Articles on Ceramic Tile & Stone
Quality Control in Ceramic Tile and Stone Specifications
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - The Construction Specifier Volume 55, Number 10 - October 2002 - Reviews the importance of clearly stating quality control guidelines in job specifications. When there is a problem it doesn't matter whose fault it is because everyone involved will pay one way or the other in dollars, time and reputation. Ceramic Tile installers, glass tile installers, stone installers to include granite installers, limestone installers, travertine installers, slate installers, marble installers, sandstone installers and other stone installers do not go to a trade school to learn how to install tile or stone. Installers normally learn from on-the-job training and normally do not get properly trained on the industry standards and the complexity of the work they perform. Installers need to be properly supervised and managed to ensure a successful installation. To avoid the huge cost of a tile failure it is in the owner's best interest to hire a qualified third party quality control tile and stone expert to monitor the tile installation. Click here for article
Review of Nova's Lost Roman Mosaics Documentary
by Tricia Terraneo, CTaSC Associate - Presented on PBS on October 8, 2002 - A facinating documentary about the last minute rescue attempt of priceless Roman mosaic art treasures from an ancient city about to vanish beneath a modern-day reservoir. Ceramic Tile Mosaics, Glass Tile Mosaics, and Stone Tile Mosaics were installed thousands of years ago and still survive today. The fact that ceramic tile and stone can last thousands of years demonstrates how durable tiles are if they are installed correctly. Click here for article
From Babylonians to Baby Boomers, Tile Endures
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2003 - How to overcome the challenges in selling and designing with ceramic tile and stone. Ceramic tile, glass tile, and stone is more than just art and aesthetics, it is also functional. To get the full benefit and value of your investment in a ceramic tile, glass tile or natural stone it is important to select the right tile fo the intended application and to make sure the tile is installed correctly. Click here for article
Online E-Learning Education Arrives to the Ceramic Tile and Stone Industry
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - TileLetter - June 2003 - How you can take advantage of new, less expensive and more effective educational technology on the web. Ceramic Tile training, glass tile training, and stone training is critical for the ceramic tile industry and the stone industry. Note everyone can afford take off work or the cost of travel to go to seminars. Online eLearning can save you money in avoiding travel expenses and in avoiding loss productive work time, and provide one of the most effective methods of providng ceramic training, providing glass tile training, and providing stone training. Teaching ceramic tile, teaching glass tile and teaching stone can be done very effectively from a computer program that interacts with the student. With the use of video clips and photos the elearning courses can teach ceramic tile installers, teach glass tile installers, and teach stone installers. All the student needs is a computer and an internet connection and then they can access the elearning training course 24/7 at their convenience. Click here for article
Substrate Prep & Quality Controls for Ceramic Tile & Stone
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - The Construction Specifier Volume 56, Number 8 - August 2003 - Reviews common job problems leading to failures and Quality Assurance and Controls for preventing failures. When there is a problem it doesn't matter whose fault it is because everyone involved will pay one way or the other in dollars, time and reputation. Ceramic Tile installers, glass tile installers, stone installers to include granite installers, limestone installers, travertine installers, slate installers, marble installers, sandstone installers and other stone installers do not go to a trade school to learn how to install tile or stone. Installers normally learn from on-the-job training and normally do not get properly trained on the industry standards and the complexity of the work they perform. Installers need to be properly supervised and managed to ensure a successful installation. To avoid the huge cost of a tile failure it is in the owner's best interest to hire a qualified third party quality control tile and stone expert to monitor the tile installation. Click here for article
Stone Exceeds U.S. Ceramic Tile Consumption Value in 2002
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - NTCA TileLetter November 2003 - Reviews stone consumption trends in the U.S. compared to ceramic tile; focusses on the ceramic tile industry view. Ceramic tile research reports and stone research reports show ceramic tile statisical trends and stone statistical trends that provide information on limestone statistics, granite statistics, marble statistics, travertine statistics, sandstone statistics, slate statistics, onyx statistics, and other stone statistics. The stone statistics and ceramic tile statistics provide critical information for ceramic tile marketing reports and business plans and stone marketing reports and business plans. Click here for article
Welcome to the Stone Age - Category Represents a Growth Opportunity for Dealers, Distributors
