National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Trainers are crisscrossing the country this month, bringing 30 free, standards-based workshops to 15 states to put you in touch with peers and industry experts as you learn new skills and information. Enjoy a catered meal from local eateries and a chance to win valuable prizes.

The three-hour afternoon or evening events are open to tile installers and contractors as well as sales personnel and the A&D community – anyone who wants to learn more about standards-based installation practices. 

Each NTCA Workshop is presented by NTCA Technical Trainers who have been installing tile themselves for many years or who still maintain their tile installation business. Workshops – made possible through the support of generous sponsors who believe in elevating the industry through education – feature one of the following topics:

• Ins and Outs of Layout for Contractors
• Tile Matters – Best Practices for the Pros
• Failures – Could It Be Me?
• Tile Technology – Adhesives, Trowels, Lippage

NTCA will be at these locations in October:

10/3   D&B Tile, Doral, Florida

10/3   Virginia Tile, Grand Rapids, Michigan

10/4   D&B Tile, Sunrise, Florida

10/4   Virginia Tile, Midland, Michigan

10/5    D&B Tile, Delray Beach, Florida

10/5   Virginia Tile, Troy, Michigan

10/6   Virginia Tile, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio

10/10  Floor & Decor, Greenwood, Indiana

10/11  Louisville Tile, Cincinnati, Indiana

10/12  Louisville Tile, Evansville, Indiana

10/16  Floor & Decor, Metarie, Louisiana

10/17  Daltile, Davenport, Indiana

10/17  BPI, Jackson, Mississippi

10/17  Arizona Tile, Meridian, Idaho

10/17  Floor & Decor, El Paso, Texas

10/18  Floor & Decor, West Des Moines, Indiana

10/18  Floor & Decor, Huntsville, Alabama

10/18  Floor & Decor, Riverdale, Utah

10/19  Floor & Decor, Omaha, Nebraska

10/19  Daltile, St. George, Utah

10/19  Floor & Decor, San Antonio, Texas

10/24  Floor & Decor, Apple Valley, Minnesota                                   

10/24  Floor & Decor, Cummings, Georgia

10/24  Florida Tile, Fort Collins, Colorado

10/25  Floor & Decor, Maple Grove, Minnesota

10/25  Floor & Decor, McDonough, Georgia

10/25  Floor & Decor, Arvada, Colorado

10/26  The Tile Shop, Roseville, Minnesota

 10/26  Floor & Decor, Savannah, Georgia

10/26  Daltile, Grand Junction, Colorado

Regional Training: Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina 

Contractors can learn about gauged porcelain tile panels/slabs (GPTP) installation during four free day-long NTCA Regional Training Events in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

• 10/5 – Sponsored and hosted by Floor & Décor, Capital Heights, MD
• 10/12 – Sponsored by Crossville, hosted by Mosaic Tile, Owings Mills, MD
• 10/19 – Sponsored and hosted by Floor & Décor, Leesburg, VA
• 10/26 – Sponsored by Crossville, hosted by Crossville Studios, Fletcher, NC

GPTP/Slabs Training equips you to install porcelain panels with confidence and accuracy. Learn new tile industry standards and methods for installing GPTP, how GPTP is made, where it can be used, and special tools, setting materials and techniques required to install it.  This program will emphasize:

• Introduction to tile industry standards
• Use of ANSI A108.19 to install Gauged Porcelain Tile and Panels
• Use of specialty tools and setting materials to install GPTP
• Working with a team to install GPTP

Art Glass Panel Installation Training: California and Washington

This two-day intensive that equips qualified tile contractors to install luxurious, high-end Vetrite glass tile panels from Sicis. Qualified contractors must sign up for both days. Attendees who fully complete all course requirements will be eligible for manufacturer certification for Art Glass Panel installation and will be placed on a preferred installer/contractor list. They will also receive a Certificate of Course Completion from the NTCA. October training takes place at:

• 10/4-5: Sponsored by SICIS, hosted by Coliseum Tile, San Ramon, California
• 10/26-27: Sponsored by SICIS, hosted by Carly Michael Stone Design, Seattle, Washington

Attendees of NTCA’s Art Glass Panel Installation program will experience an advanced training program where they will:

• Learn about glass of many types
• Will gain the knowledge, ability and confidence to understand, handle, fabricate and install very large art glass panels to create custom installations on walls in interior wet and dry areas using a direct bond adhesive method following manufacturer instructions.

Demand is high and class size is limited, so register early. If the class is full, your registration will be added to the waiting list and you will be contacted if a space opens. 

For more information, visit NTCAtraining.com.

For more NTCA news, click here.