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Factory Finished Wood Flooring Installation p. 8 Adhesive Basics for Installers p. 18 Moisture Control Systems p. 30
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CIRCLE 36
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CIRCLE 38
August/September 2011 Q Volume 18, No. 4
F eatures
On the cover: Photo courtesy of Bostik.
FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER Volume 18, Issue 4 (ISSN 1099-9647) is published 7 times annually, Jan/Feb, Mar/ Apr, May/Jun, Jul, Aug/Sep, Oct/Nov and Dec, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 22801 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364. Telephone: (818) 224-8035, Fax: (818) 224-8042. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $115.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $149.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $165.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2011, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER, P.O. Box 2149, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or KalbR@ bnpmedia.com.
All FCI “How-To” articles are written to provide insight into some of the key steps, tools and accessories required to professionally carry out the subject technique or installation. Be sure to obtain the product manufacturer’s installation/specification manuals and follow the company’s recommendations. More detailed and product-specific information is available through industry training schools, clinics, seminars and certification programs.
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8 18 26 30 34
Factory Finished Wood Flooring Installation Factory finished products have steadily grown in popularity over the past 10-15 years, and generally offer a more consistent product than unfinished wood flooring. Mickey Moore explains the factors that must be considered when installing factory finished wood flooring.
Adhesive Basics for Installers Understanding how to select and install with the correct adhesive is essential to the success of any adhesive-installed wood flooring installation. Larry Scott, technical director of DriTac Flooring Products, offers an in-depth primer on selecting and installing the right adhesive for any wood flooring installation.
Exterior Tile Work Outdoor installations of ceramic tile are one of the most challenging areas for installers, and require extra attention to details such as drainage, movement joints and setting materials. Dave Gobis offers a thorough explanation of the factors that must be considered when installing tile on exterior surfaces.
Moisture Control Systems Moisture issues are among the most common causes of installation failures, and they are also among the least understood. Jon Namba addresses the issue of moisture control systems for installation of all types of flooring over concrete.
The Art of Installing Patterned Carpet, Part Two Patterned carpet installations present numerous difficulties for installers, and must be planned carefully to avoid problems with roll sequencing. Robert Varden presents a detailed explanation of how to properly install patterned carpet in a commercial glue-down application.
D epartments 6 14 24 32 36 39 40 41 43 44 46 46
On
Editorial Comment A Carpet Installer’s Notebook Adhesive Products Guide CTEF Tile Tip Resilient Installation Corner Green Matters Industry News Products on Display Advertiser Index/Classifieds Installation Training Clinics and Schools Distributor Marketplace Products Spotlight
the Web
Carpet Adhesives Basics How much do you know about adhesives? Find out with this Web-exclusive quiz.
Check out www.fcimag.com for this column, as well as the latest news and products.
August/Sepember 2011
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CIRCLE 100
Editorial
by JOHN MOORE
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Understanding Adhesives Is Critical for Installation Success
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II
mproper selection and usage of adhesives are common causes of installation failures for carpet, resilient and hardwood applications. Most of these failures can prevented if the installers would take the time to educate themselves about the products they are using and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. You might think the latter would be a given, but sadly it is not. I cannot count the times I have heard of installation failures caused by not following the manufacturer’s instructions properly. Most of the installation articles we have run in FCI include this important caveat, yet still the instructions go unheeded. It only takes a few minutes to read the instructions on a pail of adhesive or a box of laminate flooring, so there’s really no good excuse for not doing so. Even if you think you already know it thoroughly, it doesn’t hurt to re-read them, as products are changing rapidly. The adhesives you are using now are definitely not the same as they were 10 or 20 years ago. In this issue of Floor Covering Installer, we address these problems with several articles related to adhesive selection and installation. First, Larry Scott, technical director of DriTac Adhesives, presents an in-depth look at the proper methods of selecting and using adhesives to install all types of hardwood flooring in “Adhesive Basics for Installers.” Next, our resident
August/September 2011
resilient expert Ray Thompson offers a detailed, step-by-step article on “Installing Resilient Sheet Vinyl with Epoxy Adhesives.” This is the most difficult type of resilient sheet flooring installation, requiring precise attention to detail and understanding of both the flooring material and the epoxy to be used. Finally, we offer an Adhesive Products Guide with the latest adhesive products from leading manufacturers, to help installers stay on top of the latest adhesives technology. We hope that these features will help you to better understand the products and methods you need to use to install resilient and wood flooring using all types of adhesives. If you need information on other types of adhesive installations, be sure to check the article archives on our web site, www.fcimag.com. We have been covering different aspects of this subject for several years, so chances are you will find the information you need there. If you have a subject that we haven’t covered and you would like for us to address, feel free to email me FCI with your suggestions.
John Moore Editor
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by MICKE Y MOORE
Factory Finished Wood Flooring Installation
FF
actory finished wood flooring over the past 10-15 years has become a bigger and bigger portion of the wood flooring market. Back in the ’80s and early ‘90s choices for solid wood factory finished flooring were mostly seal and wax finished flooring. Engineered flooring at that time was offered in conversion varnished finishes which was the forerunner to the UV cured finishes. Since then, most major manufacturers and some smaller manufacturers offer factory finished flooring using an ultra violet cured finish system. Some manufacturers offer finished flooring almost exclusively over unfinished flooring. Factory finished flooring is almost exclusively packaged in boxes to protect the finish during handling. As such, included in the box is an instruction sheet for installation. This means the flooring contractor has no excuse for not knowing the correct installation procedure for the particular brand of flooring. In addition the overall look of a particular flooring product or skew item is proprietary to that manufacturer.
As the flooring contractor we are not privy to the grading guidelines of the manufacturer so we have to rely on their quality control to package the proper product as sold. Mistakes will be made, but in the manufacturer’s defense, they are generally minimal as the flooring is checked at more stations during the inspection process than with unfinished flooring. First, let’s review the basics of these general instruction sheets. The first instruction item usually mentioned is that of responsibility. If you install it, “you own it.” That is, if the flooring piece is originally defective and installed anyway, it is no longer the
manufacturer’s problem. As such we must look over the flooring in a general manner before installation. Pieces that obviously stand out as unusual should not be installed. This includes such items as: unsquare ends; unsound cracked, split, or splintered boards; too dark or too light boards in a similarly light or dark floor; boards that obviously don’t fit the adjacent board; and other similar conditions. Customer expectations also play a part in that even though a board may fall within the variations of the overall product, a consumer may object to items such as discoloration and other natural wood characters.
Photo 1
Photo 1: Obvious defects should not be installed. This split was installed along with some other obvious defective characters. The excuse was that it was in the box and the consumer purchased the product.
About the Author
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Mickey Moore is an independent wood flooring consultant. Previously he was the technical director of the Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA). He is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in wood working technology and biology.
August/September 2011
CIRCLE 12
Photo 2
Photo 2: Upon opening the box examine the product for suitability. These pieces showed raised finish fractures right out of the box. Though many of the pieces exhibited this condition, before installation is the time to check with the distributor if this is OK for the product. Installing and later reporting you assumed it was OK since many of the pieces showed the fractures can backfire and make you responsible. Photo 3: This was a repaired area for the same product but can be similar to an extra order to complete a job. If the product is randomly mixed with other boxes the difference will not be as prominent as shown. Over time this did mostly blend with the surrounding flooring.
Photo 3
Photo 4
The overall corollary is to open multiple boxes to mix and rack or lay out in the rooms to be installed. Then, review the rack for obviously “unacceptable” boards. Most of the time cuts can be made of the offending character and a significant portion of the boards can be used. If the number of outs approaches 5% or more of the pieces, you should inform the supplier not only to get replacement boards but to keep from running out of material. The sooner replacement arrives the better you can blend it into the original flooring. I say this since the new flooring may be from another manufacturing run and thus look slightly different, but when randomly mixed with the existing flooring will blend.
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Photo 4: The flooring cupped due to being installed too dry without expansion. Proper acclimation and or field expansion could have prevented the cupping. When asked, the contractor reported the moisture was OK at installation but had no document to back that up.
The second instruction item is about the condition of the site. The jobsite is usually farther along in the construction process for factory finished flooring installations than are site finished installations. This is one reason particularly in large developments that factory finished flooring will generally have fewer problems. The main reason is that the extra or excessive moisture of construction has more time to dry. However, the rules are still the same; the interior environment should be near occupied conditions for installation to begin. Most instructions require the HVAC to be in place and operating. This requirement can be difficult to meet particularly in the south where permanent electrical service is not passed until just before occupancy. Winter weather in the north dictates the heating must be on to prevent freezing. This can also be a problem with new construction in that too much heat can overly dry a site. The key is to use a reliable moisture meter to check wood members of the installation. Moisture content readings above 1213% automatically should wave the red flag, except in areas like the gulf
August/September 2011
states where somewhat higher readings can be expected. Another requirement often stated is that the recommended relative humidity of 35% to 55% (some state 30% to 50%) must be established before installation and continued after installation in order for flooring to perform. In many areas of the country this specification cannot be met in the winter, even with an HVAC attached humidifier. When issues arise with the flooring and the registered humidity is below the 30%-35% the blame is often directed to the home owner for not maintaining the requirement. This is particularly evident with issues reported with engineered flooring. The consumer must therefore be informed that unusual efforts may be necessary to keep the humidity up during winter heating or the flooring will not perform as expected. The next instruction items are those of actual installation and the requirements for the substrate. As with the requirements for site finished flooring these are similar. A structurally sound, clean, dry, and adequately flat substrate is the requirement. Most instructions for a wood framed structure call for a “code plus” system. That is 23/32” thick subflooring spaced on joists no more that 19.2” O.C. As I have reported before, 24” joist spacing is a minimum code requirement and the ultimate performance of wood flooring will suffer. The minimum system assures that you shouldn’t “fall through the flooring system” but an optimally quiet floor with minimal gaps may not be the normal expectation. With a concrete slab installation the primary requirement is the vapor retarder that prevents moisture from affecting the flooring. For a direct adhesive flooring application, the troweled-on systems compatible with the adhesives are necessary for moisture protection. For fastened/nailed flooring systems, the plastic film or the adhesive vapor retarders placed on the slab under the subflooring serve the purpose. These are some of the basic manufacturer’s instructions. So how should the flooring contractor address them? They should be followed as
CIRCLE 92
Photo 5
Photo 5: The delamination along the glue line between the wear layer and the core stock was blamed on low relative humidity. Engineered flooring is designed to cycle through wetting and heated drying three times with only small fractures. This was a glue line issue that may or may not be evident during installation. Photo 6: Be sure to provide proper expansion during installation. This factory finished floating floor had to be replaced because of buckling associated with lack of expansion and the original floor.
Photo 6
Photo 7
closely as possible. Check the site with a moisture meter. If you don’t test moisture and record readings you set yourself up for at least some responsibility should an issue occur later. If readings are not in the recommended range, a letter to the involved parties as to expected consequences if their decision is to proceed with the installation under the reported adverse conditions can help protect you later. Too high moisture can lead to cupping and later permanent gapping. Too low moisture can lead to permanent cupping in addition to movement and noisy floors. Most instructions for solid flooring require that you check the flooring itself for proper acclimation. Engineered flooring may or not require acclimation
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Photo 7: Finish the installation with proper care. The gaps along this transition are excessive and in addition the filler made the condition look worse. A quality installation shows abutting and square cuts that require little or no filler.
as the milling tolerance is tighter than with solid wood and a significant change in moisture can adversely affect the fit. Finished flooring will be slow to acclimate as it is finished on one side and packed in boxes that inhibit air circulation slowing any acclimation. Determining the moisture condition of the flooring requires that you open several boxes (8 to 10) and randomly check the moisture content of two or three planks in each box and record and average the readings. The closer to the average expected seasonal moisture content of the geographical area, the better. If the average is significantly outside the expected range (more than 1 to 1 ½%) open the boxes and provide air circulation using fans to help accelerate acclimation. After a few days recheck the same planks previously measured. If the average reading is still too low, providing field spacing during installation can accommodate the expected seasonal moisture gain. For too high readings, installing such a product will likely result in permanent gaps and related noises that will result in a call back. So continue to acclimate by drying the flooring with air flow from fans and possibly a dehumidifier. We have talked about layout before so the general basics are to start near a long straight wall line and/or near
August/September 2011
the center of the building for a whole house installation. Nail and or glue the starter rows as recommended in the instruction and provide proper expansion space at wall lines. For a later cupped floor issue lack of adequate expansion spacing can allow blame to be directed at inadequate installation. Another issue that arises with naildown flooring is marring that is associated with the nailing operation itself. The instructions generally warn to check the nailing shoe of the nailer for smoothness and use a wide shoe attachment to better cushion the contact with the flooring. Even with all these precautions, sometimes the fi nish will fracture showing a dimple on the face near to the fastener. This can be associated with some harder and more brittle fi nishes. Using cleats instead of staples may help reduce this condition since less wood fiber is displaced during nailing. Finally, it is important to handle the already finished product carefully. If scratching and marring of flooring is noticed directly after installation they will almost exclusively be connected to installation procedures and require repair. For adhesive applications remove any errant adhesive immediately as it is noticed. Also use a clean rag for wiping each adhesive spill as soiled rags produce smudges that don’t magically disappear. And use the proper filler and/or touchup color to repair and hide the errant blemish or nail hole in the flooring. The job is not completed until all thresholds or transition strips are installed. Extra attention to fitting and finishing these final touches is what will often set the quality installation above the ordinary installation. Factory finished flooring reacts just like a site finished flooring product only slower initially. Factory finishes require careful handling to maintain the out of box condition. A factory finished floor will not be as flat as the site finished floor for the obvious reason it is not finished all at the same time so some height and plank variation is expected. Factory finished flooring should be maintained similarly to site finished FCI flooring.