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - Floor Covering Weekly Volume 252, Number 29 - November 10, 2003 - Reviews stone consumption trends in the U.S. compared to ceramic tile; focusses on the floor covering industry view. click here for article. Reviews stone consumption trends in the U.S. compared to ceramic tile; focusses on the ceramic tile industry view. Ceramic tile research reports and stone research reports show ceramic tile statisical trends and stone statistical trends that provide information on limestone statistics, granite statistics, marble statistics, travertine statistics, sandstone statistics, slate statistics, onyx statistics, and other stone statistics. The stone statistics and ceramic tile statistics provide critical information for ceramic tile marketing reports and business plans and stone marketing reports and business plans. click here for article
Stone Products Catalina Report CR026 September 2003
Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - Contributing author to a 186-page stone statistical research report on the U.S. Stone Industry trends. Stone Reports contain the timely data that allows users to evaluate stone market size, stone growth potential, stone end-use markets, stone factors driving stone demand, stone profitability, stone market share, and the stone competitive environment. So turn to a Catalina Stone Report when developing strategies to take advantage of the stone growth potential in new residential construction and residential remodeling markets, penetrate stone countertop and stone flooring markets, and improved operating efficiency. click her for details
U.S. Stone Consumption Exceeds Ceramic Tile Value in 2002
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - Stone World Buyers Guide 2004 Volume 20, Number 12 - December 2003 - Reviews stone consumption trends in USA compared to ceramic tile; focusing on the stone industry view. Reviews stone consumption trends in the U.S. compared to ceramic tile; focusses on the ceramic tile industry view. Ceramic tile research reports and stone research reports show ceramic tile statisical trends and stone statistical trends that provide information on limestone statistics, granite statistics, marble statistics, travertine statistics, sandstone statistics, slate statistics, onyx statistics, and other stone statistics. The stone statistics and ceramic tile statistics provide critical information for ceramic tile marketing reports and business plans and stone marketing reports and business plans. Click here for article
Learning Proper Substrate Preparation and Quality Controls to Avoid Failures
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - NTCA TileLetter March 2004 - Reviews common ceramic tile and stone failures and explains how to avoid them with proper substrate preparation with good quality control procedures. When there is a problem it doesn't matter whose fault it is because everyone involved will pay one way or the other in dollars, time and reputation. Ceramic Tile installers, glass tile installers, stone installers to include granite installers, limestone installers, travertine installers, slate installers, marble installers, sandstone installers and other stone installers do not go to a trade school to learn how to install tile or stone. Installers normally learn from on-the-job training and normally do not get properly trained on the industry standards and the complexity of the work they perform. Installers need to be properly supervised and managed to ensure a successful installation. To avoid the huge cost of a tile failure it is in the owner's best interest to hire a qualified third party quality control tile and stone expert to monitor the tile installation. Click here for article
More than One Way to Skin a Building - Ceramic Tile, Brick, and Natural Stone Veneers
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - The Construction Specifier Volume 57, Number 6 - June 2004. Ceramic Tile Exterior Adhered Veneers (Facade) failures, Glass Tile Exterior Adhered Veneer (Facades) failures, or Stone Exterior Adhered Veneers (Facades) failures can lead to lawsuits and huge losses. It doesn't matter whose fault it is because everyone involved will pay one way or the other in dollars, time and reputation. To avoid ceramic tile exterior facade failures or glass tile exterior facade failures or stone exterior facade failures to include limestone exterior veneer failures, granite exterior veneer failures, slate exterior veneer failures, sandstone exterior veneer failures, travertine exterior veneer failures and other types of stone exterior facade failures must be installed correctly. Ceramic Tile Industry standards and building codes and Stone Industry Standards and building codes must be followed to avoide tile failures. The tile installer's standard of care or the stone installer's standard of care must meet the tile industry standards to avoid tile failures. Click here for article
Exterior Adhered Veneer Test EXCEEDS 250% of Seismic Requirement... a New Opportunity for Ceramic Tile and Stone Sales
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - NTCA TileLetter September 2004 - Case Study of the new San Diego PETCO Ballpark, which reviews scratch and brown and cementitous backerboard unit methods with good quality control procedures. Ceramic Tile Exterior Veneers (Facade) Adhered failures, Glass Tile Exterior Veneer (Facades) Adhered failures, or Stone Exterior Veneers (Facades) Adhered failures can lead to lawsuits and huge losses. It doesn't matter whose fault it is because everyone involved will pay one way or the other in dollars, time and reputation. To avoid ceramic tile exterior facade failures or glass tile exterior facade failures or stone exterior facade failures to include limestone exterior veneer failures, granite exterior veneer failures, slate exterior veneer failures, sandstone exterior veneer failures, travertine exterior veneer failures and other types of stone exterior facade failures must be installed correctly. Ceramic Tile Industry standards and building codes and Stone Industry Standards and building codes must be followed to avoide tile failures. The tile installer's standard of care or the stone installer's standard of care must meet the tile industry standards to avoid tile failures. Click here for article
