Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116with a breadth of supplies and expertise for a wide variety of appli- cations. Not only is this a matter of convenience, time and money, but quite often these new technologies are designed to work well together. It’s also prudent to make sure that the products are offered with full warranty coverage. Why assume unnecessary risk? Whatever the case, be sure to follow any manufacturer’s detailed instructions and, when in doubt, consult with them or search their website for addition- al product and warranty infor- mation. Some of that informa- tion is conveyed via instructional videos. Tile professionals need to validate the importance of surface prepara- tion from the very beginning of every project. Establish a base level of surface preparation to be includ- ed in the original bid or estimate. Document a threshold at which the owner becomes responsible for costs. The more contractors in the tile installation business do this, the more this critical stage of a project will be accept- ed – and the fewer call- backs your business will receive. It’s always a good idea to have photos of instal- lations gone wrong to show a prospective cus- tomer (or general con- tractor) who pushes back at the suggestion of sur- face preparation. Photos often help explain what can happen if the setting material (such as a mortar) can’t bond properly to the substrate, even if there’s no problem with the bond between the setting material and the tile itself. The right installation materials, including surface preparation prod- ucts, working as one system from subfloor to sealant, will help tile installations last longer. Each job you do is your calling card for future work. The TEC® brand is offered by H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc. – a leading provider of technologically advanced construction materials and solutions to the commercial, industri- al and residential construction indus- try. Headquartered in Aurora, Ill., the company’s recognized and trusted brands – TEC®, CHAPCO®, Grout Boost®, Foster®, ProSpec® and others – are available through an extensive network of distributors and deal- ers, as well as home improvement retailers. For more information, visit www.hbfuller-cp.com. TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– TEC® has expanded its surface preparation line – with ten new products in five categories – that deliver instal- lation advantages and improved performance. 64 TileLetter | November 2016