Don your comfy shoes and scour the show floor for education, demos, inspiration and exhibits, oh my!
Next month is the premier tile and stone expo – Coverings, taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., April 22-25. Coverings is bursting with education, technical demonstrations, opportunities to network and connect, special activities and exhibit halls filled with the newest, on-trend styles for the industry, as well as tools, equipment, sundries and setting materials designed to make your next project a success.
Following are a few select activities that pertain to contractors or programs where NTCA is involved, with links for you to find more information.
NTCA Contractor Tours
Join the NTCA as it guides you around the show floor to see the latest tools, equipment, and allied products. Learn from manufacturers as you discover new products and services to streamline and elevate your next job. These hour-long tours will depart from The Outdoor Oasis at 11:00 am on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so sign up at the Outdoor Oasis ASAP Monday morning. https://www.coverings.com/show-floor-tours/
Installation Innovation Stage
A number of installation demonstrations will take place on the Installation Innovation Stage, space C7863, chiefly among them a full roster of demos conducted by NTCA Technical Trainers Matt Welner and Hank Boyle, together with NTCA Training Director Mark Heinlein. Here’s a brief overview:
Monday – April 22, 2024
- 10:10 am – 10:40 am: Silica Safety and Awareness – Is this still a thing? Learn what tile industry professionals need to know to comply with the OSHA Airborne Respirable Silica Regulations.
- 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Diamond Tools – Proper Selection for Performance and Safe Use. Delve into common types of industrial diamond blades, bits and tools, and explore how to select the proper blade for the material and task at hand and how to use them safely.
- 4:50 pm – 5:20 pm: Dust Management – Equipment for Working Cleanly and Safely. Learn about wet and dry applications for high performance/high quality/efficient/safe production tools and techniques to cut, score, snap and collect dust and debris.
Tuesday – April 23, 2024
- 11:40 am – 12:10 pm: Handles for Tile – Tools to Hold and Set Tiles While Saving Our Hands, Fingers and Backs. Discover how suction cups and oscillating tools help installers meet or exceed industry standard compliance for installing tiles safely and ergonomically.
- 4:10 pm – 4:40 pm: Job Site Awareness and Safety Plans for Tile Contractors and Installers. The NTCA Training Team will demonstrate and discuss the importance of safety plans and equipment to protect people, equipment, materials, tools, clients, and our reputations.
Wednesday – April 24, 2024
- 10:40 am – 11:10 am: Lightweight Materials – Less Weight Can Save Time and Backs. This demonstration will feature an array of lightweight tile setting materials designed to help tile pros create long-lasting, beautiful installations and lighten the load in the process.
- 1:30 pm – 2:10 pm: Profiles – Methods and Tools for Safe, Accurate Cutting and Installation of Profile and Trim Systems for Tile Installations. Discover safe and accurate ways to measure, cut and embed profiles as a durable finish to protect and complement a tile installation.
> > > Meet the NTCA Technical Training Team
Outdoor Oasis
The popular Coverings Lounge has been revamped into a breathtaking Outdoor Oasis for Coverings 2024 in Hall C, space #7006. Partnering with the thought-leaders from Tributary Revelation, the Outdoor Oasis will be an immersive outdoor experience for attendees – INSIDE the Coverings show floor! Featuring tile for both interior and exterior applications, the Outdoor Oasis will also host happy hours, giveaways, networking and educational opportunities.
The Outdoor Oasis will also serve as a hub of education. Here are a few of the programs taking place there:
- Gianna Vallefuoco (artist, tile contractor, mindfulness teacher), of NTCA Five-Star Vallefuoco Contractors and Ron Nash, President and COO of LATICRETE will present short, impactful health and wellness workshops. Appropriate for meditators and non-meditators alike, topics will include working and leading with purpose, finding resilience, breathing tools and techniques, and much more.
- Enjoy Happy Hour in the beautiful space from 4:00 – 5:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The Outdoor Oasis is also a living testament to some of the innovative manufacturers and installation precision of elite NTCA Five-Star Contractors. Tile products from Landmark Ceramics, SICIS, and STN Ceramica, pedestal systems from Redwood Plastics and Rubber and an assortment of products from various partners and Tributary Revelation members will be installed by DW Sanders Tile & Stone Contracting and C.C. Owen Tile Company. https://www.coverings.com/outdoor-oasis
Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards
The Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the design and installation of ceramic tile and stone in residential, institutional, and
commercial projects. Projects are judged on their levels of creativity, craftsmanship, and outstanding use of ceramic tile or stone within the project categories. Join us at Coverings on Tuesday, April 23 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm for the 2024 CID Awards Ceremony & Reception at the Trends & Solutions Stage in Hall B, space #1305. https://www.coverings.com/
cid-awards/
> > > 2023 Coverings Installation & Design Award winners announced
2024 Rock Stars Awards Ceremony & 10th Anniversary Celebration
The Coverings Rock Stars honors the best and brightest young talent in the tile and stone industry. Since its inception, the program has recognized dozens of young leaders who have connected at Coverings through mentorship and networking opportunities. Celebrating its 10th year in 2024, this year’s program will take place at the Outdoor Oasis on Monday, April 22 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. The 10th Annual Rock Stars Celebration will also honor winners from the past 10 years, with a Q&A Panel featuring previous Rock Stars. https://www.coverings.com/coverings-rock-stars/
All Eyes on Artisans!
