field,” Laird explained, adding, “It levels me with union companies as far as some bidding opportuni- ties, and allows me to bid on some commercial projects that I would otherwise be excluded from. It has benefitted my company by allow- ing me to bid these projects – and I really like including the Five-Star logo on my company shirts.” Laird is a big believer in the strength of qualified labor, and has made it a goal to get his installers credentialed. “We currently have four installers certified, which is 100% of my full-time installers including myself,” he said. “We all took our test at Surfaces in Vegas, which is about a 10 hour drive for us.” Laird himself is CTI #1091 (See TileLetter’s Qualified Labor story in December 2015, for details), and passed his exam in January, 2015. “Every year I try to take one person to Surfaces to get certified,” he said. “I took two in 2016, one in 2017 and missed 2018. But I believe I have one ready for this year.” Being a tile contractor holds many benefits for Laird. “The great- est joy I get from being a tile con- tractor is I get to pay my bills,” he said. “Each job is different, so it’s not boring – and I am passing on my knowledge to my two sons so they can take over my company some day when I retire, if they choose. It is also satisfying to see the completed project – which completely transforms the area – and have satisfied customers.” Designed to deliver attractive, high-quality tile surfaces while preventing call-backs, Custom® Building Products’ Prism® Ultimate Performance Cement Grout is the proven, go-to option for a wide variety of installation projects. A high- p e r f o r m a n c e cement grout meeting ANSI A118.7, it’s formulated for higher strength, more resistance to cracking and less water absorption to reduce the likelihood of staining. Prism Ultimate Performance Cement Grout can be used in joints from 1/16” to 1/2”. It will not mottle or shade regardless of tile type, temperature or humid- ity, and does not contribute to efflorescence. The density provides stain resistance while its rapid- setting formula expedites proj- ects. Prism Ultimate Performance Cement Grout is lightweight, giv- ing installers unmatched handling and workability while contributing to LEED certification. Available in 17-pound boxes, Prism Ultimate Performance Cement Grout covers the same area as a 25-pound bag of standard grout. www.custombuildingproducts.com. NTCA FIVE-STAR CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT –––––––––––––––––––––––––– 54 TileLetter | January 2019