So far, we’ve covered the Coverings 2021 sessions from the Materials & Trends and Workforce & Profits conference tracks. Now, let’s explore the Installation & Fabrication sessions that feature a wealth of information regarding tile & stone industry best practices and cutting-edge techniques in installation and fabrication. No matter your role in the industry, whether it be contractor, installer, fabricator, architect, remodeler, or beyond, there is a great deal of information that you and your entire team can gain by watching these content-rich sessions.
Skills and Time Management for Certification Success
Those who have taken the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) written and hands-on tests will tell you that having a plan and carefully managing time is a must for success in the tile industry. Representatives from NTCA and the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (administrator of CTI certification) discuss the necessary skills needed to master the clock and complete both the written and hands-on exams without stress and within the time allotted.
Trials and Tribulations of Tile Installations: A North American Perspective
This session features some of the top 10 tile challenges that have occurred in the US and Canada in recent years. Watch now to learn how prevention and/or remedies could have alleviated the issues with special consideration taken from the TCNA Handbook, the NTCA Reference Manual, the Canadian 09 30 00 Tile Installation Manual, and ANSI requirements.
Tile Talks with the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA)
This lively and interactive open forum reviews industry best practices for successful installations of tile & stone and includes a special discussion on common installation challenges that impact the Southeastern market.
Substrate Preparation for Hard Surfaces
One of the most important aspects of a successful hard surface installation is the condition and preparation of the substrate. There are unique differences but also similarities that affect substrate preparation in the tile, wood, and stone industry. This session, led by technical reps from across the hard surface industries, reviews how condition and prep of your substrate is affected by use of each material.
Hard Surface Industry Town Hall
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, industry leaders had identified several key objectives that needed to be addressed in order to continue to grow and develop the market for hard surface products, including tile, natural stone, and wood flooring. Examples include addressing marketing campaigns from competitive products, a lack of trained and qualified labor market, and recruitment pathways to bring more people into the industry. COVID-19 created new challenges for our industry, but many of the issues facing us before the pandemic remain. This hall discussion takes a fresh look at the challenges and opportunities that exist in the hard surface industry today.
Fabricators Forum
This interactive forum discusses top challenges that many stone fabricators face in the market.
And, we can’t talk about Installation & Fabrication without also mentioning the always-popular Coverings Live Installation Demonstration Stage. These live demos at Coverings 2021 were recorded and we’ll share those with you next week.
