Columnist Kyle Hedin explains how a task list helps to process problems and find solutions.

Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, explains when to use grout, caulking or sealants for your tile installations. 

Scott Carothers offers guidance on what it takes to build a proper niche that meshes seamlessly with the wall tile layout.

Proper water management can help avoid failure with the installation of tile or natural stone on an exterior roof deck or balcony.

Everyone in the tile industry needs to push the quality bar to the next level and beyond.

Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, highlights how shoddy tile work around a bathroom drain in a restaurant could have been avoided if the tile installers had referenced ANSI Standards, industry best practices—and a little common sense. 

Women in the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI) is accepting applications for its second round of scholarships until July 10, 2024.

Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, solves the mystery of large-format tile terminology and explains how the established definition helped determine its subfloor requirements. 

In a new column, International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI) Advisory Board Chair Rod Von Busch shares the journey that CFI is on to embrace change and diversity, the challenges it faces, what potential members can expect and how its current members are setting it apart. 

Scott Carothers, academic director, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, walks us through the industry standards that are in place to help you achieve a successful cementitious backer unit installation under tile. 

Learn about the roadmap required to activate the imaginations of Gen Z recruits, which requires visions of stability, long-term career growth, and the potential to work on meaningful projects.

Packed with antioxidants to combat oxidative stress and thereby enhance immune function, amaí’s Sparkling Hibiscus Flower Water offers a guilt-free way to stay hydrated, according to the company.

Chunk Foods leverages fermentation for a new wave of cleaner, whole-muscle plant-based meats.

These reports highlight that Hispanics now make up 20% of the US population and account for 71% of national population growth between 2022 and 2023. More than 25% of Gen Z and Gen Alpha identify as Hispanic, demonstrating the long-term potential of this powerful consumer group.

The formula was developed by renowned mycologist Paul Stamets. Known for his advanced research on mushroom mycelium and psilocybin, Stamets's contributions in the world of mycology have led to new ways of harnessing the power of fungi to support the health of both people and planet.

According to the IFIC survey, one-third of Americans (33%) reported changing their LNCS consumption habit between April 2023 and April 2024. While 10% said they increased LNCS consumption and 6% said they started consuming LNCS, 11% said they decreased LNCS consumption and 6% said they stopped consuming LNCS altogether.

The company successfully completed a build-out with employee-centered construction for Crown Bakeries.

Niagara Bottling’s new 600,000-sq.-ft. production and distribution facility in Rialto, Calif., manufactures and distributes 120,000 bottles of water per hour. Supporting this throughput are 56 laser-guided vehicles, integrated with a 33,000-position robotic pallet shuttle storage system. Designed and built by E80 Group, the distribution automation operates 24/7/365.

Solutions for accurate control, easy maintenance and remote diagnostics.

Changing consumer preferences and regulations have introduced additional complexity to supply chains, necessitating that food and beverage retailers invest in robust traceability solutions.

Read up on the growing frozen ready-meal market as well as how inflation has accelerated private label share and penetration in this installment of Nuts & Bolts.

The equipment is designed to augment food safety and production rates and improve operator working conditions.

Operating as part of Automated Handling Solutions (AHS), Spiroflow and Cablevey Conveyors provides the Scottish oats producer with a bespoke conveyor system.

Mohawk Builder Multifamily welcomed 11 designers from across the country to its inaugural design summit in Alpharetta, Georgia, to build relationships, garner feedback on flooring products in development, and share insights about the company's investments in innovation and sustainability.

The CFI FCICA 2024 Annual Convention and Trade Show full education session lineup is now available. 

For the month of October, the talented crew of installers with Ballin Knows Best, the first-ever AI-driven flooring installation chatbot, contribute content written by installers for installers in this editorial takeover. 

Laticrete introduces Hydro Ban Rapid Custom Shower System, a suite of niches, benches, seats, curbs, and other accessories.

Homeowners are shifting their approach to bathroom renovations with personal comfort and long-term usability increasingly prioritized over resale value considerations.

Flooring franchise Floor Coverings International continues its expansion in Arizona with a new mobile showroom in Sunrise. As the real estate market booms and demand for its services grows, the franchise actively seeks partners in several Arizona cities.

After losing family members to gun violence, Charity Adeoti discovered her passion for making a difference. Learn how this graduate of the Floor Covering Education Foundation 10-week installation program aims to inspire youth to get off the streets to pursue careers—and successful futures—in flooring.

Learn how this leader in resilient flooring emphasizes long-term planning, approaches the evolving role of digital printing, and discusses the importance of clear product storytelling. Plus, Wu highlights Novalis' commitment to domestic manufacturing.

SCI Floor Covering, backed by Ranier Capital, is expanding through strategic acquisitions in the Midwest. Despite some market softness, SCI President and CEO Dave Elberson remains optimistic about the flooring industry's outlook. Learn about his acquisition strategy, business outlook and SCI's career path for installers. 

Learn how Showroom Pricing, founded by Kristen Stensby, offers QR code-driven solutions for flooring retailers, enabling real-time pricing updates and comprehensive data reports. 

Vince Lowe, senior VP and general manager home specialty and flooring with Synchrony, talks through the high points on“The Future of Retail” report, reveals more about consumer shopping trends, how technology is shaping the shopping experience and where technology is heading in the next six years.

In instant coffee production, the goal of separation technology is to produce optimum particle separation and yield, increasing the quality and purity of the finished product.

Any milk dryer operation uses a lot of energy, and when you have the biggest operation in North America, you use…a lot of energy.

Food Engineering's annual construction survey shows that tax cuts have encouraged construction and renovations, but the labor shortage is affecting those projects as well.

 Torlys Smart Laminates offer the beauty of wood, with the durability of laminate.

Since its opening in 1960, Detroit’s Cobo Center has become one of the country’s most famous venues, drawing visitors to the banks of the Detroit River for the nation’s premier auto shows, concerts, political conventions and an endless variety of other events.

The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) announced the winners of the Howard Olansky Affiliate of the Year Awards. 

Rob Menefee wants to continue to grow his business. Considering he already has three locations and $12-plus million in annual sales, that is no small task. 

According to a 2014 study by the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing, the home improvement industry is expected to see double-digit growth through the end of the year.

Almost 30 years ago, Janice Clifton was working as a public accountant and helping a local cash-and-carry flooring retailer exit the business. 

From the earliest days, Ruggieri Brothers of Cranston, R.I., was a hometown, family business.

Interface introduces project-specific embodied carbon metrics on all floor plans created by its Design Studio. This industry-first initiative allows customers to easily understand the carbon impact of their flooring choices, comparing Interface products to industry averages.

Sherwin-Williams will highlight its industrial flooring systems at Pack Expo International, November 3-6, 2024, in Chicago. The company's Protective & Marine division will showcase chemical and sterilant-resistant flooring solutions designed for manufacturing and processing facilities.

Oatey Perfect Slope installs a perfect tile shower pre-slope that ensures half the mortar and half the time required.

Sika will showcase its comprehensive grout solutions at Total Solutions Plus 2024. Visitors to Booth 518 will be able to see firsthand how the SikaTile solutions are designed to eliminate unwanted jobsite callbacks.  

WFCA’s Steve Abernathy and FCICA’s Pat Kelly discuss the growth each association has experienced in terms of education and membership as well as what business looks like for the commercial and residential segments over the course of the next year.

Jordan Talmadge, PPG’s global commercial director, silicas, recently spoke about the role silicas can play in preventing caking and optimizing the flow characteristics of food products, as well as improving product performance and manufacturing productivity.