Tile Magazine January-February 2011

January/February 2011

TILE

!

L VE An edition of TILE Magazine

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A Membrane for Every Floor pg. 10 Crack Isolation Methods and Techniques pg. 20 Subfloor Troubleshooting Guide pg. 23

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Table of Contents January/February 2011 vol. 8, no. 1

TILE

Magazine

Features

10 A Membrane for Every Floor! On the cover: Cover montage designed by Rick Arvidson, Sr. Art Director, with inspiration from Edgewater Studio (see pg. 9).

TILE Magazine, Vol. 8, Issue 1 (ISSN 1555-0567) is published 6 times annually, Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct and Nov/Dec by, BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 3623700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $115.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $149.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $165.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2011, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals postage paid at Troy, MI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TILE Magazine, P.O. Box 2149, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923 Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to TILE Magazine, P.O. Box 2149, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or [email protected].

Products made to Industry Standards can be counted on to perform when used in the proper application and appropriately installed. However, there is a long history of failure when using products that don’t meet appropriate standards such as roofing felt, sheet vinyl, scribing paper, and plain or scrim reinforced Kraft paper for various membrane applications. Columnist Dave Gobis takes a look at some membrane standards and just what a few of those variations within a category may be.

20 Crack Isolation Methods and Techniques Crack isolation methods and techniques have been practiced for thousands of years to prevent excessive tile cracking. In ancient times, crack isolation involved locating a layer of sand beneath the setting bed so the tile installation could float over any movement below. That was then. Columnist Michael Byrne evaluates various crack isolation methods, systems and techniques to guide installers with project-specific needs.

23 Subfloor Troubleshooting Guide for Tile Installation New for 2011 is TILE Magazine’s “Subfloor Troubleshooting Guide for Tile Installations” that offers solutions to several commonly experienced subfloor problems and their recommended corrective function.

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32 Departments Editorial...................................................................... 6 New Product Showcase ............................................ 8 A Woman’s Perspective .......................................... 16 Industry News .......................................................... 28 Calendar .................................................................. 29 Green Matters ......................................................... 31 Tile of Spain ............................................................ 32 Tiles of Italy ............................................................. 34 Art Tile Collection .................................................... 39 Tile Products ........................................................... 40 Tiles of China .......................................................... 42 Product Marketplace ............................................... 44 Advertiser’s Index .................................................... 47 Classifieds ............................................................... 47 Tile Q & A ................................................................ 48

On the Web Need to find a manufacturer, distributor, specific tile or tile-related product? The 2011 Gold Book: Tile Industry Resource Guide offers all the information you’ll need, including Technical Training Schools & Seminars, Glossary of Tile Terms, and more! The 2011 Gold Book: www.tilemagonline.com/goldbook For the most up-to-date information on all industry events, breaking news items, and special web-only features, visit www.tilemagonline.com daily!

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Letter From The Editor

TILE

®

Magazine

Phil Johnson, Publisher [email protected] Arpi Nalbandian, Editor [email protected] John Moore, Senior Editor [email protected] Rick Arvidson, Sr. Art Director Jennifer Allen, Production Manager [email protected] Editorial Contributors: Michael Byrne, Dave Gobis Publishing and Sales Office: 22801 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Phone: (818) 224-8035, Fax: (818) 224-8042

Is 2011 the year for the tile industry? Let’s be honest, 2010, with all its hills and valleys, is not one of the years I would think of as phenomenal. Yet, with each year New Year is a new beginning — a wiping of the proverbial slate and starting anew. This is where our hopes, dreams and faith in our related industries come together.

I

n my opinion, the one positive that resonated throughout 2010 was our ability to put differences and competitiveness aside to help each other succeed — as a whole. That, to me at least, has to be one of the most significant outcomes of 2010. The recently held Total Solutions Plus in Naples, FL, was organized by three of our industry’s associations (CTDA, NTCA, TCNA). The feedback from attendees and exhibitors alike was overwhelmingly positive, and as a result, plans for the 2011 Total Solutions Plus in Arizona are well underway. Yet another example of putting our respective industry first is our Moving On project where tile business owners, who found a way to shake off the economic doldrums to see their businesses survive, shared their success stories. You can read the submissions at www.bnpmedia.com/movingon. On a related note, TILE Magazine introduces its Subfloor Troubleshooting Guide for Tile Installations (beginning

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on page 23) where common problems are addressed with manufacturerspecific solutions. Your feedback on this project is valuable. I invite you to share your opinion with me at [email protected] for any guide-improving suggestions. Further, I would like to thank our esteemed and well-respected columnists, contributors and associations for their outstanding work in 2010. We look forward to having them bring you the most up-to-date information available for all facets of the tile industry. Lastly, in our ongoing quest to keeping you well informed, TILE Magazine will be providing live, from-the-show-floor updates from several shows this year, most notably Surfaces, Cevisama, Expo Revestir and Coverings, for starters. To access these updates, follow TILE (@TileMagazine) or me (@TileEditor) on Twitter, or join our Facebook page (facebook.com/ TileMagazine) for photos/albums taken during the show.. Finally, I wish you all a healthy and happy New Year. Quoting an Irish toast: “In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want.” TILE

January/February 2011

Tile Accounts Manager Phil Johnson • (818) 224-8035 ext. 2207 Southeast Regional Manager Scott Daniell • (770) 788-6377 Western Regional Manager Dan Lipman • (818) 224-8035 ext. 2206 Northeast Regional Manager Keith Parry • (973) 248-6097 Classified Ad Sales Sharon Ward • (847) 405-4017 [email protected] Italy Paolo Albertazzi • 39-059-686123 e-mail: [email protected] UK/Europe/Mideast Patrick Connolly • 44-170-247-7341 e-mail: [email protected] Fax: 44-170-247-7559 Brazil Lazzaro Menasce • 55-11-3822-4422 e-mail: [email protected] Fax: 55-11-3663-5436 Turkey Hilmi Zafer Erdem • 90-0212-257-76-66 e-mail: [email protected] Fax: 90-0212-287-00-99

For advertising information, call (800) 835-4398. Corporate Office: BNP Media II, L.L.C. 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700 Troy, MI 48084 Phone : (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317

Corporate Directors Timothy A. Fausch – Publishing John R. Schrei – Publishing Lisa L. Paulus – Finance Rita M. Fourmia – Corporate Strategy Director Marlene J. Witthoft – Human Resources Director Scott Kesler – Information Technology Vincent M. Miconi – Production Nikki Smith – Directories Michael T. Powell – Creative Holly Banks – Marketing Beth Surowiec – Clear Seas Research Emily Patten – Conferences & Events Audience Development Cassandra Haggard – Audience Development Coordinator Kelly Carlson – Multimedia Specialist Carolyn M. Alexander – Audience Audit Coordinator Contact Customer Service at: (847) 763-9534 • Fax: (847) 763-9538 • [email protected] List Rental Postal contact: Rob Liska at 800-223-2194 x726 [email protected] Email contact: Shawn Kingston at 800-409-4443-828 [email protected] BNP Media Helps People Succeed in Business with Superior Information

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Product Showcase

Want to see more of the latest in ceramic and porcelain tile trends? Visit www.tilemagonline.com!

194 192

193 190 194 Daltile

193 Keraben

192 Florida Tile

190 Inalco

Daltile’s Coastal Keystones pairs ColorBody porcelain mosaic tile with clear and iridescent glass tiles by Oceanside in a range of sizes and hues. Its six color blends are available in four mesh-mounted sizes. Coastal Keystones is American-made with post-consumer recycled materials. Circle 194 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

The warmth of textile reinvents itself with Keraben’s Atelier line. Presented in beige and white shades only, and highlighted with a new decorative style in relief. Suitable for high-traffic areas, such as commercial facilities, public halls and buildings. Circle 193 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

From Florida Tile comes Pristine with its crema marfil look. Offered in two colors (Alabaster, Classic Beige), three sizes and two finishes, the Greenguardand PTCA-certified collection is accompanied by a full line of accessories. Circle 192 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Inalco’s Wood Series is a Slimmker product that reproduces rough, single tone wood with broken veins and cracks, creating a modern, architectonic-look surface. This series features two different embossed tiles that can be mixed and matched in 60x120, 30x120, 20x120 and 11x120 cm formats. Offered in white, pearl, khaki and black tones. Circle 190 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

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January/February 2011

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189

188 191 187 Edgewater Studio

188 Trend USA

189 Orchid Ceramics

191 Bode Ceramic

Edgewater Studio has added Art Glass Mosaics to their collection of custom tiles. The Studio offers 10 art glass colors ranging from the more neutral tones of Veil and Vanilla, to the more daring of Toffee and Atlantic. Custom color matching, as well as project-specific sizing and edging, is also available. Circle 187 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Trend USA has introduced seven new combinations of the hand cut, post-consumer recycled Liberty Collection. Inspired by windows found in Gothic Cathedrals, the subtle variegated palettes are comprised of iridescent shades. Composed of up to 75% post consumer recycled Karma glass, Liberty uses staggered joints to create random movement and alternating scale. Circle 188 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Sofisticata from Orchid Ceramic, a porcelain series, is part of the 2010 Touchstone Collection. Inspired by Italian design, the series blends onyx and travertine. Available as 11”x22” and 22”x22” field tiles, 3.5”x11” bullnose trim and decorative pieces. Circle 189 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

New from Bode Ceramic Tile USA is the Crifun collection that boasts six colors, including Cream, Beige, White, Grey, Black and Brown. The Lappato surface tile is available in 12”x12”, 12”x24” and 24”x24” formats. Circle 191 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

January/February 2011

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A Membrane for Every Floor! By Dave Gobis

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et me preface this article by saying it gets a little complicated as it goes on. Everyone likes the simple version of things and I have attempted to make it as simple as I know how. Understanding membrane uses and limitations is very important to your financial well being and is the purpose of this article. Earlier in my career I would have to describe myself as a skeptic about the added value of using membranes in every tile installation. Product options were very limited and performance standards were non-existent. Over the course of time, construction methods and practices have changed, in some cases dramatically. Buildings are constructed with less time for acclimation of the structure and use a much tighter building envelope for energy efficiency.

