Hardwood Floors 5

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Contents October|November 2008 Vol. 21.5 Features Bronx Bustle By Michelle Desnoyer “A Day in the Life” visits New Wood Co. to learn about business in New York City. page 63

63 Your Business Live and Learn By John Saunders Things to remember while subbing work. page 23

Legal Brief By Mike Lund What’s your (business) type? page 26

Money By Emily Collins Reduce your taxes and look good doing it. 32 page 32

Management On the Cover: By Phillip M. Perry Wood flooring is part of the hip Uniqlo New-hire checklist. Check. store in New York City. page 36 Photo by Jay Rosenblatt.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 5

HF-OctNov08-TOC 5 10/1/08 11:46:05 AM Contents On the Job Ask the Expert 18 Answers on black stain, wood expansion and vinyl cover-ups. page 41 In Every Issue From the Field Chairman’s Message By Bill Costello page 8 The match game: applicators and finishes. page 44 NWFA News page 10 Troubleshooting By Jeff Pope Poor judgment and poor products mean headaches for all. Woodworks page 48 page 17

Ad Index page 109 Step by Step By Evandro Carvalho A floating subfloor is necessary in this Showcase Florida home. page 118 page 50

Techniques By Galen A. Fitzel Learn the basics of sanding. page 56

50 Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring Industry News page 73 Notes Product Report Special Advertising Section: page 110 page 114 Web Site Guide Look at what these half-page or People Events larger advertisers offer online. page 113 page 99 page 117

6 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-TOC 6 10/1/08 11:46:23 AM HF10_Glitsa1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:03:26 AM >>chairman’s message

The magazine of the National Wood Flooring Association NWFA Chairman Ken Schumacher NWFA NWFA Executive Director/CEO Edward Korczak, CAE NWFA Offices 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd. Chesterfield, MO 63005 U.S.: 800/422-4556 • Canada: 800/848-8824 Green Local and Int’l: 636/519-9663 • Fax: 636/519-9664 E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.nwfa.org Editorial Advisory Committee Genia Smith, Chair (Accent Hardwood Flooring Inc.) Facts Sprigg Lynn, Board Liaison (Universal Floors Inc.) Joe Boone Jr. (Wood Floors Online.com Inc.) By Ken Schumacher Galen Fitzel (3M) Robert Humphreys (Majestic Wood Floors Inc.) Chairman, NWFA Brenda Kubasta (Oshkosh Designs) John Lessick (Apex Wood Floors Inc.) Robert McNamara (Bostik Inc.) verywhere you turn these days, it seems someone is promot- Charles Peterson (The International Parquetry Historical Society) Janet Sullivan (Lenmar Inc.) ing the environmental benefi ts of their product, and with Publication Staff Egood reason. Consumer demand for eco-friendly products Kris Thimmesch is at an all-time high, which is a clear advantage for those of us Publisher working in the wood fl ooring industry, because wood fl ooring is Kim M. Wahlgren the most abundantly renewable fl ooring material available. Editor Catherine Liewen Wood is produced in a factory called a forest by a renewable Managing Editor/Art Director source of energy called the sun. Nonrenewable building materi- Doug Dalsing als must be produced in man-made factories. This requires large Assistant Editor inputs of fossil fuels, resulting in high carbon dioxide emissions. Bonnie Madison In other words, all other possible fl ooring options are more harm- Production Director Marjorie Schultz ful to the environment. Electronic Production Manager Check out the facts: Scott Packel • Average annual net growth for hardwoods is greater than Sadye Ring average annual removals. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Production Assistants Forest Service) Gretchen Kelsey Brown Peter Brown • Indoor air quality is better with wood fl oors. (Source: U.S. Group Publishers Environmental Protection Agency) Sharon Siewert • Wood is a carbon-neutral product that produces oxygen Administration Director/Accountant during its growth cycle and stores carbon during its service life. Kara Clark Controller (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Program Solid Denise R. Thompson Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis) Circulation & Database Director • Wood fl oors use less water and energy to produce than other Colleen Wenos fl ooring options. (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Circulation Assistant Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis) Pam Walker Sales Coordinator • At the end of its service life, wood fl ooring can be burned as Editorial and Advertising Offices: fuel or recycled. (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Athletic Business Publications Inc. Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis) 4130 Lien Road • Madison, WI 53704 • Wood fl oors last hundreds of years, so they won’t need to Phone: 608/249-0186 • 800/722-8764 • Fax: 608/249-1153 E-mail: [email protected] be replaced as often as other fl ooring options. (Source: National Web Site: www.nwfa.org Association of Home Builders)

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: In order to ensure uninterrupted delivery of Hardwood Floors, notice of change should be made at • While it takes most hardwood trees 40-60 years to mature, least five weeks in advance. Direct all subscription mail to Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704-3602, call 800/722-8764 or fax 608/249-1153. For faster service, visit us online at www.nwfa.org/member/mag.aspx. Single copy price is $8. the inventory planted today won’t be needed for 100-plus years. Subscription price is $40 for seven issues in the U.S.A. and Canada. International subscriptions (via airmail) are $65. Hardwood Floors is published bi-monthly, plus the annual industry resource book, and distributed without charge to those active in the (Source: NWFA) wood flooring industry. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704-3602. Publication Mail Agreement #40049791. Canadian mail distribution information: International Mail Express, Station A, P.O. Learn more about the environmental benefi ts of wood fl oors by Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5. Printed in the U.S.A. © 2008 Athletic Business Publications Inc. and National Wood Flooring Association. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (ISSN 0897-022X) Periodicals downloading a copy of the NWFA’s Life Cycle Analysis for solid Postage Paid at Madison, Wisconsin, and at additional mailing offices. wood fl ooring at www.nwfa.org under the “What’s New” link. ■

8 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-ChairM 8 9/26/08 3:17:53 PM 08

009HF10_PaloDuro1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:04:20 AM >>executive director/ceo message

NWFAnews and information from the nationalnews wood flooring association | www.nwfa.org

Banning Illegal Logging

By Ed Korczak, CAE Executive Director/CEO

ood fl ooring professionals might not monitor activity in Washington, D.C., on a regular basis, but important legislation was implemented this past summer that affects readers Wof this magazine. Congress recently passed the illegal logging ban, which will have a tremendous impact on the wood fl ooring industry. The ban is an amendment to the U.S. Lacey Act, which was originally mandated to protect the illegal traffi cking of wildlife throughout the world. The new amendment has expanded the Lacey Act to include wood and wood products, and it specifi cally prohibits the import, sale or trade of wood and other forest products harvested illegally outside the United States. With the passage of this legislation, these materials can no longer enter the U.S. market legally. The NWFA worked on behalf of its members with a coalition of industry leaders to promote the ban. The coalition included the Hardwood With this legislation, Federation, the International Wood Products Association, the National Harwood Lumber Association and the American Forest & Paper Asso- the United States ciation. Together, these organizations worked to present a unifi ed voice in Washington, D.C., on behalf of wood and wood products profession- has stated clearly als all over the world. This legislation is a huge accomplishment for the wood products that it will no longer industry because it not only protects our world’s forests, but it also protects industry representatives who practice their due diligence when tolerate the purchasing wood products from other countries. With this legislation, the United States has stated clearly that it will no longer tolerate the harvesting of our harvesting of our world’s forests through illegal means. In addition, for the fi rst time, the burden of proof is placed on the government, not the world’s forests purchaser of the product. That is a huge step forward for our industry. The ban also is a fi rst step toward leveling the playing fi eld for through illegal means. U.S. manufacturers in terms of pricing and global competitiveness. Low-cost, illegally harvested wood products have fl ooded the market in recent years, driving down prices and quality. With this new legislation, products entering the United States will be monitored more closely, with fair wages and safe working conditions mandated for foreign suppliers. The legislation was championed by two Oregon politicians: Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Sen. Ron Wyden. The House and Senate Agricultural Committees and the House Natural Resources Com- mittee also worked to promote the legislation, which received support from both political parties in Congress. The strong support this legislation received reaffi rms for the world that the United States is focused on protecting our environment, not just here on our own shores, but globally as well. At the same time, it also helps to assure that the resources that help to provide our livelihood will be available for generations to come. ■

10 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Ed 10 9/26/08 3:18:25 PM See us at booth # 19

HF10_Mercer1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:05:09 AM >>nwfa certiﬁ ed professionals

NWFACPnews and information from the national wood flooring associationnews | www.nwfacp.org

Improving Inspection Reports

By Don Conner Director, NWFACP

emember back in high school when you were sitting in your English class learning about sen- tence structure, grammar and dangling participles? Most likely, you were sitting there think- Ring, “I’ll never use this in the real world.” Well, guess what? You were wrong. You should have listened to your English teacher back then (I wish I would have), because as you know now, writing skills are an important part of almost any profession. For those of us in the wood fl ooring industry, writing is essential in many areas, including es- timating, sales and contracts, but one of the most critical areas is inspection reports. The formal report that you present as a result of your inspection can be used as a legal document in court proceedings, so you want to be sure that you say what you mean and mean what you say, and that you do it well. That’s the main reason behind the NWFA Certifi ed Professional’s new Inspection Report Writing School. This one-day class will provide you with instruction on how to properly write a comprehensive inspection report based on NWFA Certifi ed Professionals standards. Seven main report-writing criteria will be covered: developing a clear statement of the problem; providing a detailed physical description of the fl oor; outlining a comprehensive claims history of the problem; describing all testing proce- You want to be dures and documenting all testing results; listing all industry standards that are appropriate and applying them to the problem being inspected; identifying sure that you the cause or causes of the problem; and developing a conclusion statement that is clearly supported by the accompanying report data and materials. say what you mean Although these topics are covered during the NWFACP’s Wood Flooring Inspection School, many students are unable to attend the full-week course and mean in St. Louis. For this reason, report writing is being offered as a separate class for certified inspectors who want additional instruction only on report what you say. writing. To make it easier to attend, and to minimize the cost associated with travel and lodging, the course will be offered on a traveling basis. The first session was offered in September in Chicago. For the remainder of 2008, the class will be offered in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area and San Francisco. Additional classes will be added in 2009. For specific dates and locations, check the NWFACP Web site at www.nwfacp.org. The cost to attend the school for wood fl ooring inspectors certifi ed by the NWFA Certifi ed Professionals, the Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certifi cation, the National In- stitute of Certifi ed Floorcovering Inspectors, Flooring Consultants and Inspection Training Service and NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association, is $195. This fee includes lunch and a snack during the morning and afternoon breaks. For more information about the certifi cation programs offered by NWFACP, visit the NWFACP Web site at www.nwfacp.org, or contact NWFACP toll-free at 866/418-5408 (U.S.) or 800/848- 8824 (Canada), or at 636/728-1922 (local and international). ■

12 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Certif 12 9/26/08 3:18:49 PM A STUNNING SELECTION OF HARDWOOD FLOORING PREFINISHED UNFINISHED SOLIDS ENGINEERED EXOTICS HAND SCULPTED WIRE BRUSHED DISTRESSED

MULLICAN® FLOORING www.mullicanflooring.com 1-800-844-6356 >>education and training

NWFAnews and information from the nationalnews wood flooring association | www.nwfa.org

Studying Hard at School

eptember was a busy month in St. Louis at the NWFA headquarters: SAdvanced Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish >> Sept. 9-12 NWFA Director of Technical Training Steve Sea- baugh led, along with NWFA’s Glen Miller and Rusty Swindoll, and volunteer instructors included: Jim Schumacher, 3M; Brett Miller, Basic Coatings; Matthew Hudson, BonaKemi USA; Jeff Marcum, Cherryhill Manufacturing Corporation; Wayne Lee, Clarke American Sanders; Chris Pryjomski, Glitsa American Inc.; John Alford, John Alford Floor Covering Inc.; Greg Mihaich, Norton Abrasives; Tom Peotter, Oshkosh Designs; and Donald Bouchard, Perfection Home Flooring.

NOFMA/NWFA/MFMA Wood Flooring Basics >> Sept. 16-19 NOFMA’s Mickey Moore, Powernail Company’s Daniel Boone and NWFA’s Frank Kroupa led, along with Swindoll, Miller and NOFMA’s John Rider. NWFA Director of Technical Training Steve Volunteer instructors included: Galen Fitzel, 3M; Bob Seabaugh (far left) led the Advanced School in Sponamore, All Type Hardwood Flooring; Robert September. Goldstein, American Hardwoods LLC; Jim Yoder, Basic Coatings; Zachary Clavin and Matthew Thrane, BonaKemi USA Inc.; For more information: Mark Long, Chemque Inc.; Wayne Lee, Clarke American Sanders; William NWFA Costello, Dura Seal; Nace Hentschell, Glitsa American Inc.; Michael 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd. Kordash, Independent HWF’s Inspection Services; Jared Mohler, Mohler’s Chesterfield, MO 63005 Custom Wood Floors; Nick Motto, Motto’s Flooring; John Dupra, Norton 800/422-4556 (U.S.) Abrasives; Richard Wheeler, Porta-Nails Inc.; Johannes Boonstra, Synteko 800/848-8824 (Canada) Floor Finishes; Mike Summers, UFloor Systems Inc.; and Joey Waugh and 636/519-9663 (local and intl.) John Bizzle, Waugh’s Hardwood Flooring. [email protected] www.nwfa.org NWFA 2008 Technical School Schedule

October 22-24 ...... Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish ...... Phoenix November 5-7 ...... Wood Flooring Makeover—Basic to Advanced ...... St. Louis November 12-14 ...... Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish ...... Minneapolis

14 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Schools 14 9/30/08 3:17:20 PM HF10_Basic1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:05:58 AM 040HF08_Vermstr808.indd 1 7/24/08 11:36:06 AM WOOD ■works insights and information on the hardwood flooring industry

Cheesy Finish Floor ﬁ nish utilizes by-product of cheese industry

ou might not imagine that cheese and wood floor finish have anything to Ydo with each other, but now a Hardwick, Vt.-based company is making a connection. Vermont Natural Coatings has developed a process for replacing the petroleum-based ingredients in water-based floor and furniture coatings with whey protein, a byproduct of cheese production. According to Susan ... now you Benjamin, in charge of sales and marketing at Vermont Natural Coatings, the can end whey finish acts like a typical water-based finish and can be applied with a up with an environmental standard applicator such as a T-bar, although she cautions that it has to go floor finish. down quickly in order not to gum up and to leave a hard finish. It is low-VOC at 180 g/L, acceptable even under California’s stringent requirements. It can be recoated in less than two hours and is fully cured in seven days. The company also maintains that the finish adheres to any substance, including oil-based stains that may be used underneath the finish. But the best feature of the finish, quite possibly, is the fact that it makes use of a manufacturing by-product. So as long as those cows keep ©iStockphoto churning milk and people are still eating cheese, you’ll be able to keep coating floors. For When you make this... more information, visit www.vermontnaturalcoatings.com.

TREE■ id Treehugging Tile What hardwood trees are these? Bamboo tile combines hard surfaces Turn the page to find out. n the wilderness of the floor covering world, Ithe tile man and the hardwood flooring man often butt heads, but now there is a product that has the potential to bridge this great divide. Syl- mar, Calif.-based Walker & Zanger Inc. has developed Sobu mosaic prefinished vertical bamboo tiles—made with real bamboo but installed like The tile and wood flooring tile. For installation, the company recommends worlds meet with this new sealing the tiles with water sealer and then in- product. stalling the mesh-backed tiles with an approved adhesive. As with traditional tiles, grout is necessary, so a proprietary finish on the tiles protects the bamboo more than a traditional flooring finish would when grout is smeared over it and scraped off. The tiles range in 3 5 dimensions from 11 /8 to 12 /8 inches square. Sobu is approved for flooring in any room that doesn’t experience much moisture, and it comes in several patterns, including straight, basketweave, herringbone and random planking patterns. It may take something even more ingenious to reconcile a hardwood flooring man and a carpet installer. For more information on Sobu, visit www.walkerzanger.com.

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 17

HF-OctNov08-Wdwks.indd 17 9/30/08 3:07:38 PM WOOD ■ works

Flooring For the Ages Company relocates pre-Civil War ﬂ oor

hey say the beauty and style of hardwood flooring is timeless, and this floor Tproves the point. The flooring belonged to a small house in central Illinois built in 1845. The house was recently set for demolition, but the great-great-great-grandson of the descendants of the original homeowners wanted to preserve as much of the pre-Civil War home as possible, particularly the flooring. The homeowner contacted This floor Dean Hultman of Porter, Ind.-based Hultman Flooring to restore the flooring and survived since install it in the homeowner’s Lake Michigan vacation home. Once the flooring was pre-Civil War removed, Hultman and his crew spread the 2,300 square feet of it out in a rented times to be warehouse and used an environmentally friendly soy-based gel stripper four times installed anew in a Michigan before reaching the bare 5-inch pine flooring. Then the workers used water sprayers vacation home. and steel wool under buffers to remove the remaining residue. “The biggest challenge was cleaning out 160 years of gunk and junk that had petrified itself between boards. That had to be removed so we had an acceptable tongue-and-groove fit,” Hultman says, adding that they avoided sanding to preserve character marks. Then three coats of tung oil were applied before installation, and another coat of tung oil was applied on the job site. There wasn’t enough of the pine flooring from the old house to install in all the desired areas of the vacation home, so additional maple flooring was salvaged from the former kitchen to be installed in the current kitchen and as an inlay in the library. “This proves the longevity of the wood floor,” Hultman says. “It made it through 160 years, and it will be around another 160, no problem.”

TREE■ id answer VINTAGE■ moments European beech (Fagus sylvatica) Freestyling Flooring

t’s hard to get Iyour groove on while rollerskating unless you have the proper hardwood flooring to help, as one might think from this Robbins brochure distributed in the 1970s (and held onto by Dale Hardness as Wood Flooring: 1350 on Janka scale. Rosilio at Rochester, At a Glance: Sometimes referred to as “queen of N.Y.-based Rosilio the woods” because of their size and stately ap- Hardwood Floor- pearance, European beech trees create a dark for- ing). Despite the est under which few plants survive. They are found decorated roller in a range from southern Sweden to Spain and as skaters in flashy far east as Turkey. Although popular as an orna- costumes, the real Tongue-and-groove wood flooring be- mental tree, European beech is also commercially star of the show, of comes groovy rollerskating flooring. valuable—in the United Kingdom, it is consumed course, is that northern hard maple flooring in the more than any other hardwood. background. Photo page 23 © Malene Thysson, photo at right courtesy of Pollmeier Leimholz GmbH

18 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Wdwks.indd 18 9/30/08 3:08:19 PM Giving You An Abrasive Edge

EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY. UNRIVALED PERFORMANCE.

Norton’s new Red Heat edger discs outlast conventional products 3 to 1 in most applications. The 100% patented ceramic grain and heavy paper backing provide an extremely fast cut while producing a superior fine scratch pattern for easier blending. Can flatten overwood of most species using an 80 or 100 grit. Make the switch today for exceptional looking floors.

www.nortonfloorsanding.com ® © Saint-Gobain Abrasives 2007 WOOD ■ works Green ■ speak Your guide to green vocabulary Greenwashing:

reenwashing” is a term often heard in both Gthe mainstream media and the wood flooring industry these days. Coined by environmentalist Jay Westerveld in 1986 when he criticized the hotel industry’s practice of putting out placards asking guests to reuse towels “to save the environment” (instead of “to save money”), the term has stuck, now generi- cally referring to any instance when companies make misleading claims about their environmental responsibility. In the wood flooring industry, greenwashing includes practices such as promoting the image that all of a company’s products are FSC-certified when in reality the company may have one small product line (or none) that is certified, saying a product is “healthy” or “sustainable” when there is no evidence to back the claim, or calling a product “natural” when, in fact, it may have toxic substances along with the natural ingredients. As with any claim, it’s wise to scratch beneath the surface when evaluating

HARDWOOD FLOORING ■ mini-quiz 1. How old does a slab have to be before it stops 5. Which of the following might be factors in this absorbing moisture? gym paint smudging? (more than one answer a. 60 days possible) b. 120 days a. the job site was too humid c. 1 year b. the wrong paint was used d. It doesn’t stop absorbing moisture c. too much paint was applied at once d. not enough cure time for the paint 2. Per OSHA code, in a 50-foot electrical cord, you cannot have more than ___ sections of tape, and those sections of tape must be less than ___ inches long. 3. True or False? Particleboard is usually considered an acceptable subfloor as long as you are gluing down an engineered floor 5/8-inch thick or less. 4. True or False? Vacuuming your maroon pad

can extend its life. Answers: 1. d 2. 2, 2 3. False 4. True 5. a, c, d c, a, 5. True 4. False 3. 2 2, 2. d 1. Answers:

20 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Wdwks.indd 20 9/30/08 3:09:31 PM 021HF10_Shamro1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:08:35 AM 049HF06_Watrlox408.indd 1 5/15/08 1:01:49 PM Your Business Live and Learn Subbing Successfully Keep these things in mind when using subcontractors

By John Saunders

ubcontracting is the budget-proof way of locking in a subcontractor. If, for example, you sub out just labor and your bottom line. Every industry in America utilizes this person checks in on a daily basis, he is an employee. Sthis practice, from retail outlets like Wal-Mart and If he works for you exclusively, he is an employee. Many Home Depot to Capitol Hill. Unfortunately, many com- contractors have been burned, so you need to know what panies utilize it to not only help their bottom line, but to the laws are. avoid paying taxes and insurance. Users beware: The IRS I would hate to try to build my business using only subs. has strict guidelines about what does and does not make We spend so much time learning in the NWFA schools

SHARPER IMAGE Busy is Bad in This Case Hardwood Floors asked its contractor and dealer readers to send in a marketing piece for a redesign, and our expert picked this one:

Layout: This ad is very busy. The copy placement has no Layout: By giving the ad flow, and the photo does not highlight the floor. At first a headline and using a glance, this ad looks more like an ad for kitchens than hard- photo that focuses on the wood flooring. hardwood floor, the viewer Logo: We understand that the company has been in busi- can immediately identify ness since 1953, but that doesn’t mean the logo has to look this ad as a flooring ad. AFTER like it hasn’t been updated since then. The old ad had a major focus on the company name; we Headline: This ad lacks a headline per se. retained the prominence of the name but positioned it to be Copy: The copy isn’t placed more compatible with the viewer’s eye, which naturally flows in the layout in an orderly counterclockwise. fashion that makes it easy to Logo: We retained the script feel but made it a bit more con- read. The good point is that temporary and classy. We also eliminated the “established in the call to action (the phone 1953” oval and replaced it with a tag line to make the point. number) is large and easy to Headline: This headline tells a broader story of Berlin Floor- locate. ing’s services; more details are in bullet points. BEFORE Copy: The copy is placed in an orderly fashion.