Stone Products Catalina Report CR039 March 2006
Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - Contributing author to a 214-page stone statistical research report on the U.S. Stone Industry trends. Stone Reports contain the timely data that allows users to evaluate stone market size, stone growth potential, stone end-use markets, stone factors driving stone demand, stone profitability, stone market share, and the stone competitive environment. So turn to a Catalina Stone Report when developing strategies to take advantage of the stone growth potential in new residential construction and residential remodeling markets, penetrate stone countertop and stone flooring markets, and improved operating efficiency. Click here for details
Tile and Stone Finishes for Restrooms; Values, challenges, and avoiding failure
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - The Construction Specifier, Volume 59, Number 4 - April 2006 – Glass tile, stone and ceramic tile finishes can provide a luxurious look for restrooms (bathrooms) in hospitality environments. However, water intrusion is the result of tile bathroom failures that is generally caused by tile installation shower failures and tile installation bathtub failures. Water damage in showers normally leads to microbial growth and damages that includes mold in showers and mold in bathroom floors and walls. New hotels and new condominiums have had major shower tile failures because the showers are not constructed correctly and the tile is not installed correctly. Often the architects cut and paste tile specifications and don't give clear guidelines on how to properly construct showers to make sure there are no water damages and tile failures. To avoid ceramic tile shower failures, glass tile shower failures, stone shower failures and to avoid mold in showers it is crtictical that there is Quality controls, good installation methods, and that there is a knowledge of the various tile installation standards. Qualified quality control tile inspectors should monitor high risk tile shower installations where it is critical that the tile is installed correctly. Click here for article
A Turkish Diary: CTDA's Trade Mission to Istanbul
by Tricia Terraneo, CTaSC Associate - TileLetter, September 2006 - A travel journal recounting the trade mission for about 135 CTDA members that was hosted by the Turkish Ceramic Federation in June 2006. This article reviews why Turkey is one of the major suppliers of natural stone and ceramic tile to the USA tile markets and the USA Stone markets. Ceramic tile manufactured in Turkey has been done for centuries and some of the best ceramic tiles have been produced in Turkey over thousands of years. Travertine tile from Turkey is one of the most used travertine tiles in the world. Turkey produces and exports more travertine tile than any other country around the world. Click here for article
Stone's Grip on the Marketplace: Second Industry Report Shows Stone Consumption Continues Upward Climb
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - TileDealer, September/October 2006 - A summary on the state of the current stone industry in the U.S. based on statistics from the recently released Stone Product Industry Report. Reviews stone consumption trends in USA compared to ceramic tile; focusing on the stone industry view. Reviews stone consumption trends in the U.S. compared to ceramic tile; focusses on the ceramic tile industry view. Ceramic tile research reports and stone research reports show ceramic tile statisical trends and stone statistical trends that provide information on limestone statistics, granite statistics, marble statistics, travertine statistics, sandstone statistics, slate statistics, onyx statistics, and other stone statistics. The stone statistics and ceramic tile statistics provide critical information for ceramic tile marketing reports and business plans and stone marketing reports and business plans. Click here for article
Research Shows Stone Consumption Continues Upward Climb
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - Stone World Guide 2007 Volume 23, Number 12 - December 2006 - Reviews stone consumption trends in USA compared to ceramic tile; focusing on the stone industry view. Reviews stone consumption trends in USA compared to ceramic tile; focusing on the stone industry view. Reviews stone consumption trends in the U.S. compared to ceramic tile; focusses on the ceramic tile industry view. Ceramic tile research reports and stone research reports show ceramic tile statisical trends and stone statistical trends that provide information on limestone statistics, granite statistics, marble statistics, travertine statistics, sandstone statistics, slate statistics, onyx statistics, and other stone statistics. The stone statistics and ceramic tile statistics provide critical information for ceramic tile marketing reports and business plans and stone marketing reports and business plans. Click here for article
Mold: The Problem or The Symptom?
