by Donato Pompo, CTC, CMR, CSI, CDT, MBA

– NTCA TileLetter March 2004 –

Reviews common ceramic tile and stone failures and explains how to avoid them with proper substrate preparation with good quality control procedures. When there is a problem it doesn’t matter whose fault it is because everyone involved will pay one way or the other in dollars, time and reputation.  Ceramic Tile installers, glass tile installers, stone installers to include granite installers, limestone installers, travertine installers, slate installers, marble installers, sandstone installers and other stone installers do not go to a trade school to learn how to install tile or stone.  Installers normally learn from on-the-job training and normally do not get properly trained on the industry standards and the complexity of the work they perform.  Installers need to be properly supervised and managed to ensure a successful installation.  To avoid the huge cost of a tile failure it is in the owner’s best interest to hire a qualified third party quality control tile and stone expert to monitor the tile installation. Click here for the article.