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To further complicate the issues, we are presented with specifiers and the electronic media educated consumers are increasingly looking for crack free, waterproof and quiet ceramic tile floors, sometimes all three. The needs of these structures and the desires of the end user have been noted by manufactures that develop products seeking to accommodate both the building practices and the desired increased performance of the installation. This is especially true when it comes to sound attenuation in multi-unit buildings which is mandated in many areas of the country under building codes. Mandated energy codes for a much tighter building envelope can cause problems unless areas receiving water or high moisture vapor are properly managed through the use of appropriate waterproofing products.

January/February 2011

Add to those issues the rightful desire and expectation for long-lasting crackfree floors in structures that are not allowed to properly acclimate and you have a plethora of reasons to use a membrane that did not exist 20-25 years ago. Our options for dealing with all these conditions today are numerous, in some cases, too numerous. As the need and

Above: This is an example of product available in different thickness. With a change in thickness comes a change in duty ratings. The 3 and 5mm versions are rated light commercial. The 12mm is rated residential. Always check the duty rating of your membrane product, they vary. Photo Courtesy of Custom Building Products.

Above: This picture shows a vapor retarder product being installed. While ceramic tile and thinset mortars are generally not affected by high moisture, vapor membranes have varying moisture vapor limitations. Never start an installation over concrete without knowing the moisture vapor emission level and taking the appropriate corrective measures if needed.

desire for membrane products continues to grow, there are many who are uneducated in their use and limitations. I base this on my phone traffic in which 10 years ago, suitability of a particular product was seldom a question received. More recently, it has become a question received several times weekly. Products made to Industry Standards can be counted on to perform when used in the proper application and appropriately installed. However, there is a long history of failure when using products that don’t meet appropriate standards such as roofing felt, sheet vinyl, scribing paper, and plain or scrim reinforced Kraft paper for various membrane applications. The sound reduction market is probably the worse when it comes to understanding use of products. In days past most membrane claims revolved around improper installation. With the increasing amount of products available and their complexity, from my

experience, there is an increasing amount of claims from not only products that do not meet standards but inappropriate use of those that do. There are published standards for ceramic tile and most tile related products that help level playing field. However, you can find substantial differences in their recommended use even when meeting standards. In short, all products meeting the test requirements of standards are not created equal. Let’s take a look at some membrane standards and just what a few of those variations within a category may be. The product standard for waterproofing is the American National Standard Specifications for Load Bearing, Bonded, Waterproof Membranes for Thinset Ceramic Tile and Dimension Stone Installation A118.10. This standard was developed to provide specifiers and installers with the minimum criteria necessary for a material to function as a barrier to positive liquid water

migration in a load-bearing, bonded, thin-set installation of ceramic tile and dimension stone. This standard applies to trowel applied, liquid, and sheet membranes. Waterproof membranes for thin-set ceramic tile and dimension stone installations function as barriers to positive liquid water migration. Products meeting this standard are not designed for moisture reduction such as a slab under hydrostatic pressure. The intention of waterproof membranes meeting tile standards is to stop liquid water from going into the substrate or entering the wall cavity. The waterproof aspect of testing under this standard revolves around preventing the passage of liquid water for a period of 48 hours. This means not all waterproofing products are necessarily suitable for prolonged submerged applications. There are also no reporting requirements relative to the passage of moisture vapor in an application, such as a steam shower. The amount of moisture vapor passage into the wall cavity can vary greatly dependent on use of the steam shower. Some products are suitable for 24/7 operation of steam units, most are not. For crack isolation there is the American National Standard Specification for Crack Isolation Membranes for Thin-set Ceramic Tile and Dimension Stone Installation ANSI A118.12. This standard was also developed to provide specifiers and installers with the minimum criteria necessary for a material to function as a deterrent to crack propagation from the substrate through the finished thinset tile or stone installation. Additional tests, which are not a requirement of this specification, may be run when requested for a particular project. Depending on the scope of the job, additional testing using the exact materials for that project which can be a very prudent decision. The standard test method under this specification uses 4”x8” quarry tile to check for a membrane’s crack-bridging abilities. Anyone who has installed quarry tile knows it is a very elastic product as far as tile goes. It typically has a higher breaking strength than the porcelain tile more commonly used with

January/February 2011

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Cork is a popular option for sound attenuation. When placing tile over cork, make sure the product selected meets the performance requirements listed by the Tile Council of North America for density and duty ratings. Photo courtesy AcousitCORK/Amorim Cork Composites.

membranes. Crack isolation membranes for thin-set ceramic tile and dimension stone installations are intended to isolate the tile or stone from minor in-plane substrate cracking. Membranes covered by this specification can be bonded to a variety of manufacturer-approved substrates under ANSI specifications. In some cases, the trowel-applied products may also be used as the adhesive for the ceramic tile or dimension stone. Other products used within the scope of this specification are allowed to cure or are applied as sheet goods and are then used as the substrate for the application of ceramic tiles and dimension stone by traditional methods and materials. Cracks are allowed in the grout joints only when using a 118.12 product. There are two performance levels under the crack resistance portion of the test. For a standard-duty rating, the crack may occur after 1/16” of movement but before 1/8”. For a high-performance rating, the cracked joint may not occur till after 1/8”. There is no ASTM C-627 Robinson Floor Testing required under this standard. That particular test is used to provide a duty rating for a specific floor system ranging from Residential to Extra Heavy traffic. Any 14

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representation for suitability for use in a given application comes solely from the manufacturer. None of the performance testing under this standard uses stone as a specimen. Use of some Crack Isolation membranes can actually prove problematic to very soft stones such as travertine under moderate to heavy traffic conditions. Standards for sound reduction membranes have been a goal of the industry for a number of years. In the most recent standards meeting, the American National Standard Specifications for Bonded Sound Reduction Membranes for Thin-set Ceramic Tile Installation ANSI A118.13 was approved by the committee and has received final approval from ANSI. It will be published in late spring or early summer of 2011 along with the numerous other changes approved by the committee. This A118.13, standard like all others, was developed to provide specifiers and installers with the minimum criteria necessary for a material to function as a bonded sound reduction membrane when used with ceramic tile. Bonded Sound Reduction membranes for thinset ceramic tile installation lower the transmission of sound from one room to

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the room below. Membranes covered by this specification are bonded to a variety of manufacturer-approved substrates covered by ANSI specifications. Products within the scope of this specification are applied below ceramic tiles by traditional methods and materials. Dimension stone is a product of nature with a wide variety of inherent characteristics including veins, fissures, starts, and dry-seams. These characteristics may make the stone tile relatively fragile and susceptible to cracking and chipping when exposed to traffic. This susceptibility can be even more predominating when stone is placed on sound reduction materials, which are almost always resilient or compressible by nature. This sound standard was created specifically for ceramic tile. If used for dimensional stone, additional testing would be required to establish suitability of use. The new specification describes the test methods and minimum requirements for sound reduction membranes for thin-set ceramic tile installation. It should be noted that while sound reduction membranes are intended to minimize the transfer of sound from one room to the room below, it is only one part of the overall system. Substrates, flooring material, ceiling assemblies, etc., will all affect the overall values. It is important when dealing with a sound reduction membrane that perimeter joints are properly located and filled as per the manufacturer’s instructions. The individual manufacturers, project engineers, and architects should be consulted, per Tile Council of North America (TCNA) recommendations, regarding their requirements for expansion and control joint material and placement. There are two additional caveats that are very important to consider when using membranes under this standard. First, the floor performance level to pass this standard is a residential rating under the ASTM C-627 Robinson Floor Tester. The second and equally important consideration is the test uses a TCNA high performance thinset mortar. A TCNA high performance

mortar is defined as ANSI A118.4 compliant latex modified thin-set mortar that has been identified by the TCNA Grout and Mortar Subcommittee as being capable of achieving a

It should be noted that while sound reduction membranes are intended to minimize the transfer of sound from one room to the room below, it is only one part of the overall system. Substrates, flooring material, ceiling assemblies, etc., will all affect the overall values.

28-day impervious mosaic tile shear bond strength greater than 450 psi. This is not your everyday thinset and would be considered a premium product. So why does any of this matter? Quite simply, if there is no FCITile_TLS1210.eps 9:41:05 AM standard for any given product12/6/10 or installation then there is no

expectation of performance other than that implied by the installer or manufacturer. As structures grow more complex in design and performance, expectations grow. We are certain to see an increased usage of membranes for their various attributes, be it for waterproofing, crack suppression, or sound reduction. There is likely no one company or one membrane that serves all conceivable situations. Structures and their attributes are complex as are the products that go in them. Pick some products from your favorite manufacture and learn them well, you need to! TILE

About the Author David M. Gobis, a third-generation tile setter, is an independent Technical Consultant. Mr. Gobis is an author of over 100 trade-related articles and a frequent speaker at industry events. He is a voting member of The American National Standards, and Tile Council of America Installation Handbook committees. He can be reached via email, [email protected].

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January/February 2011

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A Woman’s Perspective by Jeanne Nichols

Do I Need an Intervention?

