Is your shower leaking?

Friends in our industry association have created a step-by-step guide to what might be causing a shower leak. This resource from the National Tile Contractors Association will be useful to anyone who has a leaky shower problem.

https://www.tile-assn.com/page/TILETROUBLE

When dealing with a potential water leak, it’s important to get assistance from qualified industry professionals. Plumbers can perform pan, valve, and supply line tests to pinpoint the source of leaks. Beware of those who claim that leaking showers can be repaired by adding grout, caulk, or sealant. At best, these things may temporarily slow down the problem.

A properly constructed shower should provide many years of worry free use. You’ll get that when you hire a qualified installation company.

Who’s on your construction team

When you select a contractor or trades person to improve your home or work space, you’re inviting someone into your world for a period of time. They need to be cognizant of all your goals and needs for the space as well as of parameters of how you would like the work to be done.

It’s also helpful if you have a little insight into their universe. Most of those in the construction business for a length of time are in it because they love what they do and they enjoy leaving spaces better and different than they found them. They are usually craftspeople at heart who found a way to make a living utilizing innate talents. The good ones are also extraordinary mathematicians, visualizers, problem solvers, people pleasers, and even artists. They take great pride in their work and in leaving you with an improved space.

They’re also often juggling an unpredictable supply chain, ever-increasing costs of materials, evolving technology in the building trades, zoning and inspection requirements, a shortage of apprentices, health concerns for their team, the weather, and the purely physical demands of the job. If they’re business owners too, then they’re navigating taxes, insurance, liabilities, budgets, personnel, and forecasting. And then there’s that job they’re starting after yours…

It all looks straightforward and easy on television, but the reality of construction is more like fits and starts of expertise with a good contractor keeping everything on the rails and balancing it out when it starts to tilt. Just like so many things in our world today, a little grace and respect go a long way on both sides of the construction equation.

So, as we enter Construction Appreciation month, we salute those who have the delicate touch to finish large sheets of sheetrock so that every joint is smooth and doesn’t reveal seams; the carpenters who craft deck railings for precision spacing, strength and mitered corners; the tile installers who line up joints, flatten floors, and think through all the cuts before they start. When you hire the right craftspeople, their eye for detail, spatial acuity, numerical accuracy, and creative solutions can be pretty remarkable.

We give thanks for the trades whose nuances and precision make sure pipes fit tightly and keep everything flowing and functioning correctly; who align shingles and make sure valleys drain properly; whose painting hides brush strokes but keeps crisp corners; who hide seams and make sure doorways align ; and who pull the right wire for size, safety, and efficiency.

Choosing a tile contractor ‘by the book’

When you hire a tile installer, or any other skilled trade, you want to know they’re using the best method for your particular project. You may ask your neighbors or look up some on-line reviews, but how do you really know the work is going to add long-term value to your home or business?

Neuse Tile’s Nyle Wadford serves on the TCNA Handbook Committee and is Vice Chair of the ANSI ASC A108 Committee.

A great place to start is by asking about what industry standards and methods they plan to use for your job. If the answer you get involves some form of “we’ve always done it this way”, then you may want to do some more investigating. Like everything else in our world, the construction industry has evolved and changed with new technologies and products, and a tradesperson who only knows one way to practice his or her craft could be limiting the performance or life of your project.

You don’t need to spend the time to understand the intricacies of all their options, but you do need to feel comfortable that the person or company who is about to work in your home or business has the technical and practical knowledge necessary to know which options will provide the best, long-lasting solution for your project. In the tile industry, our Book is the Tile Council of North America’s Handbook. The current edition is 437 pages, and includes more than 300 methods for installing tile. We couple that with a thorough understanding of the American National Standards Institute’s specifications for products and installations, and add to it with continual industry training and association seminars.

Other construction trades have similar standards and methods to follow, and you want to hire someone who brings that level of expertise to your project. Remodeling and new construction are large investments, and having confidence in the knowledge and expertise of the people you hire will go a long way to helping your space be all that you want it to be now and in the future.

Questions to consider are:

How do they stay up-to-date on current building codes, regulations, standards, and best practices?

What industry standard or method will they use on your particular project? Why?

Do they carry all required business licenses and insurance to do the work and protect your property?

Do they run a business such that you’d be able to find them in the future if a concern arose?

Do they have a track record of references and documentation of quality and service?

Neuse Tile is happy to answer any of these questions for you; we’re big fans of Books!