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CIRCLE 1
A Carpet Installer’s Notebook
by MICHAEL HET TS
Stump the Chump
W W
henever I do a Crain Tool seminar for one of my distributors there are always installation tips, tricks, and techniques woven throughout the presentation. I always encourage people to bring a piece of carpet that is giving them trouble. Now bear in mind that I do not profess to know it all or like Janet says, “I’m not the sharpest cheese in the fridge.” But, over the last forty years on the floor I have learned a little more than “fuzzy side up.” So it’s always fun and the boys bring me some interesting stuff. This particular seminar was for CDC Distributors in Louisville, KY cosponsored by the local CFI chapter. My friend John Schofner, president of the Louisville CFI chapter, brought me an interesting piece of carpet; with I might add a big grin on his face. It seems this particular piece of woven commercial carpet (for direct glue) has an overstitch and you can not follow a row (Photo 1) without cutting loops that overlap the row you are cutting (Photos 2 and 3). The problem of course then is woven carpet fuzzing like crazy at the seam. John had called the mill and also spoken to installation experts about how to seam this product without
About the Author
14
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it looking like a horror show. The best advice he got was face cut with a straight edge or double cut. Use a “universal acrylic seam sealer,” because they dry clear. Seal the edge not just at the cut edge, but up into the nap to lock the edge. He really didn’t like that idea, but the job had to get done and the mill said so.
When faced with situations like this I try all kinds of ways of cutting the seams. If I can’t run a row from the face, usually you can cut between rows from the back with a hook knife (Photo 1). Not this time. The next thing to do is start taking the carpet apart to see what you are dealing with. (Photo 4) Use a scrap
Photo 1
Photo 3
Photo 2
Photo 4
Michael Hetts is a CFI Certified Master Installer who has worked in the carpet installation field since 1970. He is currently serving as northeastern sales representative for Crain Cutter Co.; previously he served as a technical manager for Roberts Consolidated Industries.
August/September 2011
CIRCLE 3
Photo 5
Photo 9
Photo 6
Photo 10
Photo 7
Photo 11
Photo 8
Photo 12
not the main shots you have to seam together; no sense committing yourself to a course of action until you are sure it will work. School of hard knocks; I’ve been there, and it hurts to fail a lesson. Once you strip some of the rows back you can see what you are dealing with (Photo 5). The spaced loops that are sitting on top have no locking chains. That is the white threads you can see at
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the base of the solid row. Those threads wrap around the weft yards (the ones sticking out) and lock the weave in place. Without those locking chains the carpet has no stability and will fall apart easily (Photo 6) and the seam edge will fray (Photo 7). Ok so there is the problem how to stabilize the seam edge so it doesn’t fray when you cut off the exposed weft yards. Run a bead of seam sealer down
August/September 2011
the edge on the back of the carpet. (Photo 8) CAREFULLY push the seam sealer into the edge (Photo 9). LET THE SEAM SEALER DRY. This will lock in the edge; now you can carefully use your cushion back cutter to cut off the weft yarns. (Photo 10). Cut the other seam edge the same way. I would seal both edges again just to be sure, then seam weld when it is glued down. Belt and suspenders, remember? Also bear in mind this
I have always felt the three most important things you can do on a job, to get out and get paid, are to make good seams, make a neat, clean tuck at the walls, and vacuum before you leave.
weave has a “Big Loop/Little Loop” pattern. (Photo 11) The finished seam is shown in Photo 12. I know, I know, “Holy Crap Hetts that is a lot of work and time, seal it twice then seal/weld when gluing it down! You have been out on the deck already?” Yes, it is time consuming; you know I would never tell you to go to these lengths for free. This is just what this piece of carpet needs to be seamed properly. So when would you like to know how to seam this piece of material? Before the job starts, or when it’s done and everyone is looking at you? FCI
CIRCLE 21
Adhesive Basics for Installers by Larry Scott
SS
ome of the most important and key aspects of a successful hardwood flooring installation can often times be of the most basic nature. Proper fundamentals for a successful hardwood flooring installation are not only extremely important, but essential. What may be construed as a simple facet of any given installation is typically the foundation of its overall integrity and will ultimately have the biggest impact on its success. Some of the “adhesive basics” we will discuss that hold a high level of importance for any successful hardwood flooring installation, include: 1. Choosing and Using the Recommended Adhesive 2. Subfloor Preparation 3. Clean-up
We will start with using the recommended adhesive. There are several different types of hardwood flooring adhesives available on the market; pressure sensitive, acrylic/ latex polymers, modified-saline (MS) polymers and moisture cured urethane adhesives. Often times, the type of hardwood flooring installed will dictate which adhesives can and can’t be used. This information should be obtained through the manufacturers of both the adhesive and the hardwood flooring. For example, if you’re installing a ¾” solid hardwood flooring product, neither the adhesive nor wood flooring manufacturer
would recommend an acrylic/latex polymer product and instead would most likely point you in the direction of a urethane or ms polymer adhesive. Once the recommended adhesives have been presented to you, it then becomes the installer’s preference as to which type of adhesive they would like to use. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are extremely easy-to-use. They are very easy to clean up and typically offer long open times and require a flash-off installation. To some, this is a negative, as some installers prefer the ability to apply their adhesive and wetlay the flooring immediately thereafter. For others, the long open time allows
Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? Well, when understood and executed properly, these three simple “adhesive basics” can help achieve and save the very foundation of what a business is built on; happy customers, time and money.
Water-based adhesives spread easily and clean up with water.
About the Author
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Larry Scott is DriTac’s Technical Director and has 30 plus years of experience in the flooring industry. Larry is well respected within the industry and owned his own flooring installation company prior to joining DriTac in the 1990s.
August/September 2011
®
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TEC Flooring Adhesive products are formulated to emit zero to low VOCs contributing to LEED® point calculations. LEED® is a registered trademark of U.S. Green Building Council. CIRCLE 18
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them to apply adhesive to a large area at one time and work on top of the wood flooring. This method is typically used in larger scale projects and dramatically increases productivity, therefore saving the installer valuable time. Again, as is often the case, it comes down to installer preference. Acrylic/latex polymer adhesives are also easy-to-use and clean up. They offer a wet-lay installation and a working time of approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on the individual product and site conditions. Moisture cured urethane adhesives have been among the most popular for several years now, as many installers desire the “insurance policy” aspect this adhesive technology provides. Many urethane adhesives have vaporretarding characteristics and a tenacious and permanent bond strength. In recent years, urethane adhesives have become easier to dispense and trowel, however, a true moisture cured urethane adhesive will never be mistaken for an acrylic/
latex polymer adhesive when it comes to ease of use, trowelability and clean up. Urethane adhesives are easy to clean when wet with a urethane adhesive remover or like product, but can cause problems and become very difficult to remove once the adhesive has cured. Enhanced and advanced versions of urethane-based adhesive technologies have become the latest and most innovative solutions on the market today. One-component, multi-functional urethane products that encompass several solutions in one pail have successfully captured market share. The ability to offer an installer a product that acts as a urethane adhesive, concrete moisture sealer, sound control system and crack suppressant has proven to be a great value to flooring installers. Installers can now accomplish in one day, what it normally takes two or more days to complete. MS Polymer adhesives, more common in Europe, have found a small niche here in the states. They are typically easy-touse and clean up.
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Adhesive Definitions Adhesive: A substance capable of sticking to surfaces and bonding them together when cured. Bond Strength: The pounds per square inch, PSI, needed to separate two surfaces that are bonded together with adhesive. Cure Time: The time it takes for an adhesive to develop bond strength. Flash time: The time required after applying the adhesive to the substrate before installing the flooring into the adhesive. Live-In Conditions: The temperature and relative humidity level in a controlled environment. 75 +/- 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 50 +/- 10% relative humidity. Open time: The time an installer has to install the flooring into freshly spread adhesive before in begins to skim over. Spread rate: The recommended amount of adhesive required to bond different types and thickness/widths of flooring to different types of approved substrates. Measured in square feet per gallon.
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[email protected] • www.DriTac.com CIRCLE 2
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®
common factors for inducing flooring problems that arise after the installation has been completed. Whether it’s hollow spots, or a floor that’s cupping, most problems can be avoided if the proper preparation is done prior to installing the hardwood flooring product. We can break down subfloor preparation into four basic steps and they are as follows: Step 1: Clean your subfloor. The first step in preparing a substrate is cleaning. Before installing the
If the subfloor is damp, or shows visible signs of moisture, it should be allowed to dry before the wood flooring installation. Excessive moisture can cause adhesive bond release, discoloration, cracks or checks in the finish and curling or buckling of the wood flooring. Prevent these problems during installation preparation and you will save yourself a lot of time and money.
Step 4: Do proper moisture and PH testing. When preparing to install wood flooring over a concrete substrate, it is important to remember one thing: pre-installation surface preparation and moisture testing is a must for all moisture control systems. It is important to remember that all test sites should be cleaned at least 24 hours
Water-based adhesives provide long open times, which allow installers to increase their production dramatically.
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wood flooring, prepare the substrate by removing existing floor coverings, adhesives, patch residue, dirt, paint, grease, oil, sealers, waxes, curing compounds, or any contaminate that would hinder a good adhesive bond. The substrate should be sanded with a floor buffer and (20) grit or 3 ½ coarse sand paper. After it is sanded, the subfloor should be swept and vacuumed.
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Step 2: Flatten the substrate if it is uneven. To avoid having to re-do the installation, it is better to make sure you’re working with a flat substrate. Industry standards for the flatness of concrete when installing wood flooring are 3/16 of an inch in 10 ft and 1/8 of an inch in 6 feet. This can be verified using a strait edge, a level, or a laser. If the substrate is not within industry requirements, a floor-leveling compound must be used to bring the substrate to acceptable tolerances. One way of doing this is by filling low areas of the concrete with an approved portland cement leveling compound. For the high areas, try grinding them with a grinder or corundum blade. Step 3: Inspect the sub floor for moisture, cracks, and unevenness. Moisture is another important thing to consider while preparing the substrate.