Jim Groff is president of York, Pa.-based Baublitz Advertising, a marketing firm that focuses on the building materials and construction industry. Groff has authored numerous columns and industry white papers on branding, research, marketing along the distribution channel and emerging market trends, among others. For more information, visit www.baublitz.com. Note that for the ads designed for this feature, the Baublitz creative team uses stock photography to which no single party holds exclusive rights Berlin Flooring receives a Hardwood Floors T-shirt for being selected. To enter your marketing piece, hardwood flooring contractors and dealers should send in their ads or brochures to: Sharper Image, Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 23

HF-OctNov08-LLearn 23 9/26/08 3:14:22 PM Your Business | Live and Learn

that I prefer to keep all that training in-house. That said, 2) Be on the job. Subs will steal your work. I’ve had wood flooring contracting companies, mine included, find guys hand out their cards on the job site to the homeown- that hiring subcontractors can be helpful sometimes. Here ers, builders and other flooring accounts. So I like to be are some things I’ve learned over the years about subbing on the job in order to prevent this. Also, I like to keep an out work, both from my own experience and from seeing eye on what’s going on—you owe that to your customer. I what other con- once received a call from a homeowner telling me one of tractors have gone my subs had made a $22 call to Brazil. If I’m supervising through. a job site and I have my regular employees taking care of It’s more difficult 1) Subbing other jobs, the system seems to work fairly well. Also, my installation works subs like the fact that I’m with them “in the trenches.” to manage subs best. I sub installa- 3) Talk to your subs. I have conversations with subs than it is your tion jobs more than so they can understand who’s buttering their bread. I’m sand and finish work supplying them with perhaps five jobs a month, while go- own workers. because the sand ing direct to the builder may be the only job they get in a and finish is the end month. I have more contacts and I keep the work flowing. result. If I do have If they understand that, they’re less likely to try and take to sub out sanding advantage of me. and finishing, I’ll sub out sanding and just the first coat. If 4) Be more prepared. I have to be prepared when I I’m doing the last work on the job, I can look over what sub out work. After all, I may have to be the one doing was done and fix any mistakes. If you sub out installation the job tomorrow if the sub does not show up. It’s more regularly, a benefit is a lower workers comp insurance rate, difficult to manage subs than it is your own workers: Subs because you have fewer of your own employees working don’t check in to be dispatched to their jobs, and they with saws and other dangerous equipment. don’t check in nightly to let me know how far they’ve got-

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Loba3_808.indd 1 7/17/08 2:35:40 PM 24 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-LLearn 24 9/26/08 3:14:40 PM Your Business | Live and Learn

ten. During my learning years, I had several times where a country, and ask for a work visa and their tax ID number company promised me they would be at the job at 7:30 in (have your accountant check the tax ID number). It also the morning—but you would be surprised at the number helps if the company is incorporated—anybody can slap a of times Mrs. Jones called and said the subs showed up name onto their “company,” and many can even get insur- at 9 p.m. to sand and coat the floor. The job just isn’t as ance, but an incorporated company had to jump through valuable to them because it’s not their name that’s go- several legal hoops and is fairly well established. ing on it, it’s mine. So again, I make sure I can be at the 6) Form relationships. The best thing that has hap- job site or, at minimum, check in. If you find your sub is pened to me in subcontracting is forming relationships a no-show, you need to immediately take over the job. with several companies over the past four or five years. When he shows up and someone else is doing the job, this These guys know I pay and won’t take advantage of them. shows you mean business. I also feel it’s important to have Since we work together so often, I know they’ll perform a good base of employees you can move around and send the work to my specifications and will be there for me. to any job if you’re in a pinch. My old boss always used to If you’re over-extended in a busy time (bring back the say, “Moving men around is an art.” Well said, Bob! busy times, please), subbing out work can alleviate some 5) Check legality. Many subcontracting companies hire problems, or it may cause more. I find it tough to turn illegal aliens to save money. It’s hard to beat somebody down good work. One of my bosses always told me, “You who’s charging $1.25 a square foot when I’m charging can’t be afraid of a job,” so that’s why I like to utilize sub- $2.50. But the legal repercussions from hiring an illegal contractors as my extended work force. Yet, in situations alien aren’t worth it. You’ve seen the government shut where I’m getting over my head, I resort to what my old down the bigwigs; they won’t hesitate to take a small floor- boss’s wife would say: “Stay small, and keep it all.” ■ ing company out, either. So make sure the guys you sub work to are legal; ignorance does not make you exempt John Saunders is NWFACP-certiﬁ ed for Installation and from the law. Ask them how long they’ve been in the Sand & Finish.

Loba-Wakol, LLC - (800) 230-6456 - www.wakol-usa.com

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 25

HF-OctNov08-LLearn 25 9/26/08 3:14:56 PM

Wakol1008_2.indd 1 9/9/08 8:45:08 AM Your Business | Legal Brief

The Right Fit Find the business type that’s right for you

By Mike Lund

ob and Bill have a business INDUSTRY TRENDS plan. They have their finan- Bcial backing and they have all NWFA Economic Trends Survey: their equipment. They should be 100 percent ready to start their contracting Solid Unfinished Flooring business, right? Not necessarily. From a legal perspective, they should also In this survey, responses from eight top wood flooring manufacturers are used to pick the type of business they want. identify current wood flooring sales trends. Below are results for solid unfinished There are several factors to keep in flooring. Solid prefinished flooring and engineered flooring results are on the fol- mind when making that decision; lowing pages. Results for this issue were compiled in the middle of September. anyone starting a business should 1. Over the past two months, has the cost of lumber for your company’s research the different business types solid unfinished hardwood flooring … and, for extra guidance, consult an attorney and an accountant. -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Five Types 2. In the past two months, have the prices you charge for your com- There are five basic types of business pany’s solid unfinished hardwood flooring … entities: Sole Proprietorships: This is the -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 default mode for a business operated by a single individual. No formal 3. Over the past two months, has your company’s sales of solid unfin- action is required to create a sole pro- ished hardwood flooring … prietorship. The sole proprietorship is -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 not recognized as being separate from its owner; the sole proprietorship is 4. Over the past two months, has your company’s profits from solid the owner. unfinished hardwood flooring … Partnerships: A partnership is an association of two or more people -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 as co-owners of a business for profit. No formal action is required to form 5. Has the the projection for your company’s solid unfinished hardwood a general partnership; this is a default flooring sales in the coming quarter … entity arising when two or more people go into business together. While -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 not required, a written partnership is key: highly recommended. -1 = dropped slightly +1 = risen slightly Limited Liability Companies -2 = dropped significantly 0 = had no change +2 = risen significantly (LLCs): Limited liability companies -3 = dropped drastically +3 = risen drastically are an increasingly popular form of (continued on page 28) business entity. LLCs do not require

26 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

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027HF10_Mirage1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:09:35 AM Your Business | Legal Brief

that at least one member or owner C Corporation: In a C corpora- In a partnership, all general partners have general liability, and forming one tion, profits are taxed separately from are responsible for management. Each doesn’t require formal action. Usu- its owners under subchapter C of the partner has an equal voice regardless ally, the organizer(s) must file articles Internal Revenue Code. of the amount of money contributed. of organization with the appropriate Decisions are made by majority vote, state office, and the members/owners Management and Control but major changes require unanimous enter into a written operating agree- With respect to management and con- consent of all partners. ment. trol, a sole proprietorship offers the Control of an LLC is determined S Corporation: This is a regular most control and the most responsibil- by its operating agreement. An LLC corporation that has between one ity. A sole proprietor has total control can be member-managed or man- and 100 shareholders and passes net over the business and is responsible ager-managed. If member-managed, income or losses to shareholders. for management. members can have a voice in management in proportion to the money they contributed to the business. If the LLC INDUSTRY TRENDS (CONTINUED) is manager-managed, the members appoint a manager to oversee the Solid Prefinished Flooring operation of the business. Corporations (both S and C) have 1. Over the past two months, has the cost of lumber for your company’s the highest formality of management solid prefinished hardwood flooring … and control. Control of a corporation is centralized in the board of directors. -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 The board oversees the day-to-day 2. In the past two months, have the prices you charge for your com- operations of the business and elects pany’s solid prefinished hardwood flooring … officers to make day-to-day decisions. Shareholders elect the board; typically -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 shareholders have one vote per share.

3. Over the past two months, has your company’s sales of solid prefin- End of the Road ished hardwood flooring … These types of businesses also vary regarding what causes their termina- -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 tion. With respect to the sole proprietorship, the business ends with its 4. Over the past two months, has your company’s profits from solid owner. In the event of the owner’s prefinished hardwood flooring … death, bankruptcy, etc., the sole pro- -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 prietorship ends. However, the owner can still sell the business’s name, as- 5. Has the the projection for your company’s solid prefinished hardwood sets and goodwill. flooring sales in the coming quarter … The rules for partnerships are similar to sole proprietorships. Unless -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 a partnership agreement provides oth- erwise, a general partnership is dis- key: solved upon the death, bankruptcy or -1 = dropped slightly +1 = risen slightly withdrawal of a partner. A partnership -2 = dropped significantly 0 = had no change +2 = risen significantly -3 = dropped drastically +3 = risen drastically may also be dissolved by court order. Most partnership agreements provide This month, we also asked wood flooring manufacturers: for surviving parties to continue the How important do you think it is to your customers that their floor have business, but require the survivors to an environmental certification such as FSC, SFI, CERFLOR, etc.? pay the estate of the deceased partner 0% said their customers think certification is extremely important. the value of his or her interest. A 63% said their customers think certification is somewhat important. partner may withdraw at any time and 12% said their customers are aware of certification but don’t care. dissolve the partnership—even if this 25% said their customers don’t even know what certification is. act violates the partnership agreement. (continued on page 30) If a partner chooses to withdraw, he

28 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

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029HF10_Clarke1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:10:18 AM Your Business | Legal Brief

or she can force the other partners or resignation of a member unless stances such as the death or dis- to purchase his or her interest in the all other members vote to continue ability of one of the key participants. business, or else the assets of the within a certain time period after the Individual shareholders do not have partnership are sold when the part- event. Any member of an LLC may the right to withdraw their share of nership dissolves. If the withdrawal withdraw at any time (even if volun- money from the corporation, but they is against the partnership agreement, tary withdrawal is prohibited by the can sell their stock. the withdrawing partner will have to operating agreement), and is entitled pay various penalties. The remaining to receive the fair value of his interest Taxation partners have the option to continue in the LLC. If the withdrawal violates With respect to taxation, the sole pro- the business without the partner who the operating agreement, the other prietorship is nonexistent. The owner decided to withdraw his interest. The members may sue the withdrawing is taxed on the business’s income at remaining partners also may buy out member for damages. The LLC can his personal tax rates, and he is able the withdrawing partner’s interest. also be dissolved by court order. to deduct the business’s losses and Events causing termination of an Corporations have perpetual ex- offset them against income from other LLC are controlled by the operating istence unless their articles of incor- sources. agreement. In the absence of provi- poration provide for a shorter term. Similarly, partnerships are subject to sions to the contrary in the operat- If they choose, the shareholders can a single level of tax. The companies ing agreement, the LLC dissolves on agree in advance that the corporation file a partnership income tax return the death, incapacity, bankruptcy will be dissolved in specific circum- each year, but the partnership itself pays no tax. Instead, the partners report their proportionate share of INDUSTRY TRENDS (CONTINUED) partnership income on their own individual tax returns. LLCs are subject to a single level Engineered Flooring of tax. When an LLC is owned by 1. Over the past two months, has the cost of lumber for your company’s a single owner, all income and ex- engineered wood flooring … penses are reported on the owner’s personal income tax return. Multi- -3-3 -2 -2 -1-1 00 +1+1 +2+2 +3+3 ple-owner LLCs are taxed as a partnership. The LLC files a partnership 2. In the past two months, have the prices you charge for your com- income tax return each year, but pany’s engineered wood flooring … the LLC itself pays no tax. Instead, the owners report their proportion- -3 -3 -2 -2 -1-1 00 +1+1 +2+2 +3+3 ate share of LLC income on their personal tax returns. 3. Over the past two months, has your company’s sales of engineered S corporations are also subject to a wood flooring … single level of tax and are similar to a partnership for tax purposes. The S -3-3 -2 -2 -1-1 00 +1+1 +2+2 +3+3 corporation files an income tax return 4. Over the past two months, has your company’s profits from engi- each year but pays no tax. Instead, neered wood flooring … the owners report their proportionate share of S corporation income on -3 -3 -2 -2 -1-1 00 +1+1 +2+2 +3+3 their own personal tax returns. C Corporations are subject to a 5. Has the projection for your company’s engineered wood flooring second level of tax. The corporation sales in the coming quarter … files an income tax return and pays taxes on all its income on corporate -3 -3 -2 -2 -1-1 00 +1+1 +2+2 +3+3 rates. C corporations do not receive key: the reduced capital-gain tax rate that key: applies to the other entities. When -1 = dropped slightly +1 = risen slightly -2-1 == droppeddropped significantlyslightly 0 = had no change +2+1 = = risen risen significantly slightly the C corporation pays money to its -3-2 == droppeddropped drasticallysignificantly 0 = had no change +3+2 = = risen risen drastically significantly shareholders as a dividend or as a sal- -3 = dropped drastically +3 = risen drastically ary, it is subject to tax a second time.

30 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Legal.indd 30 10/1/08 9:19:24 AM Your Business | Legal Brief

Liability Legwork ity for corporate debts and obligations is limited to the With a sole proprietorship, the owner has to pay all the shareholder’s original investment in the corporation. There debts of the business, including contracts and responsibil- are, however, certain exceptions. For example, sharehold- ity for negligence or other wrongful acts of employees. ers may be personally Insurance can be used to protect sole proprietors to some liable for corporate debts extent for negligence claims. However, there is no way to if they do not act like a reduce the risk of personal responsibility for the business’s corporation (for example, In a partnership, contracts. where the sharehold- In a partnership, the general partner has no liability ers did business in their the general partner protection. For this reason, when a general partnership own personal name by has no liability structure is used, the general partner is often a corporation not letting others know (creating another level of complexity). Limited partners that they were acting as a protection. in a partnership have liability protection, but the level of corporation). protection may not be as great as what would be received Based on these factors, if the entity were an LLC or corporation. one of these business Members and managers of an LLC are responsible for forms will meet your needs. Consult an attorney or accoun- the debts of the LLC only to the extent of their initial tant for help, and be sure you’re always doing the best you contributions to the LLC. Members may face additional per- can for you and your business. ■ sonal responsibility for corporate debts if they do not act like an LLC—for example, when members take virtually all Michael J. Lund is a shareholder at Milwaukee-based Cook money out of the LLC for themselves, leaving only minimal & Franke. His practice focuses on real estate, real estate assets in the business. ﬁ nance and commercial transactions. He can be reached In a corporation, the shareholder’s personal responsibil- at [email protected] or 414/227-1228.

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dt_178x124_quer_2c_GB.e.indd 1 15.09.2008 11:48:17 Uhr Month|Month 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 31

HF-OctNov08-Legal.indd 31 10/1/08 9:19:34 AM Your Business | Money

Tax Break Donate stagnant inventory to reduce your taxes

By Emily Collins

our contracting business may be sitting on an important tax deduction, and you probably don’t even realize it. The deduction lies in your excess, overstock inventory—the stuff you have Ypiled in your warehouse for the projects that never came to fruition, or the items that have been there that you can’t envision using in the very near future. By donating nonmoving flooring items or other construction materials to charity, your company can earn a federal income tax deduction under Section 170 (e)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The IRS Code says that regular (C) corporations may deduct the cost of the inventory donated, plus half the difference between cost and fair market value. Deductions may be up to twice the cost. For example, if your business (a C corporation) sells hardwood flooring for $1 a square foot, and the retail price is $2, your deduction is $1.50. If you pay $1 and that item sells for $4, your deduction is $2 (the limit is twice the cost). S corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships and LLCs qualify for a straight-cost deduction. Even if your business realizes only a straight-cost deduction, it may be to your advantage to donate your stagnant products rather than clear it through a liquidator. Since liquidators look for the lowest price they can get, their offers may be substantially less than your cost—substantially less. When you are faced with the choice of liquidating this merchandise, dumping it and writing it off as a loss, or donating it and taking a straight-cost deduction, donating may be the preferable choice. There are several organizations willing to take on donations, including Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Re- sources (NAEIR) and The Storehouse (see the Hardwood Floors article “Store- house of Dreams” on page 17 of the August/September 2006 issue). Local schools and nonprofits might also be interested. Investigate donating inventory before negotiating with a liquidator, however, to be able to justify the product’s fair-market value with the IRS. Besides the tax deduction, there are many other great benefits of donating your excess inventory: • Freeing up needed warehouse space. Whether you own your warehouse or are renting space, storing product can be expensive. Insurance, utilities, labor and shrinkage all factor in. It doesn’t pay to hold inventory that isn’t earning its keep. • Putting your marketing focus where it should be: on your top sellers. Nonmoving inventory can consume a disproportionate amount of money, time and effort to clear it. By donating those items to charity, your business can put your advertising and promotional dollars where they’ll do the most good: on your star performers. • Avoiding problems involved with liquidating those over- stocks. Liquidators tend to pick and choose. They may not want to buy all of your nonmovers, leaving you with the problem of what to do with

32 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Money 32 9/26/08 3:13:23 PM 041HF06_AceHard407.indd 1 5/15/08 12:36:45 PM Your Business | Money

the leftovers. Donating can often clear donation. SKUs. It is unwise to hold on to stag- all of your problem products at once. Once you‘ve decided that donating nant inventory. Wholesaler/distributors • Helping deserving schools and inventory might be a smart move for and catalog businesses are well aware nonprofit organizations. This good your business, how do you identify of the need to constantly review their deed can translate into good will. You which merchandise to clear? Here are offerings, weed out the slow-movers, might ask the recipient group to call some types of products to consider: and concentrate on popular, top- the local newspaper to publicize the • Slow-selling or nonmoving selling items. • Returns. If, due to some conflict, the flooring you ordered for a job was returned to you by the homeowner, and you don’t want to pay the restocking fee for the distributor, you can donate that undamaged flooring. • Cancelled orders. Again, donating avoids restocking costs. If the flooring was custom-made, it may be difficult to sell anyway. • Discontinued styles and colors. If you don’t have enough flooring of a discontinued style for a project, donating can save you space, since it may be difficult to match that specific product. You should have your accountant or tax adviser instruct the recipient group as to what information they need to include in the documentation they fur- nish as proof of the donation. You will have to include the recipient’s letter on your corporate tax forms as support for claiming the deduction. If you have a large quantity of product (a semi-trailer or more), you will have to instruct the recipient groups that under IRS regulations, donated merchandise may not be bartered, traded or sold. Charities or schools may not auction or sell donated merchandise. Donating inventory is one of the few opportunities business owners have to not only benefit their business, but also their community. Your excess flooring will be going to a deserving family or organization, turning their house into a home. ■

Emily Collins is communications asso- ciate for NAEIR. NAEIR accepts product donations from businesses and redis- tributes those goods to 13,000 qualiﬁ ed charities and schools throughout the United States. For more information, call 800/562-0955 or e-mail donor@ naeir.org.

