How to Use This Tile Resource
National Tile Authority functions as a structured reference directory for the tile installation and distribution sector across the United States. This page describes how the directory is organized, how listings and content are verified, and how professionals and service seekers can cross-reference this resource against licensing databases, permitting requirements, and industry standards. The tile sector spans residential, commercial, and specialty applications governed by distinct installation codes, material classifications, and contractor qualification requirements — distinctions this resource reflects in its organizational framework.
How content is verified
Listings and reference content published on National Tile Authority are assessed against publicly available information from named industry and regulatory bodies. The primary standards references used in content development include the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A108/A118/A136 series, which governs tile installation materials and methods, and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation, which serves as the de facto installation standard recognized by building departments across the United States.
Contractor qualification data is cross-referenced against state-level contractor licensing boards where licensing is mandatory. Licensing thresholds vary by state: California requires tile contractors to hold a C-54 specialty license issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), while states such as Texas do not mandate statewide tile contractor licensing, deferring instead to municipal registration requirements. These distinctions are noted where applicable in Tile Listings.
Material classifications within listings follow ANSI/ISO designations for tile types — ceramic, porcelain, glass, natural stone, and mosaic — with porcelain defined under ANSI A137.1 as having a water absorption rate of 0.5% or less. Listings are not independently audited for accuracy on a continuous basis. Content is reviewed when substantive changes to ANSI standards, TCNA editions, or state licensing requirements are identified through monitored public sources.
No directory listing constitutes an endorsement, certification, or performance guarantee.
How to use alongside other sources
National Tile Authority is a reference starting point, not a sole verification source. Professionals and project managers using this directory to identify contractors, suppliers, or installation specialists should confirm active licensing status directly through the issuing state licensing board, since license status can change between directory update cycles.
For permitting and inspection purposes, the applicable authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) — typically a municipal or county building department — determines which installation standards are enforced on a given project. The International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), published by the International Code Council (ICC), reference ANSI A108 and TCNA standards as acceptable installation methods, but local amendments may modify or supersede these references. Checking with the local AHJ before project commencement is standard practice in the licensed contracting sector.
Safety classifications for tile installation environments are governed by ANSI A137.1 slip resistance ratings, which use the Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) AcuTest with a minimum threshold of 0.42 for level interior floors subject to foot traffic. Exterior and wet-area installations carry higher thresholds. This resource references these classifications descriptively; it does not perform product testing or rate specific products.
For a full description of what this directory covers and how its scope is defined, see Tile Directory Purpose and Scope.
Feedback and updates
Inaccuracies in listing data, outdated licensing information, or substantive changes to referenced standards can be submitted through the Contact page. Submissions that identify a specific named public source — such as a revised TCNA Handbook edition, a state licensing board update, or a published ANSI standard revision — are prioritized in the review process over general feedback without documentation.
The tile industry standard cycle follows ANSI's periodic revision process. The TCNA Handbook is updated on a roughly annual basis; the current edition in use for content reference is identified within the relevant content sections. When a new edition supersedes the referenced version, affected content is flagged for review.
Listing holders who identify errors in their own directory entries should use the same Contact submission pathway, noting the specific listing identifier and the nature of the correction.
Purpose of this resource
National Tile Authority serves 3 primary functions within the construction services reference sector:
- Contractor and supplier directory — Organized by geography, specialty, and service type, the directory connects service seekers with licensed tile installation contractors, distributors, and material suppliers operating across the US market.
- Standards and classification reference — Content pages describe the regulatory and technical framework governing tile installation, including ANSI material standards, TCNA installation method categories, and AHJ permitting structures, without reproducing proprietary standard text.
- Licensing and qualification landscape — The resource documents how tile contractor licensing is structured across states that maintain mandatory licensing regimes, distinguishing between general contractor licenses that encompass tile work and specialty tile contractor classifications.
The tile installation sector in the United States supports an estimated $4.3 billion in annual material sales (Ceramic Tile Distributors Association), with installation labor representing a parallel market segment tracked separately by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC code 47-2044 (Tile and Stone Setters). These scale figures establish why a structured, standards-referenced directory serves a practical function beyond a general contractor search.
The scope of this resource, its classification boundaries, and its relationship to commercial construction reference networks are described in full on the Tile Directory Purpose and Scope page.