We will be regularly hosting classes at our facility or can bring a class to you and your team. Contact us if there is a class that you would like for us to bring to you.
The following is a list of current offerings. If there is a particular subject that you are interested in, please let us know and we will look for a class that fulfills your needs.
| Course Title | Presenter | Credits | Summary/Objectives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moisture Mitigation | Ardex / DMA Floors | 1.0 LU AIA | Why testing and mitigation is vital. |
| Polished Concrete | DMA Floors | Define polished concrete. Benefits, applications and expectations. Process, equipment, specifying and testing. |
|
| Inspiration in Flooring Design | Centiva/DMA Floors/Stanley Stephens | 1.0 LU AIA 0.1 LU IDCEC |
Explore color, size and shape. Identify creative possibilities and cutting techniques used in custom cutting hard surface flooring. Process and factors that affect cost. |
| Resinous Flooring | DMA Floors / Sika | 1.0 LU HSW AIA | Selection process, systems and components, substrate evaluation and preparation, and essential construction details. |
| Understanding Vinyl | Centiva/DMA Floors/Stanley Stephens | 1.0 GBCI CE LEED 1.0 LU HSW AIA 0.1 LU HSW IDCEC |
Understanding the history of vinyl and its attributes, progress the industry has made in raw materials, manufacturing process and end of life opportunities. Vinyl flooring recycling. |
| High Performance Safety Flooring | Altro/DMA Floors/Stanley Stephens | 1.0 LU HSW AIA 1.0 LU IIDA |
Legal guidelines and testing involved in specifying slip resistant flooring. Coefficient of friction. Needs analysis to determine slip resistant flooring. |
| Infection Control Through the Selection of Hygienic Floors and Walls | Altro/DMA Floors/Stanley Stephens | 1.0 LU AIA | Roles that different types of surfaces play in infection. How design teams can help prevent infection by specifying floors and walls with hygienic attributes. |
| Grout for Tile and Stone | Laticrete/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW/SD | 1. Understand the differences in modern grouts. 2. Know how tile and stone, can affect the finished grout appearance. 3. Compare the different chemical bases and performances of grout. 4. Know where to access resources for innovative design and specification information. |
| Tile and Stone Installation Materials and Methods | Laticrete/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW/SD | 1. Understand the benefits of using tile and stone as a finish material. 2. Know how to specify the correct materials and methods for installation of tile and stone, based on the service, substrate, exposure and finish of an installation. 3. Recognize the importance of proper maintenance in the long term success of the installation. 4. Avoid the most common problems associated with tile and stone installations through proper design considerations. 5. Know where to access resources for innovative design and specification information. |
| Ceramic Tile and Stone Troubleshooting | Laticrete/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW/SD | 1. Know the top 12 installation issues that cause problems with tile and stone projects. 2. Evaluate jobsite conditions to determine if it is suitable to proceed with installation. 3. Recognize the underlying causes of most problems and be able to recommend appropriate remedial action to resolve the problem properly. 4. Understand the importance of selecting installation materials suitable for the service, exposure and finish of an installation. 5. Know where to access resources for innovative design and specification information. |
| Multi-Purpose Thin-Set Mortar Myth | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An explanation of the differences in thin-set mortars, and how they apply to ANSI A118.1 and ANSI A118.4. Participants will also be taught the difference between acrylics and why they are needed for various types of ceramic tile and stone installations. |
| Concrete Restoration Basics | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An explanation of concrete and the thought process of diagnosing, repairing, protecting and enhancing concrete structures. The program will address the basic components of concrete, how varying components can drastically affect the finished products, and the effects of the environment and installation practices on the quality and longevity of concrete. |
| General Surface Preparation | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU AIA | An explanation of industry standards and guidelines regarding substrate preparation for installation of concrete-based underlayments and toppings. These may be finished floor systems (toppings) or be part of a system prior to subsequent installations of ceramic, resilient, VCT or other finished floor installations. Participants will be exposed to the correct process of inspecting a substrate to determine required preparation (repairs), moisture vapor emission analysis and testing methods, and methods of mechanical preparation prior to the installation of an underlayment or topping. |
| Grouting for Success | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU AIA | An explanation of the differences in grouts, and how industry standards apply to them. Participants will also be taught the difference between Portland cements, HCT technology and epoxies, and why they are needed for various types of ceramic tile and stone installations. |
| Need for Speed: Rapid-Set Products in the Construction Industry | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU AIA | This presentation takes a look at “rapid-set products” and their growing importance in successfully keeping down building costs while meeting project deadlines. This being the case, “rapid-set products” become an invaluable tool for architects, specifiers and building owners in both remodel repairs and new construction projects. |
| Lightweight Mortar Technology | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU AIA | An explanation of how advances in nanostructures and microspheres technology are being used in lightweight mortars to improve workability and performance. |
| Meeting the Challenges of Glass Tile Installations | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU AIA | An explanation about the history of glass tile in the building industry, the challenges that arise when glass tile is specified for a project, the basic guidelines for installation, and where glass tile is being used in various construction applications. |
