b"TECHNICAL The INS and OUTSof layoutBy Robb Roderick, NTCA Technical TrainerWhenweanalyzetheresultsIn real-world situations, layout is of the Certifi ed Tile Installer (CTI)essential for achieving a pleasing, test,givenbytheCeramicTileeven design. In either case, there is EducationFoundation,wecandefi nitely a need for training on tile see that when individuals fail, itslayout. The NTCA's newest work-most commonly because they areshop program is designed around unable to complete the test in thethis theme, and these are a few of allotted time. Often, thats becausethe topics we will be addressing in so much time was spent trying tothat new training.determinelayout,andthosethat struggled with their layout simplyANSI and TCNA layout guidelinesdid not have time to complete theirBoth ANSI and the TCNA give us module. guidelines for layout; this informa-tion can be found in ANSI A108.02 Section4.3,andintheTCNA HandbooksectionFieldand Installation Requirements.ANSI directs us that:1.Tile layouts should be centered and balanced, if possible.2.We should not have an exces-sivenumberofcuts,withno cuts being smaller than a half tile when possible. TheTCNAHandbooksuggests the same but gives us a variety of situationswheretheseguidelines maynotbethebestoptionor even possible in some scenarios. Tile layouts should be centered and bal- Examples of these are:anced, like this one, if possible. Considerationsoffocalpoints 84 TileLetter | June 2020"