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f you won the lottery tomorrow how would your life change? I’ve often asked myself the question in the course of my career (as a form of a happiness check). There were very few times that I thought I would quit my job; maybe use the money to buy the company I was with or infuse one with capital but rarely did I think I would stop working. Does this make me a workaholic (a person who is addicted to work) or just passionate about what I was/am doing? I’ve asked others that I’ve worked alongside of and with and gotten a variety of answers which I generally took as a clue as to how engaged they in their work.

of significance, enthusiasm, inspiration, pride, enjoying the challenge, the belief that one has the ability to accomplish the job and involvement (happily) in the work. According to the article workaholics or the obsessive passion person are generally hard workers that do work-related activities the majority of the time. For the workaholic, disengaging from work is very difficult. They spend time thinking about work even when not working and most importantly, they have a compulsion for work.

Passion vs Compulsion In a recent article written by Marjan J. Gorgievski and Arnold B. Baker - Work Engagement Versus Workaholism — the authors describe two forms of passion: “harmonious passion” and “obsessive passion.” Work engagement is linked to harmonious passion while workaholism is linked to obsessive passion. Harmonious passion is characterized by work engagement, hard work, feeling

Work engagement is linked to harmonious passion while workaholism is linked to obsessive passion.

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According to their report, the major difference between workaholism and work engagement is that the workaholic lacks receiving enjoyment (fun) from their work like the engaged worker and engaged worker does not exhibit the compulsive drive exhibited by workaholics. Fear of failure or the Thrill of success I think one way to determine if you are a workaholic or an engaged worker is to recognize your motivation: Are you afraid of failing, of disappointing others? Is self-righteousness a by-product of you working hard, or is it resentment that you work more hours than others? Is your self-worth tied up completely in who you are and what you do at work? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I think you could be considered a workaholic. On the other hand, you may just love the thrill of success, striving for the

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victory including something as mundane as overcoming the “to do” list or possibly taking complete enjoyment in what you do…maybe we’re just passionate about what we do?

The major difference between workaholism and work engagement is that the workaholic lacks receiving enjoyment (fun) from their work like the engaged worker and engaged worker does not exhibit the compulsive drive exhibited by workaholics.

Outside Work The ability to participate in activities outside of work can also be an indicator of workaholism or engagement. This doesn’t mean that you can’t discuss what you did today at dinner, nor check your email on your Blackberry after hours. Remember, many of us have hobbies that can garner our attention during our work day. So, work if you love it. If it’s

a hobby that has turned in to a career, it could be a part of who we are. But if you can never take a break to connect with those closest and important to you, then may have an issue. One thing I love about being with my grandchildren is that there is absolutely no room for anything but them, otherwise I might find my plumbing clogged or snakes in the house! It’s hard to justify the many hours that some of us put into our jobs. I think it’s always good to check every once in a while as to why we work so hard and the motivation for that work. On the other hand, isn’t that o.k., just to love what you do? TILE

About the Author Jeanne Nichols has worked with regional and national organizations throughout the United State, as well as serving as vice-president of sales and marketing for the US division of an international tile manufacturer. Jeanne Nichols Currently, she is owner and lead consultant for StarGrass Partners, a company posed to provide consulting services in marketing and sales to the tile industry, and founder of the networking group Women In Tile.

CTIOA Ceramic Tile Institute of America Inc. 12061 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City, CA Phone 310-574-7800 Fax 310-821-4655 [email protected]

Offers Nationwide Service

Various Consulting Services Include: • Technical Assistance • Specification Review

• Product Development Assistance • Inspection Services • Expert Opinion/Witness • Testing Services • Forensic Research • Field Quality Control • Thermal Imaging • Specification Writing • Educational Services

Contact Your Representative Gray LaFortune Executive Director [email protected]

Jeffrey Pompadur Hawaii and Pacific Dir. [email protected]

Dave Gobis Technical Consultant [email protected]

Ralph Williamson Southwest Dir. [email protected]

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Paul Wilson Asst. Executive Director [email protected]

For expanded online listings of our Gold Book, go to our Website. www.tilemagonline.com/goldbook

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January/February 2011

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Art & Decorative Tile Techniques by Michael Byrne

Crack Isolation Methods and Techniques

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rack isolation methods and techniques have been practiced for thousands of years to prevent excessive tile cracking. In ancient times, crack isolation involved locating a layer of sand beneath the setting bed so the tile installation could float over any movement below. To deal with expansion, regularly spaced grout joints were filled with tar which was covered with fine sand. The sand bed method is still being used today, although primarily on exterior applications where thick stone or cast concrete tiles are installed without grout. For the majority of interior and exterior crack isolation work, a sheet or liquid-applied membrane system is used. They are called systems because each brand has components that work together to provide the desired level of protection required for a specific installation. For example, a liquidapplied system may include a base liquid, gel, or paste, and a reinforcing fabric. A sheet system is generally composed of the sheet, an adhesive for laminating the sheet to the setting bed, and a sealant for closing seams.

In addition to basic sheet or liquidapplied systems, there are self-adhering reinforced sheets that are used with a companion primer to maximize adhesion. The latest type of crack isolation is built into, and becomes a property of thinset mortar and requires no reinforcing fabric. Crack isolation thinset mortars cost considerably more than regular thinset mortars, but the extra cost is usually offset by labor and material costs for traditional sheet or liquid-applied systems. It is very important to keep in mind that not all crack isolation systems provide the same level of performance, and each brand offers varying degrees or warrantee protection – or none at all.

The author begins the installation process with a rough layout of the membrane sheet.

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Regardless of the type, no system can offer a 100% guarantee that tiles installed above the membrane will not crack. Instead, crack isolation systems are designed to reduce the incidence of cracking. Not all systems offer the same level of protection, which is usually gauged by the maximum width of the crack being covered: most systems have a 1/8inch wide limit. Crack isolation systems cannot be used over structural cracks. Structural cracks can be found in concrete where the slab on one side of the crack is higher than the other side. On wood construction, structural cracking can also be caused by subflooring or underlayment that is too thin, or joists that are too small to carry expected loads. Under some conditions, cracks can occur when two sheets of subflooring meet on a single joist or when the grain of either the subflooring or underlayment does not run perpendicular to the direction of the joists. Some systems claim to bolster flooring systems built over joists spaced too far apart, but for best results, crack isolation systems should only be installed over wood or concrete that is structurally sound.

Top Left: To provide complete protection for all the tiles, the membrane must be trimmed accurately. Center: For interior work, the author spreads a contact-type cement to adhere the crack isolation sheet. Bottom: After the entire sheet is positioned, the author pulls back half of it and spreads the contact cement.

As with any other method of installing tiles, a network of movement joints has to be built into any installed crack isolation system. The primary function of any crack isolation system is to overcome substrate movement. Ironically, tiles installed over a crack isolation membrane must be free to move. Any tile installed over a crack isolation membrane without movement joints are subject to both cracking and shearing. With any crack isolation systems, as stated above, there are no 100% guarantees against cracking, but when no movement joints are incorporated into an installation, any warrantee offered by the manufacturer will not be honored. All ceramic

Regardless of the type, no system can offer a 100% guarantee that tiles installed above the membrane will not crack. Instead, crack isolation systems are designed to reduce the incidence of cracking.

For maximum strength, plywood underlayment is sometimes specified in place of backer boards, but plywood has a much higher rate of expansion and contraction than either stone or ceramic tiles. As well, it is tougher to adhere tile to wood than to a tile backer board. To overcome these problems, some – but not all crack isolation systems can be applied to plywood underlayment to maximize adhesion and to prevent tile cracking.

and stone tile installations – with or without a membrane system – require a network of movement joints. There are two approaches to crack isolation: full-coverage and bandage. With full coverage, as you might expect, the entire floor is covered. With the bandage method only the cracked area is covered. The full-coverage method offers the best protection and costs more. The bandage method costs less, but has several problems: limited protection, uneven profile, diminished appearance, and higher maintenance requirements. The bandage method is used primarily over commercial or residential concrete slabs. Covering only a small area, the bandage method creates a bump on the surface of the floor, unless the area to be covered is lowered an amount equal to the thickness of the installed bandage. This can be done, at extra expense, by abrading, bush-hammering or shot blasting. Since slab cracks may not always travel in a straight line, individual January/February 2011

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21

For exterior installations, the author uses latex thinset mortar to adhere the sheet.

bandages may have to overlap to provide good coverage: overlapping sections will add even more height to the repair. The length of the required bandage is governed by the length of the crack; the width is determined by the manufacturer

and is usually based on the size of the tile being installed. As well, the bandage method requires that the treated area be surrounded by a movement joint to separate the tiles directly over the substrate crack – this can cause appearance problems

if an exact match between the grout and the movement joint filler is not possible. The movement joint filler, because it is subject to floor or wheeled traffic and regular cleaning, will also need more frequent replacement than joints located at the perimeter of a floor. When the bandage method is specified or requested, installers should protect themselves by sketching a map that shows the location of each existing crack that is to be covered. After sketching the map, have the property owner sign and date the map: if new cracks appear in areas that were not covered by a bandage, it will be the owner’s responsibility – not the installer’s. Finally, some membrane systems can provide waterproofing protection as well as crack isolation, and at least one (Nobleseal SIS), offers crack isolation, waterproofing, and sound reduction protection. TILE

About the Author Michael Byrne has been a tile installer since 1968 working on residential, Michael Byrne commercial, industrial, artistic and specialty installations. He is the author of two books, numerous videos and hundreds of articles on tile installation. Michael has worked as an independent consultant on installations in North, Central and South America, the UK and Europe, and is one of the founders and was the first president and executive director of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF). Michael is the owner of a consulting, expert witness, and publishing company in Los Olivos, CA, and can be reached at www.michaelbyrne.us. Circle 5 on Information Card

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January/February 2011

Subfloor Troubleshooting Products Guide

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MP Global Products URL: www.mpglobalproducts.com Email: [email protected] Phone: (888) 379-9695 Tech Service/Sales Contact: Bob Pratt QQQQQQQQUltralayer Peel













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THE HOTTEST

TICKET LQ/DV9HJDV Coverings is the largest tile and stone event and marketplace in North America. Network with peers, source exciting new products from over 1,000 global exhibitors, meet face-to-face with your suppliers to build relationships, and negotiate the best deals to increase profits and grow your business. Coverings also offers the industry’s ultimate training and education — more than 70 FREE sessions to benefit every member of your team.

