GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions

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GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
June 2020

                                   Magazine

GPTP Trends
Tile Tools &
Accessories

      www.tile-magazine.com
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
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GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
June 2020
                                                                      Vol. 17, No. 4
                                                                      www.tile-magazine.com
                                                     Magazine

    Features
    10 Contractor Spotlight
    14 Revamping a classic
    20 Creating art with porcelain
    24 A dimensional experience
                                                                                                                                                                                                          20
    28 Product Showcase: Tile tooling & accessories
    32 Technical Focus: Gauged Porcelain Tile, changes
       in industry standards and the building code
    37 Top-to-bottom tiling
    44 Choosing a floor for function and aesthetics

    Departments
    5         Editorial
    6         Industry News
    48 Featured Product
    48 Calendar                                                                                                                                                                                           32
    50 Ad Index

                              June 2020
                                                       ON THE COVER: Ege Seramik’s
                                                       new Verona collection offers a
                                          Magazine     high-gloss wall tile featuring an
                                                       incredibly unique “wavy surface.”
                                                       The 4- x 12-inch subway tiles
                                                       reflect beautifully and will never
     GPTP Trends
                                                       looks the same from any two
     Tile Tools &
     Accessories                                       angles. They are available in
                                                       four colors — White, Anthracite,
                                                       Turquoise and Taupe — and are

                                                                                                                                                                                                         44
                                                       ideal for modern kitchens or
             www.tile-magazine.com
                                                       contemporary bathrooms.

    TILE Magazine Vol. 17, Issue 4 (ISSN: Print 1555-0567 and Digital 2329-2911) is published 8 times annually, Jan/Feb, Mar, Apr/May, Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep, Oct, and Nov/Dec by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big
    Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the
    U.S.A.: $152.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $187.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $212.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A.
    Copyright 2020, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for
    product claims and representations. Periodicals postage paid at Troy, MI and additional mailing offices.

    POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TILE Magazine, P.O. Box 2146, Skokie, IL 60076.
    Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923 Send returns (Canada) to IMEX Global Solutions, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address
    label along with new address to TILE Magazine, P.O. Box 2146, Skokie, IL 60076. For subscription information or service, please contact Customer Service at: Phone: (800) 952-6643 Fax: (847) 763-9538.

4   www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
®

Editorial                                                                        TILE
                                                                                Group Publisher

 Navigating through
                                                                                David A. Madonia • MadoniaD@bnpmedia.com
                                                                                (201) 286-7391

 the new normal
                                                                                Associate Publisher/Regional Advertising Manager
                                                                                Janelle Minghine
                                                                                MinghineJ@bnpmedia.com • (734) 340-5211

                                                                                Jennifer Richinelli, Editorial Director
                                                                                RichinelliJ@bnpmedia.com • (201) 291-9001 ext. 8611

                         A
                                    s states begin to phase out of
                                    shelter-in-place orders and                 Heather Fiore, Editor
                                                                                FioreH@bnpmedia.com • (201) 291-9001 ext. 8616
                                    businesses begin to reopen, a lot
                                    of people are still hesitant to do          Shannon Shortt, Art Director

                           things that seemed second nature before this         Jennifer Allen, Production Manager

                           pandemic happened. Life as we know it has            AllenJ@bnpmedia.com • (248) 833-7347

                           seemingly changed, for now at least. With            Jasmine E’Lon, Brand Marketing Coordinator

                           new restrictions and different sets of rules         Regional Advertising Manager
                           for each state, it can also get confusing as to      Steve Smith

                           what’s allowed and what’s not, especially for        SmithSc@bnpmedia.com • (406) 522-4163

 those who begin to travel again. There is definitely a new normal              Turkey

 that we’ll have to get used to, but I’m confident that, as a country, we       Hilmi Zafer Erdem
                                                                                titajans@titajans.com • 90-0212-257-76-66
 will be able to adapt, as we always have.                                      Fax: 90-0212-287-00-99

   In this edition, we cover the evergrowing topic of gauged                    Publishing and Sales Office:
 porcelain tile panels/slabs (GPTP), which has been gaining a lot               210 Route 4 East, Suite 203, Paramus, NJ 07652;

 of traction in the industry as of late. The larger-than-life panels,           (201) 291-9001

 which stand as tall as 12 feet nowadays, have become one of                    Corporate Office:

 the most desired items to use for countertops, full-height walls               BNP Media II, L.L.C.
                                                                                2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700
 and floors and other household items such as furniture. One                    Troy, MI 48084

 fabricator in Australia, known by many in the industry as the                  Phone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317

 “porcelain artist,” has found his niche in creating artworks with
 GPTP, which are admired by professionals all over the world.                   CORPORATE
 Head to page 20 to learn more about his unique installation                    Chief Experience Officer: Darrell Dal Pozzo
                                                                                Human Resources & Information Technology Director:
 process and how he crafts these pieces of art.                                  Rita M. Foumia
   For a more technical look at GPTP, we spoke with the director                Production Director: Vincent M. Miconi
 of technical services at MAPEI, Jim Whitfield, who outlined the                Finance Director: Lisa L. Paulus
                                                                                Creative Director: Michael T. Powell
 installation and product ANSI standards, as well as recent changes             Clear Seas Research Director: Beth A. Surowiec
 in the International Building Code (IBC) regarding tile size for               Chief Event Officer: Scott Wolters

 exterior installations. Learn more about these changes on page 32.             Audience Marketing
   We also gathered a selection of new tile tools and accessories that          Lauren Atsalakis – Senior Integrated Media Specialist

 were recently released, which can assist any builder, contractor or            Katie Gamble – Integrated Media Manager

 installer on the jobsite. Flip to page 28 to check those out.                  Directory Development

   As we all transition back to our normal, everyday lives, it’s                Erin Mygal – Directory Development Manager
                                                                                (248) 786-1684 • mygale@bnpmedia.com
 important to be cognizant of those around you. Everyone has
 different reactions to what is currently going on and we have to               Online Development
                                                                                Nikki Smith – Online Development Director
 respect each other’s boundaries. As the great Mark Twain once                  (513) 248-0395 • smithn@bnpmedia.com

 said, “Challenges make life interesting, however, overcoming them              For subscription information or service,
 is what makes life meaningful.”                                                please contact Customer Service at:
                                                                                (800) 952-6643 • Fax: (847) 763-9538
                                                                                tilemagazine@omeda.com
 Sincerely,
                                                                                Single Copy Sales
                                                                                www.tile-magazine.com/scs

                                                                                Reprints
 Heather Fiore, Editor                                                          Stacey Hurley • hurleys@bnpmedia.com

