Tile Contractors Association of San Diego

Best Practices Recommendations

1. Ceramic tile and stone contractors do not do concrete work.

2. A tile shower pan installed over hot mopping is the best product.

3. The builder shall assume full responsibility from any and all problems resulting from

manufactured shower receptors, if the builder chooses to specify that product.

4. Hot mopping shall be done by other trade contractors not tile contractors.

5. Substrate (concrete slabs, decking, rough deck, framing, and cabinets) to be installed

and prepared by other trade contractors.

6. Waterproofing shall be done by other trade contractors not tile contractors.

7. The tile contractor will assist in verifying rough deck dimensions and cutout sizes, but

only if the complete information is provided to the tile contractor at least one week prior

to tile start date.

8. The tile contractor shall not be responsible for removing or replacing shower doors,

mirrors or any glass product.

9. The tile contractor will only caulk locations where they intersect with plumbing

fixtures, at the time of installation.

10. The tile contractor is not responsible for minor damage to drywall and paint during

installation.

11. The cabinets, rough decks, over hangs and corbels must be adequately engineered by

others, and installed correctly by others, to properly support the tile work. The tile

contractor is not responsible for defects due to deficiencies in the design or installation of

these items.

12. The tile contractor does not repair, remove, replace or install plumbing fixtures.

13. The builder is to provide water, safe temporary power, safe access to work area and

any stair or guardrails per Cal-OSHA regulations.

14. The builder shall provide adequate and accessible washout areas.

15. The builder shall provide a reasonably safe, secure and accessible area for storage and

use of material by tile contractor.

16. The builder shall schedule and sequence the work so the tile contractors employees

will not be subject to unsafe or unhealthy conditions caused or created by other trade

contractors or suppliers.

17. The builder shall provide reasonable access for tile contractors employees to safely

unload or pickup tools, equipment or materials.

18. Offset clauses in contracts. Builder shall not back charge or otherwise hold money

from current contracts for claims or warranties arising from prior contracts.

19. The warranty period is for defects in material or workmanship and extends for one

year from the date of completion of tile contractors work.

Exclusions to the One Year Fit and Finish Warranty

For Ceramic Tile and Modular Stone

1. 1. Damage caused by homeowner or homeowners agents.

2. 2. Stains due to homeowner�s actions.

3. 3. Stains or dirt due to homeowner�s failure to perform routine cleaning.

4. 4. The marks, nicks, chips or cracks caused by homeowner�s or homeowner�s agents.

5. 5. Minor variations in color or shading.

6. 6. Tile or stone damaged by homeowner or homeowner�s agents due to using the tile or

stone product for other than its intended use.

7. 7. Damages caused by using inappropriate cleaners or cleaning methods.

8. 8. Moisture migration through concrete slabs.

Home Owner Maintenance Requirements

For Ceramic Tile And Modular Stone

1. Maintenance requirements that you must follow. Failure to follow

these requirements could void a warranty or Right to Repair Act

(Senate Bill 800) claim.

a. You must visually inspect your tile, stone and grout at least every three months.

If there are significant stains or cracks in the tile, stone, grout or caulking.

Any damaged or missing tile, stone, caulking or grout.

These need to be cleaned, repaired, replaced as soon as possible.

If the tile, stone or grout is in a kitchen or bathroom area where water is present.

The repair needs to be completed within the standards established under

Chapter Four of the Right to Repair Act.

Where the item has the potential to cause water damage repairs must be made

under the emergency repairs procedure from your builder.

b. Any sign of mold or mildew must be cleaned away and the cause of the mold

or mildew and any ensuing damage must be repaired immediately.

c. After the one year fit and finish warranty expires, the replacement of caulking

is the homeowner�s responsibility and expense.

d. d. Due to higher moisture contents in kitchens and bathrooms, the homeowner

should provide adequate ventilation through the use of open windows and

exhaust fans.

2. Important maintenance requirements that will both enhance the

cosmetic appearance of and enhance the performance of the products.

a. Along with routine cleaning and maintenance, you should thoroughly clean

your tile, stone and grout at least every six months.

Recommended cleaning procedures are:

Effective cleaning can be accomplished by regularly using household approved

Cleaners that are safe and intended for use on your particular tile, stone or grout

b. Caulking replacement will vary on usage and exposure. But a good rule of

thumb is to replace the caulking every 18 months.

