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| MetroFusion | Playful | SeaGlass | RetroClassic | Tuscania | Pietra Art |
Monthly Internet Newsletter Florida Tile, Inc., 1 Sikes Blvd., Lakeland, Florida 33815 October, 2003
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Monthly Internet Newsletter Florida Tile, Inc., 1 Sikes Blvd., Lakeland, Florida 33815 October, 2003 |
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Table of Contents
Other Links
Online Florida
Tile
2003 New Products
Resolution: |
The biggest complaint I hear from installers is the person who sold the job either didn’t fully comprehend the performance requirements or sends out unsuitable materials, and then begs them to “just make it work.” Installers are often asked to install tiles that weren’t intended for the application, use deco tiles that don’t work with the field tile and go over subfloors that aren’t adequate to accommodate tile. To address that situation, every salesperson should use a job checklist and communicate this information to the installer. Here are some key points to keep in mind: Design: Will the tile be set straight joint, brick joint, 45-degree angle or a modular pattern? Where are decorative tiles to be installed? Direction of tile pattern: Will the tile pattern be set in a random fashion or with the pattern running the same direction? Height restrictions: Will the thickness of the completed tile installation cause any challenges at doorways, in front of dishwashers or under refrigerators? Grout width: Have you specified the width of the grout joint (i.e. 316 inch, 14 inch) or is that the installer’s decision? Sealing: Is the customer expecting have the tile, stone or grout sealed? Who will seal it, when and with what sealer? Existing surfaces: Are there any existing surfacing materials under the tile? Are there any surfaces that require a transition? Concrete subfloor: Does the floor conform to ANSI A118 standards or is it a substandard material that will cause the tile to crack or break bond? Condition of substrate: What is the current structure of the sub-floor? Is the floor level or are there hills and valleys that must be leveled? Is the floor clean and ready for tile or will it need additional prep time? Is the substrate suitable to support ceramic tile? (TCA 114) Wood subfloor: Since most wood sub-floors are OSB — and OSB is not an acceptable substrate — does your backerboard manufacturer and adhesive manufacturer supercede industry standards and warrantee the installation over OSB? Shade variation (V1-V4): Does the installer know what type of variation the homeowner is expecting or is there a chance that he’ll install a tile he thinks is “V4 Random Variation,” which is, in reality, two different shades? Proper factory trim: Are countertops and vanities trimmed with v-cap or surface bull nose or have you specified 14 round, custom-fabricated pieces or other trims that increase the cost of the installation? Type of tile: Is the tile going to be installed outside where absorption of bisque and slip resistance ratings are adequate? If the tile is porcelain will it need a grout release applied before grouting? Will the porcelain tile be set with a good quality modified thinset, or will it be held in place by the “Three-G’s” (God, Grout and Gravity)? Decorative insets: Are the listellos, borders and inset tiles suitable for the installation? (Don’t install decorative wall tiles on floors.) Are the decorative pieces for floor installations no thicker than the field tile? Will deco bands be grouted in the same color as the field? Method: What is your standard installation method form the TCA Handbook? Will the tile or stone be set with thinset, modified thinset, medium bed, a mortar bed or backer board? Thinset: What quality of thinset (dry-set) is to be used and what’s the manufacturer’s warranty on the material? Grout: Are you using a modified grout with absorption less than 5 percent, or a non-modified grout with absorption up to 15 percent? Movement joints: Have expansion joints been discussed with the homeowner, or will the installer determine where to place the required movement joints? Provided by Doug Adamson, reprinted from Floor Covering Weekly with permission. |
Installation of the Month Photo Contest We offer one grand prize of $200.00 for the best installation photo that we received during the month. Here is our October, 2003 winner:
Installation consists of
Installation submitted by: The installations will be rated on design, use of Florida Tile, and style.
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FTI Announces: ►Florida Tile congratulates the seventeen winners of our Vacanza Distributor Sales Contest. Here they are:
►We have added the color
“Biscuit” to our strong offering of whites and off whites already in the
Bright and Matte product lines. Color 102 in the Bright line, 7102 in the
Matte line is just the right hue of a warm tone off white color that is
very much in demand in the mainstream market today. ►We are working on our new Architectural Visual Design Studio. This will resemble our residential Virtual Design Center, but have the added capability of supporting an estimating function. We are currently looking at a November 15, 2003 release date. |
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We are always interested in your comments,
questions, opinions, and future topics to cover. Please feel free to
email us at
salesdept@floridatile.com.
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