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is one of the top callbacks an installer prior to setting the tests. receives, especially when using a All moisture tests should be well documented and kept on file. Also, take photographs of the test sites during the installation process and keep them with the test data. This will show a clear picture of the installation progress. Often times, the type Once the sub floor has been properly of hardwood flooring cleaned, made flat, checked for moisture, treated or sealed if necessary, installed will dictate the installation of the wood flooring which adhesives can is a much easier and more successful and can’t be used. This process. If your subf loor is not properly information should be prepared prior to installing your obtained through the hardwood f looring, you’re only manufacturers of both wasting your time and money and opening yourself up to the possibility the adhesive and the of expensive repairs and replacements. hardwood flooring. Unfortunately, this is a painful lesson many installers have learned along the way. The third and final “adhesive basic” we would like to discuss with you today is cleanup of the adhesive. It sounds urethane adhesive. As discussed earlier FCITile_TLS1210.eps 12/6/10 9:41:05 AM fairly easy and harmless, however, it in this article, when wet, urethane
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adhesives can be cleaned up easily with a urethane adhesive remover or like product. However, when dried it can leave an ugly mess that takes up more time and money than any installer would care to imagine. Homeowners want their floors as they envisioned, looking beautiful, pristine and clean. Unsightly smudges, hazes, or glue residue only decreases their satisfaction, eats up your time and deters your flowing stream of positive referrals that can affect your business substantially. The key to all of this may seem as simple as the problem itself; and that is to clean up as you go. Make sure you keep a urethane adhesive remover or like product handy and available at all times. If some adhesive gets on the top of the flooring, wipe it off and clean it immediately. You will save yourself time and money in the long run and it will help you to ensure a successful installation, which will only result in happy customers and a better bottom line. FCI
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Circle 23 on Information Card
A dhesive Products Guide
Company Name: APAC Address: 2424 Lakeland Rd., Dalton, GA 90721 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.apacadhesives.com Phone: (706) 277-7095 Fax: (706) 277-4157 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Cork, Cove Base, Cushion, Epoxy, Hardwood, Indoor/Outdoor Carpet, Resilient, Stone, Green/low voc
Company Name: CHAPCO Address: 1105 S. Frontenac St., Aurora, IL 60504 URL: www.chapco-adhesive.com Phone: (800) 552-6225 Fax: (800) 952-2368 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Cove Base, Epoxy, Hardwood, Indoor/Outdoor Carpet, Laminate Floors, Linoleum, Resilient, Stone, Green/low voc
Company Name: Bona US Address: 2550 S. Parker Rd., Ste 600, Aurora, CO 80014 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.bona.com Phone: (800) 872-5515 Adhesive Products: Hardwood, Green/low voc
Company Name: Custom Building Products Address: 13001 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, CA 90740 URL: www.custombuildingproducts.com Phone: (800) 272-8786 Adhesive Products: Ceramic Tile
Company Name: Bostik, Inc. Address: 211 Boston St., Middleton, MA 01923 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.bostik-us.com Phone: (800) 7-BOSTIK Fax: (978) 750-7212 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Cove Base, Hardwood, Indoor/Outdoor Carpet, Laminate Floors, Resilient, Stone, Green/ low voc
Company Name: DriTac Flooring Products Address: 60 Webro Rd., Clifton, NJ 07012 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.dritac.com Phone: (973) 614-9000 Fax: (973) 614-9099 Adhesive Products: Cork, Hardwood, Resilient, Green/low voc
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Company Name: Franklin International Address: 2020 Bruck St., Columbus, OH 43207 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.titebond.com Phone: (800) 669-4583 Custom Service Fax: (800) 879-4553 Adhesive Products: Cove Base, Hardwood, Laminate Floors, Resilient, Green/low voc
Company Name: Johnsonite Address: 16910 Munn Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.johnsonite.com Phone: (800) 699-8916 Fax: (440) 543-5774 Adhesive Products: Linoleum, Resilient
Company Name: LATICRETE Address: 1 LATICRETE Park North, Bethany, CT 06525 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.laticrete.com Phone: (800) 243-4788 Fax: (203) 393-1296 Adhesive Products: Ceramic Tile, Epoxy, Stone, Green/low voc
Company Name: Loba Wakol, LLC Address: 9600-B Southern Pine Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28273 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.loba-wakol.com Phone: (704) 527-5919 Fax: (704) 527-5922 Adhesive Products: Cork, Hardwood, Green/low voc
Company Name: MAPEI Corp. Address: 1144 E. Newport Center Dr., Deerfield, FL 33442 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.mapei.com Phone: (800) 426-2734 Fax: (954) 246-8801 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Cork, Cove Base, Cushion, Epoxy, Hardwood, Indoor/ Outdoor Carpet, Resilient, Stone, Green/ low voc
Company Name: Prospec Address: 8201 Arrowridge Rd., Charlotte, NC 28273 URL: www.prospec.com Phone: (800) 738-1621 Fax: (704) 529-5261 Adhesive Products: Ceramic Tile, Stone, Green/low voc
Company Name: Roberts Consolidated Industries, Inc. Address: 1001 Broken Sound Pkwy, NW, Boca Raton, FL 33487 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.robertsconsolidated.com Phone: (866) 435-8665 Fax: (561) 241-2830 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Cork, Cove Base, Cushion, Hardwood, Indoor/Outdoor Carpet, Laminate Floors, Linoleum, Resilient, Stone, Green/low voc
Company Name: Royal Adhesives & Sealants Address: 863 SE Main St., Simpsonville, SC 29681 Phone: (800) 763-7272 Ext 1355 Fax: (864) 228-1374 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Cove Base, Cushion, Epoxy, Hardwood, Indoor/Outdoor Carpet, Laminate Floors, Linoleum, Green/low voc
Company Name: TEC Address: 1105 S. Frontenac St., Aurora, IL 60504 URL: www.tecspecialty.com Phone: (800) 552-6225 Fax: (800) 952-2368 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Cove Base, Epoxy, Hardwood, Indoor/Outdoor Carpet, Laminate Floors, Linoleum, Resilient, Stone, Green/low voc
Company Name: W.F. Taylor Co., Inc. Address: 11545 Pacific Ave., Fontana, CA 92337 URL: www.wftaylor.com Phone: (951) 360-6677 Fax: (951) 360-1177 Adhesive Products: Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Cork, Cove Base, Cushion, Epoxy, Hardwood, Indoor/ Outdoor Carpet, Laminate Floors, Linoleum, Resilient, Green/low voc
Company Name: Stauf Adhesives USA Address: 6055 Primacy Pkwy., Ste 428, Memphis, TN 30119 Email:
[email protected] URL: www.staufusa.com Phone: (901) 820-0007 Fax: (901) 820-0101 Adhesive Products: Hardwood, Green/low voc
August/September 2011
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Exterior Tile Work by Dave Gobis
II
have dwelled about ten minutes on how to positively open this subject and for the life of me just can’t figure it out. I guess a good start is to talk about the days of old, which are appropriate because I just had a birthday. Only have a few more to go and I will be collecting my social security; good luck to the rest of you! Back when I started working in tile, fifty pounds lighter and with two good knees, we had few thinset options to consider when bonding tile; most of our work was using sand and cement. Our substrate of choice was mortar and our bond coat was pure cement placed over wet mortar. It didn’t make a difference whether it was a floor or wall, the material was the same, sand and cement. There was a skill level required to do this. On a knowledge basis, you wanted to make sure the tile was freeze-thaw stable, which involved sticking you tongue on the tile. If you felt suction to your tongue, it could not be used exterior in cold climates. You also needed to know how your sand and cement would behave; variations were not uncommon but limited in the big picture. When setting tile into fresh mortar it is typically beat in place, which provides a mechanical lock into the damp or wet mortar with no voids under the tile. These
About the Author
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types of installations have been known to last literally thousands of years in exterior installations and are still performed today on a somewhat limited basis. It is not at all uncommon to find a 100-year-old slate, quarry tile, or mosaic floor up here in the wilds of Wisconsin where it can be -20 and under ice for the winter months or 100 in full sun in the summer. The same type of performance can be achieved with a thinset mortar over a poured slab. Most of the considerations
to be made remain the same with exception to the setting materials. Let’s look at the secrets of success from my perspective, which closely mirrors that of industry recommendations. Drainage Slope Exterior tile needs to shed water as rapidly as possible. While there is no official “rule” on how much slope is required, the ¼” in 10’ used for showers is widely accepted as the bare
Here is my 20-year-old porch, untouched since the day it was installed other than an annual pressure washing. Most of the winter it sits under ice until we throw melting crystals on it. The original movement joints are still performing.
David M. Gobis, a third-generation tile setter, is an independent Technical Consultant. He has been in the trade for over 37 years and owned a successful contracting business for many years prior to his current position. Mr. Gobis is an Author of over 100 trade related articles and a frequent speaker at industry events. He is member of the Construction Specification Institute, International Code Council, American Concrete Institute, National Tile Contractors Technical Committee, voting member of The American National Standards for Ceramic Tile Installation and Setting Materials (ANSI A108/118), American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) C-21 Ceramic Whitewares, and Tile Council of America Installation Handbook committees. You can reach Dave via email,
[email protected]
August/September 2011
to developing efflourensce issues. When the opportunity presents itself, use of a drainage mat under a mortar bed can be very helpful in promoting rapid drainage of the floor system, greatly reducing efflorescence issues; but remember, the water has to drain to someplace to be effective.
Top: Properly constructed soft joints last for many years. These joints and the tile have suffered through 20 years of temperatures from -20 F to 130 F with no damage.
Selection and Application of Setting Materials Not all thinsets are suitable for prolonged exposure to moisture. In exterior applications it is wise to spend a few extra dollars to insure you are using a good premium bonding material suitable for the application.
Made for
TILE
Above: This six-year-old joint has a loose rather than tight-fitting backer rod. The thickness should be 2/3rds of the joint but it is less than ¼ of the depth. The result of improper installation is clear.
minimum. This slope needs to be in the slab and should not be made of fill material such as mortar, which is much more porous than concrete and will actually hold the water rather than allowing it to drain. If the slab area must be properly sloped with a fill material, the use of an appropriate properly installed waterproof membrane should be considered mandatory to avoid moisture retention in the fill material. If the area to be tiled abuts a structure, that membrane must be appropriately flashed into the structure and a proper movement joint constructed at the wall line. Not all membranes are suitable for this type of application so choose carefully. In general, avoid using waterproofing in exterior applications unless there is a specific reason to do so. They can cause nearly as many problems as they solve, particularly when it comes
Schluter®-DITRA Uncoupling membrane for tiled floors Specifically designed for ceramic and stone tiled floors, DITRA provides the four essential functions that protect the integrity of the tile assembly and ensure a long-lasting installation: tUncoupling tWaterproofing
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tPrevents the main cause of cracked tiles tWaterproof to protect your subfloor tLightweight alternative to cement backerboard tEasy to handle and transport tCuts with utility knife or scissors – no saws and no dust tQuick and easy to install tNo-nonsense warranty The Schluter®-DITRA Installation Handbook is your comprehensive resource for tile installations over various substrates. To obtain your free copy, visit:
www.schluter.com or call 1-800-472-4588 CIRCLE 7
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Top Left: If you are going to consider stone on an exterior deck choose wisely. Many if not even most stones will not withstand the rigors of exterior floor use, especially in freeze-thaw climates. Bottom Left: Efflorescence is and should be an expectation with exterior tile, within reason. However, proper selection of setting materials and use of a drainage mat can greatly reduce the likelihood.
(i.e. trowel ridges) under the tile will dry out to a gaseous form and pass through the grout joints. As soon as that alkaline laden moisture hits the air, the salts will dry leaving their crystalline deposits behind. Exterior tile work is all about good thinset and coverage. No matter what your troweling technique, you’re likely going to have to flat trowel the backs of the tile if it is of any appreciable size or has one of those moon crater backs. I am a cement grout fan on all exterior applications; let it breathe. A good grout job, one that is nice and dense, full to the top
a polymer or latex modified product you must also make sure there are provisions to protect the newly set tile from direct exposure to the sun, which can cause rapid drying and thus low bond strengths. Protection must also be provided to insure the polymers have opportunity to coalesce or dry. This is not the typical tile setter’s 12-hour overnight cure; we are talking days, not hours for many thinsets. Recommendations will vary according to formulations but three to seven days protection should be considered a minimum time frame. If you don’t have the time to wait consider using a rapid-set type material, but even with rapid-set, a simple overnight cure may not prove adequate; check with your manufacturer. Thinset coverage is everything when it comes to exterior tile work. I could fill page after page with photographs of what happens when coverage is not near 100 percent. The industry recommendation is 95 percent for exterior and wet areas. Failure to achieve good coverage is often responsible for the efflorescence that seems to never go away. Moisture left in voids
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Not all thinsets are suitable for prolonged exposure to moisture. In exterior applications it is wise to spend a few extra dollars to insure you are using a good premium bonding material suitable for the application.
of the tile or edge of the bevel, sheds water much better than one that is low and soft. Elsewhere in this article is a picture of my front porch in which neither the grout nor the sealant has been touched in 19 years despite use of ice melting chemicals or being under ice 4 to 5 months a year. Movement Joints With sun exposure there are certain to be numerous cycles of pushing (as the tile expands) and pulling (retracting as it cools down). This will likely be over damp thinset which means the bonding strength is less than it would be when dry, as typical in all cement products. With all installations, properly placed and constructed movement joints are critical to long-term performance of exterior or any other type of tile work. I have been trying to drill that point in everywhere I go for probably 15 or more years now. I did not always feel that way. As a matter of fact, I paid them little heed my first 15 to 20 years in the trade. It was only after architects beat on me and a few of my floors blew
Left: Drilling mounting holes for rails followed by filling with silicone prior to bolting in place rarely provides a watertight seal. When possible locate the rails on the side of the deck. Bottom Left: Water needs to be directed away from any void. This picture clearly shows what happens when you direct it into the void.
