Building on last year’s momentum, not only have homeowners been utilizing their houses in more ways, but in new and different ways than before, which has caused a major ‘building boom.’ In particular, we have seen an outdoor living space trend remain on the rise as many homeowners who were sheltering in place developed a renewed interest in their backyard spaces to get year-round usage from their outdoor areas.

One of the most exciting developments in the 2021 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) are the new opportunities to use large-format adhered porcelain tile and ultra-large-format tile panels on building exteriors. The new code language represents the first major update for porcelain tile since its introduction to the IBC in 2009.

In 2015, founder and master artist at Native Tile & Ceramics in Torrance, CA, Diana Mausser, began working on a project with a homeowner in La Quinta, CA. She and her team created handmade tile for a small portion of the home’s entrance, which snowballed into an entirely new project five years later.

Learn more about the newest surface prep products on the market.

In this edition, we sat down with Ben Kalkman, owner of Cutting Edge Kitchens in Boise, ID.

Giving a facility owner a positive outcome on new construction or a remodeling project requires trust-based relationships. Itasca, IL-based flooring contractor, Diverzify, has earned the trust of Chicago’s Midtown Athletic Clubs by providing reliable expertise and materials on floor construction and renovation projects over several decades.