Stone & Tile: Architecture Design & TrendsInstallation & Technical Tips

CTEF Tile Tip: No Drilling Allowed

cracked marble tile — The door installer drilled a 1/4” hole in the curb which also caused the marble tile to crack.

hole in shower pan membrane — The hole was drilled through the marble tile, the thin-set mortar, the foam curb cover and the shower pan membrane, which compromised the tile installation. The red circle shows the hole which was the source of the failure.

A beautifully crafted and long-lasting stall shower can take a significant amount of time to plan, bid, and fabricate, but it can be ruined quickly if the tile installer doesn’t watch other trades working in the same space.

The TCNA Handbook and ANSI Specifications provide a clear course of action for the installer. After the tile work has been skillfully completed, the client will usually select a shower door. The problem is that the type of shower door should have been part of the planning process.

This lack of good communication and a clear scope of work can cause problems, as in this example. The tiled shower is complete when the shower door installer arrives to install the door. Unfortunately, the client never informed the tile installer that they had selected a shower door with a pivot-style hinge, which require a hole to be drilled into the curb. With proper planning, they work, but without that being done (as in this case), disaster lies ahead.

Without the knowledge of the tile installer, the door installer drilled a 1/4” hole in the curb which also caused the marble tile to crack. The door installer did not realize that the depth of the hole is the crucial difference between success and failure. In this case, the hole was drilled through the marble tile, the thin-set mortar, the foam curb cover and the shower pan membrane. Even though the door installer filled the hole with 100% silicone, the tile installation was compromised. If you look closely at the shower pan membrane, the red circle shows the hole which was the source of the failure.

Tile installers should always communicate effectively with their clients so that everyone knows and understands the full scope of the job. If a pivot door is planned, the hole should always be drilled by the tile installer.

This article was originally posted on www.floortrendsmag.com.

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Scott Carothers is the Academic Director of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) headquartered in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (Nashville area). In 2007, he was hired and tasked with creating the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) program, and in 2012, he was part of the team that created the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) program.

For eighteen years, he has been providing training and education to others in the tile industry. Carothers has been involved in the ceramic tile industry for over 44 years and was the owner of a successful retail store and installation firm prior to coming to CTEF.

Carothers served as President and Chairman of the Board of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Chairman of the NTCA Technical Committee, named the NTCA Tile Person of the Year in 2005, and received the NTCA Ring of Honor in 2013. He is a voting member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook, and NTCA Technical Committees.

Scott has authored over 185 articles in tile industry print magazines including Floor Covering Installer, Tile, TileLetter, and eMagazine/Newsletter publications such as Floor Trends & Installation and TIleLetter along with covering numerous topics on the CTEF Blog, thereby sharing his knowledge and installation experience with his readers. Additionally, he recently retired from being a presenter and trainer for the NTCA Workshop and Regional Training programs and the NTCA Technical Hotline.

He may be contacted at scott@tilecareer.com or 864-222-2131.