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - TileDealer, January/February 2007 - This is the first article in a three-part series dealing with the affects of mold in the ceramic tile and stone industry. Mold in showers and mold in bathrooms is a symptom of water intrusion that will result in expense water damages in bathrooms. Water intrusion is the result of a tile bathroom failure that is generally caused by tile shower installation failures and tile bathtub installation failures. Water damage in showers normally leads to microbial growth and damages that includes mold in showers and mold in bathroom floors and walls. New hotels and new condominiums have had major shower tile failures because the showers are not constructed correctly and the tile is not installed correctly. Often the architects cut and paste tile specifications and don't give clear guidelines on how to properly construct showers to make sure there are no water damages and tile failures. To avoid ceramic tile shower failures, glass tile shower failures, stone shower failures and to avoid mold in showers it is crtictical that there is Quality controls, good installation methods, and that there is a knowledge of the various tile installation standards. Qualified quality control tile inspectors should monitor high risk tile shower installations where it is critical that the tile is installed correctly. Click here for article
The Growing Concern About Mold: Legal Complications, Part 2
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CSI, CDT, MBA - TileDealer, March/April 2007 - This is the second article in a three-part series dealing with the affects of mold in the ceramic tile and stone industry. Mold in showers and mold in bathrooms is a symptom of water intrusion that will result in expense water damages in bathrooms. Water intrusion is the result of a tile bathroom failure that is generally caused by tile shower installation failures and tile bathtub installation failures. Water damage in showers normally leads to microbial growth and damages that includes mold in showers and mold in bathroom floors and walls. New hotels and new condominiums have had major shower tile failures because the showers are not constructed correctly and the tile is not installed correctly. Often the architects cut and paste tile specifications and don't give clear guidelines on how to properly construct showers to make sure there are no water damages and tile failures. To avoid ceramic tile shower failures, glass tile shower failures, stone shower failures and to avoid mold in showers it is crtictical that there is Quality controls, good installation methods, and that there is a knowledge of the various tile installation standards. Qualified quality control tile inspectors should monitor high risk tile shower installations where it is critical that the tile is installed correctly. Click here for article
Choosing Substrates and Installation Systems for Ceramic Tile and Stone Tile
by Donato Pompo, CTC, CMR, CSI, CDT, MBA - TileDealer, September/October 2007 - How to choose the most suitable substrate and installation system for ceramic and stone tile jobs. To avoid ceramic tile failures, glass tile failures, or stone failures it is important to use an appropriate substrate for the intended use. It is also important to use the best installation system considering the type of tile, substrate and application. When there is a problem it doesn't matter whose fault it is because everyone involved will pay one way or the other in dollars, time and reputation. Ceramic Tile installers, glass tile installers, stone installers to include granite installers, limestone installers, travertine installers, slate installers, marble installers, sandstone installers and other stone installers do not go to a trade school to learn how to install tile or stone. Installers normally learn from on-the-job training and normally do not get properly trained on the industry standards and the complexity of the work they perform. Installers need to be properly supervised and managed to ensure a successful installation. To avoid the huge cost of a tile failure it is in the owner's best interest to hire a qualified third party quality control tile and stone expert to monitor the tile installation. Click here for article
Avoiding Pool Tile Problems
by Carolina Olivieri - ASPA AQ Pool Quarterly Magazine, Summer 2009 - If ceramic tile, glass tile or stone is not properly installed in swimming pools and spas it can lead to swimming pool tile failures and spa tile failures. It is important that the tile is suitable for the swimming pool application considering climatic conditions and the intended use. It is important that the tile substrate is properly prepared and that the correct tile installation products and tile installation methods are used for tiled swimming pools and tile spas. To avoid ceramic tile swimming pool failures or glass tile swimming pool failures or stone swimming pool failures it is important to follow the ceramic tile industry standards, the glass tile industry standards, and the stone industry standards. Click here for article
