The University of Ceramic Tile and Stone (UofCTS) has received an endorsement of its core curriculum by Fuse Alliance, a member-owned organization of professional commercial flooring contractors. Fuse members will be able to purchase the UofCTS online courses through the Fuse member website at a special membership discount.

 

Fuse Alliance has more than 84 companies in 150 locations across the U.S. and Canada and the organization’s Member businesses represent approximately $1.2 billion in sales and services. Fuse Alliance is made up of a unique network of flooring experts with a combined experience that spans across flooring product knowledge, installation expertise and a keen understanding of meeting the environmental requirements of today’s market. 

 

Fuse Alliance’s governing body is an executive Board of Directors made up of 12 Member business owners. Through its Member network, Fuse Alliance is dedicated to serving the North American market and member businesses can be found throughout the United States and Canada. Fuse Alliance’s goal is to have Fuse Members differentiate themselves from their competition by having all of their tile installers go through the 4-hour Tile Installer Thin-set Standards (ITS) Verification course that is taught in both English and Spanish. This also gives them the benefit of avoiding potential installation problems. Fuse members are benefiting from having their project managers and sales employees take the UofCTS Understanding the Basics of Ceramic Tile course and Understanding the Basics of Natural Stone course that take a comprehensive look at the stone and ceramic tile industries. 

 

The courses teach industry standards, technical information about tile and stone, sales techniques, and are designed to give salespeople the knowledge and tools they need to gain confidence and credibility in the eyes of their customers, which leads to increasing sales. 

 

The Tile Installer Thin-set Standards (ITS) Verification course instructs installers, setters and finishers, on industry standards and practices, manufacturers' requirements, and proper installation methods for tile thin-set applications that apply to ceramic tile, porcelain tile, stone tile, glass tile and other types of adhered tile materials. The course also teaches how to inspect and prepare substrates and tiles, how to achieve full thin-set coverage, and points out quality workmanship requirements and practices. Tile installers who complete the ITS Verification course receive a certificate of completion and must renew it every two years to remain current with industry standards. The ITS course is available in English and in Spanish.

 

Referring to the new partnership Donato Pompo, founder of the UofCTS, said, “Fuse Alliance is dedicated to supporting their members by providing them educational resources. Fuse retained me two years ago for providing technical consulting services to their members. This is a free service that Fuse offers to Fuse members, which demonstrates their commitment to having their membership provide quality tile and stone installations. We are excited to continue to collaborate with Fuse to bring the highest quality online courses in the industry to their members.”

 

For more information, visit UofCTS.org.