RECOMMENDED INDEMNITY PROVISION FOR MEMBERS OF

THE TILE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

OF SAN DIEGO

Subcontractor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, Contractor/Owner from

claims determined to be caused by any negligent act on the part of Subcontractor. In the

event that such a determination is made, Subcontractor will reimburse Contractor /

Owner for any damages, expenses and attorney fees incurred, directly attributable to by

claims determined to be the result of a negligent act on the part of Subcontractor.

S subcontractor will not indemnify Contractor/Owner for negligent acts by others. In

T the event of legal action pursued to enforce any provision of this contract, attorneys�

F fees and cost shall be recoverable by prevailing party. The determination of

P prevailing party will not include attorneys� fees and costs, but solely the award of

damages.

Approved by _____________________________ Date __________________

Decl Declined by ______________________________ Date __________________

HOMEOWNERS MAINTENANCE FOR CERAMIC TILE

DEALING WITH HAIRLINE CRACKS

G AT GROUT OR CAULKING

YOUR NEW TILE HAS BEEN GROUTED AND CAULKED

WHERE NECESSARY. BECAUSE THERE IS A SLIGHT AND

NATURAL MOVEMENT OF YOUR HOUSE OR BUILDING,

YOU MAY SEE WHAT IS CALLED A MOVEMENT CRACK.

THIS IS A HAIRLINE CRACK OF THE GROUT OR CAULK

JOINT. USUALLY, YOU WILL SEE THIS CONDITION

BELOW THE FIRST ROW OF TILE ON TOP OF THE COUNTERS

IN THE KITCHEN OR BATHROOM. IF YOU SEE THESE

CONDITIONS, THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. YOUR

TILE JOB IS NOT FAILING NOR IS YOUR HOUSE FALLING

DOWN. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS CAUSED BY

THE NATURAL MOVEMENT OF THE STRUCTURE. A

HAIRLINE CRACK IS EASILY CORRECTED WITH A FLEXIBLE

WATER RESISTANT SILICONIZED ACRYLIC LATEX

CAULK. THESE PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY

HARDWARE, BUILDING OR TILE SUPPLY CENTER.

SIMPLY FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE TUBE OF

CAULKING. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THESE JOINTS BE

CAULKED WHENEVER NEEDED, (STRONGLY

RECOMMENDED ANNUALLY) TO HELP PROTECT FROM

POTENTIAL WATER DAMAGE. THIS CONDITION MAY

ALSO OCCUR AT YOUR TUB AND SHOWER. THE SAME

REMEDY IS RECOMMENDED.

RECOMMENDED HOMEOWNERS MAINTENANCE

FOR CERAMIC TILE DURING AND AFTER WARRANTY

THE T.C.A. RECOMMENDS A VISUAL NSPECTION OF YOUR HOME,

BY THE OCCUPANT, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. THE INSPECTION

IS TO DETERMINE THAT YOUR TILE IS FREE FROM MOLD, VOIDS

IN THE GROUT OR CAULKING AND CRACKED TILE THAT MIGHT

TE ALLOW WATER INTRUSION INTO THE TILE ASSEMBLIES. IF YOUR

HOME IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND YOU NOTICE ANY OF THE

ABOVE MENTIONED TILE, GROUT AND CAULKING FLAWS. NOTIFY

YOUR BUILDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

IF YOUR HOUSE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE TILE,

GROUT ETC. MUST BE REPAIRED OR REMOVED AS SOON AS

POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE THREAT OF UNSEEN DAMAGE SUCH AS

WATER INTRUSION, THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT

OF MOLD. IF YOU ADOPT A ROUTINE CLEANING OF YOUR

TILE, YOU WOULD GREATLY INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF

DETECTING ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND WOULD ALLOW YOU

CORRECT THEM BEFORE THEY BECOME A POSSIBLE THREAT TO

YOUR HEALTH. BLEACH AND WATER ARE A GOOD CLEANING

AGENT AGAINST MOLD. ALWAYS HAVE AS MUCH FLOWING AIR AS

POSSIBLE INTO EVERY ROOM WHERE THERE IS MOISTURE TO

PREVENT MOLD.

NAT NATURAL STONE

SPECIAL CUSTOMER NOTICE

MARBLE, GRANITE, TRAVERTINE, SLATE AND LIMESTONE ARE NOT

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS, THEY ARE PRODUCTS OF NATURE, AS

SUCH VARIATION IN MATERIAL MUST BE RESOLVED PRIOR TO

INSTALLATION.