                                                                             June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com                          5
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
INDUSTRY
  NEWS

    Coverings Honors Emerging
    Professionals with 2020 Rock
    Star Awards
    ARLINGTON, VA — Coverings, the largest
    international tile and stone exhibition
    and conference in North America, recently          • Janice Hill, Project Manager, DW Sanders Tile
    announced the 14 winners of the prestigious          & Stone Contracting, Inc., Marietta, GA
    2020 Rock Star Awards. The Coverings Rock          • Ulas Maris, Stone and Tile Installer, Maris
    Star program recognizes emerging leaders in          Tile Pro, East Moriches, NY
    the tile and stone industry by awarding the        • Joseph Mattice, Owner and Installer, On the
    best and brightest young talent.                     Level, Simpsonville, SC
      The program commemorates its sixth year          • Trey Toca, President, Toca Flooring, Metairie, LA
    in 2020 and furthers Coverings’ mission to         Manufacturer (2):
    support the growth and success of the industry     • Arturo Duarte, USA Commercial Manager,
    by distinguishing talented young leaders as          CREST, Monterrey, Mexico
    well as fostering networking and educational       • Brittany Storm, Sustainability Manager,
    opportunities.                                       MAPEI, Deerfield Beach, FL
      “Coverings is honored to welcome this            Other (PR Firm) (1):
    exceptional group of emerging leaders into         • Kristin Coleman, Vice President, Novità
    the Rock Star program,” said Jennifer Hoff,          Communications, New York, NY
    president of Taffy Event Strategies, LLC,          Other (Technology) (1):
    the event management firm for Coverings.           • Raj Katta, Technology/Functionality
    “We look forward to seeing continued                 Specialist, Stone Grid, LLC, Windermere, FL
    advancement and evolution for each of these        Retailer (1):
    young professionals as well as the impactful       • Jimmy Bellew, Owner, Bellew Tile, Sandwich, MA
    contributions they will continue to bring to the   Trade Association (1):
    tile and stone industry.”                          • Ryan Marino, Standards, Development and
      A committee of tile and stone industry leaders     Research Manager, Tile Council of North
    carefully evaluated nominations to select            America, Anderson, SC
    the 14 outstanding inductees for the sixth
    assemblage of Coverings Rock Stars. The 2020         Each 2020 Rock Star Award winner received
    Rock Star honorees represent a wide array of       a gift card and was recognized during
    industry professions and include the following:    Coverings Connected. The honorees will also
    Designer (1):                                      be celebrated with a luncheon at Coverings
    • Brennan Broome, Designer, EoA Group,             2021 and a year-long professional feature
      Miami, FL                                        profile at coverings.com.
    Distributor (1):                                     To learn more about the
    • Kristin Scholemer, Owner, Calia Stone,           Coverings 2020 Rock Stars, please visit
      Chicago, IL                                       coverings.com/coverings-rock-stars.
    Fabricator (1):
    • Michaela Steinbach, General Manager,             Industry-Wide EPD Demonstrates
      Mario & Son, Liberty Lake, WA                    North American Ceramic Tile has a
    Installer (5):
    • Illisha Harris, Owner, Lead Designer and         Significantly Lower Global Warming
      Installer, Coastal Custom Tile and Design,       ANDERSON, SC — Tile Council of North
      Swansboro, NC                                    America (TCNA) recently announced that

6   www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
A revolutionary hybrid-technology
       adhesive for gauged porcelain tile

There is a revolution in tile technology. MAPEI’s new ready-to-use, hybrid-polymer-based adhesive,
Ultrabond ECO GPT, combines cutting-edge chemistry with the latest tile technology to create a
time-saving and labor-saving necessity for GPT installation.

Hybrid advantages include:
• Labor savings: Ready to use
• No waste: Apply to the backs of tile only
• Non-sag, but adjustable with a window of 30 minutes
• Strong bond with flexibility
• Extended open time of 30 to 45 minutes
• Cleanability: Easy to clean off tile surface in wet or dried state
• Easy to trowel

This hybrid fusion of chemistry and technology is also eco-friendly. Low in VOCs, Ultrabond ECO GPT can be
applied in confined spaces and carries several industry sustainability certifications.

Join the hybrid installation revolution. For more details on Ultrabond ECO GPT, visit www.mapei.us.
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
the 2020 North American industry-wide                creation (smog), ozone depletion, acidification
    Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for          and eutrophication potential when compared
    ceramic tile has been certified by Underwriter’s     to publicly available EPDs for competitive
    Laboratories (UL) and published to UL’s              flooring materials. Ceramic tile is the proven
    publicly accessible database.                        green choice for the good of the environment.”
      This EPD, valid for the next five years, updates     For more information, refer to the EPD
    the previous North American industry-wide EPD        Guide for North American Ceramic Tile
    for ceramic tile, which expired at the end of        or the Guide to EPDs in the 2020 Tile the
    2019. Effective immediately, products covered        Natural Choice publication.
    by the EPD can be used to satisfy architectural
    and green building specification criteria,           NKBA Kitchen & Bath Design +
    including those established by LEED v4.1.            Industry Awards Opens for Entries
      Over 85% of North American ceramic tiles
    are covered by the EPD and specifically those        HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — The
    from the following companies: American               National Kitchen & Bath
    Wonder Porcelain, Arto Brick, Crossville,            Association (NKBA) Design +
    Inc., Dal-Tile Corporation, Del Conca USA            Industry Awards are now open
    Inc., Florida Tile, Interceramic USA, Ironrock,      for submissions. As the authority
    Porcelanite-Lamosa, Portobello America,              on all things residential kitchen and bath,
    Quarry Tile Co., StonePeak Ceramics Inc., and        each year the NKBA recognizes the year’s most
    Vitromex USA, Inc.                                   exceptional kitchen and bath designs. The NKBA
      Simply stated, this industry-wide EPD is a         is an all-industry association and this competition
    report of the environmental footprint of the         is open to all design professionals, including non-
    North American ceramic tile industry. The            members. NKBA members do receive additional
    environmental impacts reported by the EPD            benefits including one free entry and reduced
    are significantly lower than those reported by       entry fees on all additional entries.
    EPDs for flooring comprised of plastic based           This year’s competition includes more than
    materials, such as luxury vinyl tiles and planks.    $60,000 in cash prizes and winners will also
    In particular, a direct comparison to publicly       be featured in an issue of Luxe Interior + Design
    available UL-Certified industry-wide EPDs            magazine, as well as Kitchen & Bath Business
    for vinyl tile and rigid core board reveals the      magazine, the official publication of the NKBA.
    following:                                           2021 Categories
    • Vinyl tile’s 75-year global warming potential      • Contemporary Kitchen: Small/Medium (Under
      and fossil fuel resource depletion are two           250 square feet)
      and three times higher, respectively, than         • Contemporary Kitchen: Large/Extra-Large
      ceramic tile.                                        (More than 250 square feet)
    • Rigid core board’s 75-year global warming          • Traditional Kitchen: Small/Medium (Under
      potential and fossil fuel resource depletion         250 square feet)
      are three and five times higher, respectively,     • Traditional Kitchen: Large/Extra-Large (More
      than ceramic tile.                                   than 250 square feet)
      “Global warming potential and fossil fuel          • Contemporary Bathroom: Small/Medium
    depletion throughout the full lifecycle of             (Under 55 square feet)
    a product are key metrics in characterizing          • Contemporary Bathroom: Large/Extra-Large
    carbon footprint,” said Bill Griese, TCNA’s            (More than 55 square feet)
    director of standards development and                • Traditional Bathroom: Small/Medium (Under
    sustainability initiatives. “Not only does the         55 square feet)
    North American industry-wide EPD for ceramic         • Traditional Bathroom: Large/Extra-Large
    tile evidence a generally low carbon footprint,        (More than 55 square feet)
    it also shows ceramic tile to have the lowest        • Outdoor Kitchen
    overall impacts in photochemical oxidant             • Living In Place