up that I ended up buying that I really started paying attention to the movement needs of the tile installation. Answering technical calls for TCNA and CTEF for 10 years, where nobody calls for payment of a claim (hence they don’t lie as much) has positively demonstrated their importance to me. In my current role as a consultant, I run lab tests all the time on thermal expansion and occasionally on moisture expansion. I have never tested anything that did not move when exposed to heat and/or moisture. I doubt that in all but the rarest of instances, exterior tile work
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dries out completely, and even then, it is only temporary. Moisture growth in tile is a long-term, one-way growth; it is bound to get bigger. We know that when tile gets copious amounts of sun and thus becomes hot, it grows. During the evenings or periods of nonsun exposure, it contracts. Hence the reasons for more frequent joint spacing in exterior tile work. Over the years the recommendations contained in the Tile Council of America Installation Handbook under EJ 171 have greatly expanded and I feel are very clear. For additional reading, the American Society for Testing of Materials publishes ASTM C-1193 Standard Guide for Use of Joint Sealants and ASTM C-1472 Standard Guide for Calculating Movement and Other Effects When Establishing Sealant Joint Width. Lot of boring reading to be sure but, you will be the smartest guy around on the need and design of movement joints if you read them a few times. FCI
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C I RC LE 10
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Moisture Control Systems by Jon Namba
W W
hether it’s an on-grade concrete slab or on the 15th floor of a high rise, moisture-related failures of flooring are in the millions of dollars. Thirty years ago this topic would not be as critical as it is now. Yes, we still had moisture-related failures, but there are more failures now then ever before. Back then wet curing of concrete by using water saturation, plastic sheeting, used carpet, or burlap sacks soaked with water was the common curing compound for hydration of concrete. Today, spray-on type curing compounds that can be applied the same day and left to do the same process without anyone having to come back each day for a minimum of 7 days and water the slab is the common practice. There are still projects that specify wet curing by either water soak or some sort of wet cure mat (Photo 1). Have cement mixes and additives changed that drastically to cause so many moisture-related failures for the flooring industry? Are cement/concrete finishers a factor (Photo 2)? Have the adhesives we use today changed in a way that they cannot tolerate the moisture vapor emissions coming up through the slab? Let’s look at what has changed in the industry. Cement mixes have changed and will continue to change as technology keeps moving
About the Author
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forward. Are they better? I believe they are. Cement finishing practices have improved with the use of lasers to assist in screeding the cement flat, using power trowels as finishing tools versus being done by the old knee board and finishing trowel. Adhesives have improved in that they are more environmentally friendly, are very water resistant when cured and have good grab. One thing that has changed
over the years with multi-purpose adhesives is that when they became envronmentally friendly, solvents were removed and water was added. Which means that if you have a slab that has a higher moisture moisture vapor emission rate, the adhesive doesn’t cure up like the adhesives of years ago with solvents. With a moisture cured urethane that’s used for glue down of wood flooring, you have just
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Jon Namba is an independent industry consultant, trainer, and speaker. He recently completed a term as the President of the National Wood Flooring Association, Certifi ed Professionals (CP). His background includes installer, former Director of Technical Services for the World Floor Covering Association, former Executive Director of International Certifi ed Floorcovering Installers Association. He can be reached at
[email protected].
August/September 2011
Photo 5
Photo 6
the opposite; the adhesive sets up and cures too soon, causing bonding issues as well as moisture issues. So if we have have all these improvements with technology, why then such high failure rates? Because of one big factor that the flooring installer/contractor has no control over, a vapor barrier beneath the slab. Without a moisture/vapor barrier properly placed underneath the slab, it’s a roll of the dice whether the flooring will
succeed or fail due to moisture issues. Even with a barrier placed under the slab it must be properly installed, which means that the cement finisher does not puncture the membrane. Penetrations such as pipes that come through the slab must be properly addressed, and the right membrane must be used. There are membranes that break down over time, which is why even with a membrane that was placed on the original pour, there can be failures years down
the road due to moisture. The concrete industry has had controversy over the years as to whether the membrane goes directly beneath the slab, a blotter layer placed between the slab and the moisture barrier, or placement of a barrier at all. So if a barrier placed beneath the slab is going to minimize flooring failures, why doesn’t every slab have a barrier? Good question; there are reasons for that: local building codes, no specification calling for a barrier, finishing issues with concrete curling; these are a few. What makes this a big headache and a costly one for the flooring industry? The installer or flooring retailer are being held accountable for moisture-related failures when they had nothing to do with the placement of the concrete. The statement that the installer/ contractor, is not responsible to take the moisture readings is true, but we need to finish the sentence. It is the responsibility of the installer/contractor to make sure that moisture testing has been conducted prior to starting the installation. It’s that last part of the statement that seems to
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Tile Tip Photo 7 Full Coverage and Protection
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he new 2011 TCNA Handbook, which has been completely revised, now includes methods for the proper installation of stone tiles. While many of the methods are similar to those of porcelain and ceramic tile, there are distinct and critical differences. The Handbook states the following on page 31. “Mortar Coverage for Ceramic Tile: Average contact area for dry areas is 80% and for wet areas is 95%. Mortar coverage is to be evenly distributed to support edges and corners.” However, the mortar coverage for natural stone tiles is worded differently as follows: “Mortar coverage must be sufficient to prevent cracks in the stone resulting from voids in the setting bed. In dry and wet areas, the minimum coverage is 95% with no voids exceeding 2 square inches and no voids within 2” of tile corners. All corners and edges of the stone tiles must be fully supported, and back-parging or backbuttering is recommended in all areas. Coating the back of the tile, however, does not constitute coverage, which is the area where the mortar makes contact with the tile and the substrate.” This method, while not guaranteeing almost-full coverage, is the best way to eliminate voids or hollow spots in the supporting mortar, which should significantly lessen the chances that the stone will crack. An additional precaution, while not a standard or requirement, which protects the edge of the tile, is to install a metal “L” angle where the tile stops. With this metal profi le in place, the edge of the tile is protected from the impact of rolling carts, refrigerators or vacuum sweepers. By using full mortar coverage on the back of the tile and the metal profi le on the edge, a long lasting and beautiful installation will continue to bring pleasure to the end user. By the way, as you can see in the attached photo, the carpet installer saved the day by fi lling the space left by the broken stone tile. Unfortunately, this doesn’t project the image of a high-quality installation that everyone desires. Do it right the first time!
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place so much blame on the installer/ contractor. So, what has the flooring industry done about moisture issues? There are numerous products available from fairly inexpensive to very expensive. Do they work? Yes. Have they all had a failure? Yes. There is not a product made that is completely failsafe without the proper barrier placed beneath the concrete at time of placement. Let’s take a look at the products that are being used to minimize moisture intrusion in concrete. First you have moisture retarders; these type of products slow the movement of moisture vapor emissions coming up through the slab. These products are not moisture barriers, meaning they do not stop moisture movement; they slow the movement of moisture vapor emissions from a concrete slab. The next step up from moisture retarders is moisture barriers. These products have the ability to stop moisture vapor emissions from emitting from a concrete slab. Silicate-based moisture barrier products have been used for years with mixed success. Silicate based products are reactive type products, meaning they react with another chemical (calcium hydroxide) that is in the concrete matrix. When these products react with each other, they form a gel (calcium silicate hydrate), block the capilaries or voids in the concrete and then harden. Silicates are penetrants, meaning they go into the concrete to form a barrier; how deep depends on the viscosity and the permeability of the concrete. Sealers are products that do not penetrate into the concrete but seal the surface; polyurethanes and epoxies are sealers. Epoxies are costly but have a good success rate when properly applied. Here is
August/September 2011
a product that is a three-step application. Photo 3 shows the first layer of epoxy being applied. Photo 4 shows the second layer of epoxy being applied; the different color helps the installer make sure that he or she is getting proper coverage of material. This is followed by a sand broadcast (Photo 5) to receive a self leveling underlayment. The sand is necessary in order for the self-leveling underlayment to bond to the epoxy. The hardwood industry has had a product for several years that is troweled onto a concrete slab. Once the product is troweled on, the product heals, or flows together to create a membrane (Photo 6). Once the product has dried, a moisture cured urethane is used to install the wood flooring. There are now products that can be applied during the installation of hardwood flooring that create a moisture barrier. These products are known as twoin-one, and four-in-one products. The two-in-one products are a moisture barrier and adhesive in one. When manufacturers state that their adhesive is a four-in-one, what they are stating is that it is a moisture barrier, adhesive, crack isolation barrier (typically up to 1/8” horizontal plane), and sound deadening product (Photo 7). One thing an installer/contractor needs to make certain: know your product, and work with the manufacturer of the product to assure the correct application of that product. We don’t have the time or space to write all the concerns with moisture and concrete in this article, but installers/contractors need to be proactive with the education of this subject whether we like it or not. If you want to protect your business and your installation, it is in your best interest. FCI
The Art of Installing Patterned Carpet, Part Two by Robert Varden
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rior to cutting of the material, make sure you have inspected the material for any pattern deviations as covered in Part 1 of “The Art of Installing Patterned Carpet” (FCI, JanFeb. ‘11) and have communicated any issues to the provider of the material. Arrange cuts / rolls as to accommodate any elongation issues. Be sure that if you have to resort to going with pattern sequence and jumping out of roll sequence, once again document and communicate this to the provider of the material prior to starting the installation. Now that we have properly identified just exactly what we have to work with, let’s get started. The following items are simply a few extra tools that are generally required to perform the installation of patterned carpet. Along with all of your other basic tools needed to install glue direct carpet, you will also want to have a power stretcher, (with locking mechanism if possible), a dead man, mini stretcher/crab stretcher, dry line or laser, carpenters square, straight edge, hammer and nails, some commercial tackstrip and of course a lot of patience. Again this is only a basic list. You still may need several other items that may pertain to your individual project.
About the Author
Installation of a commercial project, glued direct on a concrete substrate At this point let’s assume your material is cut, seams have been trimmed and material is laid out ready to install. In most cases when pattern deviation is not too severe, the material is treated very much like any standard non-patterned glue direct installation. Once the pattern has been properly aligned, the material is folded back on both sheets
approximately 6 feet across the width. This is best performed in a three-part motion on each sheet. First dog-ear the corners and then fold back the center. You may want to fi rst drive several stay nails on the backside of each sheet. This will keep the material from moving around on you during the folding back process, especially with larger breadths of material. Once adhesive is spread and proper open time has been given, lay your fi rst sheet down into the adhesive
Photo 1a
Robert Varden is the president of the International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI); CFI Master Installer #969; past chairman of the CFI Certification Team; winner of the WFCA’s “Best of the Best” Installation Contest at Surfaces 2003; well-known industry consultant; inspector and problem solver. Robert is also employed as the Technical Director for Seam Master, specializing in seam tapes and the Kool Glide installation system. Prior to his involvement in this segment of the industry, Robert owned large commercial installation workrooms in Texas and California.
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Photo 1b
Photo 3
Photo 2 Photo 4
center fi rst and then the ends. Rub/ roll all bubbles working from the center out to the edges. At this point you will apply the seam sealer along the cut edge of the material. Pay close attention that you are actually getting the adhesive on the cut edge and not just on the floor. Remember, the purpose of the sealer is to “seal” the edges of the material to help prevent the edges from raveling and not just to add a little extra adhesive to the floor. Improperly sealed seams are just as bad as not sealing at all. Now lay your second sheet in place. Starting in the center of the seam, work your pattern in line from the middle to the ends. Keep in mind that any elongation must be corrected all the way across the entire breath and not just at the seam area. If not you may have corrected the elongation but
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now have created a bow. In most cases neither are acceptable to the end user. At this point simply roll the material with the proper roller, trim it up and your home free. WOW, if only they were all that easy. The procedures mentioned above are assuming that the material has very little deviation and can be performed with what I would consider “Standard Installation Methods for Patterned Carpet.” Now let’s assume we receive the material and it has a 1-inch bow, ¾ of an inch of elongation every 12 feet and even a slight skew. All well within those dirty words; “The Manufacturers Tolerance.” The breadths in this room are 65’ long, the area is over 100 feet wide and the architect has never heard of or been educated as to what “manufacturing tolerances” even are and expects it to
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look like the sample they picked out. Is this starting to sound familiar? At this point you can pretty much throw the standard procedures above out the window. This installation will now go far above and beyond “Standard Installation for patterned Carpet.” At this point your responsibility is to properly check the material, photograph the procedure you used to determine the amount of deviation and turn this information over to the provider of the material. The provider (in most cases this is the retailer or dealer) should then be contacting the manufacturer. All three parties should be involved at this point to determine the course of action. The material in the pictures had a bow of 2 1/2 inches (Photos 1A and 1B), was skewed and had elongation of over 1 1/2 inches in 12 feet. This is NOT recommended for the weak at heart.