34 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Money 34 9/26/08 3:13:37 PM

HF06_Robinson608.indd 1 5/27/08 8:27:05 AM 035HF10_Johnso1008.indd 1 9/25/08 10:35:01 AM Your Business | Management

Check it Off Use a new-hire checklist to start employees off right

By Phillip M. Perry

iring a new employee? Get ready for the usual round of toil and trouble. Conducting interviews. Calling references. Doing background checks. They all require a considerable invest- Hment in time and effort while helping you pick the right candidate. Too often, though, the challenge doesn’t end once someone is hired. It’s easy to forget an important detail. Maybe Joe didn’t know there was a waiting a period until he was covered by your medical insurance. And Dennis? No one told him those two weeks of vacation time don’t kick in until you’ve been employed for a year. Misunderstandings like those can disillusion new workers. But here’s a great way to avoid such problems: Use a “new hire checklist” that covers all the bases and gets your new employees productive with minimal delay.

Before the Hire What goes on your checklist? Everything that must be done before and after the hiring decision. “Start by creating a list of steps that must be completed prior to any job offer,” says Rebecca Mazin, president of Larchmont, N.Y.-based Recruit Right and author of The HR Answer Book. Here are some typical items: Interviews. Has the candidate been interviewed by every person affected by the hire? In a smaller business there may be only one or two; in other organizations, the list may include additional people who will work with the recruit, as well as a hu- man resources officer. Interview goals. Has each interviewer been assigned specific goals to assess? These might include assessing technical expertise, communication skills or fit with your company culture. Testing. Has the individual taken the tests required to assure knowledge of required tasks? He said he knew how to sand—did you put him on a practice panel and watch him do it? Background checks. Have required credit and criminal checks been completed? (Check with your attorney to make sure you do not run unnecessary and possibly illegal tests.) Credit references. Have they been contacted and their responses recorded? Formal application. “Even the employee with a terrific ré- sumé should sign a document acknowledging that the employer will check references and conduct a background and criminal check if required,” Mazin says. “The application should also include a statement that everything the applicant states is true.” Check with your attorney to make sure this document complies with federal and state laws.

36 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Mgmt 36 9/26/08 3:08:40 PM 067HF08_Andersn808.indd 1 7/23/08 11:57:25 AM Your Business | Management

Procedures Employee handbook. Has the Tax-related issues. Has the em- Once the employee is aboard, Mazin employee received, and signed for, ployee signed applicable federal and adds, it’s important that the check- a copy? You do have an employee state tax withholding forms? list include steps related to business handbook, right? Direct deposit. If this is desired, procedures, policies and orientation. Forms. Has the employee signed has the employee signed the requisite Here are some typical entries. Let’s an I-9? Payroll forms? Does he under- form with a voided check attached? start with some documentation: stand his “at will” status? Insurance. For anyone driving on the job, has proof of auto insurance been put on file? Now let’s move on to some other important areas: Official welcome. How about a luncheon with some friendly co- workers on the first day? Equipment instruction. Copiers. The telephone system. Computers. Cell phones. PDAs. Nextels. All have operational quirks. Reduce frustration by walking your new hire through these often-bewildering devices. Safety instructions. This might be basic safety at your office (like where first aid kits and fire extinguishers are), or, for workers out in the field, extensive safety training (everything from how to use machines to using respirators and hearing protection). Time and attendance. When are paychecks distributed and how? What are the working hours and holiday schedule? Evaluations. How is performance assessed and how often? Are performance and salary reviews done at the same time? Lunch. When and where do people break for lunch? How about the rules for coffee breaks, both in the office and at the job site? Personal equipment. Has the employee signed papers for any company-owned cell phone, laptop, camera or other portable gadget? Every year thousands of dollars can be wasted when careless users lose valuable items. E-mail and phone instructions and rules. While electronic communication has made the business world more efficient, it also brings new challenges. Has the employee been trained on how to use the e- mail system? Has the employee been

38 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Mgmt 38 9/26/08 3:09:04 PM informed of your rules on the use of company equipment for personal use, and on the right of employers to access workers’ e-mail? Benefits. How long does the employee have to be employed to qualify for health benefits? For vacation time? Is there a 401(k) plan? Life insurance? Disability insurance? Who is the contact for these questions?

On-Boarding Now let’s move on to acclimatization. This part of the checklist ensures the new employee feels at home and works efficiently. Here, include information that might be native to the organization but not part of its formal documentation. “Communicate implicit knowledge in your assimilation checklist,” suggests Alan Weiss, president of Summit Consulting Group in East Greenwich, R.I. “Maybe the person hired in a staff position needs to spend three days in the field with the sales force. Or the new sales person must spend two days in the production area.” Here are some typical entries: Co-workers. Has the new employee been introduced to all the office workers and everybody on the crew? Mentor. Have you assigned someone who can guide the new person and answer the many questions that always pop up? Make sure this person is knowledgeable, caring and a good communicator. Dress policy. What is acceptable in terms of a professional appearance, both in the office and at the job site? Social events. Softball league? Regular after-work happy hours? Make sure the new employee is invited. Follow-up talks. Have you entered times for follow- up discussions at predetermined intervals? Conversations after one week and three weeks will help the new person adjust to the position and resolve any outstanding issues. Training. You may see that the new person needs some additional training. Take steps to assign this training early. While the details of your own hiring checklist will vary, the items above are found on many such documents. When new employees receive critical knowledge early, they become more productive more quickly. And your workplace will be much better off. “The first days of work are always the worst,” Mazin says. “You feel lost to start with and you don’t know who to talk to or where to go for help. The new hire checklist can help assure the new person receives all of the information needed.” Convinced that the “new hire checklist” can help your business? Once you’ve printed a stack, don’t let them sit in your filing cabinet, Mazin says: “If you don’t use them, it’s not worth having them.” ■

Phillip M. Perry is a New York-based freelance writer and a frequent contributor to Hardwood Floors.

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 39

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040HF10_Absolt1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:43:24 AM On the Job Ask the Expert From Black Stain to Vinyl

Back in Black experience (different types of products Grete Heimerdinger, vice president One of my customers wants a may react differently), I’ve found I can’t at Portland, Ore.-based moisture me- black floor. Do you have any tips? cut in the edges first because the field ter manufacturer Lignomat, answers: may not blend, leaving a halo. Also, I Yes, it is. Wood is structured by year Brian Flynn, president at Spring take care when applying the first coat rings, which form a series of more or Grove, Ill.-based Cottages & Castles of finish, as the stain can be easy to less concentric cylinders. These cylin- Home Inspection Inc., answers: damage; I will walk on it only with ders are irregular tubes that transport Black floors were a fad on Chi- clean, dry socks. Also, I won’t drag nutrients and support the tree. After cago’s North Shore for awhile; here’s anything across it until it’s sealed. And, the tree is cut, as the wood absorbs what I learned from the trend. First, keep in mind that excessive applica- or loses moisture below the fiber make sure the customer is aware of tions of finish can give the floor a hazy saturation point (28 to 35 percent), the maintenance required for a black appearance. Once it’s done, it’s a gor- the tubes expand or contract, causing floor. You have no idea how white geous floor—as long as it has constant wood to swell or shrink. Shrinking typical household dust is until you see maintenance. does not occur lengthwise along the it on a black floor. Normal scratches tubes, so the expansion in a wood and surface wear stand out like a sore Growing With the Grain? floor occurs across the width of the thumb, and when the floor shrinks I’ve heard that wood expands boards rather than across the length. during the contraction season, board more across the grain than with Some boards are more stable than edges will appear as white lines the grain. Is that true? others across their width. The most unless you stain the sides and end matches on all the boards. Black floors have a tendency to ab- TRICK OF THE TRADE sorb and reflect the predominant color in that area. A room with red tones will make the floor look burgundy; one Pouring It On with yellow walls will cast a golden color on the floor. Because of this, I have even had clients believe I used the wrong stain. On red oak, particularly Southern oak, the stain can have a slightly reddish undertone. Because the floor will show every little thing, you must do an exceptional sand job, so price accordingly. To get the stain as dark as possible, water-pop the floor. Be aware that the stain will discolor adjacent painted or improperly sealed trim work, and that the stain raditional paint-can-style finish and stain containers aren’t always the most may need extended dry time—I’ve had T user-friendly: The contents are difficult to pour, and the finish or stain sits in the it take up to three days in humid, stag- lip of the can, making it a sticky mess when you put the cover on and take it off. nant situations. Check the manufactur- These contraptions make life easier. The Fits-All paint can spout makes pouring a er for compatability with the finish you breeze, and the Paint Plow pushes the remaining finish or stain out of the lip and plan on using (I’ve always used sable back into the can. Both are from FoamPro Mfg. Inc. (www.foampromfg.com). black stain and three to four coats of Do you have a Trick of the Trade? Send in your idea, and if we use it, we’ll send you a Hard- conversion varnish, but of course other wood Floors T-shirt. types of finish would work). In my

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 41

HF-OctNov08-Ask 41 9/26/08 3:19:55 PM On the Job | Ask the Expert

stable boards are quartersawn boards, only a small number of quartersawn existing vinyl flooring? which have straight year rings paral- boards can be cut out of a tree. Frank Kroupa, technical advisor at lel to their edges. When changes in Therefore, quartersawn boards are the NWFA, answers: moisture occur, these boards swell rare and expensive. The first question is what is under- or shrink the least and do not warp. neath the vinyl? If it’s plywood or OSB But because trees grow crooked, year Going Over the Top and the linoleum is sound and secure, rings are often distorted. In addition, Can I lay wood flooring over the answer is yes. In fact, you can nail right through it and the vinyl acts as a vapor retarder. Usually you can tell if the vinyl is secure on the subfloor just by walking around the floor and tap- ping it. Of course you need to make sure there aren’t any areas where it’s chipping, peeling up or deteriorating. However, if you see vinyl or linoleum flooring, oftentimes it will have particleboard underneath it. If particleboard is the subfloor, then the only wood floor option directly over The asbestos isn’t a problem if it’s left undisturbed, but sanding it creates a major health hazard.

the vinyl is a floating floor. People sometimes try to glue wood flooring over vinyl, but I highly sug- gest not attempting it. First of all, you’ll void any warranty on the product you’re installing. There are many different types of finishes on vinyl and linoleum floors, and they get contami- nated over the years, so adhesion can be a major problem. Some contractors try to improve adhesion by roughing up the vinyl with an abrasive on the buffer, but that’s problematic: With some products you can end up just peeling off layers of the vinyl. More importantly, some older vinyl flooring has asbestos in it. The asbestos isn’t a problem if it’s left undisturbed, but sanding it creates a major health hazard. To be sure if a product has asbestos or not, you have to take a scraping of the flooring and send it to a lab. ■

42 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Ask 42 9/26/08 3:20:25 PM

On the Job | From the Field

Applicators Galore Know the applicators that work best with certain finishes

By Bill Costello

etween rollers, T-bars, lamb- MSDS on hand. to accomplishing this. Many old swool applicators, brushes and Oil-Modified Polyurethane timers in the industry like to use a the occasional rag, there are China bristle brush. These brushes B The trick to oil-modified polyure- are made of hog’s hair, which are so many ways to get finish on your thane (frequently called “poly”) is actually hollow inside. The brush floor that figuring out what to use can generally “more is better;” you don’t sucks up finish, which gets released be confusing. Here is a simple way to want the finish to puddle, but you as you glide the finish onto the break down the proper applicators for want to get as much on the floor as floor. Many people claim this is the the four most commonly used finish possible and spread it as fast as pos- best method for applying finish, types. As always, defer to the finish sible to get the smoothest appear- since you’re so much closer to the manufacturer’s instructions, be sure to ance on the floor. There are old- floor and you can see missed spots use the right respirator, and have your school methods and newer methods (“holidays”) or blemishes in the finish and correct the problem before it dries. China bristle brushes can be TALES FROM THE FRONT cleaned off with just mineral spirits. Another old-school applicator for oil-modified is the lambswool ap- Taken for a Ride plicator on the block, which is made Little helper not much help from either 100 percent lambswool or synthetic lambswool. Again, like the China bristle brush, this appli- ike Summers from UFloor Systems Inc. cator holds a lot of finish. Natural recalls an experience he had as a contrac- M lambswool tends to hold more finish tor’s son on the job site. One day, his dad and than synthetic, but the synthetic defi- crew were working on a high school gym late into nitely still does the job and is a little the night. Summers was only about 7 years old cheaper, which is why I think it’s and was getting tired from helping all day. Just seen more in the industry. With the like any good little helper, he thought he could fa- lambswool on the block, unlike the cilitate leaving earlier by organizing all the tools to brush, you’re standing upright and iLVWRFNSKRWR get packed up. He quickly began lining the tools away from the floor, which means up on the edge of the stairs outside of the gym that led down to the glass you have to be a little more care- door entryway. However, when he pulled the big machine over, it began to tip ful as you’re applying to make sure over the edge of the stairs. Too small to stop it, yet not giving up hope, Sum- you’re not making any mistakes. mers ended up riding the machine all the way down the stairs and smack into There are some other caveats to the metal bars dividing the glass doors, narrowly missing breaking the glass. the lambswool. Recently purchased A bit dazed but uninjured, Little Mike learned it would probably be better to natural lambswool applicators tend to leave the heavy equipment to the adults. shed fibers that get stuck in the finish, so before using one, simply comb out If you have a true (and printable) story to share, e-mail it with your name and phone the applicator with a pocket comb or number to [email protected]. If we use your story, we’ll send you a wrap it up in blue tape and remove Hardwood Floors T-shirt. the tape. Other guys might wash it

44 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-FTF 44 9/26/08 3:16:00 PM Character and strength. It’s in our grains.

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without detergent and let it dry. This is used for the first coat of finish. For subsequent finishes, use lambswool applicators you’ve already used on at least 500 to 1,000 feet of finish; this gives a much smoother application. Lambswool applicators need to be stored in either mineral spirits or polyurethane. Some of the newer applicators are making finish application even easier. Just like your transition from riding a tricycle to a bike with training wheels to a standard bike, you work up from old-school applicators to new-school. A T-bar applicator, especially with tapered ends, is great for applying any finish. It allows you to get around doorjambs, and it puts a lot of finish down faster than a lambswool applicator. Some companies also manufacture a lambswool sleeve that can be slipped onto a T-bar. This speeds up application, and it also holds a lot of finish. Another option is rolling finish 3 on with a ¼-inch or /8-inch roller. This gets the finish down fast and agitates the floor very little (more agita- tion to the finish makes it look worse). Waterborne Urethane All the applicators for water-based urethane are synthetic. When applying this type of finish, you definitely don’t want to use a China bristle brush or lambswool applicator because the two hold a lot of finish and, unlike oil, you don’t want all that on the floor; water-based is designed to go down thinner. Synthetic applicators just spread finish; they don’t hold any finish in them. Many of the same synthetic applicators, except lambswool, can be used with water-based: a synthetic pad on a block, a T-bar with a synthetic sleeve or a roller. The cut-in pad you use for the edges of the flooring should also be synthetic. Moisture-Cure Urethane Many guys have different systems for applying moisture-

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? A: The floor man is leaning heavily into the buffer. A: The

46 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-FTF 46 9/26/08 3:16:15 PM cure finish, which is mostly used on the East Coast. With this finish, contractors tend to use a brush—either a 6-inch China bristle or 12-inch brush—as opposed to the T-bar. It’s a fast-applying finish, so using a roller also works. Conversion Varnish One of the most efficient ways to apply conversion varnish, which is also called “acid-cure” or “Swedish” finish, is with a brush. Contrac- tors can choose between a 6-inch China bristle or a 12-inch brush, but the main point is to get down so you can see the finish being applied. Conversion varnish has a tendency to separate and leave

Synthetic applicators just spread finish; Recycled Rubber Products Leader they don’t hold any since 1985 800-525-5530 www.rbrubber.com finish in them. When Underlayment is Important! missed spots, so if you’re down on RB Silent-Tread™ your knees applying with a brush, Acoustical Underlayment you can see anything that’s missed. As with many finishes, conversion RB Silent-Tread XL™ varnish can also be applied with a (with vapor barrier) roller. Here, you have to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for • Superior Noise Reduction which sleeve to use on the roller, and you have to be certain you’re • Moisture/Vapor Protection applying enough finish. Application of this finish is easy, but typically • Crush - Proof the cleanup is more involved, re- quiring a lacquer thinner. • Environmentally Responsible Using the proper applicators for each finish and getting the correct • Mold/Mildew Prevention spread rate is essential to making that finish look great. Using the best • Ease of Installation applicator for that type of finish, and following the manufacturer’s instruc- • 20 Year Limited Lifetime Warranty tions, will help you “get ’er done.” ■

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October| November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 47

HF-OctNov08-FTF 47 9/26/08 3:16:41 PM On the Job | Troubleshooting

Dubious Defects Defective product and poor judgment lead to floor failure

By Jeff Pope

The Problem 10 inches without adhesive. It appeared that during manu- I was commissioned by a wood flooring contractor to exam- facturing the adhesive applicator machine malfunctioned or ine the quality of the wood flooring purchased by the hom- ran out of adhesive; I believe the manufacturer found the eowner and to inspect the wood flooring already installed in error and sold the product as “defective” without warranty. the basement of a magnificent new Georgia home. How to Fix the Floor The Procedure The homeowner realized the mistake, paid my client to The homeowner had chosen an unfinished engineered remove the wood, and paid for the labor and costs to 3 white oak ½-by-3 ⁄8-inch floor in random lengths for his prepare the basement concrete for a second installation. basement. He knew the flooring did not have a warranty He ordered a different unfinished engineered wood floor, but chose to have it installed anyway; it was glued to the but during the sanding process workmen noticed puck- basement slab with a moisture-cured adhesive. After the ers along edges of boards and overwood at end joints. floor was installed and sanded, the homeowner walked Again I was called; I examined the new wood and found over the floor and felt many boards flex. The contractor the same defects as before—many boards could easily explained that more than 100 boards separated during be pulled apart by hand. The homeowner said he wasn’t the sanding process. He going to pay for the labor and removal for the second He was aware that believed the homeowner floor, and things got interesting. It was my conclusion that had purchased a batch of the second conflict resulted from both product failure and the flooring did not defective flooring. negligence on the part of the wood flooring contractor.

come with a The Cause In the Future The first thing I noticed In a sense, a wood flooring contractor is the last “inspector” warranty but was approximately 100 of a wood floor. Installers are generally considered respon- chose to have it boards with raised edges sible for checking the appearance of the boards (the correct and at least 100 with grade, species, etc.), making sure the tongue and groove installed anyway. overwood at end joints. go together, and checking moisture content. Installers are A number of boards not held responsible for structural errors in the construction had part of the surface missing. At end joints where the of engineered flooring that may not be obvious until after overwood was very noticeable, I slipped my prybar be- installation. In this case, however, the flooring was so bad tween the first and second layers of wood. The top layer that a professional should have easily noticed this problem easily pulled up. Next I lifted several boards glued to the before installation and refused to install the floor. Even subfloor. This was difficult: Each board split and broke though the wood flooring contractor had no say in selecting into small pieces, so a hammer and wood chisel had to be the flooring, since he knew it came without a warranty, it used. All moisture testing indicated that the concrete sub- would have been wise to check it more carefully (especially floor and wood flooring were within an acceptable range. the second order). If he had, he would have noticed the Five boxes of unused wood were in the garage, and I problems before installation and avoided a messy dispute. If inspected random pieces. Approximately 50 percent were a customer insists on buying a product of questionable qual- ■ defective. Boards had cracks along edges between the top ity, sometimes the best choice is to walk away. and second layer, and several layers could be separated by hand. An inspection clearly showed an absence of adhesive Jeff Pope is owner at Alpharetta, Ga.-based Jeff Pope Inc. between the top and second layers. Some boards had 4 to and is an NWFACP-certiﬁ ed wood ﬂ ooring inspector.

48 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-TroubleshREV.indd 48 9/26/08 3:19:22 PM 049HF10_OldMst1008.indd 1 9/25/08 10:33:59 AM On the Job | Step by Step

Floating Freely A floating subfloor makes sound control work in this home

By Evandro Carvalho

hen I worked in New York and New Jersey, soundproofing never seemed to be an issue, but here in Miami, it’s Wextremely common. It’s usually required in high-rises, and we also do a lot of soundproofing in two-story homes (the truss construction used here can be noisy without soundproofing). This project was a two-story home in South Florida. About 95 percent of homes here have a concrete slab on the first floor; some older homes have crawlspaces. The second floor can be a 4-inch slab or plywood over trusses 24 inches apart. In this case, it was 5 trusses and ⁄8-inch plywood. Our clients specified that they wanted soundproofing to minimize the sound from the second floor; the only way to do that with solid wood flooring was to lay our soundproofing using a “floating subfloor” method, consisting of one layer 3 1 of soundproofing, two layers of ⁄8-inch or ⁄2-inch CDX or equal plywood, and wood floors nailed over the floating subfloor to create a complete floating floor system. (For more on soundproofing, read “Underlying Truth” in the August/September 2008 issue of Hardwood Floors.)

