attention to detail. When you or anyone else cuts corners to save time and or money on a job, the result is almost always failure.
To make my point, here are specific examples highlighting seven perils of improper floor prep. You may have encountered others that we can add to the list.
Here we have a pyrite wall failure. What do you think it teaches about proper tile installation?
On this blog, you read about best practices for quality tile installations and how Certified Tile Installers (CTIs) go about installing tile. You've also heard them refer to having their work taken apart and inspected as part of the CTI hands-on test.
That same approach is how Mark Heinlein CTI #1112, and Robb Roderick CTI #727 troubleshoot tile installation issues in their role as National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Technical Trainers. In this article, they respond to a failed installation of pyrite tile on a wall.
How often are you including tile edge protection in your tile assembly specifications? Although not required for all installations, edge protection absolutely provides better results.
Ultimately, if you're serious about delivering only high-quality installations of ceramic, porcelain, and stone tile, you must have the hand-skills to put the entire tile assembly into place along with the knowledge of what products are available to finish the project successfully.
Thinking about protecting tile edges is a perfect example.
