Installation & Technical Tips
RSS

Technical Focus: The Evolution of Grouts and Mortars

Over the last several decades, the types of grout and mortar products available on the market have drastically changed, offering consumers and professionals more choices for specified projects

Alan Kin

March 16, 2018

Generally viewed, grouts and mortars are enormously overlooked compared to their more colorful ceramic tile, stone and glass tile counterparts. With the advancement in tile manufacturing, there has been the introduction of more composition types and larger sizes.

Scott Carothers

March 12, 2018

According to the March 2017 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specifications, new expansion joint patterns have been approved which allow formerly straight joints to follow new non-linear joint configurations.

Scott Carothers

January 19, 2018

Lippage unfortunately occurs when one tile edge is higher or lower than the adjacent tile. This topic is constantly being discussed because it occurs entirely too often.

Scott Carothers

October 23, 2017

Surface prep, whether for the wall or floor, is critical to the completed job being acceptable to the end user.

Scott Carothers

September 15, 2017

Showers can be a beautiful part of the bathroom, especially when tile is part of the finished product. But the beauty will not be long-lasting if the standards and best practices for tile installation are not followed.

CTEF Tile Tip: The Basics of Self-Leveling Underlayments

Scott Carothers

July 24, 2017

The term SLU refers to Self- Leveling Underlayment. This product is a great and quick way to flatten most horizontal surfaces prior to installing large format tile (LFT).

Scott Carothers

June 5, 2017

The beauty of and longtime satisfaction in ceramic and porcelain tile installations will many times depend on the creativity employed in the design process.

Scott Carothers

May 15, 2017

Many installers have had customers who have seen a tile installation in a magazine or brochure, which is exactly what they want in their homes. Unfortunately, the look they want to achieve may not be possible using the tile that has been selected.

Scott Carothers

April 17, 2017

When I think about mixing mortars and grouts, I am reminded of my friend’s first encounter with the tile trade.

Scott Carothers

March 1, 2017

Every time an installer looks at a new job, the condition of the substrate needs to be reviewed thoroughly to determine if the surface to be tiled is adequate.

North Carolina Stone Summit

You’ve probably heard a lot lately about how to calculate the profit for each job you produce. You likely have production benchmarks based on square footage since it’s the most common production metric in the industry. Come learn how focusing on these metrics can hurt your profitability and what to do about it.

Washington Stone Summit

Join us for "Taking Your Organization to the Next Level," a session dedicated to transforming your business practices. Discover strategies for setting clear agendas, encouraging participation, and driving actionable outcomes. Learn how to foster collaboration and communication, ensuring that every meeting enhances productivity and contributes to your business goals.

Poll

Tariffs and Quartz Imports

View Results

Poll Archive

Installation & Technical Tips
RSS

Technical Focus: The Evolution of Grouts and Mortars

CTEF Tile Tip: Non-Linear Expansion Joints Are Now Approved

CTEF Tile Tip: The Hazards of Lippage

CTEF Tile Tip: Lights, Lippage, and Major Problems

CTEF Tile Tip: In Showers, Everything Must Slope to the Drain

CTEF Tile Tip: The Basics of Self-Leveling Underlayments

CTEF Tile Tip: Be Clear with Customer About Grout Joint Offsets

CTEF Tile Tip: Being Realistic about Grout Joint Sizes

CTEF Tile Tip: Improving at Grout and Mortar Mixing

CTEF Tile Tip: Subfloor Preparation Troubleshooting

Our Newsletters are a rock solid source of industry insights!

Stay in the know on the international stone and tile industry trends.

Installation & Technical Tips RSS

Our Newsletters are a rock solid source of industry insights!

Stay in the know on the international stone and tile industry trends.

Installation & Technical Tips
RSS