Hardwood Flooring Inc.) the Show Sprigg Lynn, Board Liaison (Universal Floors Inc.) Angela Crowl (Dominic A

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Circle 1 on Reply Card Circle 2 on Reply Card December 2007|January 2008 Contents Vol. 20.7 Features Renovation Revelations By Michelle Desnoyer A San Francisco remodel reveals rare discoveries. page 72

Bright Lights, New City By Michelle Desnoyer Discover what’s new—and still old—in Vegas during Matthew Millman 72 Surfaces 2008. page 81 Your Business Live and Learn By Michael Dittmer A contractor makes a major lifestyle change. page 25

Legal Brief By Phillip M. Perry Navigate a changing landscape for hiring immigrants. page 30

Money By Jim Blasingame Get on top of your financials in 2008. page 40 81 News Bureau/LVCVA Las Vegas

Management On the Cover: By Andrea Nierenberg A renovated Victorian gem in San Francisco. Build your business through smart networking. For more, see page 72. page 46 Photo by Matthew Millman,www.matthewmillman.com.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 5 Contents On the Job 17 Ask the Expert Answers on expansion, resanding waxed floors and climate change. In Every Issue page 51 Chairman’s Message From the Field page 8 By Don Conner These three steps help create a successful wood floor installation. NWFA News page 54 page 10 Troubleshooting Woodworks By Michael B. Harde page 17 Overzealous acclimation leads to a problem floor. page 58 Ad Index page 147 Step by Step By Steve Seabaugh Showcase Any color floor is possible with dyes. page 162 page 60

Techniques By Catherine Liewen Check this handy guide to subfloors used under wood floors. page 66 60 Product Focus Special Advertising Section: Surfaces Exhibitor Showcase Industry News page 90 Notes Products page 141 page 154 Unfinished Domestic Wood Flooring People Events page 119 page 152 page 160

6 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 When it comes to your wood floor, the last thing you want to do is bark up the wrong tree.

As pioneers in the lumber and ﬂooring business since 1872, W•D selectively harvests from a revolving, growing stock, carefully protecting the sustainability of our more than 40,000 acres of majestic hardwoods. But it’s the long winters and short growing seasons of Wisconsin that give our ﬂoors their uniquely “northern” characteristics. Tighter grain, lasting durability. When you chose a hardwood floor, it’s sure to be appreciated for generations. But when you chose a W•D floor, you know it already has a few under its belt. Circle 3 on Reply Card

For more information about W•D products and services, call 877.674.2210, or visit www.wdflooring.com. Vote on your favorite WD ad campaign at wdflooring.com >>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 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.) The Show Sprigg Lynn, Board Liaison (Universal Floors Inc.) Angela Crowl (Dominic A. DiFebo & Sons) Joe Boone Jr. (Wood Floors Online.com Inc.) for You Robert Humphreys (Majestic Wood Floors Inc.) Brenda Kubasta (Oshkosh Designs) John Lessick (Apex Wood Floors Inc.) Robert McNamara (Bostik Inc.) By Ken Schumacher Charles Peterson (The International Parquetry Historical Society) Chairman, NWFA Publication Staff Kris Thimmesch Publisher s you read this column, chances are you’re preparing for the Kim M. Wahlgren holidays with your family. As you look out your window, you Editor might even see the first snowflakes of the season falling, Catherine Liewen A Managing Editor/Art Director but rest assured that warmer climates are on the horizon. That’s Michelle Desnoyer because this spring, from March 25-28, 2008, the NWFA will be in Associate Editor Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for our annual convention. Bonnie Madison This year’s show will be bigger and better than ever, and if Production Director you’re in the wood flooring business, you won’t want to miss it. Marjorie Schultz Electronic Production Manager If you’re a manufacturer, the Wood Flooring Expo is the perfect Scott Packel venue for you to showcase your products to the largest group of Sadye Ring wood flooring professionals assembled in one place at one time. Production Assistants As the largest convention anywhere dedicated exclusively to Gretchen Kelsey Brown Peter Brown wood flooring, the NWFA con- Group Publishers vention continues to attract Sharon Siewert motivated wood flooring pro- The bottom Administration Director/Accountant fessionals from all over the Kara Clark Controller world. line is ... you Denise R. Thompson If you’re a distributor, this Circulation & Database Director show is the perfect place to need to be at Colleen Wenos expand your business. Here, Circulation Assistant you’ll meet the suppliers who this show. Pam Walker Sales Coordinator will help you improve the prod- Editorial and Advertising Offices: ucts and services you offer, and the contractors who will be buying Athletic Business Publications Inc. them. You also can hone your skills by attending educational semi- 4130 Lien Road • Madison, WI 53704 nars that can help you become more efficient and more profitable. Phone: 608/249-0186 • 800/722-8764 Fax: 608/249-1153 If you’re a dealer/contractor, this show offers an opportunity to E-mail: [email protected] see all the industry’s latest products. Have you been thinking Web Site: www.nwfa.org about buying new equipment? You can try it at this show, before

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: In order to ensure uninterrupted delivery of Hardwood Floors, notice of change should be made at you make the investment. And to expand your wood flooring 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 knowledge, there are numerous educational seminars and demon- $8. 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 strations throughout the four-day event. active in the wood flooring industry. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704-3602. The bottom line is if you are in the business of buying, selling Publication Mail Agreement #40049791. Canadian mail distribution information: International Mail or installing wood floors, you need to be at this show. To learn Express, Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5. Printed in the U.S.A. more, visit www.nwfa.org and click on the “Convention and © 2007 Athletic Business Publications Inc. and National Wood Flooring Association. Expo” link. ■ Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (ISSN 0897-022X) Periodicals Postage Paid at Madison, Wisconsin, and at additional mailing offices.

8 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 4 on Reply Card >>executive director/ceo message

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

Hands-On Opportunities

By Ed Korczak, CAE Executive Director/CEO

id you know that the National Wood Flooring Association maintains one of the largest training facilities for wood flooring professionals in the world? It makes sense since the NWFA also Doffers more training opportunities for wood flooring professionals than anyone else in the world. For more than two decades, the NWFA has offered a variety of hands-on training options for everyone from those just starting out in the industry to those with many decades of experience. This past year, the NWFA completed construction on an 18,800-square-foot expansion of its training facilities at its headquarters in St. Louis. The new space is in addition to the existing 20,000-square-foot facility, which features a classroom and presentation hall, a networking lounge, staff office space and an additional 11,000-square-foot training area. The newly expanded training center features many user-friendly modifications, including a pneumatic air system at each training panel station, as well as a state-of-the-art dust collection system throughout the facility, which provides a healthier training and teaching environment for both students and instructors. Additional restroom and shower facilities have been added, as well, to accommodate the increasing number of students and instructors attending each of the schools. Throughout 2008, the NWFA will host 11 schools at its training facility, includ- With so many ing the Wood Flooring Basics School, which is sponsored by the NWFA, NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association and the Maple Flooring schools offered, Manufacturers Association; the new Subfloor Preparation and Wood Flooring Installation School; the new Wood Flooring Makeover—Basic to Advanced you’re sure School; the Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School; the new Advanced Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School; the Custom to find one Design and Craftsmanship School, which was previously known as the Advanced Installation School; the Expert Installation School; the Expert Sand and Finish to fit your needs. School; and the NWFA Certified Professionals Wood Flooring Inspection School. For students who are unable to visit St. Louis to attend these schools, the NWFA also offers regional schools throughout the year at various locations throughout the country. Regional schools being offered during 2008 include the Introduction to Wood Flooring School in Long Beach, Calif.; the Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School in Portland, Ore.; Riverside, Calif.; Phoenix; and Minneapolis; and the Advanced Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School in San Francisco; Hartford, Conn.; and Atlanta. You can get more information about all the NWFA’s schools, including the specific curriculum, dates, times and registration fees, on the NWFA’s Web site at www.nwfa.org. For the complete schedule, turn to page 14. With so many schools offered, you’re sure to find one to fit your needs. Check out all the options by visiting www.nwfa.org and clicking on the “Education and Schools” link, or contact the NWFA at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international). ■

10 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 5 on Reply Card >>nwfa certified professionals

NWFACPnews and information from the nwfa certified professionalsnews | www.nwfacp.org

Essential Inspector Event

By Don Conner President, NWFACP

his spring, the NWFA Certified Professionals (NWFACP) Inspectors Division is going to do something it has never done before. During the National Wood Flooring Association’s annual Tconvention in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to be held March 25–28, 2008, the NWFACP will hold its first Certified Wood Flooring Inspector Symposium. This event marks a significant milestone for wood flooring inspectors, as it offers a first-ever venue for certified professionals to meet, learn from one another and exchange ideas. The symposium will be set up in much the same way as the NWFA’s education conference, offering both general sessions and educational seminars featuring topics specifically related to conducting wood flooring inspections. On Wednesday, March 26, symposium attendees will have access to a general session, three inspector seminars and a networking lunch where they will have the opportunity to meet with other certified professionals from all over the world. Following these sessions, attendees also will have access to the NWFA’s Wood Flooring Expo to see all of the industry’s latest products and services. What does the Expo have to offer certified inspectors? This event marks Many tools of the wood flooring inspector’s trade will be featured in the 600-plus exhibitor booths that will fill the trade show floor, includ- a significant ing a variety of moisture meters that can help inspectors do their jobs. On Thursday, March 27, attendees will have access to another gener- milestone for al session and two inspector seminars, followed by the Wood Flooring Expo. Friday, March 28, will offer a final general session, one inspector wood flooring seminar and a final day at the Wood Flooring Expo. The 10 scheduled inspector seminars and general sessions will provide you with the infor- inspectors. mation that you need to advance your wood flooring inspection knowledge and expertise. Come learn how to write efficient and effective inspection reports that are thorough, unbiased and based on industry- accepted standards. Come see how industry experts conduct investiga- tions in order to identify problems, and then work to determine their potential causes. Come hear how the reports you write impact legal proceedings and how to prepare and respond when called upon to testify in court. You will learn all this and more during the three-day symposium. For more information about the Certified Wood Flooring Inspector Symposium, contact NWFACP toll-free at 866/418-5408 (U.S.) or at 636/728-1922 (local and international). You also can access more information about NWFACP online by visiting the NWFACP Web site at www.nwfacp.org. ■