Photo 5
Once the material has been laid out, patterns have been centered in the area and the seams have been trimmed and matched in the middle of each breath. Take two breadths (more depending on your experience and manpower) and roll the breadths back up just past the center point in the room. (Photo 2) Spread a band of adhesive approximately 3 feet wide along the center line next to the breaths of carpet. Stop the adhesive about 3 inches from the outer edge of each sheet. At this point you should have a band of adhesive approximately 3 feet wide and just under 24 feet long going along the width of the 2 breadths. Just how wide you should spread this band of adhesive will depend greatly on the amount of correction that is needed. (Less correction the wider the band, more correction the narrower the band) This will keep you from getting yourself in over your head. Once adhesive is spread roll the two breadths of material into and just past the adhesive line. NOTE: Open time is critical for most adhesives. However, depending on the amount of correction needed you may have to push the envelope a little on the open time to allow slippage in the adhesive in order to make the necessary corrections. Drive a concrete pin into the concrete on each side of the two breadths and exactly in the center of the room. Pull a dry line or shoot a laser across
the top of the material along the center line from these two nails. Using your crap stretchers, knee kickers, and a bit of sweat, align the pattern of the two breadths perfectly along the dry line. As the pattern is aligned take some architectural tack strip and after pulling the drive nails, turn it upside down and fasten it to the top of the material using 1-inch concrete nails to the concrete substrate. Use of the tackstrip helps you hold the pattern alignment in place using far less nails. It also gives you a better base to nail in to so that nails are not deflecting when driving them and causing severe injury. (Photo 3) Make sure that the material is perfectly lined up along the dry line across both breadths. Once this task is complete you are ready to move on down the breadth. Roll the 2 breadths back just enough to expose the edge of the adhesive. You are now ready to repeat the process for another 3 to 4 feet. Spread your band of adhesive, roll material into the adhesive, set your dry line and correct the pattern alignment. You will fi nd that once the pattern has been aligned on the fi rst initial correction, the following alignments are a bit easier. In most cases you would now use your power stretcher and dead-man and be stretching away from the center line. (Photo 4) Be sure to measure off of your original center line when placing your dry line/drive nails for
the next alignment. This will ensure that the pattern stays perfectly aligned across the entire room and when you reach the wall the pattern should also be perfectly parallel with the wall. Note: When fastening the tackstrip to the floor, with the exception of the fi rst original row of tackstrip, make sure that the pins are angled in the direction you are taking the stretch. This insures that the material will not move back once it has been aligned. Once you have reached the wall on one side now go back to the center and repeat these steps to the other wall. At this point you should have two breadths perfectly installed wall to wall in the length and all pattern deviation corrected. (Photo 5) When adjoining the adjacent breadths use the same procedure with the exception that you will now have to spread the adhesive just up under the adjoining previously installed material. As always, be sure that all seams are properly sealed. In closing, I will mention that I have personally used these techniques to correct deviated materials all over this country as well as others. While I do not wish it upon anyone, I will say that I have used them to correct deviations as much as 4 inches of bow, 5 inches of skew and elongations as severe as 7 inches in 15 feet. Obviously, all materials are different and you will not be able to achieve those types of results all the time. I will also say that the time and labor involved in doing so was extreme and suddenly had nothing to do whatsoever with a per-yard price. This type of work is far above and beyond what I would consider “Standard Installation for Patterned Carpets.” For those that are looking for a great class on just how to learn and better understand the installation of patterned carpets, I recommend a class taught by the Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI). Keep your eye out for Part III of “The Art of Installing Patterned Carpets,” where we can cover some tips when installing woven carpets and others conventionally over cushion. Thanks for reading and good luck. FCI
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Resilient Installation Corner
by RAY THOMPSON
Installing Resilient Sheet Vinyl with Epoxy Adhesives
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n commercial sheet flooring installation, the most difficult types of installations are the ones that require the use of epoxy adhesives. Epoxy adhesives are not widely used for installations of sheet flooring material and require a special attention to detail. The installer who is going to do an installation with an epoxy adhesive needs to understand not only the characteristics and handling of the sheet flooring, but the characteristics of the epoxy adhesive as well. Epoxy adhesives have no initial tack, poor grab and extended open times or they will tend to slip around. The following is a look at the procedures to use when installing sheet flooring with an epoxy adhesive. Photo 1: Homogeneous or heterogeneous sheet vinyl needs to be laid out in advance to allow the material to relax. This will stop any distortions from creating undue pressures on the epoxy adhesive. Photo 2: The epoxy adhesive needs to be mixed thoroughly. Never mix part of a container with a part of a container. Epoxy adhesives have a narrow margin of error when mixing; this is why it is so important to mix the entire contents of unit “A” with “B” of the epoxy. When mixing the combined units, mix with a paddle stirring with a bottom-to-top motion. Mix until the color is uniform with no marbleized appearance. Avoid
About the Author
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the use of a power mixer. The agitation of a power mixer will cause the chemical reaction to speed up and it will also whip air into the mixture. Photo 3: Once mixed, the entire contents of the adhesive needs to be emptied out onto the floor. Epoxy adhesives develop heat and when left in the container will generate high heat and will set before the installer is ready to use it. The act of emptying the unit of adhesive out onto the floor and spreading it out eliminates the mass,
which causes the mix to remain cooler and allows the chemical reaction to slow to a manageable setting time. There are three ways to approach spreading and placing the adhesive into the adhesive. After an appropriate open time, this can be up to one hour, depending upon ambient temperature and humidity, before the material can be placed into the adhesive. Photo 4: The adhesive is spread and the material is placed into the adhesive, rolled and pulled out of the adhesive and
Photo 1
Photo 3
Photo 2
Photo 4
Ray Thompson, Jr. is a renowned installation expert and president of the Ray Thompson Floorcovering Institute in Easton, WA. A veteran of the flooring industry for more than 42 years, Ray conducts resilient, hardwood and concrete moisture training programs for installers, retailers, distributors, and industry associations. He also serves as a consultant and operates his own inspection service. He can be reached at
[email protected].
August/September 2011
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
will roll the material as it is placed into the adhesive. Care also must be taken not to crawl on the material because the knee prints will displace the adhesive allowing a bubble to occur. Photo 8: The material should be rolled with the appropriate weight roller. First, in the direction the adhesive was spread. If the trowel notches run across the width of the material then start the rolling process across the width of the material. Immediately after rolling the material in the direction of the trowel notches, roll the material again in the opposite direction. The roller should be move in a slow and deliberate path. If you move the roller too fast it will roll over any trapped air. After about one hour the entire floor should be rolled again in both directions. This second rolling will get any areas that were either missed or have come loose. Remember that epoxy adhesives have no initial grab like a latex or acrylic adhesive. Any areas that are loose or missed will not re-adhere and will remain as a bubble after the adhesive sets. A final rolling should be done, usually after about two hours. This will get any areas that have come loose. The rolling is usually done with a heavy roller and a hand roller to get any difficult areas. Photo 9: At the end of the final rolling take some low level lighting and examine the material for bubbles. If any are discovered take a needle and puncture the edge of the bubble on a diagonal and take a hand roller and force any of the air out from beneath the material. Trapped air under the sheet vinyl
For ASTM F2170, allowed to stand open to allow the adhesive to develop body via the open time. Extreme care must be taken not to trap air beneath the material as the trapped air will create bubbles. Photo 5: The adhesive is combed into straight lines. This allows the air trapped beneath the adhesive to be pushed out from beneath the material between the ridges of the adhesive. The trapped air beneath the material is hard to remove because the adhesive is starting to stiffen and does not allow the trapped air to be forced easily through the adhesive. Placing the material into the adhesive too soon will also result in air bubbles from off gassing of the epoxy adhesive. Photo 6: The adhesive is spread with a fine notch trowel and then is back rolled with a short nap paint roller to roll out the ridging left by the trowel. The adhesive is left open for the recommended amount of open time before the material is placed into the adhesive. The back rolling is supposed to eliminate the air between the ridges in the adhesive, allowing a flatter surface in which to place the material. Photo 7: The placement of the material into the adhesive must be done with the greatest of care not to trap any air beneath it. This means the material must be slowly unrolled into the adhesive and the material rolled immediately. Some installers
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Photo 8
Photo 9
is compressed and held by the adhesive as it sets. The pressure of the compressed air very slowly forces the material out of the adhesive causing the bubble. Epoxy adhesives require a lot of attention to detail and require experience on the part of the installer. Most of the problems that I have observed are a result of the inadequate open time and/or failure to thoroughly roll the material multiple times. FCI C I R C L E 14
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Go to www.fcimag.com for more information
sponsored by:
green matters
DriTac products certified by CRI Green Label Plus
Crossville becomes first tile manufacturer to certify waste recycling
DriTac’s 1001 All-In-One adhesive
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D
riTac Flooring Products has launched a full-line of adhesives and concrete sealers that have been certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label Plus Program for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Certified products include DriTac 1001 All-In-One Urethane Adhesive/4In-1 System, DriTac 7500 Eco-Urethane Adhesive, DriTac 7700 Easy Clean MS Polymer Adhesive, DriTac 9200 FasTac Polymeric Resin Adhesive and DriTac
Eco-8000 Moisture Guard Concrete Moisture Barrier and Crack Suppressant, which all offer zero VOCs and zero solvents, contribute to LEED credits and have been tested, approved and certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus Program for Indoor Air Quality. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, Green Label Plus is a voluntary, industry-testing program for carpet and adhesive products that establishes the highest standard for indoor air quality. The Carpet and Rug Institute created Green Label Plus to identify carpets and adhesives that are tested by an independent, certified laboratory and meet stringent criteria for low chemical emissions.
U.S. Dept. of Education launches Green Ribbon Schools program
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he U.S. Department of Education has created the Green Ribbon Schools program, to recognize schools that have taken great strides in greening their curricula, buildings, school grounds and overall building operations. The Green Ribbon School awards will be given to schools that best exemplify America’s transition to a sustainable economy, from graduating “environmentally literate” students to effectively managing their carbon footprint. The Green Ribbon program was conceived and coordinated by the Campaign for Environmental Literacy (CEL), Earth Day Network, the National
Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). “No other building type speaks more profoundly to the benefits of green building than the places where our children learn. Green schools reduce energy consumption, save money and foster healthier learning environments for our children,” said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC president, ceo and founding chair. “The Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program is a landmark in progress toward green schools for everyone within this generation, which is the vision for USGBC’s Center for Green Schools.”
rossville has joined with TOTO, the world’s largest manufacturer of sustainable, luxury plumbing products, to recycle that company’s pre-consumer fired sanitary ware. This material from TOTO has been recently certified by SCS as part of the EcoCycle Fired Waste Process, marking the latest development in Crossville’s EcoCycle Recycling Processes program. SCS has verified that through these recycling processes, Crossville annually recycles approximately 12 million pounds of previously land-filled filtrate, fired tile, and pre-consumer sanitary ware. This has enabled Crossville to become a net consumer of waste, consuming more manufacturing waste than it generates, as well as conserving resources; the volume of finished goods Crossville ships now exceeds the amount of raw materials it extracts from the earth for use in manufacturing. “Crossville, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has become the first tile manufacturer in the U.S. to achieve certification of its waste recycling programs through Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent, third-party certifier of recycled claims,” said John E. Smith, Crossville’s president and ceo. With the new process certifications, Crossville has developed the EcoCycle Recycling Process logo, which will designate the minimum percentage of recycled content, enabling Crossville to use one logo that designates certification of the entire recycling process. All Crossville-produced products will now contain a minimum of four percent recycled content from TOTO, in addition to varying percentages of its own filtrate and fired waste.
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II ndustry News ndustry News BNP Media partners with Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe
Laticrete hires tile contractor, former U.S. soldier for NC sales
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Mike Rowe’s Trades Hub website.
