It’s Sunday evening, around 9 p.m. New Orleans time, and there has already been a full day’s worth of in-depth education. Three “Super Sessions” were held earlier today from 2-5 p.m. “Ceramic Tile University,” a program developed by the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, in conjunction with the TCA, the CTEF, and others, gave a jump start to floor covering retailers and others interested in selling tile at the retail level. An inspirational seminar titled “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all small stuff” took a look at the effects that stressful situations have on people, and offered up some alternative methods to deal with them.
The third session, developed by the National Tile Contractors Association, took attendees through the “NTCA Contractors Workshop,” a one-stop training session designed to familiarize contactors and helpers with the latest materials and installation methods in the tile industry. Participants got a look at the new, the old, and heard what works and what doesn’t. Beginning with layout and surface preparation, the workshop led observers through membranes; backerboards; mortars; grouts; finishes; and closed with cleaning and sealing.