12 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 6 on Reply Card >>education and training

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

Expertise in Progress

Meticulous sanding is the norm at the Expert Sand & Finish School, held Oct. 8-10 at the NWFA headquarters in St. Louis.

lite contractors from the hardwood NWFA 2008 Technical School Schedule flooring industry gathered at the ENWFA headquarters in St. Louis last January 23-25 ...... Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish ...... Portland, Ore. October for the Expert Installation School, February 12-15...... Introduction to Wood Flooring ...... Long Beach, Calif. followed immediately by the Expert Sand February 27-29...... Custom Design & Craftsmanship...... St. Louis & Finish School. In-depth instruction com- March 4-7 ...... Wood Flooring Basics ...... St. Louis bined with hands-on practice led to some March 10-13 ...... Wood Flooring Inspection ...... St. Louis long hours and amazing floors. For more April 8-11...... Advanced Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish ...... San Francisco photos from the Expert Sand & Finish April 23-25...... Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish ...... St. Louis School, turn to the Step by Step column May 6-9...... Advanced Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish...... Hartford, Conn. on using dyes on page 60 of this issue. May 21-23 ...... Subfloor Prep & Wood Flooring Installation ...... St. Louis June 18-20...... Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish ...... Riverside, Calif. August 26-29 ...... Advanced Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish...... Atlanta For more information: September 9-12...... Advanced Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish...... St. Louis NWFA September 16-19...... Wood Flooring Basics ...... St. Louis 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd. September 22-25...... Wood Flooring Inspection ...... St. Louis Chesterfield, MO 63005 October 7-11 ...... Expert Installations ...... St. Louis 800/422-4556 (U.S.) October 13-15 ...... Expert Sand & Finish ...... St. Louis 800/848-8824 (Canada) October 22-24 ...... Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish ...... Phoenix 636/519-9663 (local and intl.) November 5-7 ...... Wood Flooring Makeover-Basic to Advanced ...... St. Louis [email protected] November 12-14 ...... Intermediate Install. and Sand & Finish ...... Minneapolis www.nwfa.org

14 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Expert Installation >> October 3-6 in St. Louis NWFA’s Steve Seabaugh and Frank Kroupa led the volunteer instructors, including: Chuck Crispin, Birger Juell Ltd.; John Fairbanks, BonaKemi USA Inc.; Robert Humphreys, Majestic Wood Floors Inc.; Tom Peotter, Oshkosh Designs; Mark Scheller, Scheller Hardwood Floors; and Tony Robison, Washington Wood Floors Inc.

Expert Sand & Finish >> October 8-10 in St. Louis Seabaugh and Kroupa again led, this time with volunteer instructors Chris Livingston, 3M; Gene Jarka, BonaKemi USA Inc.; Wayne Lee, Clarke American Sanders; Lon Vaughn, Glitsa American; Charles Peterson, The International Parquetry Historical Society; Don Jewell, Timbermate USA Inc.; and Don Bollinger, Wood Floor Products Inc.

Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish >> October 24-26 in Seattle Kroupa led the volunteer instructors, including: Dennis Plaut, 3M; Jason Black, Artisan Flooring LLC; Brad Betz, Basic Coatings; Frank Szubart, BonaKemi USA Inc.; Tony Summers, Centrex Hardwood LLC; Wayne Lee, Clarke American Sanders; Chase Cooper, Copacetic Wood Floors; Craig McIntosh, Dura Seal; Roger Barker, Fortifiber Building Systems Group; Julie Russell, Lon Vaughn and Mike Osborn, Glitsa American Inc.; Doug Klewin, Halal Hardwoods; Cort Dunlop, Hardwood Inspections; Michael Klinge, Loba Wakol LLC; Scott Avery, Modern Tech Floors LLC; Mike DeFriese, Norton Abrasives; Tom Peotter, Oshkosh Designs; Gary Arnold, Powernail Company Inc.; Brett Wheeler, Precision Technology LLC; Tom The intense labor proved to be worth it when the students Heese, Primatech Inc.; Joshua Crossman, PTL Hardwoods; Rick Breuer, saw the finished panels. Rick’s Custom Hardwood Floors; Johannes Boonstra, Synteko Floor Fin- ishes; Chuck Garvey, Timbermate USA Inc.; Larry Subervi, UFloor Systems Wood Floor Products Inc. Lead distributors were Kelly-Goodwin Company Inc.; Nathaniel Prior, VerMeister; Dave Stark, Virginia Abrasives Corpora- (Seattle) and Hardwood Flooring Dist.-Goodfellow Inc. (Seattle). tion; Dave Posey, Wagner Electronic Products; and Donald Bollinger, Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish >> November 7-9 in Charlotte, N.C. Seabaugh, assisted by Technical Advisor Glen Miller, led volunteer instructors Jim Schumacher, 3M; Scott Lynch, Absolute Coatings Inc.; Richard Conway, All Wood Floor Craft; Kevin Reilly and Sharon Kay Smith, Basic Coatings; Bob Burton, BonaKemi USA Inc.; Wayne Lee, Clarke American Sanders; David Harrison, Custom Wholesale Floors Inc.; Bill Costello and Lynn Brinkman, Dura Seal; Roger Barker, Fortifiber Building Systems Group; Janet Sullivan, Lenmar Inc.; Michael Klinge, LOBA Wakol LLC; Reed Maddray, Maddray Flooring LLC; Greg Mihaich, Norton Abrasives; Mark Mukosiej and Donovan Norton, Powernail Com- pany; Wes Cronskrey, Start ’N’ Finish; Johannes Boonstra, Synteko Floor Finishes; Chuck Garvey, Timbermate USA Inc.; Mike Summers, UFloor Systems Inc.; Karl Stafflinger, Virginia Abrasives Corporation; Dave Posey, Wagner Electronic Products; Stephen Harris, Wood U Woodwork- ing; and Ricardo Pairazaman, Woods of the World LLC. The lead distributor was American Products Inc. (Pineville, N.C.).

Students at the school received one-on-one instruction on faux finishing, abrasives and sharp- ening chisels and scrapers.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 15 Visit us at SURFACES Booth #G4229

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Contact us today. Circle 7 on Reply Card www.AacerFlooring.com WOOD ■ works insights and information on the hardwood flooring industry

10 Minutes of Fame Wood floor man appears on CNN

ctober 15 started out just like most days for Ray Ludchak, Oowner of Springdale, Pa.-based R.L. Flooring. He arrived at the job site early and was happy to find a parking spot right in front of the job in the Pittsburgh suburb. Later that morning, though, things got unusual. As he went outside to cut some doors, he heard a voice calling “worker, worker.” He couldn’t see anybody, but finally was directed by the voice to look “down here”—underneath a black SUV parked down the street. To his shock, when he bent down, he saw a person under the vehicle. She said she was stuck and asked him to lift the SUV up half an inch so she could crawl out. Floor guys lift lots of heavy things, but of course Ludchak opted to call 911 instead. Later that day he was the main interview in the news story on Pittsburgh TV station Top, Ludchak explains for the news WPXI. As it turns out, according to the news story, the woman crawled under the SUV to crew how he found the trapped spy on her husband at his girlfriend’s house. She fell asleep with a neighbor’s cat, and woman; above, Ludchak’s van and when she woke up, someone had let the air out of the tires and she was pinned. The NWFA logos got a cameo in the background. authorities later took her in for a psychiatric evaluation. Because the story was so strange, it was picked up by CNN and seen by people all over the country. “It’s one thing finding a deceased body, but this is a live body caught up in a love triangle, and a floor guy happened to be in the middle of it,” Ludchak says of his most unusual workday.

TREE■ id Steely Sanding What hardwood tree is this? New discs make sanding a snap Turn the page to find out. f you’re like most wood flooring contractors, Iyou hate getting down on your knees for laborious hand or orbital sanding. But now a product from Russellville, Ark.-based Microplane promises to reduce the time, money and environmental hazards associated with the traditional sandpaper discs used with orbital sanders. The company says that its stain- less steel sanding discs sand bare wood five times faster and last seven times longer than typical sandpaper, saving contractors a lot of pain and energy. The company also touts the new technology’s environmental benefits: contractors buy the longer-lasting steel discs rather than paper, reducing the amount of product going to landfills. The steel discs’ design vacuums up wood shavings so they don’t go airborne, and the shavings collected by the sander are free of abrasive particles, making them perfect for reuse as wood filler. Right now, the rust-resistant steel discs are available only in coarse, medium and fine grains, equivalent to 40, 80 and 120 grits. They can be purchased on the Internet or at hardware chain stores. For more information, visit us.microplane.com.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 17 WOOD ■ works

Keyed In For the wood flooring guy (or gal) who has it all

ardwood flooring guys’ passion for wood seems endless. They obsess over the latest exotic Hspecies, trade job-site war stories at the bar until closing time and surround themselves by things made out of wood. In their spare time, they pore over woodworking catalogs in search of the latest and greatest new tools. They’ve been known to show off everything from hand-scrapers with custom inlaid exotic wood handles to neckties made of wood. Now, for the wood geek who’s also a computer geek, there are wood computer accessories. Offered by Swedish company Swedx, the products’ popularity is spurred by “the growing dissatisfaction with plastic design and the urge to return to natural materials, the craving for more exclusive and stylish items and the care for environment,” the Swedx Web site states, echoing the sentiments of many wood flooring professionals. Just in time for the holidays, these accessories could be the perfect find for the wood flooring man (or woman) who has (wood) everything. Most of the products come in a choice of beech, For the wood geek who has ash or sapele; prices range from $82 for a USB mouse or standard keyboard to $465 for a 17- everything ... inch monitor. For more information, go to www.swedx.se.