SHADING AND VEINING

THESE NATURAL MATERIALS VARY FROM TILE TO TILE WITHIN

EACH ORDER. THE TILE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF SAN DIEGO

RECOMMENDS THAT EACH ORDER IS INSPECTED AND APPROVED

BEFORE PURCHASE AND OR PICK UP. INSTALLATION OF SUCH

MATERIALS CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE.

GREEN AND BLACK MARBLES

SOME MARBLES, SUCH AS NEGRO MARQUINA AND ORIENTAL JADE

MAY PRESENT PROBLEMS SUCH AS WARPING, BLISTERING AND

SPALLING WHEN INSTALLED WITH WATER BASED SETTING

MATERIALS. AN EPOXY SETTING MATERIAL IS RECOMMENDED.

WHITE MARBLES

WHITE MARBLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO YELLOWING OR DISCOLORATION

FROM WATER VAPOR COMING UP FROM THE GROUND

BELOW. THE INSTALLATION OF A MOISTURE BARRIER MAY BE

REQUIRED.

QUANTITIES FOR JOB

ALWAYS ORDER MORE THAN NET AMOUNT OF AREA TO BE

COVERED THIS WILL ALLOW FOR YOU TO RETAIN MATERIAL

FOR POSSIBLE JOB REPAIRS IN THE FUTURE.

NATURAL STONE

PAGE 2

MAINTENANCE

ALL STONES WILL STAIN. POLISHED STONE, IS SENSITIVE TO HARSH

CHEMICALS. DO NOT USE VINEGAR, OR ANY CLEANERS CONTAINING

ACIDS OR STRONG ALKALINE AGENTS AS A CLEANING AGENT.

A LARGE SURFACE COVERED BY NATURAL STONE IS OFTEN BEST DEALT

WITH BY A LICENSED MAINTENANCE COMPANY. POLISHED NATURAL

STONES ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO SCRATCHING AND STAINING.

FREQUENT SWEEPING, VACUMING AND CLEANING WITH A NEUTRAL

CLEANER IS RECOMMENDED.

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU IN THE HOPE THAT

YOUR NATURAL STONE INSTALLATION WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH

YEARS OF PRIDE AND PLEASURE.

ST STONE TILES

MARBLE, GRANITE, TRAVERTINE AND LIMESTONE QUARRIED

PRODUCTS ARE OFFERED FROM CAREFULLY SELECTED STONE

BLOCKS. STONES ARE A NATURAL HONED OR PLOSHIED ROCK NOT

FACTORY MADE OR FIRED. NO TWO PIECES ARE ALIKE AND THERE

ARE INHERENT VARIATIONS IN ALL STONE. THESE CHARACTERISTICS

MAY BE COLOR AND SHADE VARIATIONS, GEOLOGICAL FLAWS,

IRREGULAR MARKINGS, VOIDS, PITTING, VEINS, IRREGULAR SIZING,

FISSURES AND LINES OR MINOR SEPARATIONS. IT IS A STANDARD

PRACTICE AT THE QUARRY TO REPAIR THESE VARIATIONS BY ONE OR

MORE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS; POLISHING, WAXING, GRINDING

OR FILLING. DUE TO NORMAL WEAR, CRACKS AND VOIDS MAY

APPEAR. THESE CAN BE REPAIRED USING FLOOR GROUT. ALL OF

THESE VARIATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS ARE COMMON AND

PRESENT TO SOME DEGREE. HOWEVER, THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE

PART OF THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE STONE AND WILL NOT

IMPAIR THE FUNCTION OR WEARING QUALITIES OF THE MATERIAL.

UNSEALED STONE ABSORBS ALL MOISTURE, DIRT, CLEANING

CHEMICALS AND RAPIDLY GROWS DINGY, DECOMPOSES AND IS MORE

SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAR AND EROSION. A QUALITY SEALER

PENETRATES STONE ALLOWING THE STONE TO BREATHE AND

PERMITS MORE OF THE STONE�S NATURAL BEAUTY TO SHINE

THROUGH. ACCOMPANIED BY REGULAR REGIMEN OF MAINTENANCE,

THE STONE�S HARDNESS MAY INCREASE AND YOUR STONE WILL

BECOME MORE RESISTANT TO SCRATCHING AND WEAR.