SUPPLY LIST • Cleaning supplies (broom, vacuum, garbage bags, dust pan) • Straightedge and level • Drill, staple gun, hoses and air compressor • Wooden shims • Door jamb saw or hand saw • Adhesive (such as Liquid Nails, PL400 or similar) • Sander and planer Step 1 Step 2 • Soundproofing material The upstairs on this project had We remove the carpeting, base mold- • Clear tape or duct tape (for carpeting in a loft, hallway and three ings, doors, closet shelving, etc.; cut seams) bedrooms, and tile in a bathroom the door jambs; and clean the floor. • Asphalt-saturated felt paper and laundry room. Before we remove • Plywood furniture, we inspect everything for • Circular saw and extension existing damage and take pictures of cord the damage. We also take pictures of • Chalk line the layout of the rooms so it will be • T-square, pencil, and tape easier to remember where everything measure goes when we put it back.

50 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-SBS 50 9/26/08 3:21:17 PM HARDWOOD FLOORING

AVAILABLE FROM

Weyerhaeuser markets and sells products carrying Aracruz Produtos de Madeira’s registered trademark for Lyptus® products. is a registered trademark of Weyerhaeuser © 2007 Weyerhaeuser Company. All rights reserved. On the Job | Step by Step

Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Using a straightedge (preferably one In this area we decided to use In this particular area of the subfloor 10 feet long) we check the subfloors wooden shims and 2-by-4s; we sliced in the loft, where the trusses changed for flatness (not “level”). For plywood, the 2-by-4s down to get the desired direction, the subfloor was so bad 3 the subfloors should be within ⁄16 thickness to make the subfloors flat. that we had to remove the existing inch in a 10-foot radius. Minor imper- We glued and screwed the shims and plywood, shave some of the beams fections can be sanded down. 2-by-4s down 16 inches on center. and shim others. We also laid one layer of 15-pound felt paper as our moisture retarder, always overlapping it by 4 inches.

52 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-SBS 52 9/26/08 3:21:39 PM On the Job | Step by Step

Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 The areas close to the wall had This specific type of soundproofing is Now we start loose-laying the first settled, so we had to use some shims a polyurethane foam; it has an IIC of sheet of plywood, keeping a distance 1 3 to bring the height of the plywood up 60, a STC of 54 and a 0.46 water va- of ⁄2 inch between the sheets, and ⁄4 to meet our new subfloors. por transmission rate. It’s also antimi- inch off the walls and other perma- 1 crobial and is only ⁄8-inch thick. Tape nent vertical structures. the seams, and be sure to not overlap them. We always take pictures of the soundproofing as it’s being installed, making sure there’s a reference point for that particular room in the photo.

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 53

HF-OctNov08-SBS 53 9/26/08 3:21:58 PM On the Job | Step by Step

Sound Control Tips imply installing soundproofing mate- Srial does not guarantee that it will work. The correct installation and right STC and IIC for that project is crucial. With soundproofing, always remember: • Run the soundproofing up the walls and other vertical structures at least as high as the flooring will go. • Do not attach the subfloor or the floors to the structure of the building. 3 • Leave ⁄4 to 1 inch at walls or any permanent vertical structure. Step 9 Step 10 • Glue any molding (stair nosing, Next we lay the second sheet of Now we lay one more layer of felt pa- threshold, etc., instead of using nails. plywood in a diagonal from the first per (that will help minimize squeaks) • When installing base moldings, 1 1 layer, keeping a space of ⁄4 inch to ⁄2 and start nailing the floors. We are cut the bottom of the base at 5 to 10 3 3 inch between the sheets and ⁄4 inch careful to keep a ⁄4-inch gap at any degrees to eliminate full contact with off walls and other vertical structures. walls and vertical structures (this is the floors. If using shoe moldings, try Use a staple gun or screws to secure very important for sound reduction). ■ nailing in to the walls instead of down in the plywood, but make sure that the to the floors. staples or screws are not longer than Evandro Carvalho is owner at Coral • Leave a small gap between the the two layers of plywood combined. Springs, Fla.-based Maximum Hard- moldings and floor (including the door wood Floors Corp. jambs).

You choose wood finish accessories for their beauty and quality look. Don’t ruin the effect by skimping on durability, or settling for unsatisfactory customer service.

# !" !"#!"!# !)#"#!"#!"!$"$! ! !#!( !""! !# !$!&"#"# !"( "$ !" # " $!%!#"#!#!"#!"!### '##!"""$"$!"$!$ # ## $# !% #"!%%!'#"% #(" # "!#$!&!& !"&# %#!""%!"! !$ $#( &!#"# !""$!#!$"#! # " ! (#$#$!$"#!" $#"# !#""##" "" !& "" !& Manufacturing & Supply Co. #&&&!& #&&&!&

54 Hardwood Floors ■ June|July 2008

HF-OctNov08-SBS 54 9/26/08 3:22:24 PM

On the Job | Techniques

Sanding 101 Find answers to questions about sanding basics

By Galen A. Fitzel

hy do we sand a wood floor? If this question were asked of flooring contractors, typical responses might include: to repair damage to the floor; to change the color; to change Wthe finish sheen; or to protect the investment (preserving and restoring the beauty of a wood floor found under the carpet that was removed, for example). Yes, there are even more reasons, however, the main reason to sand a floor, whether new or existing, is to give beauty to a renewable resource that can usually be repaired instead of replaced. A typical nail-down, ¾-inch, tongue-and-groove wood floor can be resanded several times by a good professional flooring contractor; most beginning floor contractors would have a tendency to sand too much off the floor, decreasing the overall life and leaving little or no wood for the next sanding. Taken from that perspective, contractors sanding a wood floor have a huge responsibility to protect their customer’s investment and make that floor last as long as possible. To that end, I’m going to answer some of the most common questions asked by beginner floor sanders. The answers are aimed at contractors new to sanding, however, if you have been sanding floors for a while, you might want to continue reading, for an old dog can still learn new tricks. For the purposes of covering the basics, here we’re assuming you’re using the three standard sanding machines: the big machine, the edger and the buffer. That said, here are 10 common questions about sanding basics:

1) Why can’t I skip more than one grit in the sanding sequence? Your goal in a sanding sequence is to use progressively finer abrasives to flatten the floor and smooth out the wood to get it ready to accept new finish—all while taking off as little wear layer as possible. If you skip more than one grit in the sanding sequence, you end up with the first cut leaving deep scratches into the wood, and the second cut having too fine of a grit to take out the first scratch. This peak-and-valley profile will leave a rough-looking floor and, if stained, cause uneven staining (see the “Guide to Abrasives” sidebar on page 58). Another result of skipping grits is early finish wear in heavy traffic areas. The reason is that the peaks will not have as much finish on them as the valleys, so the finish on the peaks will wear off faster. 2) How do I know what grit to start with? No two floors are exactly the same—similar, maybe, but not the same. Always inspect, repair and clean (sweep and vacuum) each floor prior to sanding. Yes, this even applies to new wood floor installations, as well as cleaning between grits on the big machine. (In many cases you can pick up an abrasive “hitchhiker” from the previous grit and cause wild What is this picture showing? See answer #6. scratches.) For new floors, one of the best ways to choose a sequence is to select the finest grade you

56 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Techn.indd 56 9/30/08 3:11:05 PM

On the Job | Techniques

Guide to Abrasives than you expect to create that look. Type Grit Use Again, no two floors are exactly the same. You can Open Coat 12 Remove old coatings use the abrasive guide on this page as a reference. Rare- 16 ly have I seen floors sanded finer than grit 120 on the 20 big machine. If you are sanding a typical No. 1 common 24 Northern red oak strip floor and it will be finished natural, you have many options; usually either 80 or 100 grit Coarse 30 Fast cutting of uneven floors will be the final cut made with the big machine. Keep in 36 mind if there will be stain, what the finish will be, and if 40 there are multiple species. Also remember that too fine Medium 50 1st sanding — new of a final cut with the sanding machines can close the 60 2nd sanding — old grain of the wood, causing poor adhesion of the finish Fine 80 Final sanding coat and making the stain appear lighter. There is not 100 New or old a good alternative for experience, but you do not have Extra Fine 120 Very fine finish to reinvent the wheel: Search for additional information 150 using your local distributor, manufacturers’ technical service experts, fellow contractors and the Internet. THE RIGHT WAY The first cut. The initial sanding with a coarse-grit paper creates deep 4) Should I use the big machine or edger scratches. first? The second cut. A medium-grit This depends on the expertise of the person sanding. paper removes the deep scratches created by the first cut, leaving shal- When you become more experienced and can have lower scratches. smooth cut transitions at the wall lines, then it becomes The third cut. A fine-grit paper a preference. For beginners, in most cases I recommend removes the shallower scratches using the big machine before the edger. Beginners with left by the second cut. The resulting scratches, which are shallower still, the big machine tend not to have a smooth transition cut leave a surface that appears smooth. at the wall line, often leaving a drum or “beauty” mark in the floor, as well as uneven distances between the THE WRONG WAY The first cut. The initial sanding walls and the sanded area. Doing the edging afterwards with a coarse-grit paper leaves deep means you know exactly how far out you have to edge, scratches. since you can see the sanded area, and if drum marks The second cut. If you skip the are made at this point in the sanding sequence, then medium-grit paper and jump all the edging can remove them. An experienced contractor on way to fine grit, the paper removes only the tops of the “peaks” left by the the big machine cuts the floor as close to the wall lines first cut. The deeper scratch marks as possible, leaving less for the person edging (unless remain, resulting in a rough surface. you have it in for the person edging—then stop about two feet away from the wall!). Making smooth drum want to finish with and work back to the coarser grades, cuts with the big machine takes practice, and every big skipping one grade between each sanding. For example, machine needs to be adjusted properly. The motion with if you want your finest grade to be 100, the sequence the drum should be like a plane with smooth takeoffs you would follow is 40-60-100 (skipping only grades 50 and landings, always in motion. and 80). If you want to finish the job with grade 80, use the sequence 36-50-80 (skipping only grades 40 and 60). 5) Should I go right to left or left to right I’ve said it a million times at the NWFA schools: Use only as heavy a paper as it takes to do the job. If you don’t put the with the big machine? deep scratch in, you don’t have to take the deep scratch out! The type of big machine determines the direction. With the older drum-type big machine, you start at the right side of the area to be sanded and move to the left. Belt 3) How do I know what grit to end with? machine manufacturers recommend the opposite. The A contractor sanding a floor is much like an artist with reason is because of the carriage wheel location on the a blank canvas (the term “starving artist” might be more big machines. On the split drum machine, the carriage appropriate in this economy); he has control of how the wheels are directly behind the drum, while on the belt final result will look. Know what your customers’ expec- machines, the left carriage wheel is left of the drum. As tations are—if they expect the floor to look like a baby the floor is cut, you want the carriage wheels to follow grand piano, this is your chance to decline the job. If in an area that has already been sanded so as not to you are capable of such an end result, then you need to transfer overwood of boards to the drum, causing sand- charge accordingly, for you will be spending more time ing irregularities.

58 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Techn.indd 58 9/30/08 3:11:20 PM 6) Why should I go at a slight angle with my first pass on the big machine? Doing this serves a couple of important functions. By going at an angle of 7 to 15 degrees to the direction of the floor boards, you cut the floor flat the fastest. Why? By going at an angle you are cutting slightly across the grain. The cross-grain cut sands the wood floor quicker and also takes out any slight rolling or waves of the floor. Once you create these cross-grain scratches with your first cut, you need to cut straight with the grain so the scratches go with the grain for the second or final cut (depending on the grit sequence). 7) Where do I start edging? Before you start edging, you need to be aware of where the cutting point is for that edger so you can control the cut pattern. Setting up an edger is an article by itself (see “Edger Adjustments” in the February/March 2005 issue of Hardwood Floors). If you do not know how to do it, then contact your manufacturer or local distributor. As- suming the edger is set up and working properly, you start on the left and work to the right around the perimeter of an area. The rotary cut of the edger is the most aggressive cut of all the floor sanding machines; know- ing how to keep the scratch pattern with the grain as much as possible minimizes edger swirl marks. A typical first cut with an edger is 60 or 80 grit, then completed with 100 grit after the floor has been filled. To soften the cut of the abrasive, there are edger pads that are used On the Safe Side would be remiss in any article about sanding if I didn’t Imention safety. Keep the following in mind: • Sanding dust is highly flammable. To minimize the risk, never operate the sanding machine when the bag is more than half full. Also, never leave the sanding machine with dust in the bag or any bag of dust in your vehicle, in your shop or on the job site. • Use eye, ear and respiratory protection devices as required by OSHA. In particular, the sawdust from exotic woods can cause adverse reactions in some people. Don’t forget to use approved respiratory protection when emptying dust bags or dust collection systems. (For more on respirators, see “The Air We Breathe” in the October/ November 2007 issue of Hardwood Floors.) • Make sure you have safe electrical hookup (refer to “Power Up” in the June/July 2008 issue of Hardwood Floors). • Have all machine guards and grounded plugs in place. • Keep electrical cords away from the machines’ moving parts. Also, keep cords out from underfoot and off your shoulders. • Unplug all machines when you are repairing or adjusting them, or when changing abrasives.—G.A.F.

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 59

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under the bolt with an abrasive disc for the final edging. called Murphy’s Law.) By using edger pads, the abrasive disc cuts less aggres- sively and also leaves a finer scratch. 9) When do I use a sanding screen vs. a hard-plate? 8) When is the best time to trowel-fill the Sanding screens are used with the buffer to refine and floor? blend the final scratch left from the big machine (in Trowel-filling the floor prior to the last cut with the big the field of the floor) and the final circular scratch left machine and final edging provides a sanding guide for from the edger (around the perimeter). To reduce initial the beginning floor sander on the last abrasive cut. The scratching, always start a new screen in a closet or other trowel-fill will show low spots and any other marks or inconspicuous location. If a closet isn’t available, start areas that need sanding attention with the next machine, against a wall and work toward the center. If the screen the buffer. needs to be changed, start on the opposite wall and Always let filler dry thoroughly before sanding. If work toward the center to make the scratches match— you sand and the filler is not dry, you will load up the you don’t want scratches from a worn screen and a new abrasive and use more abrasive than necessary (this is screen to meet. good for my 401(k) plan but a waste of time and money The hard-plate, double-sided discs and easy-change for you.) Prior to trowel-filling is a great time to make abrasive disc systems are used in the same manner, sure that all nails (called “shiners”) are set. If you sand however, because they are more rigid, they cut the the nail heads, you will leave sanding streaks/lines in floor flatter than a screen. This is particularly critical on the floor from where the abrasive did not cut the floor floors with multiple species and wood densities; dish- flat (the abrasive will be missing where it hit the shiner). out of the soft grain tends to occur on these floors when In many cases, the sanding screen will not completely screening. (To learn more regarding buffer techniques, flatten the floor there, but you will not detect this phe- see “Taming the Buffer” in the June/July 2003 issue of nomenon until the last coat of finish is applied. (This is Hardwood Floors and “Taming the Buffer, Part II” in the

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60 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Techn.indd 60 9/30/08 3:11:33 PM On the Job | Techniques

February/March 2006 issue.) Get Educated 10) Why do I need to check the moisture content (MC) of the floor when I sand it? Education is important—no matter how long you’ve been in Good question. Better question: How many of you have the business—to keep you abreast of new developments. a moisture meter and use it? It is quite common for the Check out: installer to check the subfloor and flooring moisture pri- • the NWFA Convention (the next one is April 28-May 1, or to installation, but not as common for people sanding 2009, in Long Beach, Calif.) the floor to check the MC. Sanding and finishing should • NWFA schools (a schedule is on page 14) occur when the floor has been acclimated to the proper • Distributor-sponsored schools and seminars MC for normal living conditions (temperature and hu- • Manufacturer-sponsored schools. midity) for that area. It is good practice to record the MC You might also want to catch up on your reading. For of the floor prior to sanding so you can compare it to more on floor sanding, go to www.nwfa.org, click on the the installation MC. It’s also important to do this when Hardwood Floors logo, click on the “Articles” link, and using waterborne finish because it gives you a baseline select “sanding” from the category list. Another good value of the MC prior to applying finish; you can tell source is the NWFA Technical Manual B200: Sanding and the finish is dry when the MC reading is at the original Finishing.—G.A.F. reading. Also, it’s good insurance to record the MC at all points in the job. There have been situations were the derstanding of why we do what we do when sanding, HVAC malfunctioned after the floor was done and the creating an easier job for you and a better, longer-lasting flooring contractor was blamed for the floor problem floor for your customers. Happy sanding. ■ related to the MC. If you don’t FILEhave NAME: the MC recorded64575_allwood_ad_081508.indd for that job, you cannot prove youDATE: checked it. Wednesday, SeptGalen 10, A. 2008 Fitzel, 11:45 aka AM “Dr. Wood,” is technical service spe- Hopefully these answers helpIMAGES: you have a better allwood_ un- À nal.tifcialist at St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M. FORMAT: InDesign CS2 / PDFx1a

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By Michelle Desnoyer

t’s a sure bet that a big machine is always running in the Big Apple. One company that has its finger on the floor- Iing pulse of America’s largest city is Bronx, N.Y.-based New Wood Co., where president Peter Downs battles traffic, designers’ egos, doormen and walk-up apartments to put quality flooring in some of the swankiest spots in town. Hardwood Floors spent a day with Downs last May to see how he manages his business and how New Wood has become one of the better known wood flooring companies in the city.

5 a.m. Downs awakes and goes for a run around the reservoir in Central Park, just blocks from his Upper West Side apartment.

6:30 a.m. Downs drives his truck to his Bronx warehouse. “One of my designer friends has ‘warehouse envy,’” Downs says of At dispatch time, Peter Downs (center) strikes a pose how New Yorkers appreciate anything vintage and how with some of the New Wood Co. crew at the company’s his warehouse is just on the outskirts of a less-popular area Bronx warehouse. of the city.

6:50 a.m. Downs prepares the schedule for his crews. “Sometimes it’s like writing a novel,” he says. He has to organize who Peter Downs will work on which project, what they will be doing, how much time they have, and any other pertinent informa- New Wood Co. tion. Downs also has to prepare the driver’s schedule. He Bronx, N.Y. decided a couple of years ago that it was easier to have one worker drive the company truck to each site for various tasks rather than having the guys park at the job sites. “It used to be you could just double-park anywhere, but when [Rudy] Giuliani became mayor, they really started

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city ordinance against loud construction on the weekends, called the cops and had the crew kicked off the project. So now the job will be done behind schedule, but there is nothing Downs can do about it.

8:15 a.m. Downs says a noisy Monday on the phone usually isn’t a good one, because it’s typically homeowners who had the weekend to search for flaws in their flooring, but this morning things are pretty quiet. Despite recent economic challenges for most of the country, Manhattan seems to be a bubble immune to the construction slowdown. Occa- sionally, Downs will have to have some guys stay home, but when he does, he keeps his workers on a rotating schedule so no one person is missing too much work, and he also keeps in mind who has families to support or other financial obligations.

8:30 a.m. Downs calls his crew who are installing flooring in a home in the Hamptons, two hours from Manhattan. “I try to choose more responsible people for those jobs so I don’t have to check in as often,” Downs says. He started his business 26 years ago as a one-man operation after gradu- ating from college with a liberal arts degree. He knew he didn’t want to go to grad school or find a job where he had to put on a tie every day, and he accidentally fell At the Manhattan showroom, Downs reviews flooring options with Mark Skinner and Aimee Morris of Skinner Interiors. into flooring when a friend was renovating an apartment. Downs rented some equipment to sand the floor, some neighbors saw him sanding, and his business grew job-by- cracking down and we would get about $6,000 a year in job. Even though Downs started his business as the sole parking tickets,” Downs recalls. “Now we get about a third man of the operation, he’s rarely in the field these days, of that!” So he carefully tries to coordinate the driver’s instead spending most of his time answering up to 200 pickups and dropoffs of workers and supplies. phone calls and e-mails each day concerning his jobs. “So many of my guys are self-managing and know a lot more 7 a.m. than I do,” Downs says, even though he admits he would In the warehouse, Downs helps Richie Lopez, who runs love to be in the field more in order to supervise better the shop during the day, get the truck ready for a crew and to make more contact with clients. However, he hasn’t starting a new job. He talks with James Doherty, nick- been able to find anyone who can handle the office tasks named “Doc,” about his plans for the day. Doc is the head as well as he can. supervisor who spends a lot of time prepping crews and organizing machines and materials. He also helps crews 8:45 a.m. in the field with the more-difficult installation and sand- Downs is a little concerned that his new estimator, Gerry ing techniques. Today, Downs has nine guys sanding and McGuinness, who was supposed to return from vacation in finishing and seven guys installing flooring in the field. Italy today, hasn’t shown up yet. McGuinness worked for Downs in the field for 14 years as an installer but Downs 7:45 a.m. moved him up recently to replace an estimator who left Downs starts the paperwork that consumes most of his the company. “It takes a lot of training to get the lan- days. He checks a message he received Saturday from his guage for proposals right,” Downs says, but he’s confident crew who were supposed to have a job completed last McGuinness has the knowledge to become a successful week. Downs told the GC the crew needed two days to estimator. Lopez mentions how he saw on the news that sand and finish, but the site wasn’t ready until Friday, and many overseas flights into LaGuardia and Kennedy were the GC wanted the guys to work during the weekend. being delayed and that McGuinness is probably caught up They started sanding, but a neighbor stormed in, citing a

64 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

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somewhere. Lopez also mentions that there will be demonstrations Wednesday at five locations throughout the city that will likely shut down traffic. The demonstrations are in protest of the “not guilty” verdict for three New York City police officers who shot and killed an unarmed African- American man early in the morning on his wedding day. Downs suggests getting the word out to the crews that they’ll have to take the subway to the job sites, and says they’ll have to find alternate routes for the driver to get materials to the jobs.