TREE■ id answer VINTAGE■ moments Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) Top Nailer

his nailing tool, Tthe Cavanaugh, was popular in the San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago areas after it was invented in 5 the 1940s for ⁄16- inch, square-edged, top-nailed flooring. As it rolled along Courtesy of HomerWood Hardwood Flooring Courtesy of HomerWood the floor, nails The Cavanaugh was made in Hardness as Wood Flooring: 1820 on the Janka scale would slide down both manual (41 percent harder than Northern red oak) to be driven in by (above) and At a Glance: Common in the eastern U.S. and southeast- the plunger. Today, electric ver- ern Canada, shagbark hickory trees can live to be 200 Cavanaughs are a sions (right). years old. The tree produces edible, flavorful nuts, but collector’s item in they are not borne often enough to be of use commer- the industry; some cially. Because they are so similar, the different hickory are still used by wood flooring installers doing repairs on 5 species and pecan are usually milled together by wood the old ⁄16-inch flooring or recreating the authentic look 5 flooring mills and sold as hickory/pecan. with new ⁄16-inch product.

18 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 8 on Reply Card WOOD ■ works ENVIRO ■ watch Beetle Blues

ur native forests seem to Obe under a continual onslaught from invasive species, but the mountain pine beetle is one pest that is actually home-grown (although just as unwelcome). Because of unnaturally warm winters allowing the creatures These stairs turned a deadly infes- to multiply at unprecedented tation into a design opportunity. rates, 80 percent of British Columbian pine forests are expected to be infested within the next 10 years, and the pests are literally turning the pine trees’ wood blue. A contest held as part of the Interior Design & Urban Living Expo in Vancouver challenged contestants to create products from the wood. Abdel Munem Amin and David Yi-Jen Tseng developed modular blue stairs that utilize the blue stains as a design element. “We believe in innovative design resulting from examining daily lives with global eyes,” Tseng says. Per- haps someone will have the vision to use more of the blue

www.CartoonStock.com wood to create matching flooring.

HARDWOOD FLOORING ■ mini-quiz 1. The species amendoim is also commonly called 5. The following problem floor could result from... what? (more than one answer possible): a. the installer hitting the nailer too hard, crushing 2. Which stain will probably dry the fastest? the boards together a. A white floor b. exposure to a humid summer after being accli- b. A black floor mated and installed during a dry winter c. A dark brown floor c. a new radiant heat system being turned on for d. A light brown floor the first time ever (after the floor is installed) 3. True or False? Maintaining a wet edge is critical d. installation over a subfloor with a moisture content that is too high when applying most finishes. e. all of the above 4. Dish-out can be minimized by doing which of the following? (more than one answer possible) a. hard-plating b. using a 3-disc sander c. sanding at an angle instead of directly with or across the grain d. using a thick white pad on the buffer

e. all of the above Answers: 1. Brazilian oak 2. d 3. True 4. a, b, and c 5. b, c and d and c b, 5. c and b, a, 4. True 3. d 2. oak Brazilian 1. Answers:

20 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 GENUINE TEAK

The Coastal Collection

PRESTIGE HARDWOOD FLOORING™ Serving you from our new The Industry’s Best Wide Plank Flooring leading-edge facility. DEAN HARDWOODS, INC. 9244 Industrial Boulevard, NE • Leland, North Carolina 28451 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1595 • Wilmington, North Carolina 28402 TOLL FREE: (877) 430-0883 • (910) 763-5409 • FAX: (910) 763-3748 EMAIL: [email protected] • WEBSITE: deanwood.com Member: Architectural Woodwork Institute, International Wood Products Associa tion, National Hardwood Lumber Association, National Marine Manufacturers Associa tion, National Wood Flooring Association, and the United States Chamber of Commerce. Circle 9 on Reply Card

FA-8 The Floor Abrader

Introducing The Floor Abrader, the latest in floor abrasion technology, designed and innovated to micro-abrade factory-finished and site-installed floors.

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Its unique cylindrical designed brushes allow you to abrade with or against the pattern grain of the floor making it ideal for parquet, herring bone, distressed and hand-scraped flooring. The multiple brush grit offerings allow for various applications including abrading between coats during site finish applications.

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sWWWAMERICANSANDERSCOM Clarke Leasing Options Available Because Pride Still Matters Circle 10 on Reply Card We’re committed to your business.

Tom Anstett Dave Anstett President Vice President Sales

The success and reputation of Powernail® comes from a long history of family tradition. With two generations of expertise and dedication to providing their customers with only the finest, high-quality installation tools, Powernail is committed to making your business successful. For over 50 years, Powernail has been making and consistently improving these quality tools. Tom and Dave Anstett are driven to live up to the high reputation of quality and innovation that their father and uncle worked so hard to establish.

For more information on the professional’s choice for quality flooring nailers and fasteners, call Powernail at 800.323.1653.

Register to Win a FREE “PowerKit” at www.powernail.com/kit1 (Kit includes a Model 445 Pneumatic Nailer with steel carrying case plus a PowerJack® 100 floor jack) Circle 11 on Reply Card Your Business Live and Learn Escape Plan A major lifestyle change was in order for this contractor

By Michael Dittmer

bout three years ago, I was leaving my house at in the vehicle all day and make sure nobody stole all the 4:30 a.m. every day, driving two hours to my shop, tools. My wife did all of the administrative work and Ameeting the guys and then driving another hour answered the phone while caring for our twin boys. We from the suburbs to get to the job site, usually in down- were making good money and doing high-end, high-profile town Chicago, where we’d pay $30 a day for parking, be jobs, but it was a lifestyle that didn’t leave me much time limited to working only between 10 a.m. and 3 or 4 p.m. for my family. and have to pay one of our workers $10 an hour just to sit Today, my wood flooring business is in my new home-

SHARPER IMAGE Picking the Right Message

Hardwood Floors asked its contractor and dealer readers to send in a marketing piece for a redesign, and our expert picked this one: Although Syracuse Commercial Flooring’s ad works visually to Syracuse Commercial Flooring lead the reader to the bullet points and the logo, perhaps of should follow the old adage, “If greater concern is what does it imply? Does it suggest that SCF is you’ve got it, flaunt it.” We vis- going into the forest to cut down trees for hardwood flooring? ited their Web site and found Wood flooring professionals understand that wood flooring isn’t actual shots from jobs. So why damaging to the environment, but many consumers don’t yet not show potential customers understand that. For them, it’s sort of like showing a sad cow in a what you have done? burger ad. Syracuse Commercial Floor- The bullet points are good, although ing’s Web site uses a blue perhaps we could also speak to the background. Although it might “expert in commercial flooring” not be our first choice of color issue. A major component missing for a client who sells hard- is a headline. Although I’m not sure wood flooring, the company AFTER what the logo represents, at least should stay with something that the company has one, and it seems has continuity across media. We added a project shot and a headline big and bold enough to work in the that tells the reader what kind of work SCF does. We added a bullet commercial market. Most glaring, point that addresses the “expert” factor and, most importantly, we however, is the fact that the ad lacks added contact information by including a phone number and a Web BEFORE any contact information. address.

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. Syracuse Commercial Floors receives a Hardwood Floors T-shirt for being selected. To enter your marketing piece for a professional redesign in this column, hardwood flooring contractors and dealers should send in their Yellow Pages ads, newspaper ads, magazine ads or brochures to: Sharper Image, Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 25 Your Business | Live and Learn

town: Putnam, Ill., population 793. I’ve always got plenty of 1958, and I always enjoyed the creative side of the busi- work, but I don’t have to drive far or contend with traffic to ness. By my last year in college, I decided that after I grad- get to it. In fact, I’m usually home in time to see my boys uated, I’d work for my dad, and we talked about me right after school. The work isn’t the upscale kind of floors I working into ownership of the business. We didn’t have used to do, but the anything structured or in writing; in hindsight, that would Three months later, cost of living here have made things easier. As it was, he’d talk about retir- is a lot less than ing—next year. Next year would come, and he wouldn’t I came to work and what it was in the retire. It was always “next year.” I said to my wife, “Dad’s Chicago suburbs. never going to retire, and I need to get on with my life.” my dad said, “I’ve had We have acreage, My wife and I had put in offers on 13 fixer-upper houses my kids have goats in the suburbs, but we lost them all—people were bidding it, I quit. You need to and ducks, and we over the list price and just tearing down the houses to get can walk to the the property. We had bought a tree farm out in the country tell me by Friday if beach at the lake while we were engaged, and we enjoyed the different that is only a cou- pace of life and friendly environment down there. When you’re taking the ple blocks from the perfect house and property came up for sale in the our house. I’m the same area, we bought it, even though it was two hours business over or not.” kind of father that from the business in Elmhurst. my wife and I At that point, life took some unexpected turns. I was in a wanted me to be, but it took a huge change in our lives car accident that left me badly injured and in traction in bed and my business to get here. for eight weeks. While I was recuperating, my dad had a I grew up in the Chicago suburbs working the family heart attack. Within a year, my wife gave birth to our twin wood flooring business. My dad had the company since boys. Three months later, I came to work and my dad said,

Circle 12 26 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Your Business | Live and Learn

“I’ve had it, I quit. You need to tell me by Friday if you’re core, make it stronger and turn it into a marketable asset. taking the business over or not.” I had two three-month-old We needed it to be at a point where we could hand it over boys, a wife and a mortgage payment. I didn’t think I had to someone and they could run the show. To start, we much of a choice, and I took over the business. incorporated the business. We computerized all the esti- In order for your own business to run properly, you mates and the schedule, as well as our customer database, become consumed by it; that’s the devil in running your so if Mrs. Jones called, I could immediately see that we own business. When you have eight or 10 guys, you end worked for her in 2002 and see which flooring, stain and up working 12 hours a day, and your family tends to suf- finish we used. We made sure we had three senior employ- fer. My wife and I made an agreement: By the time the ees who could do just as good a job as I could so that I boys started first grade, I would sell the business or hire a was replaceable. We also set up good benefits and a 401(k) manager to run it so I’d be able to spend more time with retirement plan for all the employees; we needed a good the kids. Growing up, my dad had always spent lots of core group of employees who could be responsible when I time with us. We’d be headed for a job, the wind would be took myself out of the mix. We needed the business to be blowing from the west and somebody would have told us organized so we could pass systems on that the new owner the day before that the salmon were biting. We’d show up could use and be profitable with, and in essence, that’s at the job and my dad would say, “Mrs. Smith, we had a what we did. Dad had always kept the company pretty problem with the machine at the last job; we’ll have to do small with few employees, but my last year with the busi- this tomorrow.” We’d go home, take the tools out of the ness, we did $1 million in sales, were up to eight employ- truck, hook the boat on and be on Lake Michigan in an ees and had three vehicles, plus my own. hour. In the meantime, I had started to build up some work for With the level of service we offered and the core of cus- myself out in the country around Putnam so when I sold tomers we had from being in business for so long, our the business, I already had things in motion out here. It was business had a good value. We needed to build upon that a real leap of faith: I had to be confident that I’d built