STA STANDARD CARE FOR INSTALLATION OF TILE

AT COUNTER TOPS, TUBS AND SHOWERS

COUNTER TOPS

THE TCA RECOMMENDS THAT ALL COUNTER TOPS

AND COUNTER TOP SPLASH BE MORTAR SET. MOTAR

SET AT THE SPLASH WILL ELIMINATE THE INFAMOUS

CRACKED JOINT 99%. INSTALL PER TILE COUNCIL OF

AMERICA HANDBOOK METHOD C511-02

TUBS AND SHOWERS

THE TCA RECOMMENDS THAT THEY BE MOTAR SET.

TUBS AND PLASTIC TYPE SHOWER PANS MUST BE

CHECKED TO SEE THAT THEY ARE LEVEL, STRAIGHT

AND HAVE NO POCKETS OF NEGATIVE PITCH. IF THESE

CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT, YOU MUST ADVISE THE

OWNER/BUILDER AND THEN FOLLOW THEIR WRITTEN

DIRECTION. THE TCA RECOMMENDS THAT THE BEST

SHOWER PAN IS A MORTAR SET PAN OVER WATERPROOFING

AND NOT A PLASTIC TYPE PAN. IF THE

OWNER/BUILDER INSISTS ON USING THE PLASTIC TYPE

PAN, THE TCA RECOMMENDS THAT AT LEAST SIX

INCHES OF WATERPROOF MATERIAL (JIFFYSEAL TYPE)

TO BE LAPPED OVER THE LIP AND DOWN

THE FACE OF

THE PAN. THE SAME METHOD SHOULD BE USED AT

TUBS AS WELL. WHEN THE INSTALLATION IS LATH AND

SCRATCH THE SEAL SHOULD BE APPLIED BEFORE THE

LATH AND SCRATCH. IF IT IS SOLID BACKING METHOD,

APPLY THE SEAL AFTER THE BACKING IS IN PLACE.

FOLLOW METHODS B 411-02, B 414-02 AND

W 222-02 IN THE TILE COUNCIL OF AMERICA HANDBOOK.

STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE SUBSTRATE

FOR COUNTER TOPS

THE TCA RECOMMENDS THAT WHEN IT IS

POSIBLE, THE WOOD SUBSTRATE BE MADE OF 1�

X 6� SHEATHING BOARDS AND SPACED � � APART.

IF THIS CANNOT BE DONE BECAUSE OF A CANTILEVER

DESIGN, SUCH AS ISLANDS, BREAKFAST

BARS, AND PENINSULAS. YOU WOULD THEN USE

�� EXTERIOR GRADE PLYWOODWITH 6� LONG AN 6�

APART DASH CUTS THROUGH THE PLYWOOD AT TH E

ENTIRE AREA OF THE PLYWOOD. IT IS ALSO

RECOMMENDED THAT YOU USE CAP ANCHORS

EVERY 6� THROUGH THE CAP STRIP TO REDUCE

THE POSSIBILITY OF CRACKED V-CAP. ALL CANTILEVERS

MUST HAVE SUPPORT BELOW THEM. IT IS

NOT RECOMMENEDED TO CANTILEVER MORE THAN 15�.

INSTALL PER TILE COUNCIL OF AMERICA C-511-

02

AAA+FLOOR

S R US

ACCENT

TILE

AMERICAN

TILE

ARTISTIC

TILE &

STONE INC.

AUTHENTIC

TILE &

STONE

AVELLINO

TILE

BEDROCK

TILE BELL

TILE

BERTREM

TILE BOB

ZAMBA TILE

BO-DESIGN

BOYDEN

TILE

CALIFORNIA

TILE

CHARMENT

TILE

CREATIVE

TOUCH

INTERIORS

CUSTOM

CERAMIC

TILE CO.

DEAN

HERMAN

TILE &

MARBLE

EXCLUSIVEL

Y TILE FIT

TO BE TILED

FOREMAN

TILE GC

TILE &

STONE

GLENN

DAVIS

FLOORING

HOLLAND

SIVLERS

HOOVER

TILE

HOWARDS

RUGS CO

HUNT FOR

TILE

INFINITY

TILE

INLINE

TILE&STONE

INTERIOR

SPECIALIST

IRISH

SETTERS

J.W FLOOR

COVERING

INC.