9 a.m. Downs battles the notorious Manhattan traffic. A GC calls and asks for a break on one of the flooring jobs, from $69,000 to $60,000. Since Downs does about 85 to be difficult. percent of his work directly for GCs, he likes to help them out when he can, even though they tend to put him under 9:55 a.m. phenomenal time constraints. “Some contractors are given Downs realizes he’s a little behind from having his estima- a year for their projects, but they save maybe a week for tor out last week, so he calls one of his guys in the field the floor finishing,” Downs says. “Or there are even some and lets him know he forgot to order the wood for a proj- buildings that allow construction only during the summer, ect planned for today, and that they haven’t even finished so you have to squeeze 12 months of work into three.” a proposal for the GC yet. He has the employee work on Downs pulls out his paperwork and looks for places to a different project that they do have the materials for. New “trim the fat.” Wood has a good reputation in New York and is often called in to do a cleanup job when contractors try to keep 9:15 a.m. a project cheap and another floor company does a poor Downs is writing an estimate for one of his GCs. He job. Designers in particular ask for New Wood by name. prefers to hand-write it, then give it to his office manager, He has a long list of celebrity clients, including Sarah Jessi- Aida Padilla, to type up for him to proof. Downs has a ca Parker, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, David Bowie, sliding scale for pricing, based mainly on how intricate or Lauren Bacall, John F. Kennedy Jr., and more. difficult the project is. The price may also go up if Downs has previously worked with the designers and found them 10:15 a.m. Downs’ estimator obviously won’t be in today, so Downs goes through McGuinness’ scheduled appointments to cancel. He speaks with one client who he remembers was one of his first jobs, “When New York felt like a smaller town,” Downs says. The city has grown but it remains the perpetual melting pot, according to Downs, who points to his team, made up of workers of Peruvian, Irish, Jamaican, Puerto Rican and Haitian descent.

10:50 a.m. An anxious designer who already called a couple of times earlier this morning calls again, worrying if her floor will be done in time for the homeowners to move in. Downs tries to explain the finer points of finishing a wood floor, and how important it will be to protect the finish. The client isn’t concerned about that and is mainly worried about getting the homeowners in. “I think the industry must be the most difficult in New York City because everyone is so intense,” Downs says. “Everyone wants it yesterday.”

11 a.m. Downs checks in on a Fifth Avenue finishing job in progress. Downs schedules a faux wood painter to do some touch-

66 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

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one-bedroom apartment. The catch was, Downs had to restore it. So it was a labor of love and a lot of money, but it paid off in a great apartment with a great location.

12:30 p.m. Downs walks down the street to a small Italian bistro for lunch. One of the many advantages to living in the city is the abundance of great dining.

1:35 p.m. While Montesinos watches the truck, Downs stops at a bank to make some deposits and cash a petty cash check.

2 p.m. Downs finds a parking space for his truck. He takes the Downs takes a look at plans at the site office for an Upper service entrance to check on a long-term project on Park East Side townhouse project. Avenue and meet with the GC. New Wood is installing 8,000 square feet of antique 6-inch white oak plank up work. He says having someone come in specifically reclaimed from old beams. The homeowners had specified for touch-ups was one of the best discoveries for him. He they didn’t want the boards to look too rustic; they wanted used to have Doc do all the touch-ups, but that took a lot more of a refined, antique look that required many hours of time from his supervisory work. of hand-selecting boards. As with most new construction projects, New Wood is working around other trades, so 11:35 a.m. the flooring is being installed in segments. The homeown- Downs drives to his showroom on the corner of 72nd and ers hired Kurt Hansen of H and K Hansen Floors of New Broadway. He has one of his employees, Carlos Mon- Jersey to hand-scrape all 8,000 feet with a technique he tesinos, stay in the truck because he typically can’t find learned from his father. Kurt plans to scrape 200 feet a parking and doesn’t want to risk any tickets. Downs says day and anticipates the project will take him all summer the only reason he’s able to get a showroom in such a to complete. “And then afterward, they’ll probably throw a great location is because he splits it with other tradesmen. rug over all his work,” Downs jokes. There’s someone in cabinetry, one in ceiling painting and one in lighting, but he thinks his use of the floors really 2:30 p.m. dominates the space and that he’s getting a better deal Downs gets stuck in early afternoon traffic on his way to than everyone else. At the showroom, Downs discusses several flooring options with two people from Skinner Associates who are acting as homeowner representatives. They are looking for something very simple and don’t want too many options, which might confuse the homeowners. However, they are drawn to many examples in Downs’ showroom, including the end-grain and the sapele. Downs promises to have samples of the more traditional oak and maple made for them to show their clients.

Noon Downs stops by his apartment building in the West 80s, where he’s done a great deal of restoration work. This area used to be run down, but the landlord, who is a client of Downs’, started buying up buildings and renovating them— a trend most of the neighborhood followed. Because they were friends, the landlord eventually offered Downs a cheap apartment in the building, which was serendipitous, considering Downs’ family was fast outgrowing their old Downs’ crew examines a stained floor for bleedback.

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has a few thousand for flooring, but the project designer requested New Wood and wants only the best herringbone with six coats of finish. Downs looks over the plans for the project and laughs because the designer uses an obscure French term that really just means “herringbone.” “After 26 years in hardwood flooring, it’s funny to hear some of the things people call different patterns,” Downs says. He is going to try to appease both the designer’s plan and the GC’s price, but in the end, he has to make sure his own business is taken care of.

4 p.m. Miguel Velez drives the delivery truck in, and he and Lopez start unloading and going through the rags. Downs had a close call last week when some stain rags were put into the regular garbage and ignited. Now the shop has steel disposal cans, and someone has to go through all the rags picked up from the job immediately and make sure they’re disposed of properly. There have even been Back at the office, Downs reviews the next day’s schedule times, Downs says, that rags have only been in the back with Moliere “Moe” Barthelemy and Richie Lopez. of the truck a couple of hours before they got too hot to even touch. And Downs is no stranger to fire emergencies. another residential job where he wanted to double-check About 13 years ago, he owned a flooring supply shop, the that the elevator was indeed too small to transport his Floor Store, in addition to his contracting company. One 12-foot-long, specially ordered flooring. Since he can see night, he got a call from the fire department and, expect- that all of Park Avenue and 5th Avenue are congested, he ing it to be a false alarm, he saw that the store was nearly decides to put that task off until a better time tomorrow, burnt to the ground. It took him about a month to clean and instead travels down a side street to check on his guys up the disaster, which turned out to be caused by faulty installing new flooring in an old carriage house. At the turn wiring. Even though it was devastating, the fire did bring of the century, when the Vanderbuilts and other notewor- some positive things to his life. For one, Downs decided to thy families were building mansions on Park Avenue, they put all of his time and energy into his contracting business built nearby carriage houses. What once housed horses because he was trying to do too much with both the Floor are now hot commodities for people looking to renovate Store and the contracting business. Secondly, he took a housing in Manhattan. vacation to recuperate from the fire and ended up meeting his wife. 3:05 p.m. Downs checks in with Moliere “Moe” Barthelemy, who is 4:30 p.m. putting down poly in a large apartment downtown. He Downs is in the office wrapping up some paperwork then calls the GC in charge of the job that his guys got and e-mails when a man comes to the door selling a new kicked off of. They try to figure out the best time for the type of sandpaper. Downs has Doc talk with the man and crew to come in to finish the job. gather a few samples. After talking about it and looking at the product, Downs and Doc decide they’ll probably stay 3:12 p.m. with their traditional sanding belts. Downs double-parks his truck to run into a coffee shop. Montesinos is there to watch it, and he gets nervous when 5:30 p.m. a police car pulls up behind the truck. The cops move on, Downs goes over the crew schedule for tomorrow and and Montesinos breathes a sigh of relief. goes through the mail. He calls his wife to ask her to take their son to his guitar lessons. He usually makes it a point 3:35 p.m. to get out early on Mondays, but it looks like he still has a Downs heads back to his office in the Bronx. Even in the lot of catching up to do, so he’ll be in the office a while. warehouse district, it’s hard to find parking. Once inside, Downs starts working on a price estimate for a GC who 6:30 p.m. demanded an immediate proposal. The GC said he only Downs closes shop and heads home for the night. ■

70 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

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ith so many prefinished wood flooring products on the market today, there’s flooring out there to match just about any color, W species, style or finish treatment a customer could want. The choices can be overwhelming, so Hardwood Floors has assembled its exclusive charts on the following pages to help you sort through the options. Please note that this year, each company was limited to one line in the chart. For contract prefinishers and prefinished trim and moldings, see page 98.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 73

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 73 10/2/08 10:16:42 AM Aacer Flooring Allwood Import Alston American Heart Pine

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) (inches)Widths Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge Aacer Flooring LLC • www.aacerflooring.com Aacer XL Prefinished • • ¾ 2¼ , 3¼ , 4, 5 •

Allwood Import LLC • www.allwoodimport.com

9 Antiqua • •••• ⁄16 5•

Allwoods/Wood Floor Mart • www.woodfloormart.com, www.chessfloors.com Chess Floors •• • • • ½ ,¾ 3,4,5,6,7 •

Alston Inc. • www.alstoninc.com Winston Collection • •••• ½ 3½ ,5,5¼ ,7 •

American Heart Pine Corporation • www.americanheartpine.com

9 5 Presidential Series •• ••• ⁄16,¾ 5, 7 ⁄8 ••

Ancestral Floors • www.ancestralfloors.com Ancestral Eko Shield • •• ¾ 2¼ -7¼ •

Anton Lorenz GmbH & Co. KG • www.lopark.com

9 15 1 Lopark Royal, Lorenzo Antique • • ⁄16, ⁄32 2¾ ,5 ⁄32 ••

Appalachian Flooring Ltd. • www.appalachianflooring.com Appalachian Collection • • ¾ 2,2¼ ,3¼ ,4¼ •

ArborCraft/Harris Wood • www.arborcraftfloors.com Harris Wood-Rocky Mountain Hand-Scraped • • ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4,5 •

Arimar International Corporation • www.arimarwood.com

5 Arimar •• • • • • ¾ sol , ⁄8 eng 5•

Armstrong Hardwood Flooring • www.armstrong.com

3 Premier Performance •• •• ⁄8 3,4½ ,5¼ ••

74 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 74 10/2/08 2:10:12 PM Ancestral Floors Appalachian Flooring ArborCraft Armstrong

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

• • • n/a n/a Available in Northern red oak, maple, ash, cherry, hickory and birch.

• • • 3 3 mm Hand-distressed line of engineered flooring featuring species from around the world.

• 7-10 2,2.5,3 mm Established in 1984; exotic species available.

• • 3 2 mm Hand-scraped; FSC-certified; 25-year finish, lifetime structural warranties, 13 colors.

5 •3⁄32 Antique and new heart pine in warranted natural, brass, copper and more finishes.

n/a n/a Pre-oiled; environmentally friendly; can go over concrete or radiant heat.

7 ••• 2 ⁄32

• • 8 4 mm

• n/a n/a New for 2008, this hand-scraped solid features rustic, subtle contours.

• • • 9 4 mm 100% birch backing.

• • • 5 2 mm Wide range of sizes, species, colors and edge treatments.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 75

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 75 10/1/08 12:34:07 PM fromWall Street to Main Street

BLC has you covered. Whether your home is an estate or a cottage, in the standards in the industry provide you with the city or the suburbs, BLC’s Homestead Collection best Á ooring option for any décor. So whether has you covered. The combination of our state- you’re overlooking wall street or main street don’t of-the-art À nish line and the highest grading overlook BLC’s Homestead Collection.

www.FloorsForLife.com

HF10_BLCHardwoodFlr1008.indd 2 9/24/08 10:18:34 AM Antique Floors Without Tearing Down Your Grandfather’s Barn.

Do you want to buy an antique story or The look and texture is that of wood do you want to buy a quality new Á oor enriched through age with the strength and that looks and feels like an antique? durability of modern day Á ooring. We’ll Homestead Antiqued Á ooring is produced provide the quality Á oor and you can make by distressing quality, new Á ooring to give up the story of which old barn or factory it the appearance of being 100 years old. was torn down to make it just for you.

www.FloorsForLife.com

HF10_BLCHardwoodFlr1008.indd 3 9/24/08 10:19:19 AM Authentic Pine Floors Award B.N.S. Berg & Berg

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) (inches)Widths Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge Arrigoni Woods • www.arrigoniwood.com Admonter • • • • 15, 21mm 6,7½ •

Augusta Lumber LLC • www.montebelloflooring.com Monte-Bello • ••• ¾ 2¼ ,3,4,5 •

Authentic Pine Floors • www.authenticpinefloors.com

9 1 1 Antique Heart Pine • ••• ⁄16 5 ⁄8,7 ⁄16 •

Avant Guard Flooring • www.avantguardflooring.com

9 Symmetry Engineered Flooring • •••• ⁄16 3½ •

Award Hardwood Floors • www.awardfloors.com

9 Award Flooring •• • • • ½ , ⁄16,¾ 2¼ -7 • • •

B.N.S. Wood Industry Co. Ltd. • www.bnswood.co.th

7 1 Solid Hevea Rubberwood Sport Flooring • •• ⁄8 5 ⁄8 ••

Baltic Wood USA • www.balticwoodusa.com

9 Baltic Wood • •• ⁄16 5, 7.17 •

Bamboo and Hardwood Imports Inc. • www.bambooandhardwoodimports.com

5 5 Engineered Exotics • •••• ⁄8 3 ⁄8,5 •

Bamboo Flooring Hawaii • www.bambooflooringhawaii.com

5 5 Enviro Tropic ••• ⁄8 3 ⁄8 •

Berg & Berg • www.bergandberg.com

9 5 Wide Plank Character • ••• ⁄16 7 ⁄8 •

BHK of America Inc. • www.bhkofamerica.com

15 Moderna Transitions EVO • •• ⁄32 5•

78 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 78 10/2/08 2:11:06 PM BHK of America Brazilian Direct Bruce BSL Wood Products

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

••• 3 4-5 mm

• • • n/a n/a White oak: 3¼ width; 50-year finish warranty.

3 4 mm Authentic Oil prefinished.

• • • 3 4 mm Also simulated oil-look 6% gloss finish; 12 standard stain colors; also ¾ ” solid flooring.

• multi 2,3 mm Featuring original Wearmax Ceramic Finish; residential and commercial warranties.

• • • n/a n/a

• • 3 3.6 mm Oil finish and beveled edge available on select products.

• • • 9 4 mm Many exotic species and moldings available.

• n/a n/a Available in natural, lightly stained and dark stain.

5 •3⁄32 Red and white oak, cherry, heart pine and more; 25-year finish warranty.

1 1 23 •• multi ⁄8 Plies: ⁄8 wood wear layer + ⁄64 HDF base; glueless click engineered with Uniclic.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 79

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 79 10/1/08 12:34:51 PM Byrne Wood Floors Cala Flooring Canterbury Flooring Castle Flooring

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) (inches)Widths Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge BLC Hardwood Flooring • www.floorsforlife.com The Homestead Collection • •• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4,5 •

Brazilian Direct Ltd. • www.brazilianhardwood.com Classic Solid Exotics Collection • •• ¾ 3,3¼ ,4,5 •

Bruce Hardwood Flooring • www.armstrong.com

3 Bruce Wentworth Estates • • ⁄8 5•

BSL Wood Products • www.bslcanada.com Signature BSL • ••• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4¼ ,5¼ •

Byrne Wood Floors Commercial/Heritage Classics • •••• ¾ 5-12 •

Cala Flooring Inc. • www.calaflooring.com

5 Cala Flooring • ••• ⁄16,½ ,¾ 3,4,5 •

Canterbury Flooring • www.canterburyflooring.com

5 5 Signature Custom •• ••••⁄16,¾ , ⁄8 eng 2¼ ,3,3¼ ,4,5,6,7,8 • •

Castle Flooring/National Hardwood Flooring & Moulding • www.nationalhardwood.com

5 Castle Flooring •• • • • ¾ , ⁄8 eng 3¼ ,5 •

Cikel Brasil Verde Madeiras Ltda. • www.cikel.com.br

5 3 Ipanema, Vitoria, Vila Velha,Brasilia, LeBlon • ⁄16, ⁄8 3,3¼ ,5 •

Country Wood Flooring • www.countrywoodfloor.com

9 5 Country Wood Flooring,Country Club Collection • • •••• ⁄16, ⁄8,¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,5,6 ••

Creative at Home Inc. • www.creativeathome.com

9 Antique Impressions •• •••• ⁄16,¾ 3½ ,4¼ ,5,6,7,8,9,10 • •

80 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 80 10/2/08 2:12:00 PM Cikel Brasil Creative at Home Dhomus Fine Flooring Edelweiss

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

• • • n/a n/a Available in 4 grades and 7 colors.

• n/a n/a Species include amendoim, Bolivian Rosewood, Brazilian cherry, teak, kempas and more.

1 •• •5 ⁄12 Hand-scraped; patented NextGen locking technology.

• n/a n/a Species: maple, oak, cherry, birch; Grades: Rustic, Horizon, Natural, Select; 5 colors.

3,11 5 mm Low-sheen finish for commercial and residential; fumed colors only, no stains.

• • 7-9 0.6,2 mm Exotic African and South American species; sawn face veneers; up to 7’ random lengths.

• • • 9 5 mm Available in 50 species; smooth-faced with semi-gloss finish; custom stain, textures.

• 3 or more 3 mm Available in smooth or hand-scraped; domestic and exotic species.

• • • • 4,5 varies Wear layer thicknesses: Brasilia: ¾ ”, LeBlon: 3 mm, Ipanema: 0.7 mm, Vitoria: 1.6 mm.

• • • 3,7,9 3,4 mm

• 3 3.5 mm + Extra-long lengths; character-grade alder, oak, walnut; matching baseboards, doors.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 81

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 81 10/1/08 12:36:12 PM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

Elite Building Products Enito Flooring ForesFloor

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) (inches)Widths Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge DBM Import/Export Inc. • www.dbmhardwoodflooring.com

DBM Hardwood •• • • • ¾ , ½ eng 3½ ,5½ •

Dhomus Fine Flooring • www.dhomusfineflooring.com Colors by Dhomus Fine Flooring Corp. • •• ¾ 3•

Dyerich Flooring Designs • www.dyerichflooring.com

3 9 •••⁄8, ⁄16 3½ ,5 • •

Edelweiss Wood Flooring LLC • www.edelweissflooring.com

13 Schotten & Hansen • ••• ⁄16 random •

Elite Building Products • www.elitebuildingproducts.com The Versailles Collection • •• ¾ 4¾ •

Enito Flooring Pte. Ltd. • www.enitoflooring.com Palm Wood Flooring • ••• 0.6 3.55 •

Expama • www.expama.com

3 9 •• ••• ⁄8 , ⁄16,¾ 3,4,5 •

Exportbras

3 ⁄8 , ½ , South American Exotics •• •••• 9 2¼ ,3,3¼ ,4,5 • ⁄16,¾

Ferma Wood Flooring Inc. • www.fermaw.com

5 5 Ferma •• • • • • ½ , ⁄8,¾ 2¼ ,3,3¼ ,3 ⁄8,3¾ ,4¾ •

ForesFloor • www.foresfloor.com •••¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4¼ ,5 •

Forest Brand Floors • www.forestbrand.com

9 East Star • •• ⁄16 3,5 •

82 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 82 10/2/08 2:13:36 PM Frame Hardwoods Franwood Goodwin Heart Pine Green River Lumber

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

• • 3 3 mm Exotic species from southeast Asia.

• • • n/a n/a Teak flooring available in 5 stain colors and 2 clear coats.

• • • 7 3,4 mm Herringbone engineered flooring also available.

• 3 or 4 4-6 mm 1-strip wear layers.

• n/a n/a Available in 3 colors of white oak and 4 colors of yellow birch.

••• n/a n/a No formaldehyde or VOCs.