Circle 13 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 27 Your Business | Live and Learn

5 enough of a financial cushion that if the bottom fell out, I gets around. Last week I repaired and refinished the ⁄16-by- 1 could put food on the table and pay my insurance. Back 1 ⁄2-inch floor on the first floor of a Victorian house owned during my summers in college, I captained fishing boats on by a woman who owns an insurance company in town. Lake Michigan, and the guy who taught me how to run the I’ve already had four people come up to me and tell me 40-foot boat how great the floors look. always told me It is different work, and that’s been one of the harder I’m sanding that when you’re things to stomach. For the most part, I’m working in houses pulling into the that are worth $70,000 to $130,000, and I’m sanding 150- 150-year-old slip, you need to year-old pumpkin pine floors, not putting down $35-a- look for an out in square-foot hand-scraped walnut. It’s like going from pumpkin pine floors, case you have a cooking filet mignon to working at McDonald’s. Some days problem. That’s you say, “What did I do that for?” But I’m able to pick up not putting down how I felt about the kids after school and take them fishing or sit down at selling the business the kitchen table for an hour and help them with their $30-a-square-foot and starting over in homework. the boondocks. I When I sold the business, my dad wasn’t upset. He told hand-scraped walnut. knew that if I had me that there are more important things than work—that you to, I could call up only have a certain amount of time to spend with your kids, friends in the and you’d better enjoy it. And, as parents so often are, he industry—local distributors or fellow contractors—and get was right. ■ work. As it turned out, by the time the business sold, I had enough contacts out in the country that I haven’t had a dry Michael Dittmer is president at Michael Dittmer Wood Floors moment since I started. Of course, in the country, word in Putnam, Ill.

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Circle 14 28 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 16 on Reply Card Your Business | Legal Brief

Legal Labyrinth Navigate a changing landscape for hiring immigrants

By Phillip M. Perry

roy recently left his job to start his own contracting business in INDUSTRY TRENDS T Southern California. When the time came for hiring employees, Troy NWFA Economic Trends Survey: found a willing and experienced labor market in the large Latino community. Solid Unfinished Flooring But after hearing nightmarish tales In this survey, responses from 9 top wood flooring manufacturers are used to identify from other trades about businesses current wood flooring sales trends. Below are results for solid unfinished flooring. Solid that lost money or even went out of prefinished flooring and engineered flooring results are on the following pages. Results business because of hiring illegal for this issue were compiled in the middle of November. immigrants, Troy is afraid of hiring the wrong people. He has no idea how to 1. Over the past two months, has the cost of lumber for your company’s solid ensure he’s hiring people who can unfinished hardwood flooring … legally work in the U.S., or where to go for help. -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Given the dwindling supply of available workers, you may likely find your- 2. In the past two months, have the prices you charge for your company’s self in Troy’s shoes. Hiring immigrants, solid unfinished hardwood flooring … after all, has long been a valued prac- -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 tice for getting the job done in America. Today, though, employers need to 3. Over the past two months, has your company’s sales of solid unfinished tread more carefully over what has hardwood flooring … become rougher legal terrain. Federal regulations are tightening up in ways -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 that target employers of undocumented workers. And that’s only the start: Fol- 4. Over the past two months, has your company’s profits from solid unfin- lowing the failure of Congress to pass ished hardwood flooring … comprehensive immigration reform last summer, state governments around the -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 country are creating a confusing patch- work of laws related to the hiring of 5. What is the projection for your company’s solid unfinished hardwood foreign nationals. flooring sales in the coming quarter … Even municipalities are getting into -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 the act. “Many local communities are fighting illegal immigration by targeting key: businesses,” cautions David Kotick, -1 = dropped slightly +1 = risen slightly managing partner of New York-based -2 = dropped significantly 0 = had no change +2 = risen significantly -3 = dropped drastically +3 = risen drastically immigration law firm Apsan Law (continued on page 32)

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Group. “Employers who hire undocu- Verify Eligibility law firm. The employer must have each mented aliens face steep fines and the Whatever your location, you are subject hired individual fill out an I-9 form, loss of their business licenses. Some to federal regulations that require you titled “Employment Eligibility Verifica- laws even mandate jail time for repeat to verify the employment eligibility of tion,” issued by the U.S. Citizen and offenders.” anyone you hire. “Every individual, Immigration Services, which is a divi- So, naturally, it’s important to follow once hired, must be asked for docu- sion of the Department of Homeland the proper steps in hiring foreign ments that prove their identity and their Security (DHS). To avoid any appear- nationals. Following are things you can work authorization,” explains Carlina ance of discrimination, the law requires do when hiring to reduce your liability Tapia-Ruano, partner at Chicago-based that you have individuals complete this when hiring employees. Tapia-Ruano & Gunn, an immigration form only after being hired, not during the recruitment process. You can download a copy of an I-9 form at INDUSTRY TRENDS (CONTINUED) www.uscis.gov. Click on “Immigration Forms” and then “Employment Eligibil- Solid Prefinished Flooring ity Verification” or “I-9,” toward the bottom of the list. 1. Over the past two months, has the cost of lumber for your company’s solid On part one of the I-9 form, the prefinished hardwood flooring …

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

2. In the past two months, have the prices you charge for your company’s “Every individual, solid prefinished hardwood flooring … once hired, -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 must be asked 3. Over the past two months, has your company’s sales of solid prefinished hardwood flooring … for documents that

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 prove their identity

4. Over the past two months, has your company’s profits from solid prefin- and their work ished hardwood flooring … authorization.” -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

5. What is the projection for your company’s solid prefinished hardwood flooring sales in the coming quarter … employee enters basic information such as name, address, Social Security num- -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 ber and date of birth. Just as important key: is the section on the employment status -1 = dropped slightly +1 = risen slightly of the individual. There are only three -2 = dropped significantly 0 = had no change +2 = risen significantly choices here: The individual is either a -3 = dropped drastically +3 = risen drastically U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident or an alien authorized to work until a This month, we also asked solid unfinished, solid prefinished and engineered wood given date. The employee must sign flooring manufacturers: and date the form. Do you plan to increase, decrease or maintain production levels for the first In part two of the form, you must quarter of 2008? certify that you have made sure the documents provided by the employee 22% said they plan to increase production establish the individual’s identity and 0% said they plan to decrease production employment authorization. There is an 78% said they plan to maintain production. extensive list on the back of the I-9 (continued on page 34) form that shows which documents are

32 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Giving You An Abrasive Edge

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acceptable. Any one document from a list of 10 is accept- another. Penalties for errors can range from $1,000 to able as proof of both identity and employment eligibility. $10,000 per violation. Even employers who make innocent (A passport and a permanent resident card are two exam- mistakes can be fined. ples.) Additionally, there are nearly two dozen additional Employers should make sure everyone who helps documents that have been certified as proof of one of the employees fill out I-9 forms is trained to avoid as many two criteria. errors as possible, Tapia-Ruano suggests. “And I would Part three provides space for updating the form’s infor- encourage internal audit of I-9s on a periodic basis. Don’t mation after a worker’s previous work authorization has wait for an audit by the Department of Homeland Security,” expired. she adds. “The law requires that the signatures and the information While the I-9 form looks simple, attorneys caution be completed within three days of the employee’s hire employers about making these common errors: date,” Tapia-Ruano notes. “Many attorneys recommend that Illegal bias: Avoid charges of discrimination by requiring employers attach photocopies of the reviewed documents every employee (not just the ones you think are from to each I-9 to help protect the business in the event of an another country because of their appearance or their audit.” speech) to fill out an I-9 form. Entry errors: One of the more common errors is incor- Avoid Errors rect indication of the employee’s immigration status. An Gathering documents is one thing. Making sure they are employee with a work visa, for example, may have erro- authentic and that all of the blanks are filled in correctly is neously filled in “permanent resident.” Such a mistake is significant even if done innocently. It is the employer’s duty to make sure the INDUSTRY TRENDS (CONTINUED) entries are accurate. Over-restrictive documentation: Engineered Flooring Avoid requiring documentation that is more restrictive than what the law 1. Over the past two months, has the cost of lumber for your company’s mandates, such as requiring a birth cer- engineered wood flooring … tificate along with a Social Security card and valid driver’s license. An -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 employer might be tempted to do this 2. In the past two months, have the prices you charge for your company’s to simplify record keeping, but it is ille- engineered wood flooring … gal and can lead to fines as well as charges of discrimination. -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Failure to assess authenticity: The employer must not accept documents 3. Over the past two months, has your company’s sales of engineered that a reasonable person would suspect wood flooring … were fraudulent either because they look doctored or look like duplicates. -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Procrastination: Another mistake is to put off the task of examining the 4. Over the past two months, has your company’s profits from engineered employee’s documents and getting the wood flooring … I-9 in order. Waiting more than three days can result in fines. -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Allowing expiration dates to slip 5. What is the projection for your company’s engineered wood flooring by: Many employees have permission sales in the coming quarter … to work for only a limited period of time. Prior to the expiration date, ask -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 the employee to present new verification documents. key: It’s important to keep I-9 forms in a safe place. At any time, the DHS or the -1 = dropped slightly +1 = risen slightly -2 = dropped significantly 0 = had no change +2 = risen significantly U.S. Department of Labor may come -3 = dropped drastically +3 = risen drastically around and perform an “employment audit” of I-9s.

34 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 O TM UNFINISHED ENGINEERED FLOORING Circle 18 on Reply Card 5’ Brazilian Cherry Engineered Flooring featuring Long Lengths & Wide Widths Engineered Plank

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LEGAL HIGHLIGHTS ■ Employers who hire undocumented aliens face steep fines and the loss of their business licenses. ■ Require each hired individual to fill out an I-9 form. ■ Don’t fire employees simply based on a “no- match” letter from the U.S. Social Security Administration. ■ Employers should not accept documents that a reasonable person would suspect were fraudulent. ■ Safe harbor regulations define what steps employers can take to avoid legal liability for hiring undocumented workers.

