Schluter opens new National Training Centre

Schluter-Systems opens National Training Centre for tiling contractors, distributors, retailers and stockists.

World market-leader in tiling solutions, Schluter-Systems, has opened a purpose-built, dedicated, training centre to ensure tiling contractors, distributors, retailers and stockists, have the knowledge to safeguard the long-term integrity of the end-user consumers' installations.

Technical Manager Ian Knifton says: "With essential technical requirements of tiling changing from one installation to another, training is absolutely vital to the tiling industry.

Every month we're having training days devoted to core tiling protection, for retailers, stockists and distributors".

And a regular seminar is being developed on the waterproofing aspects of floor and wall membranes.

"Many people feel that using a water-resistant adhesive or grout will be good enough to provide a waterproof finish in bathrooms, shower rooms and wet areas.

But that's not the case," says Ian Knifton.

"A tiled surface cannot be guaranteed as waterproof.

BSI recommends the use of impervious membranes to ensure that installations are waterproof".

Part of Schluter's training is geared around helping distributors and stockists ask customers the right questions to ensure they can provide the correct product and technical support for the individual application.

"The courses highlight the problems that can occur and the solution to overcome them, along with technical information.

It means the sales person can offer the right system to ensure a first-class installation, and can explain that if those systems are not used correctly the installation could fail".

During the coming year a practical training area is to be developed, enabling tilers and other installers, to have "hands-on" experience of fitting movement joints, transition profiles and membranes.

Schluter regards training as vital both for new entrants to the industry and for experienced tilers.

"In many cases where Schluter is called in to troubleshoot because the right protective measures have not been taken, the installers have been in the industry a long time but are not keeping up with modern trends and new technology.

What's right for one job isn't necessarily right for another.

Only training can help the fixer identify what's required to meet the demands of each individual application.

"It's not our intention to teach people how to tile - that's not our area of expertise.

We can train on the methods and systems which make the job easier and quicker, and enable installers to guarantee the application against failure.

Basically, training today prevents problems tomorrow".

Such is Schluter's commitment to training, that it has seats on The Tile Association's Training Committee and the Stone Federation of Great Britain's Training Group.

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