REGISTER TODAY: COVERINGS.COM MARCH 14–17, 2011 I LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA Sands Expo and Convention Center

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Schluter-Systems URL: www.schluter.com Email: [email protected] Phone: (800) 472-4588 QQQQQQQQSchluter-DITRA

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January/February 2011

COVERINGS IS YOUR BEST BET Coverings is the largest tile and stone event and marketplace in North America. Network with peers, source exciting new products from over 1,000 global exhibitors, meet face-to-face with your suppliers to build relationships, and negotiate the best deals to increase profits and grow your business. Coverings also offers the industry’s ultimate training and education — more than 70 FREE sessions to benefit every member of your team.

ATTEND COVERINGS 2011. THE BEST BET FOR SUCCESS.

9HJDV THE ULTIMATE CITY FOR THE ULTIMATE TILE + STONE EXPERIENCE

REGISTER TODAY: COVERINGS.COM MARCH 14–17, 2011 I LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA Sands Expo and Convention Center

Use VIP Code ATM11 when registering.

Industry News Latest Breaking News at www.tilemagonline.com

Surfaces to equip attendees, exhibitors with business-building skills

S

urfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas are set to help attendees and exhibitors alike to overcome any obstacle that may come in a businessand skill-building setting. Both exhibitions, to be held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Jan. 26-28, 2011, with conferences beginning on Jan. 25, 2011, are offering an Opening General Session with a “compelling and empowering message” delivered by Aron Ralston, author of the New York Times bestselling book Between a Rock and a Hard Place, focusing on perseverance, goalattaining and overcoming adversity. “There couldn’t be a better choice than Aron Ralston to launch the inauguration of an Opening General Session at StonExpo and SURFACES,” says Gary Distelhorst, executive vp and ceo of Marble Institute of America (MIA). “His

story is one of true grit, guts, focus and fortitude, and is a lesson everyone can learn from as we emerge from the worst recession to hit our businesses in recent memory.” Gary continues, “A lot of us feel we are, or have been, ‘between a rock and a hard place’ the last couple years, and yet what we’ve gone through pales in comparison to what Aron endured. This session is one you cannot miss and may be worth a trip to Las Vegas by itself.” The shows will offer separate conference programs focusing on the unique needs of each trade. The two events will also have separate entrances into the exhibit hall. Attendees are free to visit exhibits of both shows. For more information on StonExpo/ Marmomacc Americas, visit www. stonexpo.com. For more information on Surfaces, visit www.surfaces.com.

‘Future, Globalism’ central to Cevisama 2011 campaign and show

C

evisama 2011 unfolds Feb. 8-11 in Valencia, Spain, ready to reveal the “emerging trends for the year, showcasing Spanish innovation and setting the bar for the rest of the world in the realms of design and technology,” say the annual show’s organizers. Now in its 29th year, Cevisama, the International Ceramic Tile and Bath Furnishings Show, will open its doors to thousands of domestic and international visitors with hundreds of exhibitors prepared to unveil the “world’s finest

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in ceramic products, innovations and architectural applications.” See and read about the products and technologies unveiled during Cevisama with daily updates provided by TILE Magazine editor, Arpi Nalbandian, who will be attending the show. You can follow her and TILE on Twitter (@TileEditor; @TileMagazine), on Facebook at (facebook.com/TileMagazine), and on www.tilemagonline.com. For more information on Cevisama, visit www.cevisama.com.

January/February 2011

MAPEI revamps U.S. web site

M

APEI has retooled its U.S. web site www.mapei.us to better meet the needs of contractors and architects. The company’s Canadian web site www.mapei.ca is also being updated and will soon feature green initiatives similar to those in the United States. Green initiatives have moved to the forefront in the construction industry, and MAPEI has added a tutorial for contractors and architects, which helps them better understand the components of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building rating and certification system. A LEED calculator keeps track of the products and initiatives that help contribute to LEED certification points, and contractors can print letters certifying the LEED point contribution of MAPEI products directly from the web site. Further, MAPEI’s “Tools for Architects” links design professionals directly to ARCAT and other systems where they can choose complete MAPEI systems in BIM format to add to their designs. MAPEI’s all new non-proprietary CAD drawings and specifications following the TCNA 2011 Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installations can be found in this section of the web site, too. Warranty information is also accessible from these web pages.

Coverings 2011 to once again focus on trends, sustainability, profit boosting

Calendar Surfaces 2011 & StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas Jan. 25-27, Las Vegas www.surfaces.com

Domotex asia /ChinaFloor 2011 March 22-24, Shanghai, China www.domotexasiachinafloor.com

Cevisama 2011 Feb. 8-11, Valencia, Spain http://cevisama.feriavalencia.com/

Expo Build China 2011 March 29 to April 1, Shanghai, China www.expobuild.com

American Mosaic Summit Feb. 16-20, Austin, TX www.americanmosaics.org Mosaic Arts International 2011 Feb. 18 to March 30, Austin, TX www.americanmosaics.org

O

rganizers of Coverings 2011 are prepared to receive thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors March 14-17 in Las Vegas’ Sand Expo Center, for what is touted as North America’s largest tile and stone show. Against the backdrop of the exhibition itself, the four-day event is set to feature dozens of educational sessions tailored to the needs of distributors, retailers, installers, fabricators, architects, designers, and builders/ remodelers — all free of charge. The 2011 edition also features several programs, including: Installation/Design Showcase; Coverings Select; PROJECT: Green; Regional Distributor Pavilion; Green Conference Certification; Happy Hours; and more. Returning to Coverings for its fourth year is the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) Certification Program, a 4-1/2 day series for professional installers that includes hands-on skills testing. CTEF executive director Scott Carothers leads this session, together with several program graduates, who will discuss their experiences. For more information about Coverings 2011, visit www.coverings. com or contact NTP, Coverings Show Management, at (703) 683-8500.

12th Ceramics, Tile and Sanitary Ware China 2011 March 29 to April 1, Shanghai, China www.ceramics-china.cn

Coverings 2011 March 14-17, Las Vegas www.coverings.com

China Int’l Ceramic & Sanitaryware Fair Foshan April 18-22, Foshan, China www.eccc.com.cn/en/

Revestir 2011 March 22-25, Sao Paulo, Brazil www.exporevestir.com.br

For more events and training/ educational opportunities, visit www.tilemagonline.com.

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Surfaces to equip attendees, exhibitors with business-building skills

Far Left: NTCA president John Cox (left) presents Frank Canto (Canto Tile & Stone) with the association’s 2010 Person of the Year Award. Left: CTDA’s Harold Yarborough (right) of D&B Tile Distributors presents Brian Knies (Tile America president and owner) with the CTDA Showroom Design Competition Award.

W

hen great minds, talent and endless energy come together, one can expect nothing but great results. This was the case for the recently held Total Solutions Plus 2010 in Naples, FL, where three industry associations (CTDA, NTCA, TCNA) pooled their resources to produce an inviting, informative and educational event for members, and non-members alike. From the moment opening keynote Don Reynolds took the podium with his “Global Economic Update — The New Normal” to the closing reception and Beach Blowout Banquet on the final day, the mood was upbeat and the air was energized with a sense of excitement for the future. The conference delivered on its promise of providing solutions with its “Partners in Progress” theme. Education was high on the conference’s agenda, with breakout sessions addressing various industry-related topics, such as: • The upcoming release of TCNA’s 2011 Handbook includes guidelines, references and methods for stone, glass, and large format tiles, as well as substrates, steam showers, and more. TCNA’s Stephanie Samulski, who presented the handbook

changes, anticipates a mid-February availability of the 2011 edition. • “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Membranes, But Were Afraid to Ask” presented by the Materials and Methods and Standards Association (MMSA). • “Ceramic and Porcelain Tile vs. Stone Tile Installations: Similarities and Differences” with the NTCA’s director of training, Gerald Sloan. • Fred Jackson’s presentation on “Marketing Green in Today’s Oversaturated Green Market” included an eye-opening projection about the green market from Fred: “by 2013, the segment will be worth $90-100 billion.” • “Understanding Tile’s Role in Green Building” with the TCNA Standards Development and Green Initiative Manager, Bill Griese, LEED AP. During his presentation, Griese mentioned that green tile standards are in the works (Green Squared). It will include everything related to tile including membranes, backerboards, substrates, underlayments, grout, mastics, caulk, and more. • “Ask the Leader Forum” featured a panel of experts representing contractors, manufacturers, and distributors. The panelists, moderated by Statement Tile’s president Ryan Calkins, included: John Wirtz, Wirtz Quality Installations; Bob Roberson, David Allen Co.; Tom Kotel, Mid-America Tile; Brian Knies, Tile America; Real Bourdage, MAPEI Corp.; and Ed Metcalf, Laticrete International. Together with more than 80 exhibitors, conference attendees expressed their pleasure with the well-organized and thoughtprovoking programs and extracurricular activities. If you were unable to attend the 2010 edition of Total Solutions Plus, then mark your calendars now for the 2011 edition November 9-12 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ. — By Arpi Nalbandian

Circle 6 on Information Card

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T LE

Case

green matters sponsored by:

GreenGuard launches campaign to strengthen IAQ Requirements in LEED

Crossville’s new kit offers sustainable tile samples, choices

I

D

uring the recently held Greenbuild exposition in Chicago, Crossville unveiled its new Sustainable Samples kit, which contains paper “tile” samples created using a high resolution scanner to capture a near-exact image of each tile. “The box contains every tile, every color in our porcelain tile collection – that’s more than 230 colors – in a compact, lightweight kit that is about 10 inches x 4 inches. It is intended to help designers make preliminary color

and product selections, allowing them to have an entire product line in their libraries in a minimum of space,” the company notes. Crossville adds, “The back of the tile has a QR code that designers can scan with any smart phone to retrieve more information about the product. When they have made their selections, that same smart phone app will enable them to automatically order a real product sample, just by clicking on one button.”

