Level Set® 500 HF Self-Leveling Underlayment
TEC® Products Support Expanded Cancer Care in Southwestern Michigan
Best Practice Tips for Successful High Flow SLU Installations
Use Build My Submittal to collect all documents into one convenient file to support substitution requests
Moisture mitigation is an increasingly important step in many large commercial flooring and tile jobs. Because the potential effects of excessive moisture vapor emission rates can be so costly, you should carefully take all jobsite conditions into account prior to the application of a moisture vapor barrier. Use the TEC® Moisture Mitigation Pre-Installation Checklist before beginning your next large installation.
Innovations in mortar technology have made it easier to meet the specific demands of a variety of jobs. However, mortar is only as good as its installer, and forgetting installation fundamentals can result in callbacks and job failures. Help avoid costly mortar missteps with the following four basic – but crucial – techniques.
“Self-leveling underlayment” (SLU) is a bit of a misnomer. Although this type of product is incredibly useful, it does require a thoughtful installer to ensure the best results. Follow these guidelines to prevent issues in your self-leveling underlayment installation.
Though grout may seem to be a secondary-to-the-tile functional necessity, it is also the essential design element that finishes the look of a tile installation. Neutral grout colors are still the most common choice, but current trends have elevated grout to make more of a statement. The latest style trends have grout both blending in and boldly standing out. A grout line can be very thin or very wide to make a big impact. The many contrasts in grout aesthetics make perfect sense when looking at the trends that influence grout. Trends in technology, tile and color are driving the current changes in grout installation, style and color palette.
Minimizing operating costs to make every project more profitable requires a commitment to continuous improvement. You can make many big and small moves that make a difference, but your mindset matters most. Committing to constant scrutiny of your business and continuous improvement has to happen before anything else.
Salt water pools are a great alternative to chlorine. Instead of traditional chlorine additives, saline pools use large amounts of salt to produce natural chlorine, which kills germs and neutralizes contamination. Follow these four steps to make sure your customers get the most out of their saltwater pools.
Innovations in mortar technology have made it easier to meet the specific demands of a variety of jobs. However, a mortar is only as good as its installer, and forgetting installation fundamentals can result in callbacks and job failures. Help avoid costly mortar missteps with the following four basic – but crucial – techniques.
To commercial and residential building owners, water damage from interior leaks is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind problem until they see evidence such as a water spot on a ceiling. For the flooring contractor that failed to seal openings in flooring material around plumbing fixtures, for example, the damage is also out of sight and out of mind—until they hear from an angry building owner with an immediate callback demand.
Tiling a pool is a great way to enhance a property and adds value by showcasing intricate detail and design. In fact, according to Bankrate, a pool can increase a home value by 5-8%. Not only are tiled pools beautiful, they require very little maintenance compared to plaster or aggregate pools. An accent band can be added to the waterline, or the entire tank shell can be tiled with stunning results.
“Self-leveling underlayment” is a bit of a misnomer. Although this type of product is incredibly useful, it does require a thoughtful installer to ensure it works properly. Follow this guide to prevent cracks in your self-leveling underlayment.
Generally speaking, there are two types of self-leveling underlayments (SLUs): traditional and high-flow technologies. The most noticeable differences between traditional and next-generation SLUs are the flowability and the smooth surface profile of each product.
Surface preparation is one the most important variables in floor construction profitability. To help control this variable and increase margins, TEC® has compiled the following best practices.
Tile is among the oldest building materials – and the most beautiful. While many processes in the building industry have become more automated, handmade tile provides a unique aesthetic desirable for all sorts of installations, from residential backsplashes to public art projects.
It doesn’t get much more high-profile than this. Southern Methodist University (SMU) planned to renovate its Meadows School of the Arts—a sprawling connection of rooms and buildings, including a center for the visual arts with studios, classrooms, a performing arts center and an outdoor plaza and courtyard. The most dramatic addition was a remodel of the east entry into a stunning, modern multi-story atrium with a lighted ceiling, expansive windows and grand pillars.
Pool construction is undergoing a revolution, propelled by cutting-edge technologies and innovative materials that are reshaping traditional methods. From leveraging 3D printing for pool design to incorporating advanced high-efficiency construction products, the time from concept to first swim is shrinking. Yet, client expectations continue to grow, for pool aesthetics, eco-friendly and sustainable design, efficient construction, and easy long-term maintenance. Tiled pools help meet all these demands, with a wide array of design options, color combinations, and eco-conscious materials. Tile also allows for highly efficient construction, durability, and very little maintenance versus other pool substrate options. Today’s advanced setting materials enable the tile pool installation process and pool performance guaranteed to delight owners for the long term.
What mistakes do contractors regularly make when installing ceramic tile? There are several common errors that can be avoided by proper planning. Here's how to avoid mistakes encountered on a regular basis during ceramic tile installations:
“Velocity of Change” is a premise that is disrupting the traditional concept of higher education at Arizona State University. Accelerating technology is the impetus for the change in teaching, and it’s creating new opportunities for lifelong learning. In that same dynamic spirit of change, ASU’s Memorial Union (MU) has recently transformed into a modern and beautiful hub to meet the new ways students, faculty and guests spend their time at this central gathering space. Here, too, technology and knowledge played key roles in how a tile contractor and manufacturer were able to partner to perform beyond traditional expectations.
The University of Alabama has been transforming Tuscaloosa’s historic Bryce Hospital into a destination for academic and cultural pursuits. University Hall is one of the buildings in the Bryce complex that benefited from the university’s investment in restoring the hospital campus. The renovated University Hall building houses multiple university programs’ offices.
One of the pains of specifying and installing tile over concrete is figuring out the proper way to keep tile intact despite substrate cracking due to shrinkage.