COVER STORY:
Green Building:
Bostik and Schluter partner in EarthCraft home for 2007 Southern Building Show
by Marty Whitford, contributor

Green buildings clearly need not compromise. Case in point: the recently constructed “EarthCraft House” in the Morningside neighborhood in Atlanta. In June, this one-of-a-kind green residence served as the TecHome Showcase property of the year at the Southern Building Show/TecHome Builder Expo in Atlanta. Read More

Keeping it Green
The Green Building market; What makes an EarthCraft House

Interest in Green Building is exploding. In just about 10 years, Green Building has progressed from what some perceived to be a passing fad to a major industry segment in commercial construction. Now, it is poised to infiltrate the residential construction arena. Read More

What happened to all our money?
NTCA Profit Survey helps answer the tough questions
by Michael Whistler; NTCA director, region 10

We get back to the office and ask each other the same old questions; if we made all that money, why isn’t it in our bank accounts? Are we doing something wrong? Paying our people too much? Paying ourselves too much? Spending too much on trucks and tools? Is the local distributor charging us too much for our tile and rough materials? Read More

Scribing felt alert preview:
use proven materials
and methods for crack isolation
by Dave Gobis, technical director, CTEF

Crack isolation issues seem to hit a nerve with more than a few installation contractors.

At CTEF, we receive calls and emails on other paper-type or sheet-vinyl systems that appear to work but aren’t an industry-approved product or method. A few respondents insisted that their methods had never failed them in the past 10, 20, or even 30 years. Read More

Crack isolation:
a technical look at a challenging subject
by Dave Gobis, technical director, CTEF

Crack isolation has been receiving increasing attention from both manufacturers of setting materials and consumers. Early in my career, I heard an industry icon say all tile installations should have a crack isolation membrane. Three decades later, I agree it’s not a bad idea. Read More

Total Solutions:
fun and games
by Lesley Goddin

All work and no play is not the motto of the Total Solutions conference. A cocktail reception, awards banquet, as well as a golf tournament, trip to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game against the Tennessee Titans and a deep sea fishing expedition rounded out the education and networking during our time at St. Pete Beach. Read More