Experience cutting-edge tile design and installation innovations at work
Tile Council of North America (TCNA) is an international trade association representing North American manufacturers of ceramic tile, installation materials, tools, and related products. This year, over 115 TCNA members are excited to showcase their latest offerings at Coverings in Atlanta. In addition to inventive tile designs, you can discover what’s new in the world of tools and machinery, as well as installation materials, all in the TCNA North American Pavilion.
Booth #7832
The TCNA booth (#7832) is in the center of it all as your information and hospitality hub throughout the week. Complimentary lunch will be served Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (no wristband required) and afternoon happy hour bars will open at 3:30 pm (cash, credit and drink tickets accepted). So stop by, refuel, and network with the leading industry associations co-exhibiting with TCNA: the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the Tile Contractors Association of America (TCAA), and the Tile Heritage Foundation (THF). TCNA’s Lab Services team will be on hand as well to discuss the research and testing offered at its state-of-the-art Product Performance Testing Laboratory – North America’s largest tile-and-stone-specific facility for independent testing and research. Discounts on TCNA literature will be available for those of you looking to round out your technical library.
“Why Tile” quickfire sessions
Catch these info-packed 20-minute mini-sessions (running Tuesday through Thursday) on the inherent benefits tile has to offer: Do You Know What’s in Your Floor Covering?
- Tile: The Greenest Option
- Tile vs. Competitive Products
- Health, Wellness & Tile
- Durability: How Do Other Floor Coverings Measure Up?
- The Value of Tile (from a Top Realtor’s Perspective).
Check the Coverings app or Show Directory for times and locations.
Building green
TCNA and TCNA members are synonymous with leadership in building green with tile. The industry-wide, UL-certified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for tile, tile mortars and tile grouts made in North America provide unprecedented transparency on the environmental impact of a full tile installation, making it easier for green builders, designers and specifiers to make informed decisions that satisfy the requirements in top green building rating systems including LEED, Green Globes, IgCC, ASHRAE 189.1 and ICC 700. Those seeking LEED building certification can also look to Green Squared Certified® products, which contribute toward the LEED Pilot Credit, for “Certified Multi-attribute Products and Materials.” For the latest on tile sustainability, be sure to catch Bill Griese, TCNA’s Director of Standards Development and Sustainability Initiatives, in the panel session “Health, Safety, Environment, Design: Specifying Tile in Today’s Sustainability Landscape” (Wednesday at 8:00 am).
Installation Demonstration Stage and the Installation Experience
Looking for the newest installation materials, technologies and tools on the market? The North American pavilion is where you’ll find them. Throughout the show, TCNA exhibitors and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) will provide live product demos at the Coverings Installation Demonstration Stage (#7201). Get an up-close look at the latest products in action, and tips from the pros on how to navigate common challenges. While you’re there, enter to win one of the free drawings between demonstrations. New in 2018 – Don’t miss the Installation Experience (#8401) where master installers and technical experts from top industry associations – CTEF, IMI, International Union of Bricklayers (IUBAC), NTCA, TCAA and TCNA – will show shining examples of proper installations for various applications throughout the home (see page 46, for details). CTEF will be onsite with information for contractors and installers looking to advance their careers through the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) and Certified Tile Installer (CTI) programs.
Installer/Contractor tours, luncheons, and exclusive happy hours
Guided tours of the Installation Materials District leave from the Contractor and Dealer Lounge (#8201) at 11:00 am on Wednesday and Thursday with roundtable luncheons to follow. Badged contractors and installers can visit the lounge to reserve a spot while they’re still available. Exclusive Happy Hours begin Wednesday and Thursday at 3:00 pm.
Canine creations featured in Art Tile Village
Explore beautiful and unique offerings from boutique tile makers across the continent in the Art Tile Village – the largest assembly of decorative tile artisans under one roof! Displayed in the courtyard (#7249) you’ll see one-of-a-kind tiled dog houses created by TCNA members. The artful abodes will be donated to an Atlanta-area pet charity, which will be onsite during the show with some furry, four-legged companions. Be sure to stop by – you may just make a new friend!
Whether your main objective at Coverings is to network with colleagues, find design inspiration from the newest trends, or learn about the latest advancements in tile technology, exciting discoveries await you in the TCNA North American Pavilion.