LEED certified projects achieve ‘billion square foot’ milestone

A

ccording to a report released by the U.S. Green Building Council, the total footprint of commercial projects certified under its LEED Green Building Rating System has surpassed one billion square feet. Another six billion square feet of projects are registered and currently working toward LEED certification around the world, the organization adds. “This traction demonstrates the transformation of the way we design, build and operate buildings,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, ceo and founding

chair, USGBC. “Not only does green building contribute to saving energy, water and money, it also creates green jobs that will grow and energize our economy.” “The impact of these one billion square feet can be seen in communities around the world,” said Peter Templeton, president of the Green Building Certification Institute, the certifying body for LEED projects. “The use of LEED represents a growing global commitment to improving our built environment for future generations.”

n response to recently proposed changes to the LEED Rating System, the GreenGuard Environmental Institute has launched a public campaign urging the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to strengthen its credit requirements for low-emitting interiors. According to GreenGuard, “Despite the widely-publicized findings of the April 2010 report by Environment and Human Health, Inc.—which criticized the LEED rating system for ignoring the health impacts of product emissions— the proposed changes to IEQ Credit 4 (known as ‘EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Interiors’) fail to make product emissions requirements more stringent. In fact, as currently written, the credit allows for infinite emissions of hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals.” For more information, visit www.GreenGuard.org. McGraw-Hill report shows green construction on the rise

T

he value of green building construction starts were up 50% from 2008 to 2010, according to McGraw-Hill Construction’s newest report, “Green Outlook 2011: Green Trends Driving Growth.” Additionally, green building represented 25% of all new construction activity in 2010, and the green building market size is expected to reach $135 billion by 2015. For details, visit construction.com/ market_research. Green Matters is a new section where TILE readers can quickly reference news items, feature articles and products detailing carbon footprint reduction, sustainable environmental quality enhancements, LEED point contributions, and more. Visit TILE’s website (www.tilemagonline. com) to access the entire Green Matters section.

January/February 2011

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Tile of Spain News

by Amanda Eden, Tile of Spain representative

Tile of Spain Announces Winners of the 2011 “Reign in Spain A&D tour”

F

our members of the US A&D community have been told to pack their bags – they’re going to Spain! In November, Tile of Spain launched the second edition of the Reign in Spain A&D Tour campaign to select four architects and designers to participate in its annual junket as representatives of the A&D community. Over the course of the month, Tile of Spain received more than 70 quality applications from firms large and small in all regions of the country, a 60% higher return over last year. Tile of Spain is the umbrella brand managed jointly by the Trade Commission of Spain in Miami, FL and the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer’s Association (ASCER) in Valencia, Spain. The annual media trip to Spain coincides with Cevisama, the International Ceramic Tile and Bath Furnishings Show held in Valencia. From Feb. 4-12, 2011, the group of architects, interior designers and journalists will travel to the cities of

Zaragoza, Teruel and Valencia to take in Spanish architecture, culture, culinary temptations and of course, Cevisama. The four professionals selected to attend are: Bob Borson Bob Borson is associate principal and architect at Bernbaum Magadini

Right: The City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de laes i de les Ciencies) in Valencia, Span.

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January/February 2011

Architects in Dallas, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992. During his time in school, he studied in Europe for six months having been selected for the London/Lugano Study Abroad Design Scholarship. Working in several disciplines, Bob has been architect/ lead designer on projects ranging from very large commercial, municipal (fire stations and community recreation centers), historic preservation, prototype retail, hospitality, and client based single family residential. Bob received his Legacy LEED AP certification in 2006 and is active in the Dallas Chapter AIA and the Dallas Center for Architecture having chaired several committees, (Ken Roberts Delineation, AIA Gala, Home Tour) and has served on the AIA leadership committee.

He also writes and maintains a blog at www.lifeofanarchitect.com, and can be followed on Twitter @ bobborson and www.facebook.com/ lifeofanarchitect. Andie Day Andie Day is an award-winning interior designer whose inventive solutions have been featured in the Washington Post, New England Home, Kitchen and Bath Ideas®, Design New England and in NECN’s inspirational television series: Dream House. Andie’s approach to interior design blends fashion with function to create a home that is simultaneously alluring and practical. Her boutique studio in Boston’s North End epitomizes her Design for Life™ philosophy that neither aesthetic appeal nor functionality need be compromised when designing a living space; from its window dressings reminiscent of couture handbags to its hidden storage compartments. The firm’s purview extends from entire home renovations to simple kitchen or bath remodels and small commercial projects. Her skill set combines the

From Left: Bob Borson, Andie Day, Scott Knudson and Lira Luis.

know-how that comes from raising three children and caring for an elderly parent with her breadth of knowledge in interior design, sustainable living, aging-in-place, and high fashion. Andie Day, LLC also partners with trusted architects and contractors to ensure the highest quality products and exceptional craftsmanship. An accredited member of NKBA and a certified aging-in-place specialist through NAHB, she maintains an active blog www.andieday.com/blog and can be followed on Facebook and on Twitter @AndieDay. Scott Knudson Scott Knudson is vp of design for Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planners PC, Washington, DC. He serves as principal designer for this 35-person firm with two offices doing work throughout the Mid-Atlantic with a focus on the DC Metro Area. He has presented at Design DC on affordable strategies in sustainable design and serves as secretary of the Executive Board for the Potomac Valley Chapter of AIA. Previous work includes the Cafritz Art Center for Montgomery College, an adaptive reuse of an 80,000 square-foot industrial building; The Avenue, currently under construction, a mixed-use affordable housing project using large-format ceramic tile throughout grand glassy lobby directly visible from a

Left: Terracotta columns designed by Navarrese architect Francisco Mangado surround the Spanish Pavilion at the Zaragoza Expo.

major thoroughfare to set a high-caliber tone at the onset of a major phased neighborhood revitalization. HIP’s Artists’ Housing, Renaissance Square Artists’ Housing, Wildlife Science Building, USDA, and Southwest Towers (currently under design) adaptive reuse of the former two highrise EPA office buildings to become 500 apartment units with highend amenity spaces with both traditional and contemporary unit designs. Scott earned his B.Arch from Virginia Tech. Lira Luis Lira Luis is a global American architect specializing in organic architecture. She graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin and a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture, Cum Laude, from the University of Santo Tomas. She holds multiple licenses Asia, North America, and a Chartered Architect designation in Continental Europe. She has designed an impressive army of diverse and sociallyrelevant building typographies in Asian and U.S. markets from the small-scale award-winning Portable Transient Shelter Pods to large scale designs for several of the Fortune 100 companies in the US. In 2010, National Geographic and The Aspen Institute selected her as Environment Forum Scholar. In the same year, the AIA selected her as recipient of the AIA Athena Young Professional Award. She also contributes articles as a resident blogger in Chicago Tribune’s ChicagoNow, and has been featured several times in the media in recent years. She maintains a blog at http://liraluis.blogspot.com and can be followed on Twitter @liraluis and www.facebook.com/liraluis. TILE

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Tile of Italy News By Danielle De Vita

2010 Cersaie Trend Report

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hat are the latest trends in tile? Asking the 83,000+ international attendees who attended the 28th edition of Cersaie – the international exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings – would most likely yield a thousand different answers. This annual platform for design-driven products and state-of-theart architectural solutions was held in Bologna, Italy from September 28 – October 2, 2010. With over 510 tile manufacturers present, the majority of which were Italian, the fair gave visitors a preview of the hottest, most innovative ceramic and porcelain collections before they hit the marketplace. On the style front, interesting cutouts, lace, oversized flowers, skinny stripes and 3-D surfaces stood out on the tile runway. In line with the times, visitors experienced a bounty of organic influences ranging from rustic woodlooks to natural stone and concrete. And who can forget about sustainable design and technological innovation?

New slim formats, digital printing and tiles with antibacterial properties and photovoltaic panels were introduced by numerous companies at the show and will surely make a big impact on the A&D community throughout the year. Designer Labels A roster of big names in design appeared in person or in the product pages of catalogs throughout the show.

Right: The “La Dolce Vita” collection from Elios featuring patchworks of quiltlike tiles in bold and muted colors.

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Mutina hit it out of the park with three designer collaborations that demonstrate the juxtaposition of fragile and industrial. The delicate-seeming “Folded” collection, designed by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay from UK-based Raw-Edges Design Studio, takes its cue from origami folded paper. Continuing its collaboration with Patricia Urquiola, Mutina introduced two new lines of soft-looking ceramics. “Bas-Relief” expresses the theme of different depths of bas-relief in four unique patterns while two new textures developed for “Dechirer” recall the appearance of wool and netting. Japanese design superstar, Tokujin Yoshioko, also made an appearance at Cersaie to personally explain the creative process behind his new geometric and textured “Phenomenon” collection. Like a perfectly tailored suit, “Lines” by Lea is backed by a designer label (Patrick

Above: Fioranese took cues from lace and macramé with the decorative tiles of its “BeautyColors” collection. Right: Greenwood by Cerim stood out for its worn, antiqued look.