Safe Harbor Rules The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has long been Onl y in the practice of sending “no-match” letters to employers when workers’ names and social security numbers on W-2 forms do not match the SSA records. In the past, employers had never been sure what to do after receiving these letters. Should a worker who cannot reconcile the discrepancy be Goodwin fired? “In many cases employers have kept the employees on board, fearing that a termination decision based on a no- The richest, most beautiful match letter might lead to charges of discrimination,” notes wood in the world... Angelo A. Paparelli, managing partner of Paparelli & Part- ners, an immigration law firm with offices in New York City and Irvine, Calif. “After all, there can be legitimate reasons why a no-match occurs. A female employee might have got- ten married, for example, and changed her name to her husband’s without notifying the SSA. Or the SSA could have misspelled the name.” Indeed, the Web site of the U.S. Immigration and Cus- toms Enforcement division of the DHS states “an employer who takes action against an employee based on nothing more substantial than a no-match letter may, in fact, violate the law.” Times, though, are changing. Today’s employers face more severe fines for hiring illegal immigrants and there is a general national mood shift against undocumented foreign nationals. This has raised concerns that employers will opt River-Recovered Specialists to risk discrimination lawsuits over the federal government’s 1.800.336.3118 • www.HeartPine.com civil and criminal penalties for employment of undocu- River Recovered ® is a Registered Trademark of Goodwin Lumber, Inc. © 2006 mented workers. “The fear is that many people will be ter- Goodwin Lumber, Inc./DBA Goodwin Heart Pine. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. minated based on foreign appearance and name,” Paparelli pictured: River Recovered® Vertical Heart Pine cautions. As partial mitigation for this problem, in August of 2007

Circle 20 36 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 the DHS issued new regulations intended to clarify matters while providing a “safe harbor” for employers who hire foreign nationals. The regulations define what steps employers must take within what time frames to avoid legal liability for hiring undocumented workers.

Stay Informed Recent changes in federal regulations are seen by some as an attempt to shift the border control effort from the government to the private sector. “Employ- ers feel an unreasonable burden is

“Employers feel an unreasonable burden is being placed on their Circle 21 shoulders to control undocumented employees.”

being placed on their shoulders to control undocumented employees,” Tapia- Ruano says. However this burden is perceived, employers could potentially face steep fines and jail time unless they take the necessary precautions to protect themselves when hiring foreign nationals. By following legal developments in the hiring process and being vigilant about proper documentation, employing immigrants doesn’t have to be the risky business that so many small-business owners fear. ■

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

Circle 22 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 37 Circle 23 on Reply Card Circle 23 on Reply Card Your Business | Money

Financial Resolve Get on top of your financials in 2008

By Jim Blasingame

his New Year’s, don’t just make those cliché resolutions about losing weight or quitting smok- ing—make 2008 the year you resolve to improve your hardwood flooring business. One way to Tdo that is by actively managing your financial statements. You’ll have a better understanding of your business and won’t be left at the end of the year wondering why your company didn’t generate the profits you expected. Here is a list of resolutions you may want to implement for your business for the upcoming year.

Resolution #1 I resolve to do a better job of managing my company financially. I’m not presuming you haven’t been doing a good job in this area. I’m only suggesting that we can all make improvements from wherever we are in our financial management. As our parents, teachers and mentors always told us, there is always room for improvement. Business owners can never stop being diligent in the financial management of their businesses. Stay close to the quantities, line distribution and age of your inventory. Stay closer to your accounts receivable report. Become one with your expense management. Even if you have hired someone to manage those areas on a daily basis, remember this: You can’t delegate the ultimate responsibility for your business’s financial performance.

Resolution #2 I resolve to create regular and accurate financial statements. OK, I admit that this is a little presumptuous, but I fear any insults I’m in danger of delivering would be to only a minority of small businesses. After more than a decade as a business consultant, I’ll wager that fewer than half of small businesses consistently produce regular (at least quarterly) and accurate profit-and-loss (P&L) statements and balance sheets. I’m going to repeat something I’ve said at least 100 times: If the only financial report you have is the P&L and balance sheet you get once a year with your tax return, using that information to manage your business is like making a salad with 15-month- old lettuce. The lettuce is metaphoric—the 15 months is literal. In either case, the result is rotten. With all of the accounting software available today, there is no excuse for every small business not to be managing with current numbers. These

40 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Serving Up Quality Flooring For The Most Discriminating Tastes.

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ForesFloor is a product of Foresbec, the recognized leader of hardwood manufacturing in North America and proud member of The PENROD Group. Circle 19 on Reply Card programs can cost as little as the price of a dinner for two, will work on inexpensive personal computers and are virtually idiot-proof. If you can read, add 2+2, and operate a mouse, you can be on your way to do-it-yourself financial statements in very short order. The direct benefit is the ability to manage your business with fresh lettuce—I mean numbers. But there are also several indirect benefits that result with virtually no extra effort. In order to create financial statements, you will be entering sales, purchases, disbursements, etc. As you place that information in your accounting program, you are simultaneously creating the ability to produce invoices, billing statements, sales-tax reports, inventory records and accounts payable and accounts receivable reports, just to name a few. How would you like to have the time back that you may currently be spending to create those records from scratch? Business owners who do not use electronic capability to create their businesses’ financial information are like someone eating a meal with their hands even though they know knives and forks have been invented.

Resolution #3 I resolve to learn more about what my financial records are telling me and, armed with that valuable information, manage my business more effectively. Remember what the dog said after he chased the car and caught it? “Now that I’ve got it, what do I do with it?” Now that you’ve made a commitment to manage with current financial information and have created your financial records, what do you do with them? If you’re worried that accomplishing this resolution means you have to become a bookkeeper or accountant, stop wor- rying—it doesn’t. But good business owners must at least understand the flow of the financial components of their businesses and how each one affects the others. I believe business failures could easily be cut in half if anyone wanting to become a business owner were required to pass a course that taught the basics of cash flow, accounting and how to read and understand financial statements. Do you know how to find out why, incredibly, sales are up but you’re out of cash? It’s on the balance sheet. Do you know the first place to check to get an early tip that inventory may be creeping up? It’s likely in your gross profit margin, right there in the middle of your P&L state- ment. Do you know where to find why you’re not profitable even though you know you are maximizing margins and holding down direct expenses? The answer may be hiding in some of those annoying P&L line items like “bank overdraft fees” and that insidious “miscellaneous” account. If you didn’t know the answer to these questions, let me tell you how you can solve that problem: Do Financial Reso- lution #2 every month. If you build your statements, the understanding will come. Circle 25 42 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008

MONEY HIGHLIGHTS ■ With today’s software, there’s no excuse not to manage with current numbers. ■ You can’t delegate responsibility of your business’s financial performance. ■ Every small business should be managed based on (at least) quarterly financial reports. ■ Good business owners must understand the flow of their businesses’ finances. ■ Compare your numbers with those of your peers.

Resolution #4 I resolve to find out how my company’s financial performance compares with that of my peers. Every industry has its own rules of thumb for how much a business in that sector should be spending and how much profit it should be making—all based on sales volume. There are ratios and percentages produced by aggregating the financial statements of many businesses in a particular industry, for everything from payroll to payables, from inventory to interest, and from debt to deferred compensation. Industries and financial institutions have been compiling and recording these indicators for so long, in such significant numbers, and at all levels of activity, that they are used every day by sophisticated managers as valid reference points from which to measure their businesses’ performance. Would you like to be able to call yourself a sophisticated manager? Find out how your peers are doing and put your numbers up against theirs. Robert Morris Associates is one publishing firm that offers this information in its Web-based solution program, eCompare2. There are other companies that offer similar solutions. They don’t give these away, but they’re not expensive. You may be able to find these publications at your local Chamber of Commerce, public library or small-business development center. If you’re an NWFA member, you can access the association’s “Distributor Profit Report” and “Dealer/Contractor Profit Report.” Write this on a rock ... The more you educate yourself on the financial fundamentals of business, the more you will seek financial excellence for your company. Along the way, you will become a sophisticated and successful manager of your business’s financial performance. ■

Jim Blasingame is the creator and award-winning host of the nationally syndicated radio/Internet talk show, “The Small Business Advocate,” and author of Small Business is Like a Bunch of Bananas and Three Minutes to Success. Find Jim’s show and more at www.SmallBusinessAdvocate.com, plus instant answers to your questions at his small business knowledge base, AskJim.biz. Circle 29 44 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 B. Shannon Fuller & Richard M. Lingle 1245 Adams Lane Edwards, MS 39066 601-326-3130 www.bakerscreekfloors.com

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Circle 27 on Reply Card Your Business | Management

Branching Out Build your business through smart networking

By Andrea Nierenberg

any of us still perceive the word “networking” as a cliché catchphrase used by salespeople, but I always say the word is misunderstood. I believe that good networking skills build links and Malliances with people we meet along our career path. The opposite of networking is not working. If you’re not networking, you’re missing a great opportunity to improve your business. There are many steps you can take to build your network and consequently improve your hardwood flooring business. Here’s how you can use networking to your advantage.

Not Just for Sales Networking is all about developing and building relationships first. When this happens with hard work and sincerity, customers will come. When you meet new people for the first time, it’s like planting a seed. When you stay in touch by meeting for coffee or sending a holiday card, it’s like watering the seeds. Finally, when there is a genuine reason for you to have a closer working relationship or friendship, it’s like the harvest. Remember, we can plant and we can water, however, the growth is a natural and organic process. You cannot rush it. In each connection, I look at how I can help that person or refer someone to that person. The biggest joy is when I put someone in touch with another person and they do business together. Flooring contractors may be able to do this by suggesting fellow tradesmen to a homeowner, for example. At my business consulting firm, three of my major clients took over three years to develop—lots of staying in touch, and patience, and finally an opportunity to work on a project. Each has generated multiple referrals. The goal is to stay in front of people and to be on their radar screen so they can return the favor by referring you.

