b'+NTCA FIVE-STAR FEATURENTCA Five-StarE very year, the NTCA selects its NTCA Five-Star Projects of the Year. The announcement of these awards is a bit different this yearas are most Contractorthings in 2020but the projects and contractors are being awarded all the same!ProjectsJudges included Consultant Dave Gobis; Richard Goldberg, Professional Consultants International; and of the YearKent Klaser, Tile and Stone Consultants. The criteria included scope, complexity, technical soundness, online shine brightly voting (Peoples Choice award), and presentation. Judges delivered a roster of one Grand Prize Residential, Commercial, and Commercial Elite winners, as well as one Achievement of Excellence Award in each category. A Peoples Choice Award was also selected by popular vote from the industry. Winners will receive a trophy or a plaque to honor their achievement plus celebration of their accomplishment in social media, as well as expand-By Lesley Goddin, Editor ed coverage on TileLetter.com.RESIDENTIAL GRAND PRIZE: Heritage Marble & Tile, Mill Valley, Calif.The Ultimate Grotto Completed December 2019Thisprojectwhichalsowonthe2020Coverings Installation&Design(CID)AwardforResidentialTile InstallationwasrecentlyfeaturedintheSeptember 2020 issue of TileLetter. In brief, Heritage Marble and Tile installed intricate cus-tom glass mosaic tile by Sicis, and handmade ceramic Pratt and Larson Tile onto a Moroccan style gunite grotto shell, which arched gracefully over the pool. The contractor had to float the walls with mud to meet the tolerances that would accept the glass mosaic. It then turned out that the niches were poured 2-3 inches off center, which did not match the careful calculations by the landscape architect that Sicis used to create the custom mosaic. In addition, the diameter of the bottom of the grotto was 2 larger than at top. Heritage Marble and Tile was faced with re-ordering all the glass mosaic from Italythus delaying the projectbut chose instead to piece the nichesby hand and rework the circles in the mosaic pattern to stay on schedule. This was a technically challenging installation that tested the focus, detail, and stamina of the installer. The end result was a stunning pool grotto that exceeded everyones expectations. 302020|TECH'