custom-sized and shaped showers and multi-drain areas like com- mercial kitchens have kept mortar bed work on floors more necessary. Accordingly, mortar bed work is more widely practiced by residen- tial and commercial installers alike. To prove their wall mud prowess, the contenders had to produce flat, plumb-faced walls with plumb and level perimeter edges, sized to the correct height and width for the tile installed over it. They also had to stay within industry standards for minimum and maximum thick- ness. In addition to the two adja- cent walls being closely inspected for these considerations, evaluators checked the corner where they intersected for squareness. After putting up their wall muds, the apprentice contestants screed- ed and floated a mortar bed floor, installed tile with a challenging layout and trim pieces, and fin- ished their test modules with grout and caulk. According to Ortiz and Collier, a total of about 40 installation details were carefully inspected and scored by the four journeyman evaluators, who quite obviously took their role seriously. Over the course of the day they compared notes constantly, and quietly but passionately debated their observations to arrive at their final evaluation scores. The indi- vidual aspects of the test module that they scored were the critical requirements and workmanship standards aimed at avoiding instal- lation failures and aesthetic issues. Combing the mortar correctly to achieve proper mortar coverage TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A view of the apprentice contestants working on their modules. Evaluators confer and judge the work of the apprentice contestants. 82 TileLetter | November 2018