2 2017 | TECH T E C H A p r o d u c t a n d t r e n d s r e p o r t f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l T i l e C o n t r a c t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n Production: Bart A. Bettiga, Publisher bart@tile-assn.com Lesley A. Goddin, Editor lesley@tile-assn.com Michelle Chapman, Art Director, michelle@tile-assn.com Mary Shaw-Olson, Advertising Sales mary@tile-assn.com Mailing Address: P .O. Box 13629 Jackson, MS 39236 U.S.A. Shipping Address: 626 Lakeland East Drive Jackson, MS 39232 Tel: 601-939-2071 Fax: 601-932-6117 Website: www.tile-assn.com www.tileletter.com NTCA would not be possible without the dedicated service of our board and committee members, and regional and state directors. Meet these dedicated volunteers by visiting www.tile-assn.com and clicking on About Us.You can also find information and a continually-updated list of Five Star Contractors at www.tile-assn.com – click on Find a Tile Con- tractor or Consultant. TRENDS AND TECH EDITORIAL POLICY: TRENDS and TECH are official publications of the National Tile Contractors Association, Inc. (NTCA). TRENDS provides a medium for expressing views and opinions without approving, disapprov- ing, or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data, claim or opinion appearing under a byline, or obtained or quoted from an acknowledged source. Statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors alone, and do not imply an opinion or reflect the official position of NTCA. The National Tile Contractors Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity association and seeks to include qualified individu- als and businesses in all phases of its activities.The National Tile Contractors Association,Inc.does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability. The National Tile Contractors Association, Inc. seeks opportunities to include these groups in its programs and activities. EDITOR’S LETTER Lesley Goddin Interesting, isn’t it, that two of the greatest minds and inventors in the history of computers and software – two minds who have totally changed life as we know it – consider technology secondary to the creativity and motivation of the human spirit? This keeps with the theme we’ve had in our editor letters for much of the year – the need for education, motivation, support to encourage young people to study and excel in a trade, for their own livelihoods and the good of the country’s productivity as a whole. It also is good to keep in mind that technology is only as good as those who put it to use. This issue of TECH – our third annual installment – illustrates and enumerates many of the technological trends sweeping our industry. Large-format tile, gauged porcelain panels and slabs, barrier free shower systems, high-per- formance cement grout, LHT mortars, smart electric floor heating systems, new backing, leveling and lippage-control technologies, sustainable products and more. Manufacturers have poured millions of R&D dollars into developing these tools that make tile setting jobs quicker, easier and more enduring – but tile setters have to both embrace these technologies and be taught proper techniques to use them. That’s where the “teacher” comes in – whether it’s in the form of an online class, manufacturer product training, or an NTCA Workshop or training event in a town near you. Knowledge of these new technologies will not just float into your head by osmosis – you need to attend or attend to some of these training opportunities to keep current with what new advances are flooding the market. This issue of TECH will help get you started, with comments from manufacturers about the direction the industry is taking, products that manifest new properties and characteristics designed to make your projects a success and comments from contractors in the field using these technologies. There are also several stories that touch on regional trends, how the industry is responding to OSHA’s new silica rule and a training/education update from NTCA. TECH this year comes to you through the tremendous effort of contributing editor Lou Iannaco, who has 26 years in the industry and has contributed some of our stories in the past. Lou took on the monumental task of requesting, assembling, organizing and editing all the information you see on these pages to bring you this 2017 update. Working together, we hope what you hold in your hands launches you into 2018 with new product knowledge and direction and paves the way for your success. God bless, Lesley Goddin lesley@tiie-assn.com “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” – Bill Gates “Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.” – Steve Jobs Lou Iannaco