8   www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
Entry Guidelines                                     July 15, 2020. As part of this second round of
  To be eligible, all project entries must have      judging, all finalists will be required to upload
been installed between January 1, 2019, and          additional materials to their submission folder.
July 3, 2020.                                        These materials include up to 10 more high-
  The competition is divided into two rounds.        resolution photos, a detailed design statement,
In round one, all entries must include two           drawings (construction, floorplans, elevations and
high-resolution (300 DPI) photographs, a             mechanical), a specifications form, client property
completed entry form and entry payment.              and photographer release forms, a business
All entries must be submitted by Thursday,           owner form, a headshot and a brief biography.
July 3, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST.                       A comprehensive list of information on the
  “We understand it’s been an extremely unusual      entry process, as well as competition rules and
year and there may be many designers who were        requirements, can be found here.
anticipating having their projects professionally      The winners will be announced on February
photographed, but haven’t been able to do it         8, 2021, at the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Design +
because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Suzie        Industry Awards in Orlando, FL, as part of the
Williford, executive vice president and chief        NKBA kick-off to KBIS 2021. TILE
strategy officer of NKBA. “Good design is good
design, whether it’s professionally photographed
or not. Don’t let that discourage you from
having your work recognized. The cameras on           For daily news updates on
smartphones have come a long way. Our judges          industry happenings and events,
will take these unusual circumstances into
                                                      visit www.tile-magazine.com/
consideration as they are evaluating the entries.”
  Round two finalists will be announced on            breakingnews.

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                                                                       June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   9
GPTP Trends Tile Tools & Accessories - Magazine - Flooring Solutions
Contractor Spotlight
         Terry Wick

                              In this edition, we sat down with
                              Terry Wick, owner of A & T
                              Stoneworks, Inc. in Palmdale, CA.

     TILE: How did you first get involved in the       glad I listened and had my license when the
     tile industry? Please explain a little bit more   company I was working for decided to scale
     about yourself.                                   back, downsizing from 20 crews to just himself.
                                                       He offered me some of the work he was giving
     Wick: Growing up, my dad was a finish             up. These were large projects I could not have
     contractor and later a general contractor. I      gotten just starting out. I jumped in with both
     worked with him until I left for college. When    feet and never looked back.
     I returned, my dad told me a tile contractor
     he worked with needed help. I worked with         TILE: Has the tile industry changed much
     this tile contractor for a couple of years.       since you first started? If so, in what ways?
     At that time, we floated every job we did;
     something that would continue throughout          Wick: Yes, originally, we had to soak our tile
     my career. I learned a lot about technique,       overnight in buckets of water and we set
     quickly mastering floated countertops,            it with pure cement. Thinset was yet to be
     backsplashes, tubs and showers. I enjoyed         invented. Just kidding; although these things
     the work, not the contractor. I relocated to      happened, it was before my time.
     work with a larger contractor in a bigger           Oddly enough, tile size is the most visible
     market. My new boss did military barracks,        change. An 8- x 8-inch tile was considered
     restaurants, custom homes and tract housing.      large, and rarely if ever, used on anything but
     My knowledge and skill base expanded              a floor. Kitchens and baths were mainly 4 1/4-
     exponentially. I soon moved up through the        inch formats and occasionally 6 inches. Now,
     ranks and began running large commercial          8 x 8 inches is tiny and we are installing 10- x
     and residential projects.                         5-foot pieces of tile.
                                                         Nearly all kitchen and bath tile had a
     TILE: Are you a company owner? If so,             variety of matching trim when I began.
     what were some reasons for starting               Now more often than not, there is no trim
     your own business?                                available and we are using metal to finish
                                                       the tile. Ceramic tile and laminate were the
     Wick: From the time I was a child, I wanted       most common countertop materials. Stone
     to own my own business. My father and my          was for exterior cladding not countertops.
     wife encouraged me to get my license. I’m         Setting materials have come a long way, too.

10    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
There were no modified thinsets or grouts.          of the most enjoyable designs was the wave
Everything was floated; there were no cement        we created in the beach bathroom, custom-
boards or foam boards.                              floated to mimic a wave curling around a
                                                    surfer on their board. The homeowner found
TILE: Is there a particular job you’ve              a surfboard manufacturer willing to make a
completed that stands out? Why?                     surfboard emblazoned with the family crest.
                                                    We were able to place the surfboard in just
Wick: My very first job stands out the most.        the right place in the wave; it would become
Three hundred barracks at Marine Corps              the shower seat. Imagine your grandchildren
Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA. Yes, my first       surfing their way through the shower wave.
contract was for 300 units. Each unit contained     The floated wave was set with small glass
two floated showers and 150 square feet of          mosaics gradated to mimic the depth of colors
wainscot. We ordered a train car of tile to get     present on the beach, just a few steps away.
started. I had to learn how to be a business        Beginning with the tan and yellow colors
owner, how to find and deal with employees,         of the sand, curving up to deep ocean blues
how to do certified government payroll, how         finishing with the whites of the sea foam atop
to manage cash flow — and all over 100 miles        the wave, with the yellow and golds of the
from home. My second contract, also a barracks      sunset on the wall behind the breaking wave.
on a nearby military base, hit in the middle of     There were tiled custom murals on exterior
this. I was just 24 at the time.                    walls, with underwater scenery along the
  There is a residential project that also stands   pathway from the ocean to the first beach
out. We did a 15,000-square-foot custom             shower located outdoors. There were more
home on the beach in Santa Barbara, CA. The         unique features in the home than in any other
owner was a legacy builder and his wife, a          single project we have worked on.
well-known designer. We ordered custom-
made tile for each area of the home. Nothing        TILE: What are some common issues you
was off the shelf or readily available. For         have to deal with on the job site? How do you
the master bath, the homeowner selected             overcome them?
a mermaid he wanted to have made into a
mural for the shower wall. We found a studio        Wick: Scheduling delays, prior trades work,
willing to do the commissioned work. We             whether arriving at a worksite that is not yet
designed the rest of the bathroom around            ready for you. Many issues can be avoided by
the view of the mermaid and the ocean from          walking the job prior to sending crews out to
the bathtub. The homeowners found a lovely          complete the work. Having trusted employees
mural on one of their European vacations and        who can think on their feet and help solve
had kept it packed away for years, waiting          many issues in real time on the jobsite. Most
for a custom installation in the wine cellar.       importantly, having a good working relationship
Surrounding the mural with stone tiles, we          with the contractors. Communicating with them
created the illusion you were peeking through       what you need done before you arrive and
a window at the characters in the mural. One        knowing what to expect from each other.

