Tile and stone installers often learn on the job and do not have any substantial training on the industry installation standards. There are unions and industry organizations who provide some training, but even then, most installers lack knowledge of the standards and tend to pick up and apply bad habits.
The role of the foreman on-site
Installers do not make mistakes intentionally, but due to the lack of knowledge, the pressure to be more productive, and the lack of adequate supervision, mistakes happen. Sharing his own experience, the author started as a tile installer many years ago, then was a proactive on-the-job system of training and oversight. There was a foreman who closely oversaw the work of others and coached the installer on how to perform their work correctly and was there to catch mistakes before they became an issue. This was the way installers got trained and developed skills which elevated them to more prominent roles. However nowadays, too often, installers with limited skills are thrown on a job and given limited instructions and no oversight, or, the foreman on the job is actually one of the installers and not performing any oversight. In some cases, there is a roaming foreman who jumps from one job to another giving commands and putting out fires, but does not perform any proactive quality control (QC) or training.
Finding the solution in parts
The solution is to prepare specifications which fully utilize the Part 1: General and Part 3: Execution sections of Master Specifications as they are not often utilized enough. The Part 2: Products section is also important for calling out the right products and accessories in a clear and complete manner without any ambiguities.
Part 1: General
Most master specifications do not fully utilize the Part 1 general section. Reference standards in Part 1 is where all relevant applicable standards within the body of the specification are included.
This section should thoroughly and correctly reference the relevant standards that apply to the descriptive work. Any relevant American National Standards (ANSI), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and ASTM standards should be listed in a specific way. For Division 9 Finishes or Division 4 Masonry, the standard for the physical properties of the finish material should be referenced, as well as the standards which reference the performance requirements of the installation products. In particular, the specifications for more critical applications, such as industrial, high traffic, wet, and veneer, should be a performance or prescriptive specification to help ensure the right products and methods are being employed for a successful installation of the intended application. It is up to the specifier to vet and select the right products for the intended application and required performance, while ensuring it meets the aesthetic requirements as well.