Negative Networking The top complaint from a national survey that my company conducted was about people who act like they are trying to sell you something—right when they meet you. They pounce on prospective contacts © iStockphoto

46 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 32 on Reply Card Your Business | Management

and talk only about themselves instead of having any interest client. Then plant seeds to nurture the relationship and gener- in the new acquaintance. Another complaint was about peo- ate referrals. Ask questions, show interest and ask about things ple who immediately lose interest if they don’t think you’ll be that are of interest to them. The time you invest will be paid of use to them. These people figure they only need to net- back many times over as you are building relationships. work with people who will quickly lead to a sale. Think of the associations you belong to and make the time The key is to always give first. Be a resource—go through that you go to these meetings and functions work for you. Get your database and think how you can help the other person. involved: work on committees and meet and develop new Every day, get in touch with three people just to say hello. I contacts throughout the year. Publish your own newsletter to do this systematically. It could be as simple as sending a photo send to your previous customers and also to a prospect list of a recent project or an interesting article and saying “I you continually build. There are many pre-produced market- haven’t spoken to you in a while, and thought you might be ing pieces that can be created and customized with your name interested in this.” Or, let customers know about an event they and contact information. Just be sure to always sign it yourself might enjoy or congratulate them on a recent accomplishment. and, if possible, add something personal. For me, the newslet- Keep it sincere, short and make it about them—not about you. ter is a piece of gold. I send out 2,500 copies quarterly and I One way to do this is by keeping a database of projects and always personalize each one—it can be as simple as: “Hi, Lisa, following up when you think some maintenance may be nec- hope you’re doing great! Andrea.” essary. By constantly staying in contact, they will have your name ready to refer to another client. Community Networking Offer to speak at a local organization’s meeting. You might Time is Money also offer to do a free mini-seminar on maintaining a hard- Networking, the way I look at it, is part of everyday life. Go wood floor. Sponsor a Little League team or turn in through the clients and companies you deal with and think announcements about milestone company events to your about how can you connect with each person, vendor or local newspaper. All of these things can connect you to a

Circle 28 48 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 broader network of people.

Four Tools for Networking Understanding the importance of networking is one thing, but actually putting it into action is another. Here are four tools that can help you network. 1) Meet people and nurture your current network. Lis- ten and learn from everyone you meet. We learn more by lis- tening than talking, which is why we have two ears and one mouth. Also, we can learn from those people we do not like—we learn how not to be. When you listen, you also learn what people need and how to be a resource for them. 2) Make connections for others. Find ways to connect other people together. I say “1+1=3.” People will remember who made the original connection. 3) Follow up. This is critical and the one thing most people forget to do. Under-promise and over-deliver. Do what you say and do it in a timely fashion. A wonderful quote I live by is, “Give without remembering and receive without forgetting.” 4) Find creative ways to follow up. There is always an opportunity to stay on people’s radar screen with an article, note, or something else of interest to them—even remembering their birthday.

Remember This Networking has many aspects that can be summarized by the following: N Remember people’s Names and Nurture your Network. E Have good Eye contact, Empathy and know when to Exit. T Talk less, listen more—Thinking, Trusting and Timing are everything. W Write personal notes to people. Remember, this is Work! O Every time you meet someone is an Opportunity to learn and be Organized. R Reputation, Relationships, Reflection, Rapport, Results. K Knowledge is power with execution—Kindness pays! I Be Interested in others, Integrity is key, take the Initiative. N Sometimes you have to say No. G Goals, Gratitude, be Generous with your time. Networking can be a useful resource to small-business owners, as long as it’s used properly. By not being the stereotypi- cally over-aggressive sales professional—and remembering to build relationships—networking can help your business reach its full potential. ■

Andrea Nierenberg is president of New York City-based The Nierenberg Group, which provides training in sales, customer service, presentation skills, networking and motivation to leading businesses worldwide. She is the author of Million Dollar Networking, and can be reached at info@mybusiness- relationships.com.

Circle 26 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 49 F rom point 'a'

T o point 'b'…

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From this process, we select only the best lumber to produce our high-quality solid wood flooring. This flooring is produced in Rift & Quarter Sawn and Plain Sawn, and is available in the following species: • White Oak • Red Oak • Maple • Walnut • Cherry • Ash • Hickory (Plain Sawn only) 800.296.6223 • www.taylorlumberinc.com Circle 42 on Reply Card Onthe Job Ask the Expert Wax, Expansion & More

3 Wax On, Wax Off? original finish or other contaminants are case, ⁄4 inch. You’ll want to check with I have a customer with a 50-year- a possibility. Wax is obviously a phe- the manufacturer of the flooring for that old oak floor that has always been nomenal contaminant, but if you’re specific product’s recommendation; not waxed. She wants me to resand it careful, you can usually resand a previ- all manufacturers of solid products nec- and coat it with oil-based finish. Is ously waxed floor successfully. essarily require that much expansion. that possible? The reason for expansion space is to Expanding on Expansion prevent the flooring from pushing walls My new employee installed a solid out of place in the event that there are John Bast III, president of Tampa, 3 ⁄4-inch prefinished floor yesterday extreme moisture conditions on the job Fla.-based Florida Hardwood Floor Sup- 1 and only left about ⁄4-inch expan- plies, answers: and the floor cups and buckles. Expan- sion space at the wall. Will this be Yes, it usually is. First, you have to sion space doesn’t prevent cupping. If a problem? do a thorough sanding with all the the flooring was acclimated to the job required grits, which is typically a site and the temperature and humidity Rusty Swindoll, assistant director of three-cut process. You need to be thor- in the house never change, the floor technical training at the NWFA, ough not only with the big machine, probably won’t have a problem—but if answers: but also pay careful attention while there’s the floor floods, the wood floor For solid wood floors, we recom- you’re edging. Any areas that have to can possibly move the walls and even mend leaving expansion at the walls as be sanded by hand also must be done shift the sill plates, causing structural wide as the flooring is thick—in this 3 carefully. damage to the house. If there is ⁄4-inch Sanding heats the floor, which lique- fies some of the wax that might be TRICK OF THE TRADE remaining between the boards or in the pores of the wood, driving it to the surface. That’s why I recommend sanding Listen Up the floor, letting it cool overnight and then coming back the next morning to screen and coat the floor. Grain-filling the floor between the medium and fine cut may also help. If the wax isn’t completely removed, several things can happen. You can get lines between the joints of the boards— along the sides and also at the end joints—from wax that was in that space. Wax remaining in the surface of the wood can cause alligatoring and peeling of the finish, also. Open- grained woods, such as pine and oak ost chatter is caused by a bad drum, but if it isn’t, it can be hard to figure out (typically the species used for the old Mwhat the culprit is. This device can help you figure out if it’s another suspect— waxed floors), are more likely to have bad bearings. The specialized stethoscope can be bought at any auto parts supply problems than a tight-grained floor like shop. Simply touch the end of the device to the relevant parts—if you hear a regular Brazilian cherry. knocking noise while the machine is running, you know the bearing is bad. As with any recoat job, it’s a great Wayne Lee of Clarke American Sanders receives a Hardwood Floors T-shirt for his tip. Do idea to test an area before you do the you have a Trick of the Trade? Send in your idea, and if we use it, we’ll send you a Hard- whole floor and also to inform the wood Floors T-shirt. client up front that problems from the

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 51 On the Job | Ask the Expert

expansion, on the other hand, and sion space after the fact is to undercut available for flush-cutting applications. there’s a flood, by the time the floor the sheetrock to the level of the floor. You can even use a reciprocating saw 3 moves ⁄4 inch, the fasteners will have To do this, you can use any number of as long as you’re careful not to cut into released and the pressure on the floor tools—anything from a razor knife to an the joists; it can be especially useful is released upward instead of pushing undercut saw like a jamb saw (beware because it cuts right through any dry- out the walls. of dust when using a jamb saw) to the wall screws. A high-speed rotary tool To be safe, one way to leave expan- small electric handsaws that are now would also do the job. Playing it safe is always the best option. If you don’t leave the expansion space required by the manufacturer and you end up with an expansion problem, you may not be covered by your warranty. If you don’t leave the expansion space required by the manufacturer and you end up with an expansion problem, you won’t be covered by your warranty. Comparing Change What causes more change in the dimension of wood flooring, temperature or humidity?

John Christopherson, owner at Alaska Wholesale Hardwoods in Anchorage, Alaska, answers: Humidity. At 50 percent humidity, the moisture content (MC) of hardwood will equalize at about 9.5 percent when the temperature is stabilized at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If you change the temperature to 80 degrees, the hardwood will stabilize at around 9.1 percent MC. That is less than half a percent lower MC for an increase in temperature of 30 degrees. Switch that to a 30 percent humidity change and the wood will equalize at about 3 percent MC less than before. That would cause a 3-inch plainsawn red oak board to shrink 1 about ⁄32 inch. ■ Circle 31 52 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 36 on Reply Card On the Job | From the Field

Scenarios for Success Three important factors could save your installation

By Don Conner

recently visited a home in the another factor was at play. The wood the planks were between 0.02 and 0.06 Southwest to conduct a site inspec- floor was a factory-finished exotic in a inch. The width of a business card, for Ition on a wood flooring installation 5-inch-wide plank. instance, is only 0.012 inch, but the completed approximately three years Normal moisture content (MC) for gaps were obvious. ago. The homeowners complained this wood floor species in the South- Due to the wide width of the planks that their wood floors had too much west ranges from 8 to 10 percent. How- and the home’s dry interior environ- gapping. While some gaps are ever, when I arrived at the site, the MC ment, each plank had lost moisture and expected due to seasonal changes, this varied from 7.5 to 6 percent and even shrunk in width, causing the separa- was more than the homeowners felt less. This wouldn’t have been a prob- tions. The planks had a 0.5 to 4 percent 1 was normal. Of course, I immediately lem had the wood been 2 ⁄4-inch lower MC than the 8 to 10 percent that suspected moisture was the culprit. domestic strip. But this exotic species was needed. Normally, gapping can be attributed was wider and denser, so it was experi- Several factors had contributed to this to subfloor moisture vapor, an interior encing side-to-side movement due to home’s gapping problem, and they environmental problem or an acclima- moisture changes. were all preventable. Increasing the tion problem. However, in this case, The gaps that had opened between humidity level inside the home would have increased the floor’s MC and reduced the gaps. TALES FROM THE FRONT In my many years in the hardwood flooring industry, I’ve seen similar scenarios with sabotaged wood floor Giving the Slip installations played out again and Air mover takes flight again. Three factors, if managed shrewdly during home building and Midwestern wood flooring professional recalls an install, renovation projects, can significantly A sand and finish job in a high-end home. The extensive reduce these poor outcomes. renovations included everything from new wood flooring throughout to lavish landscaping surrounding the home. 1) Proper Scheduling by Before applying finish in a second-story room, the contractor the Builder had used rope to secure a rickety old air mover in the window to draw solvents out of Builders and job-site superintendents the room once the finish had begun to dry. A remote control was hooked up to the air have an extremely important role in mover so the contractor could turn it on without having to walk across the finish. Once ensuring successful wood flooring the finish was down and dry enough, the contractor turned the air mover on. As it built installations, because they are responsi- up to full throttle, however, a dented fan blade caused the contraption to shake vio- ble for scheduling all aspects of build- lently. Helpless to grab it, since he didn’t want to ran across the new finish, the con- ing and renovation projects. tractor could only watch as the knot quickly unraveled and the air mover took flight, From the onset, it is important that landing smack in the middle of the freshly planted—and now crushed—landscaping. realistic timeframes are established for If you have a true (and printable) story to share, e-mail it with your name and phone num- all construction tasks, keeping in mind ber to [email protected]. If we use your story, we’ll send you a Hardwood that hardwood flooring installers should Floors T-shirt. be allowed to work only when normal

