b'TECHNICAL mixing waterproofing systems andconsider is what the manufactur-materials.er recommends. A huge strength Ascontractors,wesimplycantof our industry is the partnerships know for sure how different mate- between installers and manufac-rials will interact with one another.turers.Ourtradebenefitsfrom The liquid might require a mechan- thesupportandknowledgethat icalprofiletograbonto,ortheisavailabletoeachandevery sheetmightnotallowtheliquidone of us. Following the recom-tointegratefullyintothefabric,mendationsofthemanufactur-thus potentially allowing water toers of the products we use is the migratebehindtheliquidmem- simplest step we can take in our brane,leadingtoafailure.Sincepartnership.wecantspeaktothecomposi- Apopularsentimentandstate-tion of the different materials andmentismywordismywar-howtheyllinteract,careshouldranty. Unfortunately, it is not that betakeninmixingcomponentssimple.Whencompanieswrite fromdifferentmanufacturers.Askwarranties, they are binding legal yourselfthefollowing:Ifthereislanguage.Inotherwords,ifyou afailure,wherewouldthefaultmeet the terms of a warranty, they lie? In the liquid seam? Or in themustaswell. Andthesecompa-fabric material? How could that benies want to partner with us, and determined?sotheywanttomakesureyou In this case the failure, and lia- and your client are taken care of. bility,wouldliesquarelyontheManufacturers want to stand with shoulders of the installer. youbehindtheirproduct.Often, Its worth noting that some man- manufacturersrepswillevengo ufacturers allow for a liquid seambeyondwhatsrequiredofthem mixed with their sheet membrane.bythetermsofthewarrantyto Since they are able to test in a lab- help installers in the field and to oratorysetting,theycanconfirmeducate them. Of course, as noted the suitability and compatibility ofabove,thatmaybethestartof these installations in their systems.along-termpartnershipbetween This is key to deciding if a hybridthe company and you.approach is the right one for yourConsiderthis:in2020wesuf-installation. If you prefer buildingferedaneconomicshutdown yourshowersystemsinthisway,thatcouldnotbeavoideddue choose a system designed for it. toCOVID-19.Manysmallbusi-nesses went under, as they could Partnering with a manufacturerno longer afford to stay in business. benefits your client Othersencounteredhealthissues Thesecondissueyoushouldassociated with our trade and must 102TileLetter | August 2020'