Page 7 - Demo

Velocity
Continued from page 6
Ultimately, Inventory equals time. In any manufac- turing system, the amount of orders within your system determines your cycle times. If you limit inventory to one week between Templating and Installation, you have a one-week process time.
Beyond excellent quality and reasonable pricing, your competitive opportunities are all about speed and re- liability. Synchronous Flow is designed to help you do that.
For more information on how to maintain a rapid and reliable process time, con- tact Ed Hill, Synchronous Solutions, 704-560-1536
Visit www.Synchronous Solutions.com .
Understanding the Crucial Difference Between Setting Tile and Building a Tile Assembly
When you bid a job, what are you selling? Are you simply setting tile or are you building a custom tile assembly that you can set tile on that will last?
When you walk onto a site for a consult with a client, you first deter- mine how the building is constructed. You may feel the floor roll under- neath your feet or in the bathroom, you may smell musty air and see swell- ing wood. The client asks, “how much will it be to lay some new tile here?”
We have all heard that question. It is a simple question, but for skilled installers, it is not a sim- ple answer.
In those quick moments, a skilled tradesperson might have determined that they will need to demo the entire bath- room to studs, replace
Joseph Mattice
On The Level Flooring
rotted joists, install new subflooring, flatten the floor, flatten the walls, cover them, waterproof, and install underlayment. All that before you can “lay tile.” Are you able to explain and present that to your client so that you can sell your value? More important still, do you understand the dif- ference between install- ing tile and building an assembly?
What is a Tile Assembly?
As yet, there is no of- ficial definition of this term, but generally speak- ing, a tile assembly can be thought of as a collection of components from struc- ture to finish that directly relate to the performance of the tile. Not every com- ponent is necessarily done
by the tile contractor, but they will all have an im- pact on the success of the installation.
Let us take method TCNA B422 in the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installation as an example (see diagram at right). This is a common installation in a shower. While a client might assume that tiling a shower consists of just setting the finish product and grouting, a diagram like this reveals the true complexity of an assem- bly in a common situation. There is a minimum of seven components in this diagram that are part of the tile assembly. This is completely aside from the design and layout of the tile pattern itself, which is an art in its own right. The correct type of drain, the right bonding mortar, the backing or substrate, membrane choice, appro- priate sealant and location,
wet area-approved tile, the sloped bed. If any of these steps are improperly ex- ecuted – or components improperly installed – it could put the entire assem- bly at risk. Each compo- nent requires knowledge of the correct material to use and the method of in- stallation, as well as the order of installation and appropriate cure times of the various materials. Add in niches, benches, and other custom touches, and the need for someone who understands these de- tails grows more and more apparent.
Why is it Important?
When we understand all the components of an as- sembly, it helps us in sev- eral ways.
First, it will ensure the highest chance of suc- cess in our installations. Getting things right at each step adds to the lifecycle of the tile assembly.
NSI Testing Lab Receives Three Distinctions
provider of ASTM C1354 Strength of Individual Stone Anchorages testing for North American proj- ects utilizing the Fischer Fixings Systems with nat- ural stone.
The Natural Stone Institute lab has remained fully functional during the pandemic and remains ready to accept new stone.
Current tests offer- ing by the Natural Stone Institute’s lab include:
• ANSI A326.3 Dynamic Coefficient of Friction of Hard Surface Materials
• ASTM C97 Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone
• ASTM C99 Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone
• ASTM C170 Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone
• ASTM C880 Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone
• ASTM C1353 Abrasion Resistance
of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic Using a Rotary Platform, Double-Head Abraser
• ASTM C1354 Strength of Individual Stone Anchorages in Dimension Stone
• ASTM C666 (and similar) Freeze/Thaw Testing
The Natural Stone Institute’s testing lab has received three noteworthy distinctions.
USACE Validation
The Natural Stone Institute testing lab has received validation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the ASTM C97 test meth- od for absorption and bulk specific gravity of dimen- sion stone. Only one other lab in the country has re- ceived this designation.
Laboratory validation is a process by which the Materials Testing Center (located at the USACE
Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, MS) ensures that the lab is equipped, staffed, and qualified to perform material testing for the specified test. This process took two months from start to finish and included a documentation of how the association’s lab process complies with ASTM C97.
ASSIMAGRA S.TONE Network
Portuguese stone asso- ciation ASSIMAGRA has
selected the Natural Stone Institute’s testing lab as one of two US-based labs to join the new S.TONE network of recommended labs for natural stone test- ing. The S.TONE network provides access to techni- cal resources and exists to “close the gap that exists between those who need the services and those who provide them,” according to ASSIMAGRA.
Fischer Fixings USA
The Natural Stone Institute lab has been named the exclusive North American Fischer Anchor Pull Test Provider. The NSI lab is the exclusive
Visit
stoneinstitute.org for more information on the NSI testing lab.
www.natural
Training & Education
Please turn to page 10
Slippery rock Gazette December 2020|7