and Nick Della Maggiore. In order to grow into the company it is today, the Della Maggiores have made their objective to provide the highest quality craftsmanship on a daily basis, by providing an oppor- tunity for any employee willing to successfully obtain the highest skills necessary to become a certi- fied tile layer/setter. This commit- ment to qualified labor has made Della Maggiore Tile & Stone a premier tile installer in San Jose, Calif., serving the Bay area. To obtain Five Star Contractor certification, contractors must be a member of NTCA, and com- plete an application process that includes submitting examples of work, reviews and recommenda- tions from peers and customers, and demonstrating proven com- mitment to service, quality, safety and superior job performance. Five Star Contractors are also required to certify a minimum of 10 % of their installers through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) Certified Tile Installer program or have completed a three (3) year apprenticeship program approved by the Department of Labor. If you are a NTCA member and interested in gaining Five Star Contractor certification, con- tact Five Star Contractor Program Director Amber Fox at amber@ tile-assn.com. 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 FIVE STAR CONTRACTOR UPDATE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 104 TileLetter | March 2018