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NP Media, parent company of Floor Covering Installer, has entered into a partnership with Mike Rowe, host of cable show Dirty Jobs, to supply blogs for his Trades Hub website, http://tradeshub. mikeroweworks.com. The site is dedicated to championing the cause of the skilled trades. Trades Hub is a portal Web site that posts content from across the skilled trades spectrum, including building, construction, remodeling, heavy construction and subcontractor niches. Trades Hub currently represents 24 trade industries and covers 58 different topics, varying from safety and insurance to social media and education. Rowe has “apprenticed” at nearly 300 job sites during the course of hosting Dirty Jobs. Through those experiences, combined with a legacy of a carpenter
grandfather, Rowe developed a passion for the skilled trades. Rowe launched his mikeroweWORKS (www.mikeroweworks.com) web site in 2008, providing resources, news, and a community forum for all kinds of trade workers. With the launch of sister site Trades Hub, Rowe is connecting tradesmen and women from even more trades by providing additional content from a number of selected trade media. A big component of Trades Hub is the addition of hundreds of blogs written to help trades folk become better at their jobs, run their companies more efficiently, and develop the next generation of skilled trades workers. This new platform brings together even more experts from such trade fields, including construction, plumbing, and HVAC. Many blogs are being supplied by BNP Media.
MDNVAFCA ready for Charity Golf Outing, Sept. 22
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he Maryland-Northern Virginia Floor Covering Association (MDNVAFCA) will host its 2011 Annual Charity Golf Outing benefiting the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation and the Floor Covering Industry Foundation, Sept. 22 at the Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, Md. Cost is $175 per person, and includes
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green fees, cart fees, driving range, putting green, lunch, refreshments, awards, dinner and drink tickets. People who purchase by July 31 will receive a $25 discount. Cost for dinner only is $50 per person. Corporate sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Michelle Goshorn at (877) 896-3605 or
[email protected].
August/September 2011
aticrete has hired Dave Anzaldo for the position of contractor sales representative for the North Carolina Region, which includes North and South Carolina, Northern Georgia and Eastern Tennessee. Anzaldo’s career in the tile and stone industry began nearly 30 years ago when he worked for his grandfather’s tile and stone contractor business in the 1980s. For the last 10 years, Anzaldo has gained extensive experience working as a tile and stone installer in the Raleigh, NC area, where he currently resides. In between serving as an apprentice for his grandfather and then full-time as a tile contractor, Anzaldo proudly served his country for five years as a soldier in the United States Army. Reporting to Rob Smith, Laticrete regional sales manager for the North Carolina Region, Anzaldo will work directly with tile and stone contractors and end-users in the field to provide specification support and Laticrete product details in collaboration with Laticrete Technical Services. Anzaldo’s experience ensures that his customers will be provided with the ideal materials and methods for each project to ensure permanent, problem-free installations of tile and stone.
Calendar of Events 2011 FIANA Convention Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 15-17 (816) 421-1234 www.fiana.org Total Solutions Plus 2011 Phoenix, Ariz., Nov. 9-12 (601) 939-2071 www.tile-assn.com NAFCD 2011 Annual Convention Nashville, Tenn., Nov 8-10 (312) 321-6836 www.nafcd.org
Hyatt Regency
Kansas City, Mo.
2011 Show Guide September 15-17
Photo courtesy Hyatt Regency Crown Center
natural elements premium wood vinyl plank
> The beauty of natural woods or the stylish elegance and polished impression of stone with the durability and resilience of vinyl flooring. > Ceramic bead enhanced urethane coating with NanoSilver particles contains a unique anti-microbial agent to fight germs that can collect on the flooring surface. > As flexible to install and easy to use as traditional vinyl tile with no waxing required.
1.800.633. 3151 | www.flexcofloors.com
Welcome attendees to the 17th Annual FIANA Convention & Trade Show
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nother challenging year has passed, but many are saying there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. From last year’s convention, when Jon Trivers shared with us, “I can see clearly now,” we have probably seen clearly that as manufacturers and distributors, we will continue to be challenged. FIANA members must continue to be focused on our opportunities, set realistic goals, and stay abreast of the industry by attending and being involved in our convention and trade show. This is not a time to hunker down and wait for a direction. It is time to get aggressive and seek new ideas and products by the manufacturers and seek diversity and new marketing plans by the distributors. Each of us, including our customers, the retailer and installer, are looking for new high quality products and ideas. Nothing can energize a positive attitude more than something new presented with an enthusiastic marketing plan. This year’s convention plans to meet these issues with a series of networking 4 FIANA 2011 Show Guide
sessions for our members on Thursday afternoon. This will be quality time to share the best practices learned and used by each of us through the years or developed in these current economic times in a roundtable environment. We will follow on Friday morning with three great speakers sharing their insight into how to focus on the unknown, see a bright future with new channel relationships, and the bleep and blunders of our business communications. A sincere thank you for attending and supporting FIANA with your membership plus special congratulations for succeeding another year!
Gary Verhey President/CEO
17th Annual Convention & Trade Show Program
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 8:00 – 5:00 pm: Registration/Badge pickup Location: SW Lobby Alcove 9:00 – 11:30 am: Directors meeting Location: Fremont Room 8:00 – noon: GES Exhibit Co. Set-Up Location: Pershing Hall Noon – 5:00 pm: FIANA Exhibitor Set-Up Location: Pershing Hall 1:00 – 4:30 pm: Networking Best Practices Location: Empire Room AB 1:00 – 2:00 pm: Sales Compensation with Mike Marks 2:20 – 3:20 pm: Vendor Expectations with Randy Grachek 3:30 – 4:30 pm: FIANA Membership Survey with Gary Verhey 5:00 – 6:30 pm: Welcome Reception Location: Atlanta Room
9:45 – 10:45 am: Michael Marks presents “The Bright New Future: New Channel Relationships” Location: New York Room 11:00 am –noon: Todd Hunt presents “Communication Bleeps & Blunders in Business” Location: New York Room Noon – 1:00 pm: Trade Show Lunch Buffet Location: Pershing Hall Noon – 6:00 pm: Trade Show Location: Pershing Hall 5:30 – 7:00 pm: Cocktail Reception Location: Pershing Hall Evening Free
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 7:30 – 8:30 am: Breakfast Buffet Location: Pershing Hall 8:00 – noon: Trade Show Location: Pershing Hall
Evening Free
Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 7:00 – 3:00 pm: Registration/Badge pickup Location: SW Lobby Alcove 7:00 – 8:00 am: Breakfast Buffet Location: Atlanta Room 8:00 – 8:30 am: General Business Session Location: New York Room 8:30 – 9:30 am: Jonathan Trivers presents “Real Success Comes Not From Perfecting the Known, But Imperfectly Seizing the Unknown” Location: New York Room
6 FIANA 2011 Show Guide
Exhibit break down begins only at noon
FIANA 2012 Convention Orlando, FL September 13-15 Mark your calendar now!
FIANA would like to thank the following sponsors for their gracious support of this year’s convention
FIANA 2011 Show Guide 7
PERSHING HALL
GUNDLACH
CFI
BETTER TOOLS
NATIONAL FLOOR EQUIPMENT
FLEXCO
MERCER TOOL
TRAXX
WAGNER DUO-FAST ELECTRONICS
CARPET SHIMS
ROPPE
PARACHEM/ ROYAL ADHESIVES
BASE KING
8 FIANA 2011 Show Guide
ARDEX
PERSONNA
FUTURA INDUSTRIES
WEDI
SEAM MASTER
TAYLOR TOOLS
MOZART BLADES
DRI
XL BRANDS
LATICRETE
FIANA UNIVERSITY
TAC
FLOOR DOT
SILPRO
ROLLMASTER
ORCON
B&H MFG.
HALEX CORP.
BULLET TOOLS
FLOOR SANDING/CENO
JOHNSONITE
CARPENTER CO.
WF TAYLOR
PAM
MP GLOBAL
MIRACLE SEALANTS
LOXCREEN
SURFACE SHIELDS
CRAIN CUTTER
ALPHA PROF. TOOLS
FILM TECH
FIANA 2011 Show Guide 9
Trade Show Exhibitors Exhibitor .................. Booth Number
Exhibitor .................. Booth Number
Alpha Professional Tools................................. 306 103 Bauer Dr., Oakland, NJ 07436; 201-337-3343; www.alpha-tools.com
DriTac Flooring Products................................. 218 59 Ingraham St., Brooklyn, NY 11237; 718-497-5200 www.dritac.com
Ardex Engineered Cements ............................ 226 400 Ardex Park Dr., Aliquippa, PA 15001; 724-857-6400 www.ardex.com
Duo-Fast .......................................................... 230 2400 Galvin Dr., Elgin, IL 60124; 888-DUO-FAST; www.duo-fast.com
B & H Mfg. ...................................................... 209 15335 Manila St., Fontana, CA 92337; 909-350-1682 www.bhlevelup.com/
FilmTech .......................................................... 304 1 Capital Drive, Suite 100, Cranbury, NJ 08512, 877-345-6832 www.filmtechonline.com
Base King ................................................ 326, 328 137 Lower Dug Gap Rd., Dalton, GA 30730; 888-428-3106 www.baseking.com
Flexco .............................................................. 225 1401 East 6th St., Tuscumbia, AL 35674; 800-633-3151 www.flexcofloors.com
Better Tools ..................................................... 100 985 Senate Dr., Centerville, OH 45459; 800-798-6657 www.americancuttingedge.com
Floor Dot .......................................................... 216 Shawnee Industrial Way, Suite 106, Suwanee, GA 30024; 404-592-1230 www.floordot.com
Bullet Tools .............................................. 313, 315 3390 W Hayden Ave., Hayden ID 83835; 208-772-0175 www.bullettools.com
Floor Sanding/CENO ............................... 312, 314 12221 Carlsbad, Houston, TX 77085; (866) 236-6966 www.floorsanding.com
Carpenter Co. ................................................. 205 5016 Monument Ave., Richmond, VA 23230; 804-359-0800 www.carpenter.com
Futura Industries ..................................... 219, 221 PO Box 160350, Clearfield, UT 84016-0350; 800-824-2049 www.futuraind.com
Carpet Shims ................................................... 331 145 Country View Lane, Ghent, KY 41045; 877-596-1591 www.carpetshims.com
Gundlach, Beno J. ........................................... 104 PO Box 544, Bellville, IL 62222-0544; 618-233-1781 www.benojgundlachco.com
Crain Cutter ............................................. 305, 307 1155 Wrigley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035; 408-946-6100 www.craintools.com
Halex Corp. ............................................. 210, 212 750 South Reservoir St., Pomona, CA 91766; 800-576-1636 www.halexcorp.com
10 FIANA 2011 Show Guide
Exhibitor .................. Booth Number
Exhibitor .................. Booth Number
Johnsonite ....................................................... 207 16910 Munn Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023; 800-899-8916 www.johnsonite.com
Rollmaster Software ........................................ 316 536 Harvard Blvd., Lynn Haven, FL 32444; 850-277-0730 www.rmaster.com
Laticrete International, Inc. .............................. 318 1 Laticrete Park N., Bethany, CT06524; 800-243-4788 www.laticrete.com
Roppe Corp. .................................................... 224 1602 N. Union St., Fostoria, OH 44830-1158; 800-537-9527 www.roppe.com
Loxcreen Flooring Group................................. 203 5720 Ambler Dr., Mississauga, ON L4W 2B1 Canada; 800-565-6653 www.loxcreen.com
Seam Master ........................................... 323, 325 5211 Southern Ave., South Gate, CA 90280; 800-255-1401 www.seammaster.com
Mercer Tool ..................................................... 223 300 Suburban Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729; E. Coast 800-221-5202, W. Coast 888-560-8665 www.mercertool.com
Silpro ............................................................... 317 2 New England Way, Ayer, MA 01432; 800-343-1501 www.silpro.com
Miracle Sealants .............................................. 308 12318 Lower Azusa Road, Arcadia, CA 910065872; 626-443-6433 www.miraclesealants.com
Surface Shields ............................................... 204 10457 W. 163rd Place, Orland Park, IL 60467; 800-913-5667 www.surfaceshields.com
MP Global ........................................................ 310 2500 Old Hadar Rd., Norfolk, NE 68701; 888-379-9695 www.quietwalk.com
Taylor Tools ............................................. 320, 322 5045 Paris St., Denver, CO 80239; 800-525-3714 www.taylorflooringtools.com
Mozart Blades & Tools .................................... 220 Schmalzgraben 15, D - 42655 Solingen; +49 (0)212 - 22 09-0 www.mozart-blades.com National Floor Equipment ....................... 227, 229 9250 Xylon Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55445; 800-245-0267 www.nationalequipment.com Orcon ............................................................... 214 1570 Atlantic St., Union City, CA 94587; 800227-0505 www.orcon.com PAM ......................................................... 309, 311 2120 Gateway Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208; 800-699-2674 www.pamfast.com ParaChem/Royal Adhesives ................... 327, 329 PO Box 127, Simpsonville, SC 29681; 800-763-7272 www.parabond.com
Traxx Corp. .............................................. 108, 231 1201 E. Lexington Ave., Pomona, CA 91766; 909-623-8032 www.traxxcorp.com Wagner Electronics ......................................... 228 326 Pine Grove Rd., Rogue River, OR 97537; 541-582-0541 www.wagnermeters.com Wedi Corp. ...................................................... 222 1100 Landmeier Road Suite 200, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; 877-933-WEDI www.wedicorp.com WF Taylor ................................................ 206, 208 11545 Pacific Ave., Fontana, CA 92337; (800) 868-4583 www.wftaylor.com XL Brands................................................ 319, 321 237 Nance Rd. NE, Calhoun, GA 30701; 706625-0025 www.xladhesives.com
Personna American Safety Razor Co. ............ 324 240 Cedar Knolls Road, Suite 401, Cedar Knolls NJ 07927; (973) 753 3000 www.personna.com
FIANA 2011 Show Guide 11
For Members Only: FIANA University Training Center Available on the Internet
F
IANA, in conjunction with BlueVolt, an Internet training developer, has been working hard to bring to its members a comprehensive training program on floor covering installation products, methods, and new innovations. FIANA manufacturers are being offered the opportunity to participate in this one-of-a-kind program for product training and cost effective advertising for the floor installation industry. The association’s Board of Directors has unanimously adopted this method as a way to reach all employees of distributor members to gain professionalism through education. The program was introduced during the 15th Annual Convention. Since its inception, members have participated in more than 1,300 courses, with more than $4,250 awarded to the participants. There are currently 11 courses available through six manufacturer members. These manufacturers will be recognized at the trade show with a Training Center sign at their booth, along with recognition at the general session. The current vendors are Ardex, Laticrete, Loxcreen, Carpet Shims, Roppe, and Taylor Tools. Full FIANA University Training Center information is available on the FIANA website (www.fiana.org). Visit the website to register as a distributor associate or click on the manufacturer registration to learn how to set up a course.
