When designers lack in-depth knowledge of your trade, it can lead to unrealistic expectations – and ultimately, disappointment. Designers might show building owners pictures and idea boards of concepts that wow the client aesthetically, but miss the boat with functionality and practicality. While it’s nice to work with a designer who has faith in your abilities, the mantra “the installer will make it work” can lead to disgruntled designers, disappointed building owners and frustrated installers.

What mistakes do contractors regularly make when installing ceramic tile? There are several common errors that can be avoided by proper planning. Here's how to avoid mistakes encountered on a regular basis during ceramic tile installations:

Vinyl flooring installed in hospital lounges, common areas, patient rooms and other environments seamlessly blends aesthetics with necessary functional characteristics. Flooring contractors depend on products and practices to achieve quality installations and to meet the quality needs of building planners, administrators and owners.

Flooring failures caused by elevated moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTR) can be costly to business owners, and they may try to pass that cost onto the flooring contractor through a moisture claim. Follow this guide to keep your jobs – and your profits – from being compromised by moisture.

Innovations in mortar technology have made it easier to meet the specific demands of a variety of jobs. However, a mortar is only as good as its installer, and forgetting installation fundamentals can result in callbacks and job failures. Help avoid costly mortar missteps with the following four basic – but crucial – techniques.

When Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” he certainly wasn’t describing the process of installing tile over concrete. But he could have been, because properly evaluating and preparing your concrete substrate prior to laying tile will prevent countless – and costly –post-installation problems. Here are two tips on how to evaluate and address a few common conditions pre-installation.

What do you tell your customers who have a concrete subfloor and want to install hardwood? We recommend an engineered hardwood for several important reasons. One, it’s much less sensitive to changes in humidity compared to wood that can swell with moisture and temperature. Two, it can be installed at any grade level – including below grade. And three, it’s better than traditional plank for installing over in-floor heating systems.

The difference between static & dynamic joints

Static cracks and control joints are non-moving parts, which makes them easier to work with during installation. Dynamic cracks and expansion joints, however, are moving parts and need much more attention. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between static joints and dynamic joints.

Moisture mitigation is an increasingly important step in many large commercial flooring and tile jobs. Because the potential effects of excessive moisture vapor emission rates can be so costly, you should carefully take all jobsite conditions into account prior to the application of a moisture vapor barrier. Use the TEC^® Moisture Mitigation Pre-Installation Checklist before beginning your next large installation.