In this edition, we sat down with Erin Albrecht, principal and executive vice president at J&R Tile, Inc. in San Antonio, TX, which is a National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Five-Star Contractor and Ardex Choice Contractor.

La Jolla is known for its prominent seaside location in California. Occupying seven miles of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean, the majority of homes in the community showcase panoramic views of the ocean.

In traditional construction, the choice of products for a project requires consideration of aesthetics, performance, schedule and cost. In sustainable construction, these traditional considerations are expanded to include products that reduce impacts on occupant health and the environment.

Sustainable building is a design philosophy that focuses on minimizing the negative impact the construction process can have on the environment by not only reducing waste, but also through increasing the comfort, safety and productivity of a structure’s lifecycle through better material selection, design and engineering.

Capri from Cancos Tile is a gorgeous marble-inspired porcelain tile collection, which has very unique offerings. Applicable on both floors and walls, the collection is available in three colors and four standard sizes. Capri also offers decorative items, including torellos and pencils.

Classic Calacatta Gold and rich black Nero marble take a new shape in Pinnacle, a distinctly modern dimensional pattern of deep, sharp triangular flutes carved into clean parallel channels.

In this edition, we sat down with Dirk Sullivan, owner of Hawthorne Tile in Portland, OR. Sullivan is currently the only NTCA Five Star Contractor in the Northwest. He serves on NTCA’s Board of Directors, and is also part of NTCA’s membership and training and education committees.

Crystalline silica has always been an issue in the tile world, as well as the natural stone industry. Very small dust particles are produced. These tiny particles, known as respirable particles, can travel deep into workers’ lungs over time and cause various health issues.