12 FIANA 2011 Show Guide
Product Spotlight
Parachem/ Royal Adhesives .......................Booth #327, 329
W.F. Taylor ................................Booth #206, 208 Taylor Redi-Set Floor Installation Film is a patent pending fully cured, pressure-sensitive adhesive film. Redi-Set is Greenguard certified for good indoor air quality. Required flash-off and dry time is a thing of the past. No characteristic adhesive odor. Installation time is greatly reduced. For more information, visit www.wftaylor.com.
Signature Series 5060 Pressure Sensitive Adhesives is an acrylic emulsion designed to be used with multiple types of floor coverings. 5060 is approved for the installation of dimensionally stable vinyl-backed carpet tiles, vinyl tile & plank, fiberglass backed sheet vinyl and approved cushions in double glue down applications. Due to its pressure-sensitive characteristics, 5060 eliminates concern about installing a nonporous backed floor covering over a non-porous substrate. For more information, visit www. parabond.com.
Roppe ................................................Booth #224 Wagner Electronics ..........................Booth #228 The Rapid RH® 4.0 from Wagner Meters combines their patented Smart Sensor and redesigned Easy Reader with Touch-n-Sense™ technology for accurate, “virtually automatic” relative humidity testing in concrete slabs. For more information, visit www.wagnermeters.com
Roppe Corporation has unveiled two new premium luxury vinyl collections, Northern Timbers and Northern Leathers, both featuring 50 percent recycled content. Northern Timbers come in 4” x 36” planks in 18 colors; Northern Leathers is available in 18” x 18” tiles in 6 colors that coordinate with the Northern Timbers line. For more information, visit www.roppe.com
FIANA 2011 Show Guide 13
Loxcreen............................................Booth #203
Flexco ................................................Booth #225
Loxcreen’s ProVa Shower System kit is a complete package containing each of the components required to create a maintenance-free, watertight shower assembly without a mortar bed. The ProVa system protects wall cavities against water and vapor penetration, with no waiting time between steps, so tiles can be installed immediately. For more information, visit www.loxcreen.com.
Flexco has expanded its Natural Elements collection with two new additions: premium wood vinyl planks and luxury vinyl stone tiles. The new line of wood plank products are available in 4” x 36” planks in 18 colors; luxury vinyl stone tiles come in 18” x 18” format in 8 colors. For more information, call (800) 633-3151 or www.flexcofloors.com.
Moisture Measurement in Concrete Slabs Webinar
10 Times Faster Lowest Cost per Test Simplest to Use Easiest to Comply with Industry Standards 1.800.634.9961 14 FIANA 2011 Show Guide
Wagner Meters is proud to offer a webinar, “Moisture Measurement in Concrete Slabs,” presented by Howard Kanare of the Portland Cement Association’s laboratory. Kanare speaks about breakthrough scientific data that seriously challenges what we have believed regarding traditional methods for moisture testing of concrete slabs. This free presentation was created to bring you the most current information on accurate moisture testing of concrete slabs. Registration: This webinar is available by invitation only and online seating is limited. Contact www.moisturewebinar.com today to reserve your seat for this ground-breaking presentation.
northern leathers P R E M I U M
V I N Y L
L E A T H E R
T I L E
054 auburn
Northern Leathers Palette
050 ebony
051 gunmetal
featuring
UV cured ceramic bead finish
053 java
055 clay
056 amber
Enjoy the look of expensive leather flooring with added durability and ease of maintenance by choosing Roppe’s Northern Leathers vinyl tiles. Environmentally friendly and fully recyclable, Northern Leathers offer a unique subtle texture and 6 great colors that complement today’s palette.
Your link to Roppe products and LEED® documentation. For more information, please visit: roppe.com.
Explore your options with our online FLOORING DESIGNER at roppe.com
1.800.537.9527 | roppe.com
Products on Display Fein Power Tools Inc. Fein Power Tools introduces MultiMaster cutter The MultiMaster, new from Fein Power Tools, efficiently removes old floor coverings and plunge-cuts parquet and laminate flooring. It also quickly trims boards and door frames. www.themultimastersystem.com For details, circle 150 on the Reader Inquiry Card.
H.B. Fuller Construction Products, Inc.
Ardex
H.B. Fuller debuts TEC Ultimate Large Tile Mortar
Ardex launches MC Ultra Moisture Control System
H.B. Fuller Construction Products has launched TEC Ultimate Large Tile Mortar, a specialized mortar that reduces slumping and ensures full coverage to avoid hollow spots and bond failures. Available in gray or white formulas in 40-pound bags that offer the same coverage as a 50-pound bag, it emits no VOCs and exceeds ANSI specs. www.tecspecialty.com For details, circle 158 on the Reader Inquiry Card.
New from Ardex, the MC Ultra Moisture Control System is a fast-track, two-coat epoxy system that reduces moisture levels from 98 percent RH to manufacturer-required levels, allowing underlayments and flooring to be installed in just 16 hours. Each coat is a separate color to help installers differentiate between the two coats. www.ardexamericas.com For details, circle 160 on the Reader Inquiry Card.
TURBO Heat Welding Tools Four different blade sizes with TURBO’s Master TURBO Groover TURBO Heat Welding Tools says that their Master TURBO Groover is THE ONLY GROOVER IN THE WORLD that can groove all the way to the wall, groove circles and curves, and it comes in four different blade sizes. This Groover has been awarded 20 patents around the world. To see this tool in action, call for your free DVD II (714) 522-4290. www.turboheatweldingtools.com
BASF
Tramex BASF rolls out MV-Block moisture mitigation system
Tramex CMEXpert2 measures moisture and humidity
BASF’s Construction Chemicals Division has introduced MV-Block, a moisture mitigation and surface consolidation solution specifically engineered for application over concrete substrates. MV-Block is a high-build epoxy coating that is simple to apply and reduces labor, material and rework costs, the company says. www.flexcofloors.com For details, circle 154 on the Reader Inquiry Card.
New from Tramex, the CMEXpert2 is a complete kit for moisture testing of concrete flooring, hardwood flooring, wood subflooring and environment monitoring. It also allows the user to measure humidity for all types of concrete and flooring. www.tramexltd.com For details, circle 156 on the Reader Inquiry Card.
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4 What is your primary business? (select ONE only) 04 R Distributor and their 01 R Self-Employed Personnel Installation Professional 02 RInstallation Contractor/ 05 R Manufacturer and their Personnel Workroom 06 ROther (specify) 03 R Retailer/Contractor 5
What is your primary job title? (select ONE only) 05 R Buyer/Purchasing 03 R Installer/Technician 06 R Sales/Marketing 04 RCertified Installer 07 ROther (specify) 01 R President/Owner 02 RSupervisor/Manager
6
What type of products do you install, sell, distribute and/or manufacture? (select ALL that apply) 09 R Residential Ceramic 01 R Residential Carpet Floors 02 RCommercial Carpet 10 R Commercial Ceramic 03 R Residential Resilient Floors 04 RCommercial Resilient 12 R Laminate Floors 05 R Pre-Finished Wood 11 ROther (specify) 06 R Unfinished Wood 07 R Residential Rubber 99 RNone of the Above Floors 08 R Commercial Rubber Floors
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A d Index Use the Reader Inquiry Card on opposite page to receive free information about products and/or services mentioned in Floor Covering Installer. Find the Reader Inquiry Number at the bottom of the ad or editorial item and circle the corresponding number on the Reader Inquiry Card.
Company Name
Pg No. RS No.
APAC .......................................................................2 (800) 747-2722 • www.apacadhesives.com Bostik ....................................................................23 (800) 7BOSTIK (726-7845) • www.bostik-us.com Chapco, HB Fuller Construction Products, Inc. .15 (800) 621-0220 • www.chapco-adhesive.com CTEF .....................................................................38 (864) 222-2131 • www.tilecareer.com Custom Building Products .....................................7 (800) 272-8786 • www.custombuildingproducts.com Delmhorst Instrument ..........................................37 (973) 334-2557 • www.delmhorst.com DriTac ...................................................................20 (973) 614-9000 • www.DriTac.com Floorcatalogs.com .................................................28 (713) 551-8450 • www.floorsanding.com Franklin International ............................................9 (800) 347-4583 • www.titebond.com Lignomat USA.......................................................31 (800) 227-2105 • www.lignomat.com Loba Wakol ...........................................................13 (704) 527-5919 • www.loba-wakol.com Painters & Allied Trades.......................................17 (888) 934-6474 • www.LMCIonline.org Pearl Abrasive Co. .................................................22 (800) 969-5561 • www.pearlabrasive.com
36 23 3
13 2 9 12 44 1
Company Name
Pg No. RS No.
Prospec ..................................................................21 (800) 738-1621 • www.prospec.com RB Rubber Products .............................................31 (800) 525-5530 • www.rbrubber.com Schluter Systems ...................................................27 (800) 472-4588 • www.schluter.com Stauf USA ..............................................................48 (866) GLUEUSA • www.staufusa.com Surfaces 2012 ..........................................................5 (800) 547-3477 • www.Surfaces.com TEC .......................................................................19 (800) 832-9002 • www.tecspecialty.com Tramex, Ltd...........................................................38 (303) 972-7926 • www.tramexltd.com Turbo Heat Welding Tools ...................................47 (714) 522-4290 • www.turboheatweldingtools.com USG Corp................................................................3 (800) 950-3839 • www.findyourfiberock.com W.F. Taylor ............................................................11 (951) 360-6677 • www.wftaylor.com Wagner Electronic Products .................................29 (800) 207-2486 • www.RapidRH.com
4 11 7 64 100 18 14
38 92 10
21 6
Editor’s Note:
The Advertiser’s Index is provided as a service to our readers. No liability is created by nor accepted for any inadvertent errors or omissions.
C lassified Classified Sales Contact Sharon Ward For More Information call: 847-405-4017
Visit us online at www.fcimag.com
August/September 2011
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II nstallation Training Clinics & Schools nstallation Training Clinics & Schools 2011 Locations & Dates
Basic Carpet Installation (2 Days) $499 You will learn the history and construction of carpet; the Standards of Installation (CRI 104 and 105); site analysis and preparation: how to plan, measure, and estimate a residential installation (seam placement); how to interact professionally with customers in their homes; power stretching; glue-down installation; stair installation and pattern matching; and much, much more! Qualified installers will also receive a 1 year CFI Certification (R1) upon completing certification process. (Carpet mill tour included for Dalton, GA class only)
Basic Ceramic Tile Installation $499 You will learn about the construction of ceramic tile flooring; how to measure and lay out a residential installation; how to determine installation material required; floor and wall installation methods; corrective action for problem substrates; and TCNA and ANSI standards. (Ceramic mill tour included for Dallas, TX class only.)