                                                                   June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   11
TILE: What are some steps you take to                                     TILE: If you could lend any advice to
     educate your customers about their tile                                   professionals just beginning their careers,
     installation before you begin?                                            what would it be?

     Wick: Client expectation is key. Often a client                           Wick: Get to know the people in the tile trade
     will see something on a website or TV show                                organizations. Having a good relationship with
     and think it will be perfect in their home.                               other people in the industry who are working
     Sometimes they are correct; their project will                            through the same issues as you are is key. Having
     be beautiful, function well and be timeless,                              someone to call when you are unsure of a
     and they will still be happy with it for years                            situation you have encountered on a job can be
     to come. However, other times they need to                                a great help. There are many relevant Facebook
     be educated about how fragile that particular                             groups; join them and learn. Learn what to do,
     product is, how the layout doesn’t fit their                              what not to do and how to know the difference.
     space, and how a trendy application may be                                   Join tile organizations, go through their
     dated just as soon as the job is complete                                 training and get certified. Go to tradeshows, meet
     and will require maintenance beyond their                                 tile manufactures, tool manufacturers, setting
     expectations. We make it a point to discuss                               material manufacturers and other contractors.
     materials, layout, longevity and maintenance                                 Never be afraid to learn. Education is
     with each client.                                                         important. TILE

                  If you or anyone you know is interested in being featured
                in a future edition of the “Contractor Spotlight,” please email
                            Heather Fiore at fioreh@bnpmedia.com.

          3 REASONS YOU SHOULD BE EXCITED
          ABOUT YOUR NEW & IMPROVED
          TILE MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION!                                                                                              Magazine

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12    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
Revamping a cl
       A Tudor-style home near the Twin Cities was modernized with a
       revamped design, which highlights colored glass and stone tile
       from Jeffrey Court
       by Heather Fiore

14   www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
lassic

         For the renovation of an original Tudor-style home
         nearby St. Paul, MN, designers opted for decorative
         marble tile from Jeffrey Court in the kitchen,
         which complements the room’s neutral tones.
         Photos courtesy of Jeffrey Court, Inc.

                           June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   15
Colored glass tile from Jeffrey Court was also utilized throughout the home for various things,
     including the fireplace hearth.

     J
        kath Design Build + Reinvent is a                   Jesse Kath founded Jkath Design Build +
        residential remodeling firm located in St.        Reinvent and currently operates the business
        Paul, MN, which services the Twin Cities          alongside his wife, Katie, the lead designer, and
     and surrounding areas. The 10-year-old firm          a team of four talented professionals. One of
     specializes in kitchen remodels, main floor          the company’s most recent ventures included an
     updates, and whole house renovations and             extensive renovation of a local, Tudor-style home,
     additions, with a goal of creating a lifestyle       which was close to 100 years old, utilizing a range
     while enjoying comfort and function.                 of colored glass and stone tile from Jeffrey Court.

16    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
Floor mosaics were created in the bathrooms using different shades of glass tile from Chapter 14 –
The Press by Jeffrey Court. The floor of the kids’ bathroom highlights a black-and-white, 13 1/8- x 13
3/8-inch hexagonal mosaic, known as the “Union Mosaic,” while the walls feature glossy, beveled 3- x
3-inch tiles in an off-white color, “Crisp Linen.”

  “This design intent was a modern Tudor,            a small kitchen bump out to expand the
preserving original character and integrity          kitchen footprint. The entire house was
where it made sense, while adding modern             overhauled, including the mechanicals,
amenities and updates to give this home              plumbing and electrical updates throughout.
another 100 years of life,” Katie Kath said            “Our goal was to touch every square inch
of the 2,300-square-foot home. “We fell in           of this home, with a small addition on
love with the original charm and the overall         footings and finishing the basement level,
historic neighborhood this house is in. The          which is a huge property value add-on in
improvements needed were necessary, knowing          this neighborhood,” she explained. “In the
we had creative autonomy with the selections         end, we made our goal, but had to research
and a new family would be able to call this          more cost-effective ways to finish the home;
home with quality finishes to last a lifetime.”      using footings and skipping the foundation
  Since the home was purchased as an                 for the kitchen bump out is a good example.
investment property, Kath wanted to                  We did not replace any windows in the home
complete a full renovation along with a              and opted to clean up the original stained
two-story addition. However, she ultimately          window casings. While we changed the
decided to nix the addition in place of              entire second story footprint to add a master

                                                                      June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   17
The powder room’s floor features a unique 13 1/8- x 15 1/8-inch “Tribune Mosaic” in navy blue.

     suite, we made concessions in the basement           a herringbone design on the shower walls,
     level and did not add the fourth bedroom             along with 1-inch penny rounds, which were
     and fourth bathroom we had hoped to.”                used on the shower floor.
       With the kitchen and mudroom expansion               “We chose tile that felt timeless, with
     on the first floor, two of the upstairs              character and resembled the original era
     bedrooms were converted into the new                 of the home,” Kath said. “We used natural
     master suite, which features a bathroom, two         stone in most areas, as this is a quality and
     adjoining closets and a master bathroom              timeless material, with a playful nod in the
     with a soaking tub, standing shower and              kitchen area using the printed mosaic tile.”
     custom vanity. To create a contemporary                Colored glass tile from Jeffrey Court was also
     vibe in the kitchen and master bathroom,             utilized for the front entry, fireplace hearth,
     Kath utilized two different types of                 powder room and kids’ bathroom. As a contrast
     Statuario marble tile from Jeffrey Court’s           to the white brick fireplace surround, a 5/8-
     Chapter 15 – Classic Statuario series. For           inch hexagon mosaic in black from Chapter
     the kitchen range backsplash, 4- x 6-inch            14 – The Press was used to create the hearth.
     tiles from Chapter 15 – Classic Statuario            The colored glass tile series was also utilized
     in the “Botanic Imprint” design were used,           on the floors in the powder room and kids’
     which emulate a leafy pattern. In the master         bathroom. The powder room’s floor features a
     bathroom, 1 3/4-inch marble mosaics from             unique 13 1/8- x 15 1/8-inch “Tribune Mosaic”
     the same collection were utilized to create          in navy blue, while the floor of the kids’