• • • • 5 3 mm

• • varies 0.6-4 mm Available in most of the popular South American species.

• multi 2,3 mm

• • • n/a n/a Total Moisture Guard undercoating; commercial-grade oiled finish available.

• 5 3 mm Natural laquered product.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 83

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 83 10/1/08 12:42:44 PM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

Greyne Custom Wood Grizzly Forest Hawa Bamboo

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) (inches)Widths Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge Frame Hardwoods Inc. • www.plankflooring.com Chelsea Plank Flooring • ••• ¾ 3,4,5,6,7 •

Franwood International Inc. • www.franwoodfloors.com

9 Franwood • ••• ⁄16 3¼ •

Goodwin Heart Pine Co. • www.heartpine.com

5 Reclaimed Heart Pine Precision Engineered • •••• ⁄8 5¼ ,7 •

Great Atlantic International Inc. • www.greatatlanticint.com Plantation House Hardwood Flooring • •• ¾ 3,4,5 •

Green River Lumber Inc. • www.greenriverlumber.com Green River-American Hardwood • ••• ¾ 3,4,5 •

Greyne Custom Wood Co. • www.greyne.com

5 •• •••• ⁄8,¾ varies ••

Grizzly Forest Products • www.grizzlyforest.com

7 1 7 •• ••••¾ , ⁄16 eng 3 ⁄8-6 ⁄8;4¾ -7½ eng •

Hawa Bamboo Flooring Corp. • www.hawabamboo.com

5 5 Solid bamboo flooring • •• ⁄8 5 ⁄8 •

Heidelberg Wood Flooring • www.heidelbergwoodflooring.com

5 • •••• ⁄8 3,4,5,6,7,8 ••

Heritage Oak Flooring • www.mid-americahardwoods.com •• ¾ 3¼ ,4,5 •

Hertog Vloeren BV • www.hertogvloeren.com Hertog Vloeren New Scraped • ••••20 mm 220 mm •

84 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 84 10/2/08 2:14:11 PM Heidelberg Flooring Higuera HomerWood Johnson Premium

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

• • 1 0.27 32 floors available on 9 North American species; custom colors; made in USA.

5 •3 ⁄32

3 •10⁄16 8’ lengths.

• n/a n/a Imported flooring: jatoba (Brazilian cherry), cumaru (Brazilian teak), tigerwood.

• n/a 3 mm New Nano Finish coming in 2009 with a limited lifetime residential wear warranty.

3 9 ⁄16 Finish: penetrating oil, non-VOC polyurethane.

• 8 3 mm Engineered antique floor is made in the USA.

• 1,3 n/a Hand-scraped bamboo; 4 natural color options; 4 stained color options.

• • 9 4 mm Available in natural prefinished and hand-scraped prefinished.

• • • n/a n/a

3 6 mm Hard-wax oil finish; flooring scraped along sides; character; suitable for radiant heat.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 85

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 85 10/1/08 12:43:58 PM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

Karelia Koetter Woodworking Margaritelli

5 7 •• •••• ⁄8 3 ⁄8,5 • •

HomerWood Hardwood Flooring • www.homerwood.com Character Grade Flooring • •• ¾ 3,4,5,6 •

Johnson Premuim Hardwood Flooring • www.jfloor.com Forever Tuff • • • • • ½ 4¾ •

Karelia Hardwood Floors • www.kareliahardwoodfloors.com

9 •••⁄16 5.4,6.3,7.2,7.4 • •

Knights’ of Meaford Inc. • www.knightsofmeaford.com

3 13 Solid Strip, Tongue and Grooved • • ⁄8,½ , ⁄16 1¼ -3¼ •

Koetter/Kentucky Wood Floors • www.koetterwoodworking.com

5 •• ••• • ⁄16-¾ 2¼ -11 ••

LP Sourcing • www.lp-sourcing.com LP Natür Flooring •• • • • ¾ 3¼ ,3½ ,4,5 •

Margaritelli USA • www.listonegiordano.com

3 5 Listone Giordano/Margaritelli • •• ⁄8- ⁄8 2¾ -8¾ ••

Mercier Wood Flooring Inc. • www.mercierwoodflooring.com

9 Mercier Generations •• • • • • ½ ,¾ , ⁄16 2¼ ,4¼ ,4¼ ,5 •

Mirage/Boa-Franc • www.miragefloors.com

3 9 5 Mirage Engineered • •• ⁄8,½ 2 ⁄16,3 ⁄16,5 •

Missouri Hardwood Products • www.missourihardwoodproducts.com The Country Plank Series • • ¾ 3,4,5-7 •

86 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 86 10/2/08 2:14:42 PM Mercier Mirage/Boa-Franc Model Hardwood Mountain Lumber

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

••3¼ Bamboo products.

• n/a n/a Prefinished Amish hand-scraped flooring also available; 25-year finish warranty.

• • • 9 1.6 mm New prefinished line with 17-step finishing process; available in 5 exotic specis.

• 3 4 mm Heat treatments; 1,2,3 strip in most species; oiled and 10% matte finish available.

• n/a n/a Canada’s oldest continuous manufacturer of hardwood flooring.

• • 6-12 4-8 mm Also ceramic finish; 12 standard colors and custom orders available.

•• •3

• • • 3-9 ¼ Traditional and exotic hardwoods.

• 7 4 mm

5 • • 5,7 ⁄32 Also Mirage Classic, Mirage Lock, Mirage Commercial; Nanolinx finish.

• n/a n/a Stock colors: Natural, Mocha, Nutmeg; other special order colors/sheens available.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 87

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 87 10/1/08 12:46:07 PM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

Mullican Flooring Muskoka Nova USA

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) (inches)Widths Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge Model Hardwood Inc. • www.pgmodel.com Model Classic and Unique Collections • •• ¾ 2,2¼ ,2½ ,3¼ ,4¼ •

Moosewood Flooring • www.moosewoodflooring.com • ••• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4,5 • •

Mountain Lumber Company • www.mountainlumber.com Entique Distressed Oak • • • • • 15 mm 3-7 •

Mullican Flooring • www.mullicanflooring.com Nature Collection • •• ¾ 3,4,5 •

Muskoka Hardwood Flooring • www.muskokaflooring.com •• ¾ 2¼ ,3,3¼ ,4,5 •

North Wood Flooring • www.northwoodflooring.net North Wood Collection • •• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 •

Nova USA Wood Products • www.novausawood.com • ••• ¾ 3,4,5 •

Old Master Products Inc. • www.oldmasterproducts.com, www.thegarrisoncollection.com

7 5 Garrison Collection • •••• ⁄16- ⁄8 2¾ ,3¼ ,5,6,6¼ ,7 • • •

Oshkosh Designs • www.oshkoshdesigns.com

5 Herringbone Grid •• ⁄16 custom •

Owens Flooring Company • www.teamowensinc.com

5 Owens Select •• •••• ⁄8 3,4,5 •

The Palo Duro Companies • www.palodurocollection.com

5 The Palo Duro Collection • • • • • • • ¾ , ⁄8 eng 3-7,3-6 eng •

88 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 88 10/2/08 2:15:23 PM Old Master OshKosh Designs Owens Flooring Palo Duro

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

• n/a n/a 10 species, 12 stains; 25-year warranty; Extreme finish lifetime warranty; FSC-certified.

• • n/a n/a FSC-certified; Northern maple, birch, red oak, white pine.

• 9 3 mm Top wear layer is 100% reclaimed antique oak pre-stained chocolate brown.

• n/a n/a Solid hardwood floors in American cherry, maple, walnut, red oak, hickory.

• 3 5 mm

• n/a n/a Species include red oak, white oak, hard maple, cherry, hickory, red birch, yellow birch.

• • n/a n/a Also FSC-certified prefinished engineered in red and white oak, maple, American cherry.

• • 9 2-5 mm

• • n/a n/a New product; parquet grids simplify installation.

3 •• •10 ⁄16 Exceptionally longer lengths; low-formaldehyde.

• 3,10 4 mm 12 hand-scraped products in solid and engineered; custom staining and treatments.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 89

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 89 10/1/08 12:47:17 PM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

Pinnacle Interior Elements Plyquet of America Prestige

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) ths (inches) Wid Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge Pinnacle Interior Elements Inc. • www.pinnacle.org

7 Mountain Lodge Classics • •• ⁄16 5 nominal •

Plyquet of America • www.plyquet.com

3 9 Teka Hardwood ••••••• ⁄8,½ , ⁄16,¾ 3½ ,5,6,7,8,10 • • •

Pollmeier Leimholz GmbH • www.pollmeier.com

15 Pollmeier • ••• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,3 ⁄16,4½ ,5½ •

Prestige Enterprise Intl. • www.prestigefloor.com •• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4¼ ,5 •

Preverco Inc. • www.preverco.com

7 3 PreLoc •½ 3 ⁄16,5 ⁄16 •

Progressive Finishing • www.progressivefinishing.ca

5 •• ••• ¾ , ⁄8 eng 2¼ -4¼ ,3-5 eng ••

Prolinea LLC • www.prolineafloor.com

3 Monogram XL • ••• ⁄8,½ ,¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4 • •

Rehmeyer Precision Millwork Inc. • www.rehmeyerfloors.com Complete • •• ¾ 3,4,5 •

Renaissance Old World Inc. • www.carving.com Raphael • ••• ½ 5•

Ressler Hardwoods and Flooring Inc. • www.resslerflooring.com •• ¾ 2¼ -8 •

Robbins Fine Hardwood Flooring • www.armstrong.com

5 Regent • • ⁄8 7•

Robina Wood Inc. • www.robinafloors.com

3 • ••• ⁄8,½ 3½ ,5 •

90 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 90 10/2/08 3:10:01 PM Preverco Robbins Robinson Lumber Satin Finish

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

7 2 mm Pillowed edge; ceramic finish; available in maple, hickory and 6 colors.

• varies varies Also oil finish; many species, edge treatments, finishes and style options; G5 Loc.

• n/a n/a Hardwax oil finish also available.

• • • n/a n/a

1 ••7 ⁄8 Self-locking joints with patented technology from Välinge; Nano parts finish.

• • • 9 4.5 mm Species: oak, maple, jatoba.

• n/a n/a

• n/a n/a Lengths 12-84”; 25-year limited warranty; red or white oak, cherry, hickory.

3 •10⁄16 Custom hand-scraped in walnut and hickory; choice of finish color.

• n/a n/a

• • 7 2 mm Hand-scraped; 25-year warranty; rich browns in sapele; French-bleed edge.

• • 5,7 2 mm VR LOC from Välinge.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 91

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 91 10/2/08 10:16:24 AM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

Shamrock Sheoga Somerset

9 SureLoc G5 Engineered Flooring • •••• ⁄16 5•

Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring • www.satinfinish.com

9 5 Multi-Plank • • • • ½ , ⁄16 3,3 ⁄8,4¼ •

Seasons/Husky Flooring • www.seasonsflooring.com •• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4 •

Shamrock Plank Flooring • www.shamrockplankflooring.com

5 The Shamrock Collection •• • • • • ¾ , ⁄8 eng 2¼ -8,3-8 eng ••

Sheoga Hardwood Flooring and Paneling Inc. • www.sheogaflooring.com Graceful Collection • •• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4¼ ,5¼ ••

Snow Country Hardwoods Inc. Classics • ••• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ ,4 •

Somerset Wood Products Inc. • www.somersetfloors.com Country Collection • • ¾ 3,5 •

Southern Wood Floors • www.southernwoodfloors.com

9 5 Select Wide Plank •• •••• ¾ , ⁄16 5,6,7 ⁄8 ••

SouthFloor • www.southfloor.com

9 7 5 Rustic Wide Plank •• •••• ¾ , ⁄16 5,6,6 ⁄8,7 ⁄8 ••

Springcreek Flooring by North Pacific • www.springcreekflooring.com •••¾ 2¼ -5 •

Stile Pavimenti Legno SPA • www.stile.com

3 9 5 13 9 1 Stilnovo • • ⁄8, ⁄16, ⁄8, ⁄16 2¾ ,3 ⁄16,6¾ ,5½ ,7 ⁄16 •••

92 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 92 10/2/08 2:19:12 PM Southern Wood Floors SouthFloor Springcreek Stile Pavimenti

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

1 •• ⁄8 Ceramic finish; Brazilian cherry, tigerwood, Brazilian walnut, Caribbean heart pine.

1 1 •• •2 ⁄6, ⁄5 Red oak, maple, birch, ash, walnut; 30-year wear and lifetime structural warranty.

• • • n/a n/a Nanotech finish incorporates aluminum oxide crystals with nanotechnology.

3 •9 ⁄16 Species include red oak, white oak, hickory, walnut, American cherry.

• • n/a n/a Wider widths upon request.

• n/a n/a

• • • n/a n/a 7 collections featuring solid and engineered options in many colors and character styles.

5 • multi ⁄32 Natural, Aged Natural, Aged Patina finishes on a variety of species.

5 • multi ⁄32 Wide range of species and grades; solid and engineered; 25-year finish warranty.

• • • n/a n/a

1 3 3 •• 2 ⁄8, ⁄16,¼ , ⁄16

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 93

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 93 10/1/08 12:49:37 PM Strategis Syracuse Ten Oaks Timeless Wood Floors (GA)

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING EDGES METHOD Solid Engineered Acrylic Impregnated Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Flooring Thickness (inches) (inches)Widths Square Beveled Microbeveled/ Eased Edge Strategis International Inc. • www.trilliumhardwood.com

5 Trillium Uniclic • •••• ⁄8,¾ 3½ ,5 •

Sunshine Floors Inc. • www.sunshinefloor.com

5 9 3 1 •• ••• ⁄8,¾ , ⁄16 2¼ ,3¼ ,3½ ,3 ⁄8,4,5 ⁄8 ••

Syracuse Commercial Floors • www.syracusefloors.com

•• •• ¾ ,½ eng standard, custom •

Ten Oaks • www.tenoaksflooring.com Ten Oaks with Tite Six Side Seal • ••• ¾ 2¼ ,3¼ •

Timeless Wood Floors Inc. (GA) • www.timelesswoodfloors.com Heirloom Series •• • • • • ½ -1 2¼ -8 • • •

TRB Flooring Company • www.trbflooring.com

7 Nature’s Charm •• •••• ⁄16,½ ,¾ 3¼ ,5 •

Triton International Woods • www.tritonwoods.com

9 •• ••••½ , ⁄16,¾ 3¼ -12 •

U.V. Finish Inc.

9 Flint River Flooring •• • • • ½ , ⁄16,¾ 4¾ -7¾ ••

Ua Wood Floors Inc. • www.uafloors.com

9 • •••• varies 2¼ ,3¼ ,3 ⁄16,5½ ,7½ •

Urban Floor Inc. • www.urbanfloor.com

9 • •••• ⁄16 5•

US Floors Inc. • www.naturalbamboofloors.com

9 5 5 5 Natural Bamboo •• • • • ½ , ⁄16 , ⁄8 3¾ ,5¼ ,5 ⁄8,6,6 ⁄8,7½ •

94 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 94 10/2/08 2:20:37 PM Triton International Ua Wood Floors USFloors Verde Floors

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

9,11 3 mm DurAlOx Everlast finish: UV-cured polyurethane with aluminum oxide.

• • 3,7,10 2,3,4 mm Smooth surface and hand-scraped hardwood and bamboo flooring.

• 3 3.5 mm FSC-certified materials available.

•• n/a n/a Comes in natural finish in standard grades; true square edge.

• • • 7 2.5-6 mm Can also prefinish any flooring products and accessories to match flooring.

• 6 2,3,4 mm Available in 7 exotic species; ¾ ” flooring is FSC -certified.

• • • 3 3,14 mm Australian wormy chestnut (pictured), antique, domestic, exotic species also.

•• 10 3.5-6.5 mm

• • 2 2,3,4 mm Thickness:10.5,11.5,12.7 mm; precision T&G; high abrasion resistance; lengths up to 7’.

• 9 3-4 mm

• varies varies Bamboo in traditional horizontal and vertical; stained, hand-scraped, strand-woven.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 95

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 95 10/1/08 12:50:31 PM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

Verona Hardwood Vintage Hardwood Flooring Vintage Hardwoods

5 5 7 9 • ••••⁄16,½ , ⁄8, ⁄8 3,3 ⁄16,4½ ,5,7½ ,9½ ••

Verona Hardwood • www.veronahardwood.com

3 5 •• •••••⁄8,½ , ⁄8,¾ 3-8 • • •

Viking International Inc. • www.vikingwood.com

9 Viking Wood •• • • • ¾ , ⁄16 eng 2¼ ,3,3¼ ,4,5 • •

Vintage Hardwood Flooring • www.vintageflooring.com

9 Pioneered, Crafted, Solid Sawn •• ••••¾ , ⁄16 eng 2¼ -5, 3½ -5½ , 3¼ -7 •

Vintage Hardwoods, dba Copper Plank Custom Mill • www.copperplank.com

5 Artisan •• •• ⁄8, ¾ up to 10 • •

WE Cork Inc. • www.wecork.com

7 The Avant Garde Collection • • ⁄16 12 •

Weitzer Parkett • www.weitzer-parkett.com WP-Wave • • ½ 5•

Wellmade Floor Coverings International • www.wellmadecorp.com Red Arowana Bamboo and Hardwood • • • • • • • varies varies • • •

Weyerhaeuser • www.lyptus.com Lyptus Engineered Hardwood Flooring • • • • • ½ 3¼ ,5 •

96 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 96 10/2/08 2:21:51 PM WE Cork Weitzer Parkett Wellmade Weyerhaeuser

FINISH TYPE

Urethane Acrylic UV-Cured Wax Aluminum Oxide Number of Plies Layer Wear Thickness (inches) Additional Comments

• • • 3-multi 2-6 mm

• • • 3-9 0.6-6 mm Custom specification programs in a variety of species including reclaimed.

• 2 4 mm Engineered length: 7’.

• • • 7 3 mm Solid sawn line is a 3-ply solid lumber ¾ ” floor with 4.2-5 mm wear layer.

n/a n/a Polyurethane finish.

• 4 2.8 mm

• 2 3,6 mm

3 9 5 • • • • 3,7-9,11 .6,1.2,3,4,6 mm Thickness: ⁄8,½ , ⁄16, ⁄8,¾ ; widths: 3,3.62,3.78,4.72,4.92,6,6.38,7.48; 16 species; moldings.

1 • ⁄8 Environmentally responsible exotic flooring.

October|November 2008 Q Hardwood Floors 97

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 97 10/1/08 12:51:24 PM Product Focus Prefinished Wood Flooring

CONTRACT PREFINISHERS

Avant-Guard Inc. • www.avantguardflooring.com UV Crystal Inc. • www.uvcrystal.com Located one hour from the New York/Canada border, Avant-Guard has a finishing capacity of more than 50,000 square feet per day. The company can produce more than 125 stain colors and offers any gloss level, including its 6 percent simulated-oil look with a smooth or brushed texture, in either a filled or open-pore face. The company also offers a 35-year warranty. Since 1997, UV Crystal has specialized in subcontracting staining and finishing in either natural oils Premiere Finishing & Coating • www.premierefinishingandcoating.com or UV-cured finish for wood flooring manufacturers. The company’s approach includes a consult- Premiere prefinishes all species, widths and ing service dedicated to pinpointing clients’ thicknesses for the flooring market, including requirements, it says, adding that it produces a both domestic and exotic species. The company top-quality, durable product using cutting-edge calibrate-sands, final-sands, finishes, defects and technology. The company has highly trained and re-endmatches, boxes, skids, shrink-wraps and efficient bilingual personnel who offer a consis- warehouses products for its customers. tently superior standard of work and delivery, the company adds.

PREFINISHED TRIM + MOLDINGS

Colonial Millworks • www.colonialmillwork.com Finium • www.finium.ca Colonial Millworks is in the heart of Appalachian hardwood Finium specializes in moldings, region, where its modern facility has expanded over the vents and stair treads, and the last 15 years to over 200,000 square feet. The company company controls every step of currently manufactures over 6,000 SKUs and formulates the manufacturing process, it over 500 colors in-house. With five high-speed molders, says. All accessories are offered seven staining lines and four profile sanders, the company with UV-cured finish with alumi- provides the highest-quality transition moldings, it says. num oxide and nanotechnology. The plant produces over one million board feet per month Additionally, all Finium products in fifteen species, including all domestic species and are individually shrink-wrapped several exotic species. and are covered by a 25-year warranty. Also, the color match with all flooring brands is guaranteed.

LP Sourcing • www.lp-sourcing.com LP Sourcing is a Montreal-based supplier of LP Natûr flooring, and the company also of- Wellmade Wooden & Bamboo Products fers a range of moldings. Among the offerings are prefinished stair nosing, reducers and Corp. Ltd. • www.bamboofloorings.com T-moldings in bamboo and oak.