Basic Wood and Laminate Installation $499 You will learn about the construction of wood and laminate flooring; how to measure and lay out a residential installation; how to do site analysis and moisture tests; how to prepare and look for problems in the sub-floor; how to interact professionally with the customer in their home; how to install above and below grade; about glue-down or floating; and how to install wood or laminate on stairs. (A tour of the wood and laminate manufacturing facilities is included in this course for the Danville, VA seminar only.)
Carpet International Certified Floor Covering Installers Association (CFI) and the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) educational programs include certification for carpet installation professionals, and installation
Editor’s Note:
44
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Lees Carpet Institute ensures that installers get personal training. Lees requires students to have five years of experience before being accepted into the program. Training adheres to CRI standards. For details, call (800) 443-2241. National Carpet Equipment conducts a variety of custom training courses to fit the student’s needs. Hands-on training covers all phases: rug design, carpet carving, sculpting, bas-relief, binding, hand tufting, fiber optic and more. For details, call 245-535-8206.
Laminate/Resilient
Upcoming Installation Classes
The Altro Training Academy instructs professionals in the latest installation techniques of Altro products. Graduates will be able to become part of a select group of North American installers certified to install Altro floor and wall products. The academy offers courses in flooring and wall installation as well as instruction on integrating both into a single, seamless, watertight, hygienic system. For more information please call (800) 377-5597 or visit www.altrofloors.com.
Basic Carpet Installation/CFI Certification September 13-14; Waukesha, WI October 4-5; St. Louis, MO October 25-26; Dalton, GA
Amtico International conducts a Floor Installation Training School. Classes are limited to 14 people per session. For details, call (404) 267-1900. Domco provides a number of training methods to provide education on installation of all its resilient product offerings. For details, call (800) 227-4662.
Wood and Laminate Installation August 23-24; Teterboro, NJ September 27-28; Coppell, TX October 11-12; Dalton, GA
Forbo Installation Training includes an Associate and a Master Mechanic curriculum. For further details or to obtain an application, go to www.forboLinoleumNA.com or contact Forbo Technical Services at (800) 342-0604.
®
For more information, visit www.mohawkuniversity.com or call (800) 664-2958
training for dealers, inspectors, in-house staff, and train-the-trainer programs. Certification is offered in residential, commercial (levels I and II), and Master levels. For more information, visit the CFI website at www.CFIinstallers.com, or call (816) 231-4646.
The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA), the only trade association dedicated solely to the laminate flooring industry, offers a two-day Installer Certification Class available throughout the year. The comprehensive training curriculum covers all aspects of a quality laminate installation and will give the attendees the skills necessary to perform installations to high standards and craftsmanship in the field. To register or for more information, please call (202) 785-9500, visit www.nalfa.com. nora systems, Inc. offers a 2 1/2-day training seminar at its U.S. headquarters in Lawrence, MA. The nora Technical Academy provides training in the most recent industry developments. Attendees learn about the latest installation techniques, industry standards - including new moisture testing methods, equipment and subfloor preparation, and participate in extensive hands-on training. Contact your local nora representative at 800-332-NORA to register for an upcoming class. Northern Industries offers a three-day seamless flooring and waterproofing installation course.
These training clinics and schools cover a wide variety of floor covering installation subjects. Phone numbers are provided for you to get more information on schools in which you are interested. Also, be sure to check with your distributors for upcoming schools/clinics. Do you have a training program or clinic that you would like to include in this section? If so, please e-mail
[email protected] or call (818) 224-8035 ext. 2208.
August/September 2011
Course fee of $175 includes hands-on training and certification. For details, call (401) 821-2121. Pergo, Inc.’s Endorsed 2-Day Training Program includes installation topics and techniques, and Pergo provides the training facility, all tools and materials. Classes are limited to six students and are fi lled on a fi rstcome, fi rst-served basis. Call (800) 249-0042 or
[email protected]. Tarkett Commercial offers a range of installation training opportunities ranging from job start-ups, local area contractor seminars to comprehensive training courses conducted at its training facility in Houston, TX, or at approved field locations. Additional training seminars are available for Inspectors, Specifiers and Estimators. Call (800) 366-2689, ext. 2709, or e-mail
[email protected]. TOLI International offers a daylong class, titled “Everything You Need to Know About installing TOLI.” For more information, call (888) TRY TOLI (1-888-879-8654).
Multiple Subjects Crain Cutter Co. conducts complete floor covering installation clinics at distributor locations. For details, contact the distributor listed in your area or Crain Cutter at (408) 946-6100. Flooring Consultants and Inspection Training Services (FCITS) offers certification classes for Carpet and Hard Surface flooring inspectors. IICRC CEU’s are also available. For information visit www.fcits.org or call (800) 462-2151. The Floor Covering Institute offers training on resilient and wood flooring installation, floor preparation and moisture testing. Current course offerings include a basic five-day resilient installation school, five-day commercial and advanced classes, as well as classes on floor preparation and wood flooring installation. There will also be oneday seminars covering moisture in concrete and moisture testing. For more information, contact Ray Thompson,
[email protected], or call (509) 674-1565. F.I.T.S. (Flooring Inspection Training Services) classes cover manufacturing, installation, maintenance, specifications, claims-handling report writing, communication skills, marketing and more. More information is available online at: www. fits4.org or call Tandy Reeves (888) 440-0699. All classes are accredited for continuing education. Flooring Technology Institute (FTI) presents a one-day course on field moisture testing and investigations of concrete and other substrate/subfloors. The Moisture Testing and Investigation course is $300. For more information, contact: Claudia@inspectionstoo. com, or www.inspectionstoo.com; (281) 2865197 (cell) or (281) 286-5197 (office); fax (281) 286-5198; 133 N. Friendswood Dr., Suite 158, Friendswood, TX 77546. INSTALL (International Standards and Training Alliance) is an alliance of mills, manufacturers, contractors and the floor covering arm of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Content includes, but is not limited to, classroom and on-the-job instruction in
the theory and practice of proper floor preparation, installation and finishing procedures in all types of floor covering. For more information, visit www.installfloors.org or contact John McGrath, Director, at (215) 582-4108. The MAPEI Technical Institute offers courses in three different disciplines: Tile & Stone InstallationSystems (TSIS); Concrete Restoration Systems (CRS); and Floor Covering Installation Systems (FCIS). Participants pay $300 to attend the courses, and then receive a $400 rebate coupon toward the purchase of MAPEI products. MAPEI provides free lodging and meals during the seminar. For more information on the MTI schedule or other details, please contact Sophia D’Amico at 954246-8555. The Finishing Trades Institute Floocovering Installation Network (FTI-FIN) is a partnership of contractors, installers, trainer, and product mills & manufacturers dedicated to professionalism and high standards in floorcovering contracting and installation through the development and delivery of basic and continuous advanced skills training & certification programs. Serving its partnerships through training facilities across the United States and Canada, they specialize in all aspects of carpet & resilient, prefinished & engineered wood, synthetic turf, and rubber sports flooring installation. Visit them online at www.ftifloorcovering.com for more information. Tile & Stone Aqua Mix offers the Independent Care & Maintenance Applicator program. The program will offer a wide range of training and techniques to its students. For more information, call (800) 366-6877, ext. 3056, or e-mail
[email protected]. The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) currently has over 30 educational and training courses available covering all facets of tile and the installation process. All methods comply with nationally recognized installation guidelines and will be presented in non-proprietary fashion. Both introductory and advanced courses are available. For more information, visit www. tileschool.org or call (864) 222-2131. The NTCA Training and Education program is administered by Justin Woelfel, Jr., NTCA Director of training and education. The threeday course, called Workshop+, costs $295. Customized courses can be designed for interested parties. The intent is to provide hands-on training opportunities for tile contractors. For details, call Justin Woelfel Jr. at (601) 939-2071. The National Training Center for Stone & Masonry Trades provides training in all aspects of the stone and tile industry, from design and installation to fabrication and restoration and maintenance. For details, call (404) 834-4800.
Underlayment/Subfloor Ardex Engineered Cements and the W.W. Henry Company offer installation training for installers, architects, construction managers and other professionals at The Ardex Technical Center in Aliquippa, PA. Registration forms, as well as additional course details are available on our website, www.ardex.com. If you have any questions, e-mail
[email protected] or call (888) 512-7339.
Dependable Floor Products offers twoday training seminars on sub-floor preparation and Dependable products. Training includes classroom instruction and hands-on training with trowelable, moisture treatment, and self-leveling products. For details, call (800) 227-3434. LATICRETE International offers several seminars designed specifically for distributors, dealers, and others directly involved in the ceramic tile and stone industry. Attendees qualify for AIA/CES Learning Units. For details, call (800) 243-4788, or visit www. LATICRETE.com Wood Armstrong Installation School offers a three-day installation workshop designed for beginning or intermediate installers. For details, call (800) 356-9301, ext. 5376, or visit www. floorexpert.com/installertraining. Basic Coatings offers the most comprehensive training program in the industry. With subjects ranging from basic product knowledge to advanced fi nishing, sanding, and installation techniques, Basic training programs are an essential asset for both the novice and the advanced flooring professional alike. Call Kellie Smithson at (800) 247-5471 ext. 3798 for more information about trainings offered at Basic’s 7,500 sq. ft. training facility and other trainings across the country. BonaKemi USA Training Team presents a four-day sanding and finishing schools for professional hardwood flooring contractors, floor covering dealers and salespeople. For more information, contact Betty Jo Hargrave at (303) 923-6632, or
[email protected]. Clarke American Sanders Sales Institute (CSI) is a detailed 3.5 day course that focuses on product knowledge of the Clarke American Sanders equipment. For more information, call (479) 7508433 or visit www.americansanders.com. Decorative Flooring offers three curriculums: Basic, Specify/Marketing, Custom Installations. Led by industry veterans, and sponsored by Bostik, Pro-Coat, Powernail Co., and Festool, the courses range from one- to 2-1/2 days. For more information and to reserve your space, call Jim Garth at (877) 229-7720, or visit www.decorativeflooring.com. NWFA and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) jointly sponsor a five-day Wood Flooring School. The course covers installation of both unfi nished and factory fi nished solid strip, engineered, and parquet flooring; sanding and fi nishing of these products; repair and refi nishing; trouble shooting; and other related subjects. For details, call NWFA at (800) 422-4556 or visit www. nwfa.org Schluter Systems offers an Innovation Workshop in Anaheim, CA, at the World Floor Covering Association. This 2-1/2 day course includes classroom discussions and valuable hands-on workshops that will provide attendees with innovative ceramic and stone tile installation systems and methods. For more information and to receive a list of dates and locations, call (800) 472-4588 (USA); (800) 667-8746 (Canada); or visit www.schluter.com.
August/September 2011
www.fcimag.com
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D istributor Marketplace MOUNTAIN TRADE SUPPLY INC.
Denver 4840 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 294-0226 2561 West 8th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204 (303) 722-2097
Colorado
Colorado Springs 3555 New Nichols Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 (719) 528-8775
1- 8 0 0 - 8 4 8 -7 9 11
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www.mountaintradesupply.com
Distributor Marketplace Reprints: Contact Jennifer Allen For More Information call: 818-224-8035 x 2214
Sales visit us online www.fcimag.com
Contact Sharon Ward For More Information call: 847-405-4017
P roducts SPOTLIGHT Turbo Heat Welding Tools
Tools 4 Flooring®
Master TURBO Kit offers lifetime warranty The Master TURBO kit is a top-of-the-line kit for heat welding, the company says. These tools are user friendly and they can be used by a pro as well as an apprentice. When using these TURBO tools, TURBO guarantees that your productivity will increase by at least 50% if not, TURBO commits to refund the full purchase price. TURBO has so much confidence in their tools, that they even brag about their lifetime warranty plus a 30 day money back guarantee. www.turboheatweldingtools.com
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www.fcimag.com
August/September 2011
The Professional’s Choice – Worldwide Largest Selection of Flooring Tools, Installation Products and Accessories • Most orders ship within 24 hours • Free shipping available • All major credit cards accepted • Secure on-line ordering • Lease-To-Own financing available Check out our Exclusive POWER BUYS! Call us toll-free 866.634.1189 www.tools4flooring.com Circle 118 on the Reader Inquiry Card.
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Welded with Conventional Nozzles
USA Pat.# 7,571,753
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Welded with TURBO Precision Nozzle
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URETHANE. PERFECTED.
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Introducing a totally new and improved type of urethane wood flooring adhesive, Stauf’s one-of-a-kind PUM-950. No special solvents
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