Norguet) and features crisp, clean stripes of varying heights. Along with “Waves,” the two series are big (3m x 1m), bold (3mm thick) and beautiful. Lea also introduced “Gouche.10” by Diego Grandi that explores chromatic and tactile applications for ceramic. FAP’s “Nastro” ceramic tile and accessories bring Paul Smith’s fantastic stripes into the bathroom while Cisa’s “Ume” line by Japanese designer Kaori Shiina presents an elegant wallpaper motif. The young and talented designer, Luca Nichetto, designed the “Kaos” collection for Refin that is based on the molecular structure of ceramic itself. Meanwhile, Bardelli continued its relationship with Marcel Wanders to produce a popping grey and white 3-D tile that will be available in the spring. Style: Delicate to Industrial Good ideas often evolve from outside inspiration, which was very apparent at this year’s show. From urban influences to

textiles and centuries-old motifs, Italian companies are taking a strong poetic approach towards their new collections this season. Reflecting the design industry’s fascination with industrial spaces, the chromatic shades and irregular patterns of raw cement and concrete were seen in nearly every corner of the show. Standouts include: “Concreta” by Marazzi, “Eclipse” by Marca Corona, “Transit Slim” by Ragno, “Urban_Touch” by Fioranese, “Must” by Novabell and “Graffitti” by Refin. Mirage’s “Oxy” and Leonardo’s “Word Up” are two other lines influenced by the world of heavy industry and urban grit. At the other extreme, the application of hand-made motifs was evident in the numerous textile-inspired collections. Elios caught the attention of attendees with its “La Dolce Vita” collection, featuring patchworks of quilt-like tiles in bold and muted colors. Fioranese took cues from lace and macramé with the decorative tiles of its “BeautyColors” collection and Gabbianelli took textile inspiration literally with its new line of tile prototypes from iconic tie designer E. Marinelli. Multiple Shades of Green This ever-expanding and ever-important category deserves much attention. First, consider tile’s inherently green attributes like its durability, lifespan and resistance

to extreme weather conditions, fire, water and moisture. Then think about it in terms of indoor air quality, maintenance and hygiene. It scores quite high as a clean, durable, hypoallergenic and lowmaintenance covering solution. This is one of the many reasons why tile is moving far beyond the kitchen and bath to spaces like living rooms and bedrooms in the home. A city dwellers’ dream, it’s also the ideal flooring for apartment rentals. Tile also allows for easy, nontoxic cleaning, which is why hotels, wellness centers, hospitals and schools are areas experiencing continued growth. Understanding the importance of this issue, the Panaria Group (which includes Panaria, Lea, Fiordo, Cotto d’Este, Margres and Love) and Casalgrande Padana both introduced new antimicrobial tiles that eliminate up to 99% of bacteria. Since the antibacterial modules are embedded in the body of the tile, the technology does not affect the properties of the tile and offers longlasting protection. Another rapidly expanding area for Italian manufacturers is solar energy. Last year, Area was the first to introduce ceramic roof tiles with fitted photovoltaic modules that collect sunlight and use it to generate electricity. At the 2010 show, Laminam announced its partnership with the photovoltaic panel producer, System Photonics, to make solar panel “slabs” for

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Above: Mutina’s “Folded” collection, designed by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay from UK-based Raw-Edges Design Studio, takes its cue from origami folded paper. Right: Mirage’s “Oxy” is influenced by the world of heavy industry and urban grit.

roofs as well as building façades. Besides its innate eco-friendly characteristics, Italian tile producers are continually rethinking the entire production process. Many manufacturers are using a closed-loop system that recycles 100 percent of raw material and water wastes back into the production cycle. In fact, Ceramica Vogue has revamped its entire production process so that 100% of the unfired waste from all of the factories in the Altaeco group is reused. And shipping? Tiles made in Italy are generally sent to the U.S. by sea, which, according to a recent study analyzing transportation methods including container ships, trucks and planes, results in less greenhouse emissions. Plus the packaging is recyclable. From 100% recyclable packaging to tiles made with recycled content, the Italian tile industry is making a commitment to the environment. The Finicibec Group, which includes Monocibec, Naxos and Century, offers 22 collections that contain over 40% recycled material. Novabell’s “Tuscania,” Verde1999’s “TT120,” and 36

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Marca Corona’s “Marmo Ecologico” are just a few of the many new introductions containing a percentage of pre-consumer recycled content. Continuing the trend of putting electronic waste to good use, Refin used the show to launch “Murcia,” which contains 20% of post-consumer glass derived from the recycling of cathode ray tube TV sets. In terms of grout and adhesives, MAPEI is a proud innovator of environmentally responsible solutions and manufacturers more than 130 LEED-compliant products. Slimming Down More and more manufacturers are adding a new slimmer format to their offerings. In fact, the Italian tile industry is chairing the committee on thin tiles to develop an international standard for these slim products and their installation. The industry sees this sustainable solution as an important area for growth in the flooring and wallcovering sector. The ceramic tile’s slim size means less environmental impact due to the reduction in energy consumption,

January/February 2011

raw materials and transport costs. Laminam pioneered this impressive technology. Part of the System Group, it was the first to create the largest and thinnest ceramic surface ever: 3m2 and just 3mm thick. “Filo,” the company’s latest advancement, combines material innovation with a 3-D textured metallic surface. Cotto D’Este, another technological leader, has expanded Kerlite’s offerings to include “BlackWhite,” a series of contrasting light and dark tiles that are just 3.5mm thick. Meanwhile, Appiani’s “AppianiLight” tile is only 4mm thick, making it the thinnest glazed tile in the world. Slim is now also turning smaller. Continuing a long-running collaboration with the Italian architect Diego Grandi, Lea used the fair to launch two new collections of thin-format tiles at a reduced size. Finding that 3mm allows for precision, the new iteration of the trapezoid-shaped “Mauk” collection represents the first time the company has cut large, thin format panels into modular pieces. Similarly, the décor

Ceramic Tiles of Italy. A natural beauty. Choosing Italian tiles is a question of style. Beauty alone is no longer enough, you have to create harmony which is beauty and respect together. The beauty of a product of superior technical quality along with respect for working conditions and the environment.

For more information, please contact: Italian Trade Commission – Ceramic Tile Department – 33 East 67th Street – New York, NY 10065-5949 – ph (212) 980-1500 – fax (212) 758-1050 – [email protected] Ceramic Tiles of Italy, promoted by Confindustria Ceramica, is a registered trademark of Edi.Cer. S.p.a., the organizer of CERSAIE, International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings – Bologna, Italy, September 20-24, 2011 – www.cersaie.it

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Above: Refin’s “Murcia” contains 20% of post-consumer glass derived from the recycling of cathode ray tube TV sets. Right: Lea “Gouche.10” by Diego Grandi explores chromatic and tactile applications for ceramic.

element of “Gouache.10” features small, triangular tiles that can generate endless pattern combinations. New slender formats were also spotted in Ragno’s “Transit Slim”, Del Conca’s “ThermoTile”, and Casa Dolce Casa’s Black & White Slim/4.” Besides what’s brand new, best-selling archives have slimmed down and will be reintroduced in their new size. Examples include: Panaria’s “ZERO.3 Aisthesis,” and Imola’s “Vogue5.” Mother Nature as Muse The natural environment continues to excite artists, designers and manufacturers alike. With the aid of technology and increasing perfection of inkjet printing, Italian companies 38

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are reinventing natural materials as old as the world. Introductions mirroring the natural stone, marble, and antiqued wood rocked the 2010 show. Monocibec, Century and Naxos all use Digital Jet System technology to recreate the shades and patterns of natural stone. Naxos’ “Sand Rose” collection is inspired by natural formations known as “desert roses” while its brand new “Skyline” series is inspired by eight different precious marbles. Casalgrande Padana uses special micronized spraydried powders mixed at the time of pressing to produce a near-replica of marble known as “Marmogres.” Fondovalle lends pure elegance to residential spaces with its natural stoneinspired “Nebula” collection. On the wood side of things, flowers and foliage were spotted in nearly every size, shape, and color. Coem introduced its first wood-inspired collection called “Axis,” which consists of 47” long tile “planks.” The Graffito version is especially interesting for its “scratched” interpretation of sawcut wood. “Bellique” by Casa Dolce

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Casa and “Greenwood” by Cerim stood out for their worn, antiqued look. Meanwhile, Maison Sichenia’s “Jardin” series is dusted with delicate forms of barely-there flowers and interlaced brushstrokes that reveal a contemporary romanticism. Companies are also drawing on unique shapes and textures generated from nature – the hexagon being a prime example. Etruria has added four new sizes to its diamond-inspired hexagon-shaped beveled tile that brings to life compositions that were typical in the early 20th century. Similarly, “Diamonte” by Casalgrande Padana and “Light” by Sant’Agostino harness the power of light with changing angles in the surface of the tile. Also of note is Mutina’s “Phenomenon” collection, designed by Tokujin Yoshioko, which is inspired by honeycombs, snow crystals, icicles and plant cells. These are just a few of the trends seen at Cersaie 2010. To access and download more new products, visit http://italytile. com. For more information on Cersaie, visit www.cersaie.it. TILE

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Tile Products

197 LIGNOMAT

199 WAGNER ELECTRONICS

Wagner unveils newly designed Rapid RH 4.0 The Rapid RH® 4.0 from Wagner Electronics combines their patented Smart Sensor and redesigned Easy Reader with Touch-n-Sense™ technology for “accurate, virtually automatic” relative humidity testing in concrete slabs, the company says. For details, circle 199 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Lignomat’s BL2 records humidity from multiple locations The new BL2 from Lignomat can not only record the relative humidity in an area, but also the wood moisture content from three different places. A graph with all four measurements shows how the relative humidity affects the wood moisture and vice versa. Applications in the flooring industry for the BL2 range from measurements during acclimation to on-site recordings after the floor has been installed. For details, circle 197 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

196 ECORE INTERNATIONAL

Ecore’s QTscu QTscu from Ecore is a flat, resilient designed for application directly under all floor finishes. Manufactured in the U.S. using premium recycled tire rubber granules, QTscu features 92% recycled rubber content. Available in 48”-wide rolls and a variety of thicknesses. For details, circle 196 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

196 PROSPEC 195 MAPEI CORP.

MAPEI’s Topcem Premix accelerates tile installation New from MAPEI, Topcem Premix is a ready-to-use mortar that requires only water to create a 4” thick, highstrength screed that allows tile to be installed after just 24 hours. Designed to look, feel and finish like ready-mix concrete, Topcem Premix is ideal for filling trenches, re-sloping balconies and forming screeds, the company says. For details, circle 195 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

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200 CUSTOM BUILDING PRODUCTS

Custom Building Products’ New Silicone Caulk Commercial 100% Silicone Caulk from Custom Building Products is designed for use in coves, corners, changes in plane and expansion joints associated with exterior and interior applications of tile and stone. Can be used in pools and other wet area applications. Conforms to ASTM C-920 and ASTM C-794 properties.

