Don your comfy shoes and scour the show floor for

Next month is the premier tile and stone expo – Coverings, taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., April 22-25. Coverings is bursting with education, technical demonstrations, opportunities to network and connect, special activities and exhibit halls filled with the newest, on-trend styles for the industry, as well as tools, equipment, sundries and setting materials designed to make your next project a success.

NTCA Contractor Tours Join the NTCA as it guides you around the show floor to see the latest tools, equipment, and allied products. Learn from manufacturers as you discover new products and services to streamline and elevate your next job. These hour-long tours will depart from The Outdoor Oasis at 11:00 am on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so sign up at the Outdoor Oasis ASAP Monday morning. https://www.coverings.com/show-floor-tours/

Installation Innovation Stage A number of installation demonstrations will take place on the Installation Innovation Stage, space C7863, chiefly among them a full roster of demos conducted by NTCA Technical Trainers Matt Welner and Hank Boyle, together with NTCA Training Director Mark Heinlein. Here’s a brief overview:

MONDAY – APRIL 22 • 10:10 am – 10:40 am: Silica Safety and Awareness – Is this still a thing? Learn what tile industry professionals need to know to comply with the OSHA Airborne Respirable Silica Regulations. • 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Diamond Tools – Proper Selection for Performance and Safe Use. Delve into common types of industrial diamond blades, bits and tools, and explore how to select the proper blade for the material and task at hand and how to use them safely.  • 4:50 pm – 5:20 pm: Dust Management – Equipment for Working Cleanly and Safely. Learn about wet and dry applications for high performance/high quality/efficient/safe production tools and techniques to cut, score, snap and collect dust and debris.

Outdoor Oasis The popular Coverings Lounge has been revamped into a breathtaking Outdoor Oasis for Coverings 2024 in Hall C, space #7006. Partnering with the thought-leaders from Tributary Revelation, the Outdoor Oasis will be an immersive outdoor experience for attendees – INSIDE the Coverings show floor! Featuring tile for both interior and exterior applications, the Outdoor Oasis will also host happy hours, giveaways, networking and educational opportunities.

Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards The Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the design and installation of ceramic tile and stone in residential, institutional, and commercial projects. Projects are judged on their levels of creativity, craftsmanship, and outstanding use of ceramic tile or stone within the project categories. Join us at Coverings on Tuesday, April 23 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm for the 2024 CID Awards Ceremony & Reception at the Trends & Solutions Stage in Hall B, space #1305. https://www.coverings.com/cid-awards/

2024 Rock Stars Awards Ceremony & 10th Anniversary Celebration The Coverings Rock Stars honors the best and brightest young talent in the tile and stone industry. Since its inception, the program has recognized dozens of young leaders who have connected at Coverings through mentorship and networking opportunities. Celebrating its 10th year in 2024, this year’s program will take place at the Outdoor Oasis on Monday, April 22 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. The 10th Annual Rock Stars Celebration will also honor winners from the past 10 years, with a Q&A Panel featuring previous Rock Stars. https://www.coverings.com/coverings-rock-stars/

All eyes on Artisans! Come to the Art Tile Village to delight in hand-made and art tile from a range of exhibitors. Within the area is The Artisan Stage, celebrating artisans who preserve age-old traditions through crafting handmade art and specialty tiles. Art tile makers, artisans and artisan tile setters will demonstrate the process of creating unique, handcrafted tiles, from techniques for cutting, mounting and installing hand-shaped mosaics, to hand-forming, decorating, glazing, and painting tiles. In fact, a cadre of participants from last June’s Artisans Revolution in Tile Training will talk about their experiences and how their artisan tile setting work has expanded since then!

Surrounding the Artisan Stage is the Artisan Showcase, where you’ll find captivating concept boards from exhibitors in the Art Tile Village. Delight in the designs and learn more about the artisans behind these creations.

Additional Learning Opportunities at Coverings At Coverings, contractors and installers have access to a diverse array of carefully-curated sessions. These sessions are tailored to provide invaluable insights, techniques, and innovations relevant to the industry. Attendees can expect a wide-ranging program designed to enhance their skills and knowledge within the tile and stone industry. Session highlights include:

Honoring Women: Galvanize Lounge and Women’s Events This year, Coverings is providing a dedicated lounge for women in the tile industry to gather, network, relax and learn. Come to a Meet & Greet on Monday, April 22 at 2:00 pm at the Galvanize Women’s Lounge, space #B206. The lounge is also the site of the “Igniting Change, Rising Together” women’s event on Wednesday morning, April 24, sponsored by Women in Tile, Women in Stone, NTCA, LATICRETE, Coverings, and Quantify N.A. The light invitation-only continental breakfast will run from 7:30 - 8:15 am.

Demi Clark

Become a Coverings Ambassador! Been to Coverings before and want to crow about it? Coverings is recruiting enthusiastic individuals to participate in its Coverings Ambassadors program. Coverings Ambassadors spread the word about the event and believe wholeheartedly in all the amazing benefits that come with attending. If you’re passionate about Coverings and the tile and stone industry, consider applying for this program. Candidates must have attended at least one Coverings show, work with ceramic tile and/or natural stone, and be based in the U.S. or Canada.

Web: https://www.coverings.com/coverings-ambassador/ Application: https://taffyevents.formstack.com/forms/ambassador_application_cov24

NTCA Awards Night One of the annual highlights of Coverings is the NTCA Awards Program, which will take place on Wednesday, April 24, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 p.m. in room #B312. This is the association’s opportunity to honor a special industry member with the NTCA Tile Person of the Year award, and to recognize select Five-Star Contractor members for outstanding residential and commercial projects. In addition, several young people who are children and grandchildren of NTCA members will be awarded Tom Ade Scholarships to assist with their educations. The Tile Council of North America will make a presentation to its Tile Person of the Year at this ceremony as well.

Last year, Joe and Wendi Kerber of Kerber Tile, Marble & Stone received the NTCA Tile Person of the Year Award at Coverings 2023 in Orlando, Fla. This award is given to individuals who have supported the goals and objectives established by the NTCA.