18    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
For the master bathroom, 1 3/4-inch marble mosaics from Chapter 15 – Classic Statuario were utilized
to create a herringbone design on the shower walls, along with 1-inch penny rounds, which were
used on the shower floor.

bathroom highlights a black-and-white, 13            limited amount of waste on hand, so we
1/8- x 13 3/8-inch hexagonal mosaic, known           did stay on location to oversee this install.
as the “Union Mosaic;” the walls of the kids’        Fortunately, we did not have any issues.”
bathroom also feature glossy, beveled 3- x             The entire project was finished last year and
3-inch tiles in an off-white color, “Crisp Linen.”   took around five months to complete. “We have
  “We knew Chapter 14, The Press, was                since specified the Chapter 14 – The Press tile
made for this home,” Kath said. “With the            in a recent project as this Tudor home inspired
early 20th Century inspiration, we had a             these clients,” Kath said. “We have also received
few places to select and install this tile.          many positive comments on the finished
The black and white contrast might be our            photography, with another project in the works
favorite touch in the whole house.”                  for summer 2020 using the same tile in a
  Around 370 square feet of tile was                 different colorway.” TILE
used, which was supplied directly from
Jeffrey Court, Inc. in Norco, CA. “We always
spend time laying out a portion of the tile           Private residence
together as a team on location, approving             St. Paul, MN
placement, direction and verifying grout
color,” Kath explained of the installation            Builder/Designer: Jkath Design Build + Reinvent,
process. “Aside from this standard                     St. Paul, MN
procedure before we set our installer loose,          Tile Supplier: Jeffrey Court, Inc., Norco, CA
we did not have any unexpected issues.                 (Chapter 14 – The Press™, Chapter 15 –
The handmade tile behind the kitchen                   Classic Statuario)
range was very delicate and we had a

                                                                     June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   19
Installation
 Case Study

       Creating
       art with
       porcelain
       A porcelain artist from The
       Land Down Under continues to
       push artistic boundaries with
       his innovative artworks crafted
       from gauged porcelain tile
       by Heather Fiore

     Roberto Colonetti, known as the “porcelain artist,” crafts unique, three-dimensional sculptures using
     gauged porcelain tile, including this larger-than-life model of the Eiffel Tower.
     Photos courtesy of Roberto Colonetti

20    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
A waterjet was programmed to intricately
                                                       cut the gauged porcelain tile to emulate the
                                                       famous landmark.

Colonetti utilized one panel of 12-mm-thick
Florim Stone in the “Statuario” design with a
matte finish, which measured 63 x 126 inches
(5 1/4 x 10 1/2 feet) and was imported directly from
Florim Ceramiche in Fiorano Modenese, Italy.

R
             oberto Colonetti is a well-
             known professional in the
             tile and stone industries, and
             deservedly so. Known for his
                                                       All of the work took 23 hours on the waterjet,
innovative porcelain techniques, specifically          with an additional eight hours to configure the
with large-format and gauged porcelain                 software to make the precise cuts.

                                                                       June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   21
at European Ceramics
                                                                         in Osborne Park, Perth,
                                                                         Australia. “To make
                                                                         something like this in
                                                                         porcelain takes time to
                                                                         understand how big it should
                                                                         be to get all of the pieces
                                                                         interlocked together. The
                                                                         tower was commissioned
                                                                         from a French shop in New
                                                                         Zealand. They asked me if I
                                                                         was able to make something
                                                                         regarding the country of
                                                                         France and what’s better
                                                                         than the Eiffel Tower?”
                                                                           To create the Eiffel Tower
                                                                         model, Colonetti utilized one
                                                                         slab of 12-mm-thick Florim
                                                                         Stone in the “Statuario”
                                                                         design with a matte finish,
                                                                         which measured 63 x 126
                                                                         inches (5 1/4 x 10 1/2 feet)
                                                                         and was imported directly
                                                                         from Florim Ceramiche in
                                                                         Fiorano Modenese, Italy.
                                                                           Although many installers
                                                                         utilize glues or adhesives to
                                                                         keep large porcelain pieces
                                                                         like this together, Colonetti
                                                                         stands out from the rest
     Colonetti then interlocked all of the pieces to secure them,        because of his unique
     without using any glues or adhesives.                               installation process. “There
                                                                         is no glue; everything was
                                                                         interlocked together like a
     tile panels/slabs (GPTP), Colonetti refers to       puzzle,” he explained. “You can move the
     himself as a porcelain artist and truly prides      pieces at any time by yourself, and in the
     himself on pushing artistic boundaries with         case one of the pieces breaks, it can be
     the material.                                       easily replaced.”
       At the beginning of this year, he began             Colonetti crafted the Eiffel Tower over
     crafting one-of-a-kind, three-dimensional           a 23-hour period using a waterjet, with
     structures from GPTP, which emulate                 another eight hours dedicated to creating
     everything from the Eiffel Tower to a human         all of the necessary software programs. “The
     head. The life-size Eiffel Tower model, which       most challenging aspect of the installation
     stands more than 7 feet tall, was one of            was making the right measurements,
     the first projects he created, which was            especially on the inclined parts,” he said.
     designed using Florim Stone’s Statuario             “Any mistakes meant re-cutting the piece.
     marble-look porcelain.                              Another big challenge was the proximity of
       “The goal for this project was the                the cut to get all of the details of the tower.
     challenge of it,” said Colonetti, who works         If I went too close, I would get cracks, and

22    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
In addition to porcelain
             countertops, Colonetti
                specializes in these
                  three-dimensional
                 structures, and can
            create pretty much any
              idea that is proposed.

imagine getting a crack after three hours of
cutting when you’re almost done.”                 Eiffel Tower model
  By readjusting the positions on the             New Zealand
software Colonetti used, he was able to
successfully complete the tower, which has        Designer/Installer: Roberto Colonetti, Perth,
received hundreds of positive responses            Western Australia
since its completion a couple of months ago.      Tile Supplier: Florim Ceramiche, Fiorano
“Luckily, this is not my first project and I’ve    Modenese, Italy (Florim Stone’s Marble
learned a lot from my mistakes,” Colonetti         Statuario)
said. “Everyone who has seen the tower has
been impressed.” TILE

                                                                  June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   23
A dimensional
           EXPERIENCE

24   www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
An innovative feature wall was created in a private
        residence with dimensional concrete tiles.
                              Photos courtesy of M3LD

                   June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com    25
The tiles were created by local design firm, M3LD, in partnership with Californian tile
     manufacturer, Arto Brick.

