Tile Organizations Form Installers Alliance

Jackson, MS, Jan. 10, 2013 -- The leading organizations that represent tile installers have created the Tile Industry Installers Alliance to develop a new certification program to be embraced by the entire tile industry.

The organizations represented include the National Tile Contractors Association (both union and non union tile contracting companies), Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, Tile Contractors Association of America, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, and the International Masonry Institute.

The program will be called Advanced Certification of Tile Installers.

There will be four stand alone, specific certifications that will result from the first phase of the program. They include mudwork, large format tile/substrate preparation, shower pans, and membranes.

Installers who want to be certified in the four specific programs must either have completed Department of Labor approved apprenticeship programs or have successfully passed the CTEF Certified Tile Installer program.

The idea is to call out unique installation skills that architects, design professionals, specifiers, project owners, builders, and consumers can rely on for their projects.

The program will be initially promoted at Surfaces, with some live demonstrations taking place on the show floor.

At Coverings in Atlanta the alliance will be certifying its first installers on the show floor.