| The Challenges of Installing Large-Format Porcelain Tiles | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An explanation about the "calibration specifications" that are followed when porcelain tile is manufactured; how the quality, variety of sizes, and intended use of the porcelain tile can affect the installation method; and the importance of surface preparation as the size of the porcelain tile increases. The presentation also covers how the grout joint size and the mortar type used can affect the performance of a large-format porcelain tile installation; and how an installation can be influenced by curvature, thermal movement, deformability and use of expansion joints. |
| Successful Solid Vinyl Sheet Floor Installations: Tips & Techniques | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An explanation of how to specify the proper subfloor preparation that is required for solid vinyl sheet flooring; which adhesives are recommended; techniques; and causes of failures in these types of installations. |
| LEED: Sustainability in the Construction Industry | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An explanation of which LEED credits apply to the construction industry; understanding the construction challenges and solutions when a LEED project is specified; how product manufacturers are meeting the requirements of “green” and “sustainability;” and how it is good for the environment, economy and community. |
| Gypsum-Based Products in the Flooring Industry | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An explanation of the history of cement-based and gypsum-based products; the basic chemical makeup of gypsum (calcium sulfate); how gypsum products benefit the construction industry; and why primers and waterproofing are important when working with gypsum products. |
| Medium-Bed Mortars: The Future of Adhesives for Large-Format Tile | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | A discussion of the new standards for medium-bed mortars and how they affect current installation practices when installing large-format tile. In addition, participants will learn how to best reduce “lippage” for safety and aesthetics as tile size continues to increase. Plus, an explanation of how “curvature,” a result of load and deflection, can impact the entire tile installation. |
| Leaner, Greener, Larger, Lighter: Thin Tile Systems | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW/SD | What are the benefits of thin tile systems? What are the differences between thin tiles and regular tiles? Learn about of the latest innovations in the industry. This session will outline the features of “thin-body tiles” (3 mm to 7 mm), including the sustainability benefits of these alternative thicknesses, and the installation requirements and techniques for successful thin tile projects. |
| Wood Flooring: A Natural and Sustainable Choice! | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW/SD | What are the benefits of using wood as a sustainable choice for either commercial or residential installations? What are some basic principles regarding the chemistry of wood? Learn about the various types and styles of wood flooring, and how wood can be inlaid with either tile or stone. This session will outline wood’s relationship to moisture and the importance of this factor when wood floors are specified and installed. Participants also will learn how to address excessive MVE (moisture vapor emissions) in concrete with specially designed barriers and adhesives. |
| Medium-Bed Mortars: The Future of Adhesives for Large-Format Stone | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | A discussion of the new standards for medium-bed mortars and how they affect current installation practices when installing large-format stone. In addition, participants will learn how to best reduce “lippage” for safety and aesthetics as stone size continues to increase. Plus, an explanation of how “curvature,” a result of load and deflection, can impact the entire stone installation. |
| Horizontal Concrete Repair | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | A discussion about the basics of concrete repair to horizontal concrete surfaces. The basic materials and methods used to patch overlay and resurface horizontal concrete will be identified. Participants will also understand the effects that the environment and installation practices have on the quality and performance of concrete. |
| Waterproofing: Key to Avoiding Costly Failures! | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | A discussion about the various types, methods and situations where waterproofing will protect and enhance tile and flooring installations. Also, a look at the various failures that can occur when waterproofing or moisture control is neglected or incorrectly installed in residential and commercial tile projects, including interior/exterior floors and walls, swimming pools, balconies, plaza decks, facades and baths. • Understand why many failures occur. • Learn how waterproofing and moisture mitigation requirements vary. • Discover solutions for common applications. |
| Moisture and Concrete Floor Slabs: Health, Safety and Cost-Effective Solutions | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An in-depth understanding of moisture issues in concrete slabs and the deleterious effect of a high moisture vapor emission rate (MVER) on flooring finishes. The presentation will address “sick building syndrome” caused by excessive concrete moisture vapor emissions; the various industry-approved methods for testing of MVER and for generating accurate data; conditions that generate excessive moisture in slabs and how to resolve them; how MVER barrier technology works, and how and when to specify it; and ICRI’s certification program for moisture-testing technicians – the only certification program in the industry. |
| Self-Leveling Underlayments and Toppings | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU & 1 HSW | An in-depth introduction to the various methods of surface preparation required for installing self-leveling underlayment materials for concrete; the various industry standards of testing for moisture vapor emission rate (MVER); and the means for becoming certified as a moisture-testing technician. The presentation also will include an introduction to the various types of self-leveling underlayments, overlayments and decorative toppings for interior concrete slabs. |
| ISO 13007 and ANSI Standards | Mapei/DMA Floors/Morris Tile | 1 LU Credit | An in-depth introduction to how the ISO 13007 classifications and the ANSI standards complement one another and how the addition of the ISO 13007 classification in the 2011 TCNA Handbook can help architects and installers to select mortars and grouts based on performance. Also an understanding/explanation of the ISO 13007 classification specifically an explanation of the chemical makeup designations, measurable performance levels and optional characteristics that can be applied to adhesives and grouts for improved performance. |