Seneca Millwork Inc. • www.senecamillwork.com Located in Fostoria, Ohio, and founded in 1873, Seneca Millwork manufactures quality T-moldings, reducers, baby thresholds, quarter-round, wall base, and stair Wellmade produces both prefinished and unfin- nosings and treads. These products are available both ished moldings, trims, stair treads, risers and unfinished and prefinished and are matched to customers’ vents in standard dimensions. The products are color specifications. Pictured are T-moldings featuring prefinished with UV-cured urethane/acrylic finish. three handcrafted finishes: distressed, hand-scraped and Species include white oak, red oak, maple, cherry, antiqued. hickory, walnut, birch, bamboo, jatoba, mahogany, acacia, tigerwood, ipé, cumaru, sapele, rosewood and afrormosia.

98 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-PrefPF.indd 98 10/2/08 10:17:37 AM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION web site guide 2008

Point and click your way to more information about these companies (all half-page or larger advertisers in this issue) with the Hardwood Floors Web Site Guide.

COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE 3M ...... 99 Mullican Flooring ...... 104 Absolute Coatings ...... 99 National Hardwood Flooring and Moulding ...... 104 All American Wood Registers ...... 100 National Wood Flooring Association ...... 104 Appalachian Lumber Company ...... 100 Norton Abrasives ...... 105 BASF Corporation ...... 100 Old Master Products Inc./The Garrison Collection ...... 105 Basic Coatings LLC ...... 100 Oneida Air Systems ...... 105 BonaKemi USA Inc...... 100 Palo Duro Collection ...... 105 Bostik Inc...... 100 Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC ...... 106 Brazilian Direct Ltd...... 100 ProTeam Inc...... 106 Canterbury Flooring ...... 100 Shamrock Plank Flooring ...... 106 Clarke American Sanders ...... 102 Sheoga Hardwood Flooring and Paneling Inc...... 106 Dura Seal ...... 102 Spartan Chemical Company Inc...... 107 Glista American Inc...... 102 US Sander ...... 107 Johnson Premium Hardwood Floors ...... 102 VermeisterUSA ...... 107 Loba-Wakol LLC ...... 102 W.D. Flooring ...... 107 Mercer Abrasives ...... 102 Waterlox Coatings Corp...... 108 Mercier Wood Flooring ...... 102 Weyerhaeuser Company ...... 108 Mirage/Boa-Franc ...... 102 Woodeye North America Inc...... 108 Mr. Hardwoods ...... 104 Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products ...... 108

3M Absolute Coatings www.3m.com www.lastnlast.com 3M’s Web site provides informa- At this Web site, contractors and DIY tion on its innovative products consumers can fi nd a link to Absolute’s line that make jobs easier. The site of Microban enhanced fl oor fi nishes, which details 3M Regalite abrasives, 3M prohibits the growth of odor and stain- safety equipment, Scotch masking causing bacteria for the life of the fi nish, as tapes, ScotchBrite pads, 3M adhe- well as a complete listing of professional sives and Hand-Masker masking and DIY products. Included are oil-based polyurethane fl oor systems for dust control. fi nishes; water-based products; hybrid oil and water products; 20 colors of interior fast-dry stains; and Polycare fl oor maintenance products. MSDS sheets are available, as well as tech data sheets.

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 99

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 99 9/30/08 3:00:55 PM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION {web site guide}

All American Wood Registers Appalachian Lumber Company www.allamericanwood.com www.appalachianlumber.net All American’s recently revamped Web Appalachian Lumber’s new site features a streamlined quotes and Web site contains product information request form, and updated information and a glossary product descriptions and specifi cations of wood fl ooring industry for premium-quality wood interior fi nish- terms. Customers can fi nd ing accessories such as vents, registers, information on fl ooring, fl ooring transitions, decorative moldings, moldings and treads to meet stair treads and risers. Users can check their needs. out the company’s new lines of vertical vane bi-directional registers, MaxFlo optimized-airfl ow registers and more.

BASF Corporation Basic Coatings LLC www.basf.com www.basiccoatings.com Visitors to this site can easily navigate The Basic Coatings Web site is to fi nd product information, a local devoted to wood fl oor fi nishing product representative or news. and refi nishing for contractors, Users can fi nd technical data guides, architects and the owners of all MSDS, guide specifi cations, detail types of wood fl oors. Here, visitors drawings, certifi cation letters, LEED will fi nd information on maintain- contribution letters and more. The ing fl oor beauty with Basic’s site details how BASF Construction revolutionary coatings and durable Chemicals-Building Systems is helping to build a sustainable equipment. Look for Basic’s new future and how it can contribute to LEED points on jobs. Web site this fall.

BonaKemi USA Inc. Bostik Inc. www.bonakemi.com www.bostik-us.com This site provides professionals The Bostik Inc. Web site is a and consumers with compre- central depository for Bostik hensive information about Bona’s hardwood installation product hardwood fl oor fi nishing systems information. Visitors can obtain the and cleaning products. Visitors can most recently published technical select the product(s) to suit their datasheets, MSDS and/or product needs by viewing product descrip- catalogs. They can also obtain tions, MSDS, specifi cation sheets access to the company’s literature and instructional videos. ordering system by clicking on any of the “Order Literature” links.

Brazilian Direct Ltd. Canterbury Flooring www.brazilianhardwood.com www.canterburyfl oors.com Brazilian Direct’s Web site offers To show its custom fl ooring capa- detailed information on its product bilities, Canterbury Flooring’s up- offerings, as well as a photo gallery dated Web site contains a wealth for each species. The site also of new product photos from its contains useful articles related to Signature Custom, Signature fl oor choices and maintenance. A Engineered, Traditions and EcoCol- “professionals only” area provides lection lines. Along with a new additional resources to support dealer locator for retail customers, hardwood professionals and offers industry pricing. a complete millwork catalog with more than 11,000 profi les has been added to enhance the fl ooring lines.

100 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 100 9/30/08 3:01:11 PM R Since 1987

American 8 American 12 Clarke American CAV 26 Check out our website at www.mrhardwoods.com HUMMEL’S REDUCED IN-STOCK FOR Primatech

Clarke RS-16 IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT Sander with or w/o dust Shopping cart NOW ACTIVE collection Check it out today for all your supplies. Mr. Hardwoods, Inc. “QUALITY FOR LESS”

Super 7R Exit 87A 1-95 1 Hour North of Ft. Lauderdale

American B-2

Just 1 Hour North of Ft. Lauderdale Exit 87A 1-95. Showroom open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Come and see our selection of new and used equipment. Serving the industry for 20 years. MR. HARDWOODS, INC. 210 Commerce Way, Jupiter, FL 33458 • 800-226-9664 • 561-746-9663 • Fax 561-743-0447 E-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] www.mrhardwoods.com

101HF10_MrHdwd1008.indd 1 9/25/08 7:40:17 AM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION {web site guide}

Clarke American Sanders Dura Seal www.clarkeus.com www.duraseal.com At this site, contractors will fi nd Dura Seal offers an informative detailed information on all of Web site complete with product Clarke’s products, including descriptions, downloadable images, downloadable product MSDS and the ability to locate a brochures and operator manuals. Dura Seal distributor. In addition, They can also fi nd information on a one-page sell sheet outlin- Clarke service centers and dealers, ing the benefi ts of Dura Seal’s including their locations and trade show/training school calen- new Universal Sealer product is dars. Information is also available on Clarke’s signature customer available. service, the Pride Program.

Glitsa American Inc. Johnson Premium Hardwood Floors www.glista.com www.jfl oor.com Glitsa offers a variety of literature: Consumers can fi nd a wide variety of product brochures, MSDS and exotic and domestic hardwood fl oors specifi cation sheets, instructional on Johnson Premium Hardwood Floor- DVDs and pre-/post-installation ing’s Web site. The company’s modern information for homeowners. Virtual Design Center allows custom- The literature is available at Glitsa ers to create the best combination of distributors and online. In addition Johnson Premium’s hardwood fl oors to literature, Glitsa’s Web site offers with different room scenes, wall colors the latest in industry news, VOC updates and the ability to fi nd a and trim colors. distributor/dealer in an area.

Loba-Wakol LLC Mercer Abrasives www.loba-usa.com www.mercertool.com A variety of interesting and useful Mercer’s Web site features its information is available on the complete line of ﬂ ooring abrasive Loba-Wakol Web sites, which also products, including rolls, belts, discs, includes www.wakol-usa.com. screens, pads and applicators. Each company has a specially Mercer says it has the quality and designed Web site with company valuable ﬂ ooring products contractors information, application instructions and technical information for demand—from premium zirconia to easy viewing and printing. Included are upcoming dates for train- economical aluminum oxide. ing opportunities and trade shows where visitors can learn about Loba products.

Mercier Wood Flooring Mirage/Boa-Franc www.mercierwoodfl ooring.com www.miragefl oors.com Mercier’s Web site displays the At the Mirage Web site, the “Our company’s Solid, Engineered Floors” section assures custom- and Exotic lines and explains ers they are making the right the features of Mercier Gen- choice; it offers a photo album, erations fi nish. It also provides a decoration guide and a “virtual installation and maintenance decorator” that refl ect the very instructions and a ZIP code latest trends. All Mirage dealers search engine, allowing every are listed in the “Find a store” Web tool. customer to fi nd the closest retailer.

102 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 102 10/1/08 1:35:19 PM Ken Schumacher Cold Spring, Kentucky

Technical resources whenever I need them, day or night. That’s what the NWFA does for me. NWFA Where do wood flooring professionals turn for answers? 800-422-4556 USA The National Wood Flooring Association, of course. The NWFA is the 800-848-8824 Canada industry's leading resource for technical information, educational training, and networking opportunities. In fact, we wrote the industry 636-519-9663 International guidelines for quality wood flooring installations. But our expertise doesn't www.woodfloors.org stop there. We also help our members learn to manage their businesses more [email protected] efficiently and effectively, and increase their profits. So what can the NWFA do for you? Call today to find out how the NWFA can help your business grow and prosper.

Excellence Through Membership TM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION {web site guide} Mr. Hardwoods Mullican Flooring www.mrhardwoods.com www.mullicanfl ooring.com Mr. Hardwoods Inc. has been in business Mullican Flooring’s Web site offers and been a member of the NWFA for 20 users a venue to view Mullican’s years, and it has also revolutionized online diverse prefi nished solid and distribution. The company’s slogan is “Quality engineered product lines. The site for Less,” and its Web site shows contractors provides a place for both dealers the company’s sanding equipment, installa- and consumers to gather product tion tools, fl ooring, accessories from the top information. Installation instructions, manufacturers, lease programs, and used fl oor care information and warranty and new equipment. information are available on the site’s consumer information page.

National Hardwood Flooring National Wood Flooring Association and Moulding www.nwfa.org www.nationalhardwood.com The NWFA Web site is the ulti- The National Hardwood Web site mate resource for wood fl ooring contains materials for everyone professionals. The site features from fl ooring professionals to convenient links to technical pub- the do-it-yourselfer. The site lications, educational schedules, features hardwood fl ooring in convention information, degree many species, styles and sizes, in and certifi cation programs, and solid, engineered, hand-scraped, benefi ts available to NWFA members. With this easy-to-use site, unfi nished and laminates. The site also features custom moldings users will fi nd the resources they need in one convenient place. and decorative trims.

104 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 104 9/30/08 3:01:51 PM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION {web site guide} Norton Abrasives Old Master Products Inc./ www.nortonﬂ oorsanding.com The Garrison Collection Norton Abrasives’ Web site offers www.thegarrisoncollection.com news and events, recommendation Old Master Products Inc., home of charts, and searchable product The Garrison Collection, offers two categories. Visitors can learn about Web sites. The distributor site, www. Norton SG Red Heat—a new oldmasterproducts.com, provides product advancement in abrasives. detailed supply, installation and Norton manufactures a complete company information. The www.the- line of abrasive belts, rolls, sheets, garrisoncollection.com site provides discs and screens for the hard- product lines, swatch and gallery photo samples, brochure down- wood ﬂ ooring industry. loads, and frequently asked questions for the general consumer.

Oneida Air Systems Palo Duro Collection www.oneidavac.com www.palo-duro.com Oneida Air System’s Web site The Palo Duro Collection offers contains information on the Oneida fi ne hand-scraped fl oors for the Vortex Dust Containment Systems. discerning homeowner; the fl oors The site lists information and are featured in the company’s pricing on the Vortex Gorilla Vac, online Design Gallery. Selections The Vortex 110v, The Vortex 220v, include walnut, hickory, cherry, The Vortex Sander Cyclone and oak, maple, jatoba and Brazilian cherry, and the fl oors are available the Vortex Edger Cyclone systems. in both solid and engineered. Oneida’s patented cyclonic onboard technology is explained and also visually represented with a video.

Ease your mind & body

A healthy, beautiful Breathe easier with beautiful hardwood floors in your home or living environment workplace, resulting in a courtesy of… healthier living environment because they do not collect harmful allergens. Our high- quality solid wood flooring is available in Rift & Quarter Sawn and Plain Sawn, in the following species: • White Oak • Red Oak 800.296.6223 • Maple • Walnut • Cherry www.taylorlumberinc.com • Ash • Hickory (Plain Sawn only)

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 105

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 105 9/30/08 3:02:08 PM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION {web site guide} Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC ProTeam Inc. www.prefi nishfl oors.com www.pro-team.com Premiere Finishing & Coating’s ProTeam has completely rede- Web site features a descrip- signed its Web site with easy- tion and line diagram of the to-use product-fi nding tools, company’s fi nishing process. more educational resources and The site also includes warehouse a bright, modern look. Custom- and distributor offers, as well as ers as well as affi liated reps can contact information. now readily access demonstration videos, accessory kits, product manuals and warranty information for every vacuum. Plus, anyone can now buy certifi ed replacement Intercept Micro Filters online.

Shamrock Plank Fooring Sheoga Hardwood Flooring www.shamrockplankfl ooring.com and Paneling Inc. This site is the ultimate resource www.sheogafl ooring.com for discovering the world of Sheoga’s site is a comprehensive Shamrock’s unfi nished solid Web site displaying Sheoga’s plank fl ooring in walnut, cherry, Graceful Collection of prefi nished oak and hickory. Shamrock now fl ooring, and information regarding offers the same quality and beauty the company’s unfi nished fl ooring in engineered fl ooring, as well. is also available. Visitors can re- Contractors are invited to explore quest free samples and brochures the Web site and learn more about or fi nd their nearest distributor, as well as view the many fl ooring Shamrock’s products. species, wood vents and accessories Sheoga offers.

CHESS FLOORING Duo-Tec Moisture Meters MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE...! W Pin meters W Pinless meters with dual depth BRAZILIAN CHERRY • BRAZILIAN TEAK for wood and concrete BRAZILIAN WALNUT • S.MAHOGANY W Thermo-Hygrometer RH / T / DP W RH meters for in-situ probes in ROSEWOOD • AND MANY MORE… concrete ASTM standard F2170 SOLID PREFINISHED OR UNFINISHED 3 1 4⁄ ” or 2⁄ ” x 3”- 4”- 5” x random length. FREE SAMPLES AVAILABLE

Office and Warehouse 630 NW 113 Street Miami, FL 33168 Lignomat 1-800-227-2105 Tel: 305.757.9400 Fax: 305.751.1302 PO Box 30145, Portland, OR 97294 Free # 1.800.966.3352 www.lignomat.com WWW.CHESSFLOORING.COM E-Mail: [email protected]

106 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 106 9/30/08 3:02:31 PM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION {web site guide} Spartan Chemical Company Inc. US Sander www.spartanchemical.com www.ussander.com Spartan Chemical Company Inc. US Sander’s Web site includes prod- is an international manufacturer uct information, special sales, used of brand-name chemical specialty sanders, technical information and and industrial maintenance prod- tips, and video footage of its UFO ucts. The Web site details the com- orbital-type sander. New products pany’s product lines, which include are introduced on the site ahead of products for the care of hard ﬂ oors, wood ﬂ oors, carpeting and the company’s yearly catalog, and concrete, environmentally preferable products, disinfectants and prices are displayed on some items. sanitizers, industrial cleaners and degreasers, restroom cleaners, US Sander’s special of the month is a popular feature. hand cleaners, and deodorants.

VermeisterUSA W.D. Flooring www.vermeisterusa.com www.wdfl ooring.com This site features product information, W.D. Flooring LLC’s Web site upcoming events, technical guides and sales has inventories and pricing tools for the contractor. For the homeowner, that are updated twice daily. the site offers detailed information about W.D. will soon be incorporat- hardwood fl ooring, its installation and the ing its “product” books as well fi nishing process in an easy-to-understand as its many projects around format that “backs up” the contractor. Finally, the country, including both it has an educational section on understanding fi nishes, MSDS, spectacular fl oors and famous featured jobs, and a “What’s New“ section to keep the distributor places, such as the Detroit Institute of Arts. up-to-date and informed.

HARDWOOD Weaber FLOORING

Manufactured with the Precision Quality you expect from Weaber, Inc.

Available in UnÀnished Red and White Oak.

Proud to be SFI Third Party CertiÀed

1231 Mt. Wilson Road Lebanon, PA 17042 Toll Free: (800) 745-9663 Fax: (717) 867-1711 www.weaberlumber.com

October|November 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 107

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 107 9/30/08 3:02:52 PM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION {web site guide} Waterlox Coatings Corp. Weyerhaeuser Company www.waterlox.com www.lyptus.com Customers who are curious about Weyerhaeuser’s newly designed tung oil can visit waterlox.com, Lyptus Web site gives detailed in- where they can learn how Waterlox formation about Lyptus hardwood premium wood fi nish utilizes the products, including solid and engi- properties of tung oil and resin neered fl ooring, lumber, plywood, to bring out the natural beauty of and veneer. The fl ooring pages wood while protecting it from foot also include size, color, installation and warranty information, as traffi c, common household spills well as a retail store locator. Visitors can also fi nd out about this and water. They can also learn how plantation-grown species’ environmental attributes. to apply Waterlox and view dozens of fi nished projects.

Woodeye North America Inc. Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products www.woodeye.se www.woodwise.com WoodEye has launched a new Visitors to this site will fi nd informa- homepage where visitors are able tion on the Woodwise line of wood to read all about the company’s fi llers, maintenance products, tools scanners and product options, and accessories for the hardwood as well as get news, company fl ooring professional. The site information and contact informa- includes product information, tech- tion. Users can use the site to get nical data, maintenance instruc- updated on the latest develop- tions and a state-by-state guide to ments in the scanner world. fi nding Woodwise distributors.