January/February 2011

ProSpec® introduces ProColor tile grout ProSpec has introduced its latest grout technology with the launch of ProColor. Designed to eliminate the issues associated with typical Portland cement-based grouts, ProColor offers extended bucket life and easy trowelability and clean-up, the company notes. Fully cured, ProColor offers excellent surface hardness and compressive strength. Available as sanded and unsanded in 38 colors. For details, circle 196 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

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Tile of China News

Perspectives on the Chinese Tile Market

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ILE Magazine publisher Phil Johnson recently sat down with Bode Stone’s president and general manager, Ye Rongheng for a one-on-one interview addressing the U.S. and Chinese ceramic tile markets. TILE: How has the U.S. economy affected your overall market, if at all? Mr. Ye: The impact of the U.S. economy on Bode’s overall market is not much, for two main reasons: 1. The U.S. market is a part of our global market, which in general, is in good shape and moving forward. Therefore, the impact caused by U.S. economic crisis has been limited. On the other hand, Bode has a strong domestic market, which is a powerful support to us. 2. The fluctuation of the U.S. economy is only a periodical problem. It will recover and regain its strength.

styling specific for the American market. How have you addressed those concerns in terms of new products, quality and consistency? Mr. Ye: The concerns about product consistency and styling specific are the focus of many markets, not just the U.S. As a highly internationalized company, Bode addresses product quality and consistency through the design, development and manufacturing processes. The export percentage of Bode is exceptionally high; our products have been sold to dozens of countries and areas, and well-tested by various countries and consumers. We have been extremely focused on new product development,

TILE: What are your top three export countries? Mr. Ye: Australia, Italy and Spain. TILE: With past U.S. tile buyer missions to Foshan, distributors expressed various concerns of product consistency and

Right: Bode Stone’s president and general manager, Ye Rongheng with TILE Publisher Phil Johnson.

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product quality and consistency. In order to ensure the quality and consistency of our products, Bode has set up strict standards, from product styling, to raw material selection, to the entire manufacturing process. We have carried out ISO9001 fully and established a strong quality assurance system. We’ve gained a good reputation in the international market, including the U.S. TILE: How is the changing exchange rate with the floating RMB affecting your export business and how are you preparing for it? Mr. Ye: In fact, the fluctuation of RMB vs. the U.S. dollar is a lot more serious than other currencies. It’s true that the rising value of RMB makes a great impact on the enterprises with high export percentage. Our strategy to face the challenge is: 1. Maintain the creativity and variation of Bode products. Some of our products in the U.S., or even in

the overall international market, are unique to Bode. Along with the supreme quality that Bode always focused on, our sales in the overseas market will not be strongly affected. 2. Keep enhancing the internal management; continue to the reduce cost of production by increasing the productivity to absorb the loss caused by RMB fluctuation, in order to provide our international customers with higher P/P ratio (performance/price) products. TILE: In the U.S., as well as other countries, there are environmental concerns and perhaps mistaken perceptions that Chinese manufacturers are not taking the same measures to advance sustainable “green” practices, using recycled and reclaimed materials, waste water renewal, energy efficiencies, air pollution standards, etc. What would you like our readers to know about the sustainable “green” practices and initiatives your company may be engaged into dispel these misperceptions? Mr. Ye: There’re indeed some mistaken perceptions in the U.S. towards Chinese manufacturers in terms of sustainable “green” practices. In fact, under the strong advocacy and support of the Chinese government and its strict regulation, many outstanding Chinese enterprises have put the Green Action Plan into practice. At Bode, for example, our enterprise has passed through the highest national certification of China’s environmental labeling. We adopt clean energy and make great efforts on reducing carbon emission. In the aspect of water resource, we accomplished the recycling utilization and make zero discharge for waste water. Regarding the discharge to atmosphere, we have instilled the use of the most advanced equipment and have taken measures to ensure that the discharge meets the strict requirements of the government. Our company passed the certification of ISO14001 many years ago and is among the first group of clean production enterprises in Guangdong. Recently, we were also awarded the “Hong Kong – Guangdong Cleaner Production Partner (Manufacturing)” label.

TILE: There is a general opinion that tile from China should cost less. Do you think that is unfair and how would you like to change that perception? Mr. Ye: Generally speaking, the prices of the tiles from China are not high. The prices of the tiles with common quality from some small factories are quite low. To change this perception, I think we should follow two steps: 1. Change the perception of international buyers of buying low-price products from China. It’s not true that the lower

There are indeed some mistaken perceptions in the U.S. towards Chinese manufacturers in terms of sustainable “green” practices. In fact, under the strong advocacy and support of the Chinese government and its strict regulation, many outstanding Chinese enterprises have put the Green Action Plan into practice.

the price, the better it is. The price of a product is based on the production cost. If there’s no profit for a factory, or the price is even lower than the cost, then how can the quality be guaranteed? On the other hand, many countries have an anti-dumping policy against Chinese tiles because the selling price is too low while at the same time requiring Chinese factories to reduce their prices. This is obviously not fair. 2. We should offer consumers high P/P ratio products, and then set up reasonable prices while ensuring the quality and styling, in order to avoid disordered competition.

TILE: Without a name and brand that is readily known to the U.S. tile buying market, and with little physical presence in the way of local facilities or representation, how do you market to the U.S. customer? Mr. Ye: Parts of Bode products are sold under the brand of Bode via our distributors and we have a showroom and warehouse in Anaheim, CA. We have advertised in tile industry magazines and attended Covering shows, so Bode has a better standing compared to the new Chinese brands, which are totally unknown in the U.S. markets. However, that is not good enough. We will keep investing in the U.S. market on marketing and services. I believe with the growth of distributors and customers, the Bode brand will be more recognizable in future markets. The creativity, supreme quality and high performance of Bode products will be the key to gaining a good reputation in the U.S. market. TILE: How do you, as one of the larger producers of tile, differentiate your company and products from the many trading companies and smaller, low-cost sellers of tile from China? Mr. Ye: Bode always takes brand and product differentiation as the essence of the enterprise. Brand differentiation is taking “creativity and fineness” as the spirit, and making “create a perfect international brand” as the target of the enterprise. The Bode brand always attends the competition of international market on a higher starting point and with an internationalized image. Product differentiation means that all of Bode’s products are designed by independent innovation and has its own proprietary intellectual property rights. Some of the products, such as Bode “Fine Jade Stone,” “Diamond Frits,” which carry a China Invention Patent, are regarded as, “The revolution of the world’s ceramic science and technology.” The product differentiation of Bode is well-known in both domestic and international market, and one of the reasons our products are in demand in the world.

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Product Marketplace 16th China Int’l Ceramic & Sanitaryware Fair closes on upbeat, positive note

THRESHOLDS AND WINDOW SILLS IN STONE Stock Materials: Travertine, Crema Marfil, White Carrara, Absolute Black and Pure White. Stock Designs: Standard ¼” or Hollywood (Handicapped) Bevel ADA Thresholds, Shower Curbs and Corner Shelves. Stock Dimensions: Window Sills: 3”, 4”, 5”, 6”, 7”, 8”, 9”, 10”, 11”, 12” wide by 36”, 56” and 74” long Thresholds: 2”, 4”, 4 ½”, 5”, 6” wide by 36” long. All prefabricated and ready for shipment in Florida. STONEXCHANGE 9635 NW 13th Street Miami, Florida 33172 T: 305 513 9795 F: 305 513 9932 www.stonexchange.net For details circle #135 on the Free Information Card.

ULTRAFLEX™ LFT RAPID FASTSETTING MORTAR Ultraflex LFT Rapid is a rapid-setting, nonsag medium-bed and thin-set mortar for largeformat tile and stone. It can be used for interior/exterior floor, wall and countertop installations. This mortar has a high content of a unique dry polymer, resulting in excellent adhesion to the substrate and tile. Ultraflex LFT Rapid is Fast Track Ready™, allowing grouting in 3 to 4 hours. Features and Benefits • Polymer-enriched for high performance and deformability • Nonsag formula for large-format tile and stone in wall applications • Nonslump for large-format tile and stone in floor applications; can be used as a medium bed up to 3/4” (19 mm) thick • Smooth and creamy consistency makes it easy to apply • Low-Dust Technology reduces dust by 90%, resulting in a cleaner environment • Allows grouting in 3-4 hours For details circle #137 on the Free Information Card.

