Industry partners, working through Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH), donated tile, installation materials and training to tile five Habitat for Humanity homes in Costa Mesa, Calif.

The five houses included the 100th house built by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (HFHOC). Partners donated materials to cover nearly 3,000 square feet of floor and wall space and trained Habitat crewleaders to install the tile in the homes.

Orchid Ceramics donated its Newcastle Sand ceramic and Planet Gray/White porcelain tile to cover the kitchen, living room, laundry area, halls, and bathrooms in each home. In addition to providing tile, the company donated extra material that should keep the affiliate tiling through next year. Orchid, based in Tulsa, Okla., with a distribution center in Anaheim, Calif., also has retail distribution centers in Tulsa and New Orleans.

Custom Building Products donated surface preparation materials, including Wonderboard and RedGard Waterproofing and Anti-Fracture Membrane, as well as setting materials, grout, tools, and sealers. Custom technical service representatives Kory Jones and John Alldredge spent a day training 25 crewleaders to install tile so they could train volunteers for future projects. Custom is based in nearby Seal Beach, Calif.

Gray LaFortune and Paul Wilson of the Ceramic Tile Institute of America (CTIOA), based in Culver City, Calif., trained an additional 20 crewleaders to install tile. CTIOA, along with The Tile Doctor.com, formed TPFH in 2002. LaFortune and Wilson have participated in numerous TPFH builds across the country.

Representatives of Orchid and Custom toured the homes and met representatives of HFHOC, including new homeowner Kari Bernard and her son Elijah.

Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH) is a partnership between the tile industry and Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit organization working to eliminate substandard housing around the world. Industry partners provide tile, setting materials, tools, floor preparation materials, cleaners and sealers, labor and installation training to Habitat affiliates interested in building with tile. TPFH is guided by seven industry organizations whose representatives sit on its board of directors, including the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, Ceramic Tile Institute of America, National Tile Contractors Association, The Tile Doctor.com, Tile Council of North America, and Tile Heritage Foundation.

For more information on TPFH or to make a pledge, please visit www.tpfh.com.