Award Winning

The Industry’s Best Wide Plank Flooring PRESTIGE HARDWOOD FLOORINGTM AND PRECISION MOLDINGSTM

(877) 430-0883 (910) 763-5409 FAX: (910) 763-3748 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: deanwood.com

OFFICES, MANUFACTURING, SHOWROOM & DISTRIBUTION 9244 Industrial Blvd., NE Leland, NC 28451 P.O. Box 1595 • Wilmington, NC 28402

108 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-WebLit.indd 108 9/30/08 3:06:19 PM AdIndex Get more information about advertisers in this issue by visiting Hardwood Floors’ new FREE online reader inquiry service: Online Resource www.hwfmag.com/resourcecenter Center

Quickly locate an advertiser in this issue using the list below:

3M ...... 2 Mirage/Boa-Franc ...... 27 Aacer Flooring LLC ...... 45 Mr. Hardwoods Inc...... 101 Absolute Coatings Inc...... 40 Mullican Flooring ...... 13 Ace Hardwood Flooring Inc...... 33 National Hardwood Flooring & Moulding ...... 116 All American Wood Register Co...... 54 Norton Abrasives ...... 19 Allwood Import LLC...... 61 NWFA ...... 43 Allwoods Hardwood Flooring/Chess Floors ...... 106 NWFA ...... 71 Anderson Hardwood Floors ...... 37 NWFA ...... 103 Appalachian Lumber Co. Inc...... 59 Old Master Products Inc./The Garrison Collection ..49 BASF Construction Chemicals LLC ...... 62 Oneida Air Systems ...... 46 Basic Coatings ...... 15 Palo Duro Hardwoods Inc...... 9 BLC Hardwood Flooring LLC ...... 76-77 Panel Town & Floors ...... 117 BonaKemi USA Inc...... 3 Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC ...... 52 Bostik Inc...... 119 ProKnee Corp...... 107 Brazilian Direct Ltd...... 104 ProTeam Inc...... 39 Canterbury Flooring ...... 67 RB Rubber Products Inc...... 47 Chestnut Specialists Inc...... 115 Real Wood Floors [MO] ...... 57 Clarke American Sanders ...... 29 Robinson Lumber & Flooring...... 34 Dean Hardwoods Inc...... 108 Shamrock Plank Flooring ...... 21 Domotex ...... 31 Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling Inc...... 53 Dura Seal ...... 4 Spartan Chemical Company Inc...... 38 Floor Style Products Inc...... 112 Surfaces ...... 65 Franwood International Inc...... 108 Taylor Lumber Inc./Sunshine Flooring ...... 105 Glitsa American Inc...... 7 Timbermate USA Inc...... 42 Green Choice Flooring International ...... 69 U.S. Sander LLC ...... 111 Grizzly Forest Products ...... 47 VerMeister ...... 16 Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring ...... 35 W.D. Flooring ...... 120 L & L Hardwoods ...... 115 Waterlox Coatings Corp...... 22 Lignomat USA Ltd...... 106 Weaber Inc...... 107 LOBA-Wakol LLC ...... 24 Weyerhaeuser Company ...... 51 LOBA-Wakol LLC ...... 25 Woodeye North America Inc...... 60 Mercer Abrasives, div. Of Mercer Tool Corp...... 11 Woods Company Inc., The ...... 105 Mercier Wood Flooring Inc...... 72 Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products ...... 55

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Galleher Acquires Manufacturer News Armstrong World Industries (Lancaster, Pa.) reported second quar- Floor Services Supply ter 2008 net sales of $926.8 million, up 1 percent from $920.6 million in the same period for 2007. Wood flooring net sales of $168.8 million alleher Corp. (Santa Fe Springs, Ca- in the second quarter of 2008 decreased 20 percent from $192.6 mil- lif.) has acquired the assets of Floor G lion in the first quarter, as volume declined with the weak housing Service Supply Co. (San Jose, Calif.) for market. an undisclosed price. Posting more than $30 million annually, Floor Services Supply Old Master Products Inc., producer of The Garrison Collection, is a 75-year-old wood flooring distributor (Van Nuys, Ca.) held a grand opening of its South San Francisco distribu- with locations in San Jose and Sacramento. tion outlet on Aug. 7. More than 300 contractors and dealers attended the Vicki Dryden, former vice president of event. sales and marketing at Galleher, will head HomerWood Hardwood Flooring’s (Titusville, Pa.) Amish Hand- the Northern California operation. Floor Scraped engineered flooring was named one of Professional Builder Service Supply covers Northern California magazine’s 2008 100 Best New Products. and northern Nevada. “This acquisition Mohawk Industries (Dalton, Ga.) and 3M (St. Paul, Minn.) won the supports our strategy of growth and ex- Emerging Technology Award by RadTech, the Association for Ultraviolet pansion by enhancing our market posi- and Electronic Beam Technologies, for their development of 3M’s Scotch- tion, operational efficiencies and potential gard technology for hardwood applications. customer base,” said Jeff Hamar, president of Galleher Corp. The Floor Service Distributor News Supply locations will become branches of Cala Flooring (Oklahoma City) has added Gulfstream Distribution Galleher. (Jacksonville, Fla.) as a distributor for Florida and Georgia. The company Save Your Hardwood Floors Preserve, protect, and organize your Hardwood Floors back issues. Slipcases are library quality. Constructed with heavy bookbinder’s board and covered in a rich maroon leatherette material. A gold label with the Hardwood Floors logo is included for personalizing. Designed with a wide 3” opening for maximum storage. Perfect for the home or office. Great for gifts. One - $15 Three - $40 Six - $80 Add $3.50 per slipcase for shipping & handling.

Send to: TNC Enterprises Dept. HF P.O. Box 2475 Satisfaction Guaranteed Warminster, PA 18974

Enclose name, address, and payment with your order. (No P.O. boxes please). PA residents add 6% sales tax. USA orders only. You can even call 215-674-8476 to order by phone or fax 215-674-5949. Credit Card Orders: Visa, Master Card, American Express accepted. Send name, number, exp. date, and signature. To Order Online: www.tncenterprises.net/hf

110 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

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is seeking other distribution partners throughout the U.S. bution (Calgary, Alberta); Woodland Distributors Inc. and Canada for its products, including engineered longer- (Chicago); Belknap White Alcco (Mansfield, Mass.); length African and South American species. For more infor- North Coast Hardwood (Independence, Ohio); Patriot mation, contact Mary Ann Eifert at 888/777-4690 or visit Hardwood Floors and Supply Inc. (Wilmington, Mass.); www.calaflooring.com. and A & B Flooring (Chicago). Harvester Inc. (New Jersey) is expanding distribution UFloor Systems Inc. (Greensboro, N.C.) has added of Coleman Cable and Hubbell Plugs for floor sanding World Depot (Westbrook, Maine) as a distributor machines. The company now also distributes BASF floor- throughout New England and Vega World Supply (New- ing adhesives. For more information, call 201/664-4884 or ark, N.J.) as a distributor for the Tri-State area. e-mail [email protected]. Avant-Guard Flooring (Laval, Quebec) has formed Crown Wood Floors and Supply (Green Island, N.Y.) Avant-Guard Distribution Inc. The new company oper- opened for business Aug. 12. Hershy Fligman serves as ates in Ontario and is the exclusive distributor for Avant- president, Yuda Noe as vice president (both formerly of Guard manufactured brands, as well as other brands of Capitol Wood Floors) and Dave Leibach, previously with flooring, including Somerset. Hoboken Wood Floors and Wood Pro, is sales manager. Triton International Woods (Tarboro, N.C.) now distrib- This company offers lines from Dura Seal, Norton, Glitsa, utes its solid Australian wormy chestnut flooring through Primatech, Powernail, Absolute Coatings, Monticello, Bu- Samy Santa Flooring Depot (Atlanta) and Dynamic chanan, Fein, Somerset, Satin Finish, Stuart, 3M and others. Floor Supply (Garner, N.C.). The company is seeking dis- The company is located at 60 Cohoes Ave., Green Island, tributors throughout the U.S. for its solid Australian wormy NY 12183, and its phone number is 518/274-5000. chestnut flooring. For more information, contact John Clarke American Sanders (Springdale, Ark.) has added Lowe at 252/823-6675 or [email protected]. several distributors to its network, including TRC Distri- Ira J. Bernstein & Associates Inc. (St. Louis) now dis-

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tributes Solida Cork & Bamboo (Mississauga, Ontario) On the Web products in Kansas, Missouri and southern Illinois. A.E. Sampson & Son Ltd. (Warren, Maine) has launched a new site at www.aesampsonandson.com. Dealer/Contractor News Brazilian Direct Ltd. (Quakertown, Pa.) has a new Web Lumber Liquidators Inc. (Toano, Va.) reported second site for professionals at www.pros.brazilianhardwood.com. quarter net sales of $128 million, up 21.1 percent from The company recently celebrated its sixth year offering $105.7 million in the second quarter of 2007. Comparable exotic flooring products. store net sales increased 2.7 percent for the quarter, while Enito Flooring (Singapore) has launched its new site at non-comparable store net sales increased $19.5 million www.enitoflooring.com. from the same time in 2007. For the first six months of 2008, net sales increased 22.7 percent from $197.7 million Pacific Floor Products (Eugene, Ore.) has launched a in the first six months of 2007 to $242.6 million. new Web site at www.pacificfloorproducts.com. Enmar Hardwood Flooring (Mesa, Ariz.) won the “Small Correction Business Award” category of the 2008 Family Owned Busi- In the “Inlays, Borders and Vents Product Focus” in the Arizona Business Magazine ness Awards presented by . August/September issue of Hardwood Floors, the Web Wood Floor Finishers (Metairie, La.) has changed its site for Universal Wood Products (Greely, Ontario) should name to Mancuso’s Real Wood Floors. have been www.hardwoodflooringinlays.com. Pasadena Wood Floors Inc. (Pasadena, Calif.) has Due to a miscommunication with the photographer, the moved to its new 4,000-square-foot showroom. The ad- incorrect photos were in the “Power of Three” article in dress is 181 South Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. the August/September issue of Hardwood Floors magazine. The e-mail and Web site are now sales@pasadena-wood- For a corrected version of the article, visit www.nwfa.org/ floors.com and www.pasadena-woodfloors.com. member/mag.aspx.

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Manufacturer News Kiriakos vice president. Kiriakos formerly worked for Vintage Hardwoods, dba Copper Plank Custom Mill Goodfellow Inc. He has two decades of industry experi- (Scottsdale, Ariz.) has appointed Jim Powers vice presi- ence. dent of sales and business development. Powers most Foresbec Inc. (St-Eugene, Quebec) has named Joyce recently worked at Saroyan Lumber Company. Miller U.S. regional sales manager. Miller previously ProTeam Inc. (Boise, Idaho) has promoted Kyle worked for Frank Miller Lumber. Mackey to vice president of operations. Mackey has Teragren Bamboo Flooring, Panels & Veneer (Bain- been with the company for 14 years. bridge Island, Wash.) CEO and President David Knight Bostik Inc. (Middleton, Mass.) has promoted Robert was recently named a finalist for the Ernst & Young McNamara, a 19-year Bostik veteran, from national sales Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, designed to honor and marketing manager for the Bostik Flooring Group pioneers and innovators who excel at growing market- to director of sales and marketing for the company’s leading businesses. The awards are sponsored by the Construction and Distribution (C&D) Division. The Kauffman Foundation, which fosters entrepreneurship, company has also promoted Phil Pitts from techni- and software company SAP. cal service manager to hardwood installation products Cikel Brasil Verde S/A (Araucaria Parana, Brazil) has market manager. Pitts has been with the company for 15 named Daniela Macedo Silva marketing manager. Silva years. The company has promoted Tom Mylott from na- can be reached at 011-55-41-2169-8200 or daniela@cikel. tional sales manager of the C&D Division to North region com.br. sales manager. Bostik also promoted Brian Kelley from Owens Flooring Company (Shawano, Wis.) has named East region sales manager for its C&D Division’s floor- Michael Mingo Eastern regional sales manager. Mingo ing solutions to South region sales manager. Further, the previously worked at Hoboken Floors. company has named Rick Tredwell West region sales Greyne Custom Wood Co. (Baltimore) has named manager of its C&D Division. His expanded responsibili- Jess A. Schaetz operations manager. With more than ties include Chem-Calk commercial and Bostik Home 25 years of experience in the flooring industry, Schaetz Residential Construction Sealants & Adhesives, in addi- most recently owned a flooring company in Green Bay, tion to his former responsibilities as West region sales Wis. Also, the company has signed on Tim Ryan as an manager of flooring solutions. independent sales representative. The 20-year veteran of BonaKemi USA (Aurora, Colo.) has appointed Ilene the flooring industry is based in Phoenix and covers the LeBlanc marketing manager; she is responsible for man- Southwest. aging Bona’s marketing and advertising for distribution channels in the U.S. and Canada. LeBlanc has 15 years of Distributor News marketing and management experience. Craig Dupra is now territory manager for Installer’s Layo Wood (Shanghai, China) has named David Propp Warehouse (Rochester, N.Y.). Dupra, formerly with Len- director of sales and marketing. Propp most recently was mar Wood Finishes, services retailers and wood flooring vice president-international sales at Robina Wood. He contractors in central and western New York. He can be can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or reached at 585/224-1402 (office), 585/455-8809 (cell) or by visiting www.layowood.com. [email protected]. Mike French, formerly with Premier Canterbury Flooring (Mocksville, N.C.) has named Installations, is now pro shop manager at Installers Ware- Reid Easton senior account manager responsible for house. He can be reached at 585/224-1402. business development with the wholesale trade and SeaPort Hardwoods & Flooring (Tualatin, Ore.) dealers in the Southeast and Midwest. Easton has 15 recently hired Andrew Shannon. Shannon comes with years’ experience in the hardwood flooring industry, nine years’ experience in the hardwood flooring indus- having previously operated his own exotic hardwood try, having previously worked for Cascade Pacific and import/distribution business in Birmingham, Mich. He D-Lux Hardwood Floors. can be reached at 800/940-9504, by cell at 336/413-2445 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Association News Mercier Wood Flooring (Montmagny, Quebec) has The NWFA has named Don Conner director of NWFA appointed Patrick Blondin sales director for exporta- Certified Professionals. He works full time for the associ- tion in addition to his current role as sales director for ation to expand the NWFACP’s schools, tests, promotions Canada. and marketing efforts. Conner most recently worked at Avant-Guard Flooring (Laval, Quebec) has named Sid Mullican Flooring. He can be reached at [email protected].

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1 Loba-Wakol LLC has introduced its Wakol PU 280 Moisture Barrier. PU 280 is a one-component, solvent-free and low-odor polyurethane-based moisture barrier that can be applied with a roller. After approximately two hours, Wakol MS 260 MS Polymer Adhesive may be applied, the company says. www.wakol.com 1 2 Hardwood Industry Products has designed its EZ Pro Injector Kit. Perfect for prefinished floors, this heavy-duty, self-standing gun repairs all voids and hollow spots and avoids replacement of most floors, inlays, nosings and more, the company says. www.hardwoodindustry.com 2 3 Higuera Hardwoods now offers its line of grade-A bamboo flooring, moldings, vents, inlays, stair parts and plywood/veneers. The products offer superior construction and finish regarding the raw materials, milling and finish, the company says. www.higuerahardwoods.com 3

4 Glitsa American Inc. has introduced its waterborne finish, GlitsaMax. GlitsaMax is a two-component, commercial and heavy-traffic residential waterborne finish. GlitsaMax uses the same polycarbonate resin used to create bullet- proof glass and strengthen high-impact motorcycle helmets. www.glitsa.com 4 5 Mohawk Industries has designed a line of engineered hardwood flooring products that utilize Unilin’s Uniclic installation technology. This installation method allows for fast, easy angled or sliding installation on the sides of the hardwood flooring plank. End joints feature a drop-lock that eliminates seam separation over time. www.mohawkind.com 5

6 Basic Coatings LLC has released its EZ-Dry Polyurethane Sealer. This sealer, which features an average dry time of three to four hours, is easy to use and can be applied under both waterborne and oil-based finishes, the company says. It also eliminates grain raise, allowing the user to achieve smoother results, the company adds. 6 www.basiccoatings.com

7 ForesFloor has added colors and character grades to its hardwood flooring products. New colors include Ebony, Butterscotch, Chocolate and Rosewood in Northern red oak and white oak, Topaz and Rosewood in hard maple, Chocolate in yellow birch and Rich Walnut in American walnut. New grades include Heritage and Legacy in natural 7 hardwood and a Premium grade in stained product; they are

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designed for customers who want to see natural variations. www.foresfloor.com

8 Cikel America LLC has unveiled its Ipanema Collection, 5 which is offered ⁄16 by 5 inches in random lengths. The collection features an exotic sliced veneer face in tigerwood, Brazilian cherry, timborana, santos mahogany, amendoim and sucupira. The entire Ipanema Collection is inventoried at Cikel’s stateside warehouses and ready for immediate shipment via its Quick-Ship program. 8 www.cikel.com

9 DriTac Flooring Products LLC has launched DriTac Eco-6200GR Green Pressure Sensitive Wood Flooring Adhesive, a green pressure-sensitive adhesive for professional wood and cork flooring installations. DriTac Eco- 6200GR contains zero VOCs and zero solvents, is easy to spread, has superior tack and offers excellent bond strength for commercial, residential or institutional wood and cork flooring installations, the company says. www.dritac.com 9

NWFACP Chestnut Certification Programs Specialists Inc. Wideboard/Plank Antique Installation Flooring Remilled From Sand & Finish Inspector Reclaimed Antique Lumber Sales Hand Hewn Barn Beams Weathered Barnsiding Professional recognition Chestnut-Oak-Pine that validates your wood flooring skills Dave Wasley and experience. 860-283-4209 “Your Source for Antique Floors of Distinction” chestnutspec.com

www.nwfacp.org 866-418-5408 (USA) 636-728-1922 (international)

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10 Clarke American Sanders has released its CAV 2.2 backpack dust control vacuum. It features 1,300 watts of power delivering 1.7 horsepower, 144 CFM of suc- tion power, a large 10-quart capacity tank, a disposable filter with adhesive seal and more. An adjustable lumbar support is included on the harness. The vacuum was designed to hook directly to any dust control-capable rotary sander with a 1.5-inch outlet but also features built- 10 in versatility. www.americansanders.com

11 Preverco Inc. has introduced its Sigma advanced protection finishing for Preverco’s entire line of flooring. With extra wear resistance, Sigma protects floors in busy households or light commercial installations. The Sigma finishing process layers perfectly cured and micro-sanded multiple coats of polymer to give wood floors a smooth finish. The addition of aluminum oxide to the polymer coating provides virtually unmatched hardness, the company says. 11 en.preverco.com

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L F U I M N B I G ER PLANK SH IN ED FLOOR WE CONTROL THE ENTIRE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH 14937 CALVERT ST. • VAN NUYS, CA • 91411 • Tel: 800-848-5556 • Fax: 818-988-4955 VISIT US ON THE WEB AT: WWW.NATIONALHARDWOOD.COM

NationalHW1008.indd 1 9/29/08 8:41:07 AM 116 Hardwood Floors ■ October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Products 116 9/30/08 2:38:23 PM Industry News | Events

Greenbuild 2008 mation, call 800/547-3477 or visit www.surfaces.com. November 19-21 « Boston This conference will feature keynote speaker Archbishop Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor Desmond Tutu. For more information, call 202/742-3818 March 24-26, 2009 « Shanghai, China or visit www.greenbuildexpo.org. Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor 2008 brought in more than 1,014 exhibitors of floor covering products. For more in- Domotex 2009 formation, contact Melody Shen at 86-21-6247-7668, ext. January 17-20, 2009 « Hannover, Germany 935/922, or visit www.domotexasiachinafloor.com. More than 47,000 floor covering professionals are ex- pected to travel to Hannover. For more information, call Coverings 2009 49-511-89-0 or visit www.domotex.de. April 21-24, 2009 « Chicago For more information, call 886/285-3691 or 703/683-8500, International Builders’ Show or visit www.coverings.com. January 20-23, 2009 « Las Vegas More than 92,000 building professionals attended this 24th Annual NWFA Education Conference show in 2008. This year’s venue includes several educa- and 2009 Wood Flooring Expo tional courses and seminars. For more information, call April 29-May 2, 2009 « Long Beach, Calif. 202/266-8111 or visit www.buildersshow.com. This is the largest hardwood-flooring-exclusive trade show, and it offers an extensive slate of seminars and network- Surfaces 2009 ing events. For more information, call 800/422-4556 or visit February 3-5, 2009 « Las Vegas www.nwfa.org. More than 34,540 floor covering professionals attended the Surfaces show in Las Vegas in 2008. For more infor- For a list of NWFA technical schools, see page 14.

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HF-OctNov08-Events 117 9/26/08 3:17:22 PM WoodShowcase Adding Style Prefi nished wood fl oors part of the equation in accounting offi ce Photos © Jay Rosenblatt

Project Details Location: Rothstein Kass (Roseland, N.J.) Wood Flooring: Prefinished maple, The Jefferson Collection from Gammapar Flooring Installation: Floorcom Inc. (Kenvil, N.J.) Architect: The Aztec Corporation (Iselin, N.J.)

aving grown from a small local accounting firm into a nationwide financial services provider, Rothstein Kass had the opportunity to Hredefine its image when building its new 71,000-square-foot headquarters in Roseland, N.J. The goal was to create a natural, simple design that could withstand the test of time. To accomplish this, designers relied on wood and wood tones throughout the massive headquarters. Integral to the design is the approximately 1,200 square feet of prefinished wood flooring. “Wood flooring was chosen to create a feeling of warmth and sophistication while not being opulent, as stone materials can be,” says David Fournier, principal at the Aztec Corporation. Acrylic-impregnated maple flooring was chosen for its medium tones and its ability to withstand heavy foot traffic. “This wood tone is the common theme throughout the office facility,” adds Fournier. A custom reception desk, doors, cabinets and furniture systems are just some of the other wood features found in the building. Even the paint colors and surface finishes mimic the natural wood tones. The warm, rich environment created by the wood in the Rothstein Kass headquarters add up to a perfect combination of form, function and lasting style for these successful number crunchers.—C.L.

118 Hardwood Floors Q October|November 2008

HF-OctNov08-Showcase.indd 118 10/1/08 10:06:32 AM The Future is Looking Greener

Zero Solvent Zero VOCs Moisture Cure Urethane

The Future of Your Hardwood Floors is looking Greener when installed with Bostik’s New and Improved TKO® WOOD FLOORING URETHANE ADHESIVE

BOSTIK’S TKO® is a one-part, trowel applied, moisture-cure urethane wood ﬂ ooring adhesive that offers:

• Zero Water • Zero Solvent • Zero VOC’s as calculated per SCAQMD 1168 • Is Easy to Spread • Holds a Better Ridge • Cleans up Easier than other MCU’s • Contributes to L.E.E.D® Credits TKO Wood Flooring Adhesive-pantent pending. • Contains Blockade™ Antimicrobial Protection

Making a Difference One Product at a Time.

For more information contact Bostik’s Customer Service Department at 1-888-592-8558 or email us at [email protected], Bostik, Inc. 211 Boston Street, Middleton, MA 01949

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When a company lives by it, so do their products and their business relationships. It’s what our more than 180 products represent in the marketplace and it’s the way we do business.

W•D is proud to be a FSC Smartwood program certiﬁ ed company. It reﬂ ects our past, present and future. Pure.