Come to the Art Tile Village to delight in hand-made and art tile from a range of exhibitors. Within the area is The Artisan Stage, celebrating artisans who preserve age-old traditions through crafting handmade art and specialty tiles. Art tile makers, artisans and artisan tile setters will demonstrate the process of creating unique, handcrafted tiles, from techniques for cutting, mounting and installing hand-shaped mosaics, to hand-forming, decorating, glazing, and painting tiles. In fact, a cadre of participants from last June’s Artisans Revolution in Tile Training will talk about their experiences and how their artisan tile setting work has expanded since then!
Also featured on the Artisan Stage will be a presentation by The TileWorks, as well as a talk on encaustic tile and encaustic-designed tile by CTEF’s Scott Carothers.
Surrounding the Artisan Stage is the Artisan Showcase, where you’ll find captivating concept boards from exhibitors in the Art Tile Village. Delight in the designs and learn more about the artisans behind these creations.
The Artisan Showcase will also host world-famous mosaicist, David Arnott (pictured), who will display some of his beautiful mosaics and create an Earth Day-themed mosaic live during the show. https://www.coverings.com/art-tile-village/
Additional Learning Opportunities at Coverings
At Coverings, contractors and installers have access to a diverse array of carefully-curated sessions. These sessions are tailored to provide invaluable insights, techniques, and innovations relevant to the industry. Attendees can expect a wide-ranging program designed to enhance their skills and knowledge within the tile and stone industry. Session highlights include:
Tuesday, April 23
- Economic Forecast: The State of the Tile Market
- Empowering Designers and Specifiers: Tackling Tile Installation Challenges and Embracing Cutting-Edge Materials
Wednesday, April 24
- The Path Forward: The Future of Commercial Tile Contracting
- Mastering Outdoor Design and Installations with Tile: From Chilly Nights to Scorching Summers
- Realities of Working with Tile in Custom Home Projects – Sponsored by Custom Builder Magazine and ProBuilder Magazine
Also in the works at press time is a tour of the Signia Hilton hotel, a new, dynamic, meetings-and-events-focused hotel that connects to the Georgia World Congress Center, the site for Coverings. The renowned architect firm Gensler and David Allen Company will conduct this tour.
In addition, NTCA members will participate in panel presentations, addressing residential and commercial tile installation as part of planned conference sessions. For a full list of sessions, visit the Coverings website.
- Installation & Fabrication Track: http://tinyurl.com/CoveringsEvents
- Full Event Program/Schedule: https://coverings2024.eventscribe.net/
Honoring Women: Galvanize Lounge and Women’s Events
This year, Coverings is providing a dedicated lounge for women in the tile industry to gather, network, relax and learn. Come to a Meet & Greet on Monday, April 22 at 2:00 pm at the Galvanize Women’s Lounge, space #B206. The lounge is also the site of the “Igniting Change, Rising Together” women’s event on Wednesday morning, April 24, sponsored by Women in Tile, Women in Stone, NTCA, LATICRETE, Coverings, and Quantify N.A. The light invitation-only continental breakfast will run from 7:30 – 8:15 am. From 8:15 – 9:15 am, marathoner Demi Clark, founder of She Built This City and Spark Building Group, will deliver an empowering and energizing session. At 9:30 am, Tileletter Editor Lesley Goddin will lead an inspiring and insightful panel discussion among women from various sectors in the tile industry in room #B312. http://www.coverings.com/galvanize
Become a Coverings Ambassador!
Been to Coverings before and want to crow about it? Coverings is recruiting enthusiastic individuals to participate in its Coverings Ambassadors program. Coverings Ambassadors spread the word about the event and believe wholeheartedly in all the amazing benefits that come with attending. If you’re passionate about Coverings and the tile and stone industry, consider applying for this program. Candidates must have attended at least one Coverings show, work with ceramic tile and/or natural stone, and be based in the U.S. or Canada.
Web: https://www.coverings.com/coverings-ambassador/
Application: https://taffyevents.formstack.com/forms/ambassador_application_cov24
NTCA Awards Night
One of the annual highlights of Coverings is the NTCA Awards Program, which will take place on Wednesday, April 24, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 p.m. in room #B312. This is the association’s opportunity to honor a special industry member with the NTCA Tile Person of the Year award, and to recognize select Five-Star Contractor members for outstanding residential and commercial projects. In addition, several young people who are children and grandchildren of NTCA members will be awarded Tom Ade Scholarships to assist with their educations. The Tile Council of North America will make a presentation to its Tile Person of the Year at this ceremony as well.
Editorial Director and Senior Writer for TileLetter and TileLetter ARTISAN
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