     A design firm in Salt Lake City, UT, crafted a unique concrete
     and ceramic tile collection in collaboration with Californian tile
     manufacturer, Arto Brick, which was used to create an accent
     wall in a local upscale residence
     by Heather Fiore

                       3LD is an interior design firm       “The collection we designed is called M3LD
                       in Salt Lake City, UT, which       for Arto Brick,” said Beecher, co-owner and
                       was realized in 2014 by three      designer. “The tile designs are called ‘Brute’
                       friends, Andrea Beecher, Brian     and ‘Bruin,’ named after our paintable PVC
                       Garrett and Jason Frederick.       wall tiles. Both are available in dimensional
     With a focus on residential and commercial           concrete or gorgeous tone-on-tone ceramic.”
     design, M3LD also creates artistic furniture,          The handmade tile collection, which was
     lighting and accessories to incorporate into their   inspired by the cast concrete of brutalist
     projects, and now, concrete and ceramic tiles.       architecture, is offered in three different

26    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
designs. “A lot of our design is inspired by
the cast concrete of brutalist architecture
of the mid-twentieth century, which is as
versatile as it is striking,” Beecher explained.
“Our concrete tiles are a direct
homage to the beauty and
cleverness of that era. Designed
to be hung randomized or in a
pattern, these 20- x 20-inch tiles
recall a time when masonry was
sexy. They can be used indoors
or outside, as a focal wall or
piece of art; the options
are endless.”
  For a local residence that sits
at the foothills of the Wasatch
Mountains overlooking the Salt
Lake Valley, the team at M3LD
was tasked with creating an eye-
catching and unique accent wall
that would withstand the test
of time. “Because the house is
an original Mid-century modern         The “Brute” design was chosen in gray, with a matte finish.
home built in 1967, we designed
the wall to feel like it could have
been installed when the house was built,”             the living room. “With the deep dimensions
Beecher said of the 50- x 78-inch wall. “That’s       of these tiles, the surrounding details
the beauty of these tiles; they could easily be       matter,” Garrett said.
mistaken for an original architectural feature,         Although the wall took around seven weeks
but they also feel totally current. The client        to fabricate, the installation was completed
chose the style and color of the tiles, and           in two days. “We were there both installation
magic happened.”                                      days to make sure everything went smoothly,
  The tile collection, which was created in           but really we were just excited to see the
collaboration with Arto Brick in Gardena,             finished project,” Garrett said. “Everyone that
CA, has been a hit with M3LD’s clients. “Arto         sees it has to touch it. They can’t believe it’s
Brick are masters of concrete, which is why           concrete. The style fits so perfectly in the
we were so excited to work with them,” said           space, people constantly say that it looks
Garrett, co-owner and designer. “They used            original to the mid mod home it’s in.” TILE
our PVC wall tiles as molds, and each tile
is painstakingly poured and cast by hand.
The ceramic tile is also handmade, and then             Private residence
screen-printed for a stunning effect with               Salt Lake City, UT
multiple colors and finishes.”
  For this particular project, the designers            Designer: M3LD, Salt Lake City, UT
needed to ensure the trim and molding was               Tile Supplier: Arto Brick, Gardena, CA (M3LD
the same depth as the tile to frame the wall,            collection)
which is located near the home’s entrance in

                                                                      June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   27
Product
     Showcase
     The Alpha®                                          Accurate tile
     Pool Coping                                         setting requires
     Kit comes                                           perfect tile
     with all of the                                     leveling to
     components                                          prevent lippage.
     necessary for                                       Tiles that
     the coping                                          seem perfectly
     application for                                     level during
     5-cm (2-inch)                                       installation
     thickness.                                          often show
     Alpha also                                          a variance in
     offers a 6-cm (2 3/8-inch) Profiler V as an         height after the thinset or adhesive cures.
     optional profile wheel. The Profiler will create    Now, thanks to the Raimondi Leveling Spacers
     a uniform bullnose edge with ease using the         available from Braxton-Bragg, the installation
     VDP-700 variable speed rotary polisher when         process is faster and it eliminates or reduces
     used with wet sanding/polishing kit (WSPKIT).       grinding to remove lippage. An added benefit
     Most of the popular paving materials have           is that the low-cost Raimondi system provides
     a honed surface so that #80 Sandpaper will          a huge savings over the other leading brand of
     create a matching finish on the profiled edge.      lippage reduction systems.
      WWW.ALPHA-TOOLS.COM                                 WWW.BRAXTON-BRAGG.COM

     Carpet Gear’s                                       Successfully
     Ergonomic                                           installing
     Adjustable Trowels                                  tile or stone
     are made for                                        requires the
     spreading material                                  right tools
     with less fatigue                                   to apply
     and strain to                                       subfloor prep
     the wrist. The                                      products,
     adjustability of                                    mortars
     the handle design                                   and grouts
     makes it the easiest and most comfortable           properly. SuperiorBilt® tools from Custom® are
     trowel to use. With a 10-inch offset handle, it     engineered to deliver unrivaled professional-
     allows for the installer to cut tight to the wall   quality performance. Comfortable, ergonomically
     without damaging knuckles. The innovative           balanced and made from high-quality materials
     design of the handle set at 15 inches below         for long-term durability, every tile pro should
     center line allows for maximum height of            have a full assortment of SuperiorBilt®
     thinset material. Sizes include 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2,    premium tools, including cut and mark tools,
     1/4 x 3/8 x 1/4 and 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4 inches.         prep tools, set tools, and grout and finish tools.
      WWW.HOMEDEPOT.COM/B/FLOORING-                       WWW.CUSTOMBUILDINGPRODUCTS.COM
      FLOORING-TOOLS-MATERIALS-FLOORING-
      TOOLS-TILE-TOOLS-SUPPLIES/CARPET-
      GEAR/N-5YC1VZCDULZRH3

28    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
TILE TOOLING & ACCESSORIES

