CTEF Blog - About Tile Education and Installer Certification

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 his NKBA presentation, using stunning installation examples.

Here's a summary with highlights and the actual presentation included at the end of the article.

Would you agree that mortars and grouts matter to a successful tile installation project? And that you need them to be properly mixed?

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.

Layout is a big deal in a tile installation. Have you tried snapping a chalk line to ensure that your tile layout is successful?

Let's talk about floor prep. How seriously do you take it?

Realize that the success or failure of most tile projects is keyed to the amount of floor prep 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.

If  you think that warped tile isn't acceptable, we're here to help you  understand what is and what isn't acceptable. You see, there are two categories to consider: inherent (actual) warpage and excessive warpage.

Actual warpage is a function of the tile manufacturing process. It's something qualified tile installers and Certified Tile Installers take into consideration.

Excessive warpage may indicate a bigger issue.

Perhaps it seems self-evident that the tile patterns you select need to be balanced when installed. And, yet, simply based on photos readily available, balance and common sense don't always go hand-in-hand.

Especially when your tile choices come in so many more sizes, shapes, patterns, and colors than in the past.  Along with this availability comes creativity with endless possibilities.

Today we will focus on one of these options – the pattern.  Combining these tiles, whether square or rectangular, with an offset pattern creates a unique visual many times not realized in is square or stacked design.

Perhaps tiling an elevator isn't at the top of the average homeowner's list of tile installation questions, however 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 respond in their role as National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Technical Trainers. 

How do you handle tile shade variation? Do you make a point of bringing it up with customers before starting a tile installation project? If you don't, I urge you to do so. Not only is it a great opportunity to educate your customers about tile installation methods, standards and best practices, but it also helps you avoid what I refer to as the "Five-O-Five Surprise."

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.