The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the world's largest tile contractor association, has released detailed information about this year’s newest segment at Coverings 2018, held in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Georgia World Congress Center, May 8-11, 2018.

“Plans for this interactive event have been in the works for over a year,” stated Executive Director of the NTCA, Bart Bettiga. “We are psyched to see it go ‘live’ and know it will be well-received and well-attended by Coverings attendees. The live demonstrations and wealth of knowledge that can be attained in this approximately 3,900 square foot arena should be the highlight of any visitor’s time at the show!”

The Installation Experience offers Coverings show attendees to experience firsthand, numerous types of tile installations implemented by Qualified Labor. These interactive sessions will showcase today's best practices relative to a multitude of distinctive tile installations.

Live, interactive installations will take place in a fully functioning kitchen; a bathroom with heated tile floor, vintage fireplace upgrade and grand installation of a contemporary shower system. These state-of-the-art projects will involve glass tile, porcelain, gauged porcelain panels, natural stone and other cutting-edge tile products and breakthrough technology installation systems.

Entering via a self-guided, designated pathway, guest/participants will journey through room-after-room of fully interactive installations with top representatives posted along the way to answer any and all questions. They'll have the opportunity to speak with industry experts regarding key processes, learning new strategies and experiencing hands-on demonstrations of the most modern of technologies.

Other highlights include “photographic retrospectives”… the Hall of Failures and the Hall of Excellence. Here, attendees will see firsthand the difference between the right and wrong way to perform a tile installation. And, the Hall of ACT (Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers), will also allow attendees to talk with ACT representatives who will be available to discuss these programs.

Don’t forget about the Construction Zone, where visitors can experience the progression of the CTI Challenge. The “CTI Challenge” is an exciting, live event designed by CTEF Director Scott Carothers, which is slated to take place between rival teams who are both NTCA members and Certified Tile Installers. Clearly, this will be the tile industry's “Fight of the Century!”

And, as part of the Installation Experience, all attendees will garner new insights on the attributes of Qualified Labor. Representatives will be onsite to define, discuss, and demonstrate just what it takes to be a part of this elite group which includes the Certified Tile Installer program and the ultimate group of installers who have achieved the status of being ACT certified.

The Installation Experience will come to a conclusion with “At Home, With Tile.” It will be the final installation area… complete with an expansive seating area and large TV screen offering viewers a time-lapsed progress video, highlighting the various construction stages of the various projects slated to take place.

The Installation Experience, at Coverings, will be positioned in the Hall C, Exhibit # 8401, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

NTCA is a non-profit trade association serving every segment of the industry, spearheading education for the professional installation of ceramic tile, natural stone and allied products. For more information, please contact NTCA executive director Bart Bettiga at bart@tile-assn.com, via telephone at (601) 939-2071, or visit www.tile-assn.com. Or, contact Terri Sparks: 708-921-3517; tas@communicatorsintl.com


About Coverings
Coverings is the largest and most important ceramic tile and natural stone trade fair and expo in the United States. It features exhibitors from more than 40 countries and is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world.

The exposition serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all segments of the industry, with more than 75 informative, accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions throughout the show, all free of charge. Coverings attracts thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders and real estate developers, as well as journalists and bloggers who cover this vital and dynamic industry.

Sponsors of the show are The Ceramic Tile Distributor Association (CTDA), Tile of Spain/Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer’s Association (ASCER), Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). The show is managed by Taffy Event Strategies, LLC. For more information, visit www.coverings.com

Robb Roderick and Mark Heinlein on the Install Demo Stage

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