ing the homeowner’s vision, the designer’s choices, and the contrac- tor’s reality all come together. In 2009, a Facebook friend intro- duced me to the John Bridge Tile Forum. This was the start of networking with other tile people from around the world who are just as pas- sionate about the trade as myself. I am still very close with a handful of people I started con- versations with the first day on the Forum. From there, another Facebook group was hatched – Tile Geeks. This is where I was able to share and get feedback on installa- tion ideas and techniques. 3D Stone and Tile is born In 2012 I installed the exterior of a home with 3D wedged stone. The designers loved the look of the 3D tile and wanted to use a 3D wedged Calacatta Marble, herringbone set on a fireplace. Since 3D wedged Calacatta wasn’t available I told 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 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Social media skills paid off for Rod Katwyk! The fortune cookie confirms it! The EPS foam was waterproofed with fabric and flexible sealant. Katwyk's cut shop made templates and cut the top pieces for the tile installer. 54 TileLetter | February 2019