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Circle 33 on Reply Card On the Job | From the Field

living conditions are present in the home. All other trades should have completed their tasks before installation begins. Electricity should be turned on, doors and windows should be in place and the heating or air conditioning should be operational. &OHJOFFSFE 8PPE If work crews cancel and delays occur, the wood floor 'MPPSJOH4UBQMFS installation should be postponed until conditions are acceptable. After installation of the wood floors, if the house isn’t going to be immediately occupied, it shouldn’t SureShotTM 1848-F be sealed up with no air exchange. rt Choice 2) Point-of-Purchase Sales Information )BSEXPPE'MPPSJOH Builders and installers should seek out informed sales per- $MFBU/BJMFS sonnel when purchasing hardwood flooring products. In my seminars, I’ve found that only about 10 percent of hardwood flooring sales personnel have read the manufacturers’ instructions about the flooring products they sell. This is a problem, because it is essential that the salesperson com- municate specific information to the builder or the end- of the Pros. The Sma user, such as what MC should be present in both the wood FloorMasterTM 200-C floor and subfloor at the time of installation. The climate in which the home is located should be con- sidered when the wood flooring is selected. A beachfront home in Hilton Head, S.C., should avoid having wide-width )BSEXPPE'MPPSJOH planks if doors and windows will be routinely left open, 4UBQMFS because the high moisture levels will create unwanted or accelerated wood movement. Having informed salespeople is particularly critical in today’s market, where exotic species are increasing in popularity and the widths are becoming wider. Salespeople need to be informed enough to tell consumers the “how, when and where” of wood products—that is, how to install FloorMasterTM 200-S

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Circle 34 56 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 On the Job | From the Field

the flooring, when to install it and MC is near the appropriate level, prod- Guidelines. Following some basic where or in what location a particular ucts are available that can be applied to directions can make or break an product could be used for the best subfloors to reduce moisture-vapor installation. ■ result. migration to a reasonable level. Above all, installers should always Don Conner is technical and product 3) Use Informed Installers follow manufacturers’ printed instruc- development director for Johnson City, An installer’s education is key (and cer- tions and the NWFA’s Installation Tenn.-based Mullican Flooring. tification is evidence that contractors take industry standards seriously). The installers must take into account the species and width of the wood flooring being installed. They should understand the importance of installing the wood floor after the home’s temperature and humidity have stabilized and

I’ve been on jobs where the installers were laying wood floors even though the home’s concrete basement floor was yet to be poured. the HVAC system is operational. It’s also extremely important that the installation supervisor check the job site’s humidity levels and the MC of the subfloors before the hardwood floors are installed. The subfloors should be within the recommended levels for the type of wood flooring being used. I’ve been on jobs where the installers were laying wood floors even though the home’s concrete basement floor was yet to be poured. This is a recipe for disaster—as the concrete dries, water in the concrete will evapo- rate and be absorbed by the wood floors above, causing them to buckle, crack or split. If the moisture of any subfloor is too high, installers need to wait and allow it to dry. If waiting is too difficult and the

Circle 35 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 57 On the Job | Troubleshooting

Stop “Gap” Measures Overzealous acclimation leads to an unacceptable floor

By Michael B. Harde

The Problem where humidity will reach levels necessary for the Last January I inspected a wood floor in a New Eng- gaps to close entirely (in excess of 60 percent RH 3 for a MC of 10 percent). These gaps are not sea- land residence. The ⁄4-by-3-inch solid, factory-finished white oak floor had gaps between the boards. sonal. There will always be gaps in this floor, and when the interior environment is at the low end of The Procedure its seasonal humidity range, the gaps will be The wood floor was in a new, single-story wood- prominent. The 10 percent MC of the wood at the frame home with a full basement. The flooring time of installation will never again be reached as was delivered (with an average moisture content long as the homeowners use the year-round cli- [MC] of 8.5 percent) to the site in July and then mate controls. acclimated for three weeks in the living room (at the time, there was no climate control operating in How to Fix the Floor the house). Before installation, the MC of the There is no way to restore the flooring to a closed, flooring was checked and was at 10 percent, gap-free condition other than to maintain overly showing acclimation to the environment. The sub- high humidity levels during the drier periods of floor at the time was at 11 the year, which is impractical and can even be percent MC, and the framing unhealthy. In this instance, the flooring was was at 12 percent MC. The removed and replaced. These gaps floor was installed by mid- August, the residence was In the Future are not seasonal. occupied and the HVAC sys- It’s critical to identify the expected year-round There will always tem turned on. interior environmental conditions and account for Following installation, the them prior to installing the flooring. This requires be gaps in this floor. floor developed gaps between looking beyond the MC of the wood and associ- the sides of the boards. Gaps ated structural components at the time of installa- were minimal at first, but by tion (the levels may look fine at the specific point the time of the inspection they in time when they are collected). The expected had become noticeable, averaging 0.040 inch. impact of environmental controls such as air con- The environmental conditions in the home dur- ditioners, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, as well as ing the inspection were appropriate for perform- the cyclical changes in humidity in that geo- ance of a wood floor. Flooring readings measured 6 graphic region, must be factored in. percent MC, with the indoor environment at 31 per- When combined, these factors determine suit- cent relative humidity (RH) and 67 degrees Fahren- able installation conditions for the flooring and its heit (humidification was in place and functioning). future environment. Don’t mistakenly think that because flooring has been acclimated prior to The Cause installation that it is has been acclimated correctly The wood flooring lost moisture during the sea- and that installation can proceed. To ensure a suc- sonal dry period and developed gaps. However, cessful wood floor installation and a satisfied cus- “seasonal gaps” are just that: seasonal. They close tomer, all variables relative to moisture must be during periods when the flooring gains adequate identified and addressed. ■ moisture. In this case, once the home was occupied, the home’s environment was maintained Michael B. Harde is president at Marlborough, between 30 and 50 percent RH year-round. This N.H.-based Northeast Floor Covering Inspection & wood floor is unlikely to be in conditions again Consulting Services.

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Sensational Spectrum Any color of hardwood floor is possible with dyes

By Steve Seabaugh

hen a customer asks for an unusual color on her wood floor that can’t be made with typical stains, most hard- Wwood flooring contractors just tell her it can’t be done. But that isn’t true—dyes can be used to create any color of the spectrum on a hardwood floor. They give richer, deeper color without hiding the grain of the wood like pigmented stains can. That said, dying a wood floor is very, very difficult. I tried it for the first time on my first hand-scraped floor in a customer’s home, and I ended up redoing the floor three times, even though I had friends in the industry talking me through it on the phone the entire time. Dye dries quickly and tends to leave lap marks, so it requires lots of practice before you do it on a real job. Any time you stain a floor, you need a great sanding job. The same is true for dyes, but while you can easily sand out and restain a few areas where stain highlights sanding marks, repairing a dyed floor is nearly impossible, so flawless sanding is even more important. Here’s how I dye floors; the photos are from my panel at the NWFA’s Expert Sand & Finish School last October.

SUPPLY LIST • Moisture meter • Blue tape • Clear packing tape • Vacuum • Microfiber tack mop Step 1 Step 2 • Dye Once sanding is done, if necessary, I ... I go over it with clear packing tape, • Water or alcohol, tape off the area where I’ll be applying applying the edge to exactly where I depending on the dye the dye. Blue tape is good because it want the dye to stop. You might need won’t transfer adhesive to the floor, but extra light to see the floor well enough • Gram scale (if using I find that it lets dye get under the to be accurate. If the clear tape is wider powder dye) edges of the tape. So, I apply the blue than the blue tape, I fold under the • Paint pad applicator tape first, just a hairline short of where extra clear tape so it isn’t stuck directly • Stain I want to tape off (it helps to use onto the wood floor (the hairline that’s something hard to push down the covered with the clear tape is OK, but I edge of the tape, like your nail) and wouldn’t want a larger area stuck to the then ... floor).

60 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 37 on Reply Card On the Job | Step by Step

Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Once that’s done, I vacuum and dry- Dye comes in either a concentrated liq- I always make test boards of the color tack the floor. I also take moisture read- uid or powder that needs to be mixed using boards of the same species that ings of the area where I’ll be dying the with either denatured alcohol or water, were sanded to the same final grit that I floor so I have a baseline moisture con- depending on the dye (follow the direc- used on the floor. Unlike stain, you can tent (MC). tions on the dye). The liquid should be apply dye multiple times; it gets darker measured with an eyedropper; the pow- each time you apply it. If you want to der should be weighed. Keep careful lighten the color after it’s applied, once track of the ratios you use on your test the floor is dry you can abrade it with a board so you can get the same exact maroon pad or steel wool. I like to do color on the real floor. For this floor, that with distressed floors to highlight we’re experimenting with matching the the variations in the boards. green poplar wood in the floor’s inlay.

