April 3, 2018

Coverings, the largest international tile and stone show in North America, will feature a new Tile Installation Experience comprised of live, interactive content showcasing best practices for tile installations –integrating demonstrations or conversations hosted by qualified, trained and certified tile installers – when the show makes its return to Atlanta from May 8-11, 2018.

Designed to provide additional opportunities to explore, engage, and learn in a hands-on manner, this experiential programming will engage attendees representing all professional trade segments and deliver a holistic view of the tile industry’s standards and practices.

Within the Tile Installation Experience, Coverings attendees will have the opportunity to observe in-progress installations depicting common residential design challenges and the use of trending products, including glass and porcelain tile, gauged porcelain panels, natural stone and other cutting-edge tile products and technologies or installation systems. A self-guided pathway will take participants through a room-by-room journey of installations, staffed by industry experts speaking to key processes and new strategies alongside hands-on demonstrations of the most modern of technologies.

The Hall of Failures & Hall of Excellence will visually demonstrate the right and wrong ways to perform tile installations through photographic retrospectives, with elite installers on hand to share insights on the Advance Certifications for Tile Installation (ACT) certification process and benefits. Throughout the week, attendees can also stop by the Construction Zone to check-in on the CTI Challenge, where NTCA members and qualified labor contractors will compete in a CTEF-judged contest and Advanced Certified Tile Installer (CTI) officials will discuss what it takes to become a member of the elite organization. The Tile Installation Experience will conclude in the At Home with Tile theater where time-lapse video highlighting various construction stages will immerse visitors with inspiring and educational projects.

“By visiting the Tile Installation Experience all attendees will garner new insight to the benefits of shared standards and best practices for tile installation exemplified throughout this immersive programming,” said Jennifer Hoff, president of Taffy  Event Strategies. “In addition to the impressive range of new products on the show floor, and informative, engaging conference programming, this new take on show floor demonstrations makes Coverings a must-see event for thousands of members of the tile and stone, builder and remodeler, and architect and design communities.”

Other new features at Coverings 2018 include the Coverings Orientation Theatre, where attendees new to the show, or those interested in experiencing the show floor in the most efficient manner, can learn answers to frequently asked questions and gain useful tips for making the most of their show experience. Attendees are also encouraged to become part of Coverings history at the Tile Heritage Foundation’s Donor Wall for Posterity. With a $25 donation, visitors to Coverings can press their names, hands, thoughts or logos into a wet clay tile to become part of the mural, which will be installed at TCNA Headquarters in Anderson, South Carolina.