TAVY 008 HELPS UPDATE SHOWROOMS QUICKLY New from Tavy Tools is the TAVY 008 Showroom System designed to “allow you to change your showroom floor as often as you like. Your tile will go down easy and sound like it’s permanent, but you can literally peel up the tile to reveal an undamaged sub-surface,” the company says. The installed tile floats over the sub-surface for less debris and zero dust. For details circle #138 on the Free Information Card.

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January/February 2011

TILE Magazine publisher Phil Johnson (left) visits one of several hundred exhibitors during the five-day event.

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he recently concluded 16th China International Ceramic & Sanitaryware Fair Foshan featured five days of “remarkable achievement” with an estimated turnover of a 3 billion RMB ($451M USD), 99,867 visitors (up by 96.93% from 2009’s autumn session). Foreign visitors accounted for 39.95% of attendees, while professional buyers accounted for 64.47% of the total. The majority of foreign buyers originated from other Asian countries and the Middle East. According to China Ceramics City and China Ceramics Industry Headquarters, the fruitful results of this show have driven 70% of temporary exhibitors to buy booths for the next session even before the fair closed. The Spring Fair, set for April 18-22, will undoubtedly be another glorious chapter.” The fall event also featured several education sessions and lectures, including “Impact on PRC Exporters Post Global Financial Crisis,” “U.S. Tile Market Report,” and “The Road for Innovation Breakthrough of Ceramic Industry.” For more information about the biannual fair, visit www.eccc.com.cn/en/tradeshows.asp. TILE

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MAPEI Corp. ..................... 3, 17 34, 35 (954) 246-8888 www.mapei.com

Arizona Hot Dots ....................39 (480) 451-3687 www.azhotdots.com

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Bode USA ..................................2 (714) 772-3388 www.bodestone.com

2

MP Global Products ................19 (888) 379-9695 www.quietwalk.com

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Ceramic Tiles of Italy ..............37 (212) 980-1500 www.italiantiles.com

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Omega Products Int’l ..............51 (800) 600-6634 www.sienaproducts.com

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Coverings 2011................. 25, 27 (800) 687-7469 www.coverings.com

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Original Mission Tile ..............39 (52) (444) 817-3929 www.originalmissiontile.com

124

CTEF .......................................39 (864) 222-2131 www.tilecareer.com

Pearl Abrasive Co. ...................15 (800) 969-5561 www.pearlabrasive.com

4

CTIOA.....................................18 (310) 574-7800 www.ctioa.org

Shanghai ExpoBuild Int’l ........45 86 (21) 64371178 www.ceramics-china.cn

98

Custom Building Products ......................... 12-13 (800) 272-8786 www.custombuildingproducts.com

Spizzi Mosaics .........................39 (612) 483-1673 www.spizzimosaics.com

130

Stonexchange ...........................44 (305) 513-9795 www.stonexchange.net

135

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7

Desert Rose Stone....................39 (888) 849-7070 www.desertrosestone.com

122

TCNA ......................................49 (864) 646-8453 www.tileusa.com

18

Tiles of Spain.............................5 (305) 446-4387 www.spaintiles.info

27

Florida Tile ................................7 (863) 687-7171 www.floridatile.com

Wagner Electronic Products ....22 (800) 207-2486 www.RapidRH.com

5

D’Arte Designs, LLC ...............39 (702) 372-3755 www.dartedesigns.com

Foshan China Ceramics City, Ltd. ..............41 (86) (757) 82727011 www.eccc.com.cn Hakatai Enterprises .................39 (888) 667-2429 www.hakatai.com HCP Industries........................30 (800) 982-1550 www.hcpindustries.com

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Tile Q&A By Stephanie Samulski

(formerly known as the Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation)

installation considerations need to be factored in when glass tile is selected. TCNA also worked with the MIA and NTCA to determine the same relative to installing stone tile. The resulting recommendations were then considered, tweaked, and ultimately approved by the Handbook Committee of industry experts. The result? Vast improvements to the 2011 Handbook with regard to guidelines for installing glass and stone tile.

T

What are the new Handbook guidelines for installing glass tile? Glass tile will now be listed as an option in 70 Handbook installation methods. Within those methods, some added precautions are also listed:

Changes to the 2011 TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installation

he title of the Handbook has been changed to reflect the newly-added methods and recommendations for installing glass tile and natural stone tile. Previously, the Handbook did contain some general information and cautions for installing glass tile, such as acceptable and unacceptable substrates and the need for high quality bonding mortars. However, the Handbook did not call out specific installation methods as acceptable, with the recommendation instead being to consult the glass tile manufacturer for an appropriate method. Likewise, while many methods in the Handbook were used for the installation of stone tile and were referenced by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), those methods were not specific to stone and did not provide stone-specific criteria. But, over the past year, the TCNA glass tile manufacturers’ subcommittee, with input from contractor representatives of the

National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), identified which methods are suitable for installing glass successfully, and what additional design and

Right: The 2011 TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Installation.

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January/February 2011

temperature coated glass tiles are not intended for installation with cementitious materials. Cement mortar alkalinity may deteriorate those low temperature applied backings and increase the risk of delamination, particularly in wet or humid environments.” Also, “due to the imperviousness of glass tile,

setting materials may take longer to cure, particularly when also installed over an impervious substrate.” The glass guide also provides installation requirements, some of them heretofore lesser-known, even among seasoned installers: • “With translucent glass tiles, setting

Let TCNA Focus On Your Product Development . . . For stone floor installations, two layers of plywood are required if backer board will be used.

While You Focus On Your Game!

TCNA • Emphasis on the need for movement accommodation • Recommendation to use white mortar for translucent glass • Consideration of the floor service rating and how glass tile may affect it • Requirement to consult glass tile manufacturer for allowable membranes and membrane placement. Plus, the new Handbook includes a Glass Tile Selection and Installation Guide, which provides definitions and aesthetic expectations for glass tiles. For example, the guide explains, “many cast glass tile surfaces are wavy and slightly textured with inherent folds, bubbles and creases” and “fused glass tile surfaces can be smooth, textured, uniform or non-uniform.” This glass guide also provides expanded substrate recommendations, such as the need for substrates to be “sufficiently flat to allow uniform coverage and avoid excessive thin-set build-up” to avoid cracks in the glass, and expanded recommendations for mortars and adhesives: “Some low

Put the industry’s leading laboratory testing team to work for you! &HUDPLF7LOH‡6WRQH‡,QVWDOODWLRQ0DWHULDOV 6\VWHPV 5HVHDUFK‡3URGXFW'HYHORSPHQW

7LOH&RXQFLORI1RUWK$PHULFD Product Performance Testing Laboratory 864-646-8453 / www.tileusa.com

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49

material color and full coverage are essential; white is commonly recommended. Avoid using setting materials from different production batches and check for bag-to-bag color consistency.” • “For hollow-shaped pieces (v-cap, quarter round, crown caps, etc.), backbutter the tile but do not fill the cavity. Excess setting material can shrink and may cause cracking or ghosting.” What are the new Handbook guidelines for installing stone tile? Instead of incorporating stone information into existing methods, as was done for glass, separate stand-alone methods were created for installing natural stone tile, also called dimension stone. This approach was taken to provide the Handbook user clear insight into the difference between selecting engineered products like glass and ceramic tile, which can be manufactured to meet specified performance criteria, and harvested products, like stone, which cannot. Consider the example above regarding service ratings for floor installations. Natural stone tiles range widely in performance. Some stones, for example many limestones, are softer than typical ceramic tiles and would be expected to break and show abrasion more easily. But other stones would perform as well as ceramic on a floor. The one generalization that can be made is that it is wise to research a stone’s performance in consideration of the intended use. Because of the variability of natural stone, the 2011 Handbook requires stone tile to be installed using an unbonded (floating) mortar bed for installations larger than 100 square feet where the substrate is post-tensioned concrete. The stone guide explains: “because dynamic movements of post-tensioned slabs have proven problematic for directly-adhered natural stone, Method F111 is the only method of installation over post-tensioned slabs, on-ground or above-ground.” By contrast, ceramic tile can be bonded directly to post-tensioned concrete provided that a more deformable mortar

50

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is used to accommodate the inherently increased amount of movement in such slabs as compared to traditional-style

Instead of incorporating stone information into existing methods, as was done for glass, separate stand-alone methods were created for installing natural stone tile, also called dimension stone.

reinforced concrete. Where the substrate is wood framing and subflooring, again a mortar bed method of installation is preferred for stone. Backer

This glass guide also provides expanded substrate recommendations, such as the need for substrates to be “sufficiently flat to allow uniform coverage and avoid excessive thin-set build-up” to avoid cracks in the glass, and expanded recommendations for mortars and adhesives…

board is only provided as an option over wood subflooring if two layers of structural plywood subflooring are installed and joists

January/February 2011

are spaced no more than 16” on center. This is because of “the discontinuity of the system at seams between the subfloor panels,” which can result in cracked stone. The second layer of plywood reduces cracking by reducing differential deflection of adjacent framing members. The unbonded mortar bed method simply accommodates the differential deflection by providing a separation of the installation from the subfloor. Are there any other changes to the Handbook? Absolutely. In addition to the glass and stone guidelines, much more was done to improve the utility of the 2011 Handbook and its user-friendliness; the 2011 edition will be about 300 pages! Stay tuned for parts II and III of this series of articles for information on the other important changes and additions such as: environmental classification and weight per square foot assigned to each Handbook method, wet area guidelines, ISO mortar and grout identification and explanation, and ceramic tile selection, just to name a few. TILE

About the Author Stephanie Samulski is an instructor at the Ceramic Tile Education Stephanie Foundation Samulski (CTEF) and a project manager for the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). She entered the tile trade in 1999 as an apprentice with the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 32 in Detroit, and she went on to install tile as an independent contractor. Ms. Samulski received her BA in Journalism from Wayne State University.

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Quartzite Collection www.stonepeakceramics.com

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