The new Diamond                                      iQ Power Tools
Vantage TS400 Tile                                   introduces its
Saw is designed to                                   Cyclonic Dust
handle bigger, harder                                Extractor with
and heavier materials.                               HEPA Filtration. The
The lightweight saw,                                 iQ426HEPA utilizes
which only weighs 65                                 cyclone technology,
pounds, is equipped                                  meaning less than
with a 2 HP motor that                               1% of the dust
is suited to cut tiles up                            reaches the filter.
to 24 x 24 inches. The                               It has four stages of filtration utilizing seven
unique stainless steel                               cyclones. Its Power Management System
horizontal rails are virtually impossible to bend,   gives the unit the ability to control amp draw
and the horizontal bearing system holds the          automatically. In addition to the auto-start
table incredibly tight for precision cutting. An     feature, the system automatically balances
adjustable motor is available for small or large     power between the tool receptacle and the
tiles. A complete package, including a blade,        vacuum. Features include a steel cart with
side extension table, rip and diagonal guide,        an accessory rack, attachments and a 14-foot
miter wedge, wrenches and stand is available.        anti-static hose.
 WWW.DIAMONDVANTAGE.COM/EQUIPMENT.HTML                WWW.IQPOWERTOOLS.COM

The Tuscan                                           Prosupport
SeamClip™,                                           Tube System
only from Pearl                                      from Progress
Abrasive, is the                                     Profiles is an
world’s first                                        adjustable
one-piece tile                                       support system
edge leveling                                        of seven
system that                                          elements
virtually                                            only to realize outdoor floating floors from a
eliminates                                           height of 29 to 1,000 mm. For 74 to 1,000 mm
lippage on                                           heights, it’s recommended to insert the pipe
a variety of                                         of the desired height into the base, push it all
gauged tiles. Made in the U.S. from recyclable       the way and insert the ring. The screws have
material, the Tuscan SeamClip’s innovative           to be screwed on the base with the hollow
design dramatically reduces settling caused          side upwards for self-leveling; heads up to
by shrinkage. It is easy to use, as it interlocks    5% slope or upside down to have fixed heads.
the tile creating a single slab surface, while       After this, the floor has to be laid on the heads.
reducing the need to re-lift and re-set the tiles     WWW.PROGRESSPROFILES.COM/EN
to ensure alignment. No tools are required.
 WWW.PEARLABRASIVE.COM

                                                                     June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com    29
Product
     Showcase
                                                          Natural tones, as
                                                          well as black and
                                                          white, continue
                                                          to be the most
                                                          frequently used
                                                          and on-trend
     The Rubi range of premium diamond blades             colors in tiles.
     offers professionals the latest technology in        Schluter-Systems’
     diamond blades to obtain the best possible           popular Trendline
     results. Rubi VIP blades offer the latest in Turbo   textured finishes
     blades technology, with a specific design that       are available in the 4-inch square Kerdi-
     allows the cutting of hard materials (porcelain,     Drain-Style series of shower drain grates and
     stone, etc.) with a 30% higher speed. The            Schluter®-Shelf shower shelves. The same
     VIP Dry diamond blade is recommended for             highly durable powder coating procedure used
     dry cutting hard materials, while the VIP Wet        to apply these finishes to Schluter profiles
     diamond blade is recommended for cutting             is used on the drain grates and shelves. Six
     hard materials. The blades are intended for          different finishes are available on profiles,
     straight cuts and are not suitable for mitering.     grates and shelves: matte black, matte white,
                                                          stone gray, greige, cream and bronze.
      WWW.RUBI.COM/US
                                                          WWW.SCHLUTER.COM/SCHLUTER-US/EN_ US

     The Spider                                           Tenax 4- and
     Tool Holster™                                        5-inch dry cut
     is designed                                          blades work great
     to change                                            on Dekton®,
     the way you                                          ultra-compact and
     carry your                                           porcelain. These
     power tools.                                         thin blades will
     No more dropping or setting your tool down.          produce a fast,
     The Spider Tool Holster clips onto your belt,        clean straight
     putting any tool right at your hip and ready         cut with minimal
     to use whenever you need it. The Tool Holster        chipping during
     set includes one tool holster and one tool           the process. Designed with a rigid,
     grip. Equipped with a quick release lock, the        heat-reducing core, the blades were designed
     holster can attach to any belt or tool belt,         for wet or dry use. They are available in 4-
     and accomodate tools up to eight pounds.             (#4D-41952) and 5-inch (#4D-39794) formats.
     The elastic grip can easily stretch to fit any       WWW.TENAX4YOU.COM
     handheld tool handle.
      HTTPS://SPIDERTOOLHOLSTER.COM

30    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
Magazine

THERE’S MORE TO            EXPLORE                 AT…
          TILE-magazine.com

 VIDEOS     WEBINARS         IMAGE      PRODUCTS   COLUMNS
                            GALLERIES
Technical
Focus

     Gauged Porcelain Tile,
     changes in industry standards
     and the building code
     by Jim Whitfield, FCSI, CCPR, LEED AP, director of technical services at MAPEI

     The creation of the first GPT installation standard, ANSI A108.19, started in September of 2015 with
     a small group of industry consultants, union and trade association representatives, manufacturers of
     GPT tile and setting materials manufacturers, and took around 18 months to approve. Now, several
     industry organizations such as the TCNA are working vigorously to create new standards to accom-
     modate growing tile sizes and thicknesses. Photo courtesy of MAPEI

     A
           s Gauged Porcelain Tile (GPT) contin-         much larger and thinner, too?” In 2014, the
           ues to grow in popularity, so does the        industry released the “Position Statement on
           number of changes to our industry             Thin Porcelain Tile,” written by the National
     standards and even the building code. When          Tile Contractors Association and tile setters
     GPT first arrived in the U.S. from Europe           unions. This document stressed the impor-
     in early 2010, the industry and install-            tance of the tile contractor being cautious,
     ers were suspicious — “How can it be that           as no industry standards were available to

32    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
The International Building Code (IBC) will change in 2021 to include larger sizes of all porcelain tile
on an exterior. “When this code change goes into effect in 2021, we should have an ANSI exterior GPT
installation standard to compliment it,” Whitfield said. “This will be a tremendous benefit to our indus-
try and hopefully validate all the hard work that went into getting this building code change passed.”
Photo courtesy of Scott Conwell

establish quality materials and installation          in 2021 to include larger sizes of all porce-
techniques and stressed following the manu-           lain tile on an exterior.
facturer’s direction. At the time, I was work-          Sometimes, creating a new ANSI standard
ing as a product manager for a tile manufac-          can be quite difficult, and many take years,
turer and in the process of creating a GPT, or        even decades. The creation of the initial GPT
what we called thin tile, product line. That          installation standard started in September
seems so long ago, but here in 2020, we               of 2015. A small group of industry consul-
have ANSI product and interior installation           tants, union and trade association represen-
standards that have been out for three years.         tatives, manufacturers of GPT tile and set-
The future looks positive for GPT as an exte-         ting materials manufacturers spent several
rior standard is nearing an ANSI vote and the         days at Crossville Inc. in Tennessee, install-
International Building Code (IBC) will change         ing and observing different techniques and

