TCAA Tile Talk Monthly

December 2024

TCAA 2024 Year in Review

 As 2024 comes to a close, we celebrate a year of innovation, sustainability, education, and growth within the tile and stone industry. This year has been marked by significant advancements, key milestones, and the steadfast commitment of the TCAA community to excellence. Let’s take a look back at the highlights from the past year.

Embracing Tradition, Building the Future

Newly elected TCAA President Brian Castro reflected on the evolving nature of the industry and the importance of fostering a sense of family within the organization. Under his leadership, TCAA continues to honor its rich history while embracing innovation and progress. The Total Solutions Plus event in Boston this October exemplified this spirit by providing a platform for networking, learning, and celebrating achievements.

Sustainability in Focus

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint with Tile

Throughout the year, Scott Conwell’s six-part series on sustainability highlighted the role of tile in reducing the global carbon footprint. From exploring the sustainable manufacturing processes of ceramic tile to delving into Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and the role of qualified labor, the series underscored tile’s unmatched durability, transparency, and environmental benefits.

• Material Transparency: The introduction of tools like the Material Ingredient Guide empowered architects and specifiers to make informed decisions.

• Environmental Leadership: Industry-wide EPDs showcased how tile outperforms other materials in terms of life cycle sustainability and Global Warming Potential (GWP).

• Qualified Labor: TCAA’s emphasis on programs like Trowel of Excellence and Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) reinforced the importance of skilled labor in delivering sustainable installations.

Publications | TCAA

Sustainability Summit

In July, the inaugural Sustainability Summit in Washington, DC, brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of sustainable building practices. TCAA’s involvement highlighted the role of ceramic tile as a durable, eco-friendly material that aligns with high sustainability standards. The date for the 2025 Flooring Summit has already been set and TCAA will be there to ensure the interests of our members are communicated to Government leaders.

2025 Flooring Sustainability Summit

Carl V. Cesery Award

Lucinda Noel, a long-standing advocate for the industry, was honored with the prestigious Carl V. Cesery Award at Total Solutions Plus. Her exceptional career and contributions to TCAA have left a lasting legacy.

TCAA 2024 Scholarship Recipients

This year’s TCAA scholarships were awarded to Emma Herr and Tyler Cherwenka, supporting the next generation of industry leaders. Their achievements reflect the importance of education and mentorship within the TCAA community.

Please consider the TCAA Scholarship fund as part of your 2024 end of year giving plans. Click Here to Give!

Educational Advancements 

Tile Expos and Workshops

Educational initiatives took center stage with events like the Pittsburgh Tile Expo, Chicago Tile Expo, and the Los Angeles Masonry & Tile Workshop. These programs provided hands-on learning opportunities and showcased cutting-edge materials and installation techniques. The collaboration between TCAA, IMI, and BAC Local Unions underscored the importance of continuous education in a rapidly evolving industry.

Coverings 2024

Held in Atlanta, this year’s Coverings conference featured over 1,000 global exhibitors and attracted 25,000+ attendees. The event highlighted innovative tile and stone products and served as a platform for networking and professional growth.

Total Solutions Plus

TSP was held in Boston this October and was attended by the TCAA Board and a number of our members. The event included our annual Board Meeting and sessions spanning from business trends to technical briefings on complex installations.

The keynote by Jen Golbeck explored the evolution of AI, emphasizing predictive and generative models. Predictive AI, while powerful for forecasting, risks perpetuating biases due to its reliance on historical data, while generative AI, such as LLMs like ChatGPT, often prioritizes sounding human over factual accuracy. Golbeck highlighted pervasive data collection and privacy concerns, the high costs of AI development, and the importance of trust, literacy, and a "Human in the Loop" approach for responsible AI integration. Her research advocates for ethical AI design with transparency and user control, especially in social media contexts.

Highlights from a few of the breakout sessions covered industry-specific insights:

• Tile Industry Outlook: Trends showed a 6.6% decline in total tile consumption, with residential replacement leading sales.

• Technical Breakout: Emphasized prefabrication trends and the need for better training, communication, and manufacturing standards to prevent costly tile installation failures.

• EOS Framework: Greg Giniel presented strategies to optimize business operations through vision alignment, data-driven decisions, streamlined processes, and prioritized problem-solving, providing actionable tools for sustainable growth in tile contracting.

Innovation and Progress

 New Standards and Tools

From the introduction of ANSI A118.18 standards for foam backer boards to the launch of Best of Everything’s “Level Best” leveling system, 2024 was a year of significant advancements. These developments reflect the industry’s commitment to improving installation practices and ensuring long-lasting, high-quality results.

New TCNA Handbook Guidelines

The biennial TCNA Handbook meeting in August resulted in updates to movement joint standards, recessed shower installation methods, and other critical guidelines. These changes aim to enhance the durability and performance of tile installations.

Learn more here: TCAA Tile Talk Monthly September 2024

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on the achievements of 2024, we also look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. With events like the 2025 Sustainability Summit and continued emphasis on education, innovation, and sustainability, TCAA is poised to lead the industry into a brighter future.

Here’s to another year of collaboration, growth, and excellence. Thank you to all our members, partners, and supporters for making 2024 a remarkable year!