tile three days later. His solution was to never use that brand of tile again. Dealing with the problem So, what to do? In broad strokes, these are the suggestions by small contractors and NTCA experts who have wrestled with this problem: • Understand the standards and know the TCNA Handbook methods • Don’t buy the tile • Order extra and do mockups • Stay ahead of the job • Do not INSTALL substandard tile • Be wary of homeowner-pur- chased product from big box stores • Keep clients informed of the twists and turns and progress of the job – both good and bad • Work with reputable distributors • Request all technical information before starting a project when working with unfamiliar suppli- ers or owner-supplied material; clarify that numbers for the proj- ect are based on it meeting stan- dard • Educate the client to have rea- sonable expectations of what to expect from the job Stay tuned to the April 2018 issue of TileLetter, when we’ll look at these suggestions in a lit- tle more detail. Want to add to the discussion? Feel free to email lesley@tile-assn.com with your suggestions, experiences or obser- vations on this topic. HOT TOPICS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The NTCA Reference Manual was developed to identify recurring chal- lenges to successful installations of tile and stone,recognize potential problems,and to gain consensus from industry experts on offering solutions. New updates to the following topics: • Spot Bonding • Proper preparation and ANSI require- ments • Curing compounds and release agents • Interior installation of tile over exterior glued plywood • Preparation for thickset installations • Movement joints • Questionable/unsuitable substrates • Backerboards • Concrete substrate issues • Underlayments,trowelable and poured • Loss of underlayment bond to substrate • Cracking underlayment • Soft or powdery underlayment • Poured gypsum underlayments • Steam rooms • Glass tile description • Glass tile installations • Shower issues with tub/shower combo and prefab shower pans • Position statement on thin porcelain tile • Radiant heat issues for tile and stone installations • Recommendation for exterior tile maintenance • Care and maintenance www.tile-assn.com 56 TileLetter | February 2018