NTCA training director Gerald Sloan will conduct a daily demo on the installation stage Monday and Tuesday, with two demos on Wednesday.


Coverings is a great time for tile installers and contractors to join the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA). That’s because membership fees for new members will be discounted. Those who join at the show will also receive a free gift such as an iPod Nano or a $75 prepaid Visa card.

In addition, daily member-only drawings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will give members a chance to win prizes such as an iPad, Dell laptop or a $750 prepaid Visa card.

As one of the owners of the Coverings show, NTCA has a high profile at Coverings -- at its booth, #3636, at the Installation Stage, at the Installation Design Showcase, in the conference program and at the awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

Live Demos

NTCA training director Gerald Sloan – assisted by NTCA trainer Michael Whistler – will conduct a 45-minute demo daily on the Installation Stage, Monday through Wednesday at 11 a.m., with a bonus session at 4:30 pm Wednesday afternoon. The focus of these demos will be the similarities and differences between tile and stone installations. Each day will explore a different aspect of this topic. This is the daily schedule:
  • Monday, March 14, 11 am: Understanding the characteristics and limitations of both tile and stone as they relate to installation
  • Tuesday, March 15, 11 am: Installation methods of tile and stone
  • Wednesday, March 16, 11 am: Appropriate installation materials and cautions on grouts and sealants for tile and stone
  • Wednesday, March 16, 4:30 pm: Care and maintenance of tile and stone installations


NTCA assistant executive director Jim Olson will moderate New Business Opportunities for Tile Contractors on Thursday at 10:30 am, as part of the conference program.

Conference Offerings

Within the Installation Track seminars, geared specifically for the contractor/installer attendee, NTCA has a number of prominent seminars and panel discussion during the show. Following is the schedule of the NTCA-centric session (check at the show for room assignments):

Monday, March 14, 2011
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Opening Keynote/Installation Featured Session: The 2011 TCNA Handbook
Presented by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA); speaker - Eric Astrachan, TCNA executive director
The annualTCNA Handbook for Ceramic Tile, Stone and Glass Tile Installationis a key document for the tile industry. The 2011 revision contains significant new methods, including a brand new supplement on natural stone tile installations, developed in coordination with the NTCA, TCNA, and Marble Institute of America.

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Ceramic, Porcelain and Stone Tile: Similarities and Differences
Speaker:Gerald Sloan, NTCA
NTCA training director Gerald Sloan will discuss the new natural stone tile supplement to the TCNA Handbook, plus differences and similarities between installations of ceramic/porcelain tile and natural stone.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Membranes but Were Afraid to Ask
Speakers:MMSA Representatives Gerald Sloan, NTCA and Sam Biondo, MAPEI
NTCA and Materials and Methods and Standards Association (MMSA) representatives will discuss major components of various types of membranes and their uses and benefits, with emphasis on waterproofing and crack isolation membranes. New language to our industry standards will be reviewed.

NTCA Contractors Forum: Part One
Speakers:Bart Bettiga, NTCA executive director; Nyle Wadford, NTCA president; and James Woelfel, NTCA 2nd vice president and Technical Committee chairman.
Learn about industry developments, standards and methods relating to tile and stone installation, the new stone supplement to the TCNA Handbook, working with and understanding ISO and ANSI installation standards, medium-bed mortars, large-format tile installations and more.

9:15 am – 10:15 am
NTCA Contractors Forum: Part Two
Speakers:Bart Bettiga, NTCA executive director; John Cox, NTCA Chairman; and Jim Olson, NTCA assistant executive director
This section of the Contractors Forum will focus on items related to business development for tile contractors including form letters for communication with architects and general contractors, marketing programs for members, and continuing education programs for contractors to use with their customers.

2:45 pm-3:45 pm
Tile over Tile Installations:
Presented by:James Woelfel, Artcraft Granite Tile and Marble, NTCA Technical Committee chairman and NTCA 2nd vice president
Discover an effective, long-standing and environmentally-friendly method for successfully installing ceramic tile and natural stone over existing tile projects. It can add profit and growth opportunities for your business.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Avoid Your Worst Nightmare: Protect Your Tile Company from Fraud and Theft
Speaker:Jim Olson, NTCA; Andre Hutchison, Dillon Tile and Stone
Learn from speakers’ personal experience about what can happen when policies and procedures are not established or enforced in small businesses or family-owned tile contracting companies, and how to prevent this from happening in your business.

Thursday, March 17, 2011
8:30 am – 10:30 am
NTCA Tile and Stone Symposium: Live Demonstration of Tile Installation Techniques
Speaker:Gerald Sloan, NTCA
The NTCA performs over 75 live, hands-on workshops around the country annually, bringing vital knowledge related to proper installation of ceramic tile and natural stone to thousands of industry professionals. Benefit from some of the most important highlights of the 2011 Tile and Stone Symposium in this informative and entertaining presentation.

10:30 am-11:30 am
New Business Opportunities for Tile Contractors: Tile Cleaning and Maintenance, Anti-Microbial Applications and Stone Cleaning and Restoration
Moderator:Jim Olson, NTCA;Speakers:Mike Sawicki, Miracle Sealants, Silver Cornia, The Tile Doctor; and Jim Caron, Anti-Slip Solutions.
Learn how finding and developing new opportunities for growth and profit in new business development such as cleaning, maintenance and restoration can help you survive and thrive in challenging economic times.