                                                                        June 2020 I www.tile-magazine.com   33
New GPT methods were also proposed for the TCNA Handbook. In October of 2019 at Total Solutions
     Plus in Nashville, TN, a committee of industry professionals agreed to incorporate two new GPT
     methods. In the future, the goal is to have a publication solely dedicated to GPT for installers to
     refer to. Photo courtesy of MAPEI

     the results of the work. We removed the               Porcelain Tiles and Gauged Porcelain Tile
     installed GPT panels the following day to             Panels/Slabs and ANSI A108.19 Interior
     confirm the coverage of the mortar; what              Installation of Gauged Porcelain Tiles and
     difference did the different trowels make,            Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs by the
     different embedding procedures and what               Thin-Bed Method. You may wonder why the
     was repeatable? From these results, the               names, “Gauged Porcelain Tiles” and “Gauged
     ANSI A108.19 installation standard was                Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs?” “Gauged”
     developed. My understanding is that the               because, at this time, we were addressing
     tile technical committee started draft-               thin tiles from 3.5 to 6.5mm in thickness.
     ing the product standard about the same               Today, many manufacturers of GPT also have
     time. Through hard work, many conference              thick tile from 2cm or 20mm (3/4 inch) to
     calls and a couple of face-to-face meetings,          3cm or 30mm (>1 inch) thickness. The TCNA
     approximately 18 months later, the ANSI               is just beginning the conversation that there
     installation and product standards were sent          is interest in creating a product standard
     to the ANSI A108 committee and passed.                for these thick porcelain tiles. So, like wire,
     This expedited timeline was unprecedented             gauged more accurately describes the thick-
     and accomplished due to the importance of             ness. “Gauged Porcelain Tile” refers to GPT
     the ANSI standards for GPT.                           less than 1 meter (39 inches) in size, while
       Soon, the Tile Council of North America             “Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs” mea-
     (TCNA) published a separate ANSI document             sure 1 meter and larger. Why “panels/slabs?”
     with both standards: ANSI A137.3 American             ANSI standards are adopted by a consensus
     National Standard Specifications for Gauged           process; some tile manufacturers wanted

34    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
panels, other manufacturers wanted slabs.         than 9 pounds psf (0.43 kN/m2). Porcelain
Using the consensus process, they agreed to       tile shall be adhered to an approved back-
refer to it as “Panels/Slabs.”                    ing system.” This language was not entered
  Since the original publication, there have      into the code because of GPT, it was regard-
been some minor revisions to the ANSI             ing regular 3/8-inch (10-mm) porcelain tile.
A108.19 interior installation’s standard by       While GPT was well under the weight limit,
three different ballots. One updated a vari-      GPT seldom comes in sizes
square feet in total face area. Adhered units    material manufacturers are launching better
     weighing less than or equal to 3.5 pounds        wall preparation products that are ideal for
     (GPT) per square foot shall not exceed 72        large-format tiles and GPT on walls. There
     inches in any face dimension not more than       are setting materials designed to comple-
     17.5 square feet in total face area. Porcelain   ment GPT installations with their charac-
     tile shall be adhered to an approved back-       teristics like extended open time, non-sag
     ing system.” So, traditional porcelain tile      and large and heavy tile mortars. Several of
     can now be installed even larger than 2 x 4      us have launched advanced adhesive tech-
     feet with a total facial dimension of up to 9    nology for the installation of GPT on inte-
     square feet — three times the previous size      rior walls. Tool manufacturers continue to
     of no more than 3 square feet in total facial    release lighter, stronger and more practical
     dimension. For tile weighing 3.5 pounds or       tools for the installation of GPT. Weekly, I
     less per square foot GPT, they can be up to      see new tile manufacturers getting into GPT
     17.5 square feet in total facial dimension       with amazing colors, styles and stunning
     with no edge exceeding 6 feet.                   visuals. This technology is here to stay, as
       When this code change goes into effect in      one large slab or panel of GPT can yield a
     2021, we should have an ANSI exterior GPT        myriad of sizes and shapes cut from it. This
     installation standard to complement it. This     GPT manufacturing technology uses less
     will be a tremendous benefit to our indus-       raw materials, less energy to kiln fire them,
     try and hopefully validate all the hard work     and because they are thinner, more can be
     that went into getting this building code        shipped. If you have interest in learning
     change passed.                                   more about the installation of GPT, get the
       With guidance from a tile manufacturer         installation standards and reach out to tile
     and the TCNA, we have proposed GPT meth-         and setting material companies for training
     ods for the TCNA Handbook. It was started        specific to GPT. My company did more than
     off trying to add GPT to existing methods,       80 GPT trainings last year in the U.S. in mul-
     and after working through a dozen methods,       tiple facilities and for many manufacturers.
     we realized this was a challenging route to      If you have been sitting back and waiting
     go because it is difficult to include notes      for this trend to die, settle in; you will have
     specific to GPT and small glass tile at the      a long wait. TILE
     same time. With the TCNA’s help and labor’s
     involvement, we brought two methods to
     the TCNA Handbook committee meeting last
     October at Total Solutions Plus in Nashville,
     TN. We agreed that those two GPT methods          About the Author
     and notes agreed upon would be incorpo-           Jim Whitfield is the director
     rated into more TCNA methods. I think origi-      of technical services at MAPEI.
     nally, we submitted 16 methods. The TCNA is       He manages a strong technical
     currently making changes to those methods.        services group that provides
     If the committee can agree on more meth-          support for MAPEI’s many
     ods, the notes and bullets specific to GPT,       products for tile and stone
     then many more methods can be added. The          installation systems, floor covering installation
     goal would be to have a publication for GPT       systems and wood flooring. Jim received the honorary
     that would include TCNA Handbook meth-            designation of Fellowship from the Construction
     ods and the ANSI standards for the product,       Specifications Institute in 2001 for his contributions
     installation standards for interior and exte-     to education in the construction industry. He is
     rior, all specific to GPT.                        actively involved in the tile industry standards as the
       There are many more developments for            current president of the MMSA, and is also an active
     GPT in every aspect of our trade. Setting         member of the NTCA Technical Committee.

36    www.tile-magazine.com I June 2020
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