Glass tile is a popular choice for consumers, designers, and specifiers for both commercial and residential installations. Traditionally produced and offered in mosaic patterns, glass tile is becoming popular in larger formats. Recently, glass tile panels have been introduced in large formats, opening a whole new market opportunity for tile suppliers and installers. These products have similar characteristics to gauged porcelain tile panels in how they need to be handled and installed, but there are also some unique aspects to how they perform. It is essential that installers be properly trained and educated on these products. NTCA trainers and glass tile manufacturer representatives will provide examples of what this training entails in a session highlighting the key components of what is covered in these programs.

Join National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) trainers and NTCA contractor members as they feature case studies of successful installations of porcelain and glass tile as well as natural stone in both outdoor residential and commercial projects. Product trends in varying formats, sizes, and thicknesses will be discussed, and new technology and installation systems will be introduced.

Beautifully tiled swimming pools are often one of the most impressive features of outdoor living spaces. Utilizing decorative ceramic tile and glass tile in a myriad of ways allows designers to get creative with multiple colors and patterns. These projects involve intricate planning and detailing and demand the use of the appropriate products and qualified and trained installation crews in construction and tile installation. This session will feature case studies of award-winning projects, and will cover the entire scope of the process, with a focus on installation. Special components of swimming pool design such as water features and specification of proper waterproofing and materials will also be covered.