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Circle 38 62 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 On the Job | Step by Step

Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 People use all sorts of different things Any areas that have more dye will Even though dyes dry quickly, the only to apply dye, from brushes to sprayers, show up darker on the floor, so I try to way to know if the floor can be coated but I find that a paint pad works best spread the dye evenly and feather out is to test the MC again. I won’t coat it for me. As I mentioned, dye dries heavier areas, keeping the edge of my until the MC is the same as it was quickly and shows lap marks easily. So, applicator at board edges when possi- before I dyed the floor. it’s important to apply the dye quickly ble to help disguise lap marks like the and keep a wet edge while you’re one above. Dye doesn’t need to be applying it, much like you do with wiped off like stain does. waterborne finish. This is a patterned floor, but if I’m dying strip or plank, I like to cut my applicator to the width of one or two boards.

Circle 39 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 63 On the Job | Step by Step

Lap Lines

Step 9 Step 10 Once the stain was dry, we coated this Dye isn’t very color-fast. Even with fin- ecause they dry so quickly, dyes floor with a shellac sealer coat, but you ish, a dyed floor in direct sunlight will are extremely difficult to work can use any type of finish. ■ B fade quickly. Coating over it with a with. Applying the dye so the edge of stain helps preserve the color long- the applicator is at a board edge can Steve Seabaugh is the NWFA director of term. Here we’re applying a nutmeg- help avoid lap lines like the one visible technical training and president of colored stain over the entire floor. Of above (a distressed floor does help Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based Seabaugh’s course, if you plan on staining the floor, disguise them). If you have a large Custom Hardwood Floors Inc. be sure you include the stain on your room that will make it difficult to keep samples so the test color is accurate. a wet edge, you can divide the floor with a tape line at a board edge, just like you would when applying finish.

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Circle 40 64 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 41 on Reply Card On the Job | Techniques

Solid Footing A guide to subfloors used under hardwood flooring

By Catherine Liewen

sk any seasoned wood flooring contractor, and he’ll tell you that your final installation is only as good as the subfloor you’re installing over. Before you have your bundles or boxes shipped to the A job site and start racking out the floor, you should take the time to carefully inspect the subfloor and fix any problems that could affect your installation. The industry mantra is that all subfloors should be clean, dry and flat before wood flooring goes down. Following these simple rules and understanding what you are dealing with will help lead to a successful installation. Here are the common subfloors you’ll deal with on the job and checklists to help you make sure the subfloors will be ready for your wood flooring installation. The following are general guidelines from NWFA’s Installation Guidelines. For specific information, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the product you’re installing.

Plywood and OSB Over Joists Plywood and OSB subfloors over joists are most common in newer homes and new construction, typically in homes with basements or crawlspaces. 1) Suitable Wood Flooring: Any. 2) Thickness: Usually manufactured in 4-by-8-foot sheets, plywood panels and OSB are acceptable subfloors for hardwood flooring as long as they are the proper thickness. Keep in mind that for mechanically fastened floors, OSB doesn’t hold fasteners as well as plywood, so you need to use a thicker material to get 5 23 the same holding power. Generally, the minimum thickness for plywood is ⁄8 inch; for OSB it’s ⁄32 inch. However, as joist spacing increases, the subfloors need to be thicker. For joist spacing of more than 16 inches up to 19.2 inches on center, the minimum thickness for both plywood and 3 OSB is ⁄4 inch. For joists spaced more than 19.2 inches on cen- 7 ter, the minimum thickness for plywood is ⁄8 inch and for OSB, 1 inch. 3) Check Before Installation: Once you determine the subfloor is the proper thickness, check that the subfloor is installed properly, with no issues that could affect your installation. Sub- floor panels and fasteners should be properly placed according the panel manufacturer’s specifications. If there are protruding fasteners, squeaks or loose panels, refasten the subfloor to the joists. The subfloor should also be clean and free of contaminants such as paint, sealer or drywall compound. Inspect the subfloor from below and note the direction of the joists. With the above specs, the flooring should be installed per- pendicular to the floor joists. The flooring can be laid parallel to 1 floor joists, but you may need to add a ⁄2-inch layer of plywood diagonally or perpendicularly to the joists, or install a brace

©iStockphoto between the joists.

66 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 50 on Reply Card On the Job | Techniques

4) Flatness: Ensure the subfloor is flat to the recommended in the wood subfloor and should not be used. Some manufac- tolerances for the flooring you are installing. For installations turers have their own recommendations for vapor barriers 1 using mechanical fasteners 1 ⁄2 inches and longer, subfloors depending on which product you are installing, so always 1 3 should be within ⁄4 inch in 10 feet or ⁄16 inch in 6 feet. For glue- check with the flooring manufacturer first. down installations and those using mechanical fasteners less 1 3 than 1 ⁄2 inches, the subfloor should be within ⁄16 inch in 10 feet Particleboard 1 or ⁄8 in 6 feet. The subfloor can be flattened by sanding down Particleboard is frequently discovered as a subfloor layer over the high areas or by installing shims such as roofing shingles or plywood when carpeting or vinyl are ripped out. various thicknesses of plywood. 1) Suitable Wood Flooring: Floating floors. Particleboard 5) Moisture: Another critical part of the subfloor inspection has no holding power for fasteners. Other wood floors may be process is checking the moisture content (MC) of the subfloor installed if the particleboard is ripped out, but if the original 1 and joists. A moisture meter should be your best friend on the subfloor is not thick enough, at least a ⁄2-inch layer of plywood 3 job. Whether you are using a pin or pinless model, make sure or ⁄4-inch OSB must be added once the particleboard is it is calibrated correctly for the species you are testing. (For removed. The other option is to install a layer of plywood or more on moisture meters, see “Measuring Moisture” in the OSB over the top of the particleboard (although that may create unacceptable height differences with the adjoining rooms; TECHNIQUES HIGHLIGHTS always check). ■ OSB doesn’t hold fasteners as well plywood, so you need Concrete Slabs to use a thicker material to get the same holding power. Concrete slabs are common in homes without basements, typically in the Southern and Southwestern regions of the United ■ The subfloor should be flat to the recommended States. Below-grade areas of the home where the soil is 3 tolerances for the flooring you are installing. inches above the floor, such as walk-out basements, also have ■ Many installers write the MC reading and date right on slabs. 1) Suitable Wood Flooring: There are several options for the subfloor, log it and take digital photos. installing wood flooring over concrete. Always use the product ■ Not all slabs are acceptable for direct installation of and installation method recommended by the manufacturer. hardwood flooring. • Directly Over Concrete: Floating floors, engineered floors, some solid strip and plank, and some parquet. Solid wood ■ The slab should be clean and free of contaminants such flooring is never recommended below grade, but some solid as sealers, waxes, drywall or paint. wood flooring manufacturers now recommend their products for glue-down over slabs. A vapor retarder is recommended any ■ 3 Removing existing floor covering can reveal unpleasant time you install a solid ⁄4–inch wood flooring over concrete. surprises; never just assume the subfloor will be OK. • Over Concrete with a Wood Subfloor: Any. • Over Concrete with Sleepers: Solid strip or plank can be October/November 2006 issue of Hardwood Floors.) Take sev- laid directly over a sleeper system, but engineered wood floor- 3 eral readings—a minimum of 20 per 1,000 square feet—and ing less than ⁄4 inch thick or solid plank wider than 4 inches clearly document them. Many installers write the MC reading requires a wood subfloor over the sleepers. For obvious rea- and date right on the subfloor, log them in the job-site notes sons, parquet cannot be installed over sleepers unless an addi- and take digital photos for further documentation. If problems tional layer of plywood or OSB is added. arise later, you may need to submit proof that you followed the 2) Weight: There are different types and weights of concrete correct procedures. For solid strip flooring, there should be no slabs, and not all are acceptable for glue-down installation of more than 4 percentage points’ difference in MC between the hardwood flooring. The slab must be a minimum of 3,000 psi; subfloor and the flooring; solid plank flooring wider than 3 lightweight concrete is not acceptable unless you are installing inches requires no more than 2 percentage points’ difference. a floating floor or a wood subfloor over the slab. A quick test is Although moisture may be in check at the time of installa- to drag a nail or other sharp object across the slab—if it leaves tion, it could slowly seep in through the wood subfloor and an impression, there’s a good chance it’s lightweight concrete. eventually into the wood flooring above. To help prevent this, 3) Surface: As with all subfloors, inspect the surface of the an approved moisture-vapor retarder should be placed slab for areas that can affect the flooring installation. The slab between the subfloor and the wood flooring. Approved vapor should be clean and free of contaminants such as sealers, retarders include 15-pound asphalt felt paper, asphalt-laminated waxes, drywall or paint. Slick slabs can prevent adhesive trans- paper and 15-pound kraft paper. A vapor retarder material with fer, so areas may need to be abraded according to the adhesive a perm rating of 0.7 or less, such as polyfilm, can trap moisture manufacturer’s recommendations. Also check for hollow spots,

68 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 cracks and loose areas. You may need to grind down the slab or repair these problem areas. 4) Flatness: The slab should also be flat to the wood flooring manufacturer’s leading edge to proﬁ ts 1 specifications, usually ⁄8 inch in a 10-foot radius. Mechanical methods for flattening the slab include grinding, bead-blasting a dream to install or abrading. There are many self-leveling concrete compound products on the engineered to last market, as well as patching compounds. The condition of the slab and products you are working with determine which 3-STRIP (JATOBA), BRAZILIAN CHERRY NATURE methods to use. Always check with the flooring adhesive manufacturer to determine what is the best method to flatten the slab with the products you’re using. 5) Moisture: As with plywood and OSB subfloors, moisture testing is one of the most important parts of your installation. Concrete is a porous material and ISO 9001 and can retain moisture and emit moisture ISO 14001 Certiﬁ ed vapor, which could end up in the wood floor above unless the proper precau- Come and See Us at Surfaces tions are taken. (For more on concrete Hall A-D, Booth 2866 subfloors, see “Concrete Facts” in the August/September 2007 issue of Hard- U.S. DISTRIBUTORS wood Floors.) In new construction, the slab should Florstar be given at least 60 days to cure. No mat- Toll-free: 1-800-942-6285 ter if it’s new or old, or on or above Midwest: IL, IA, MI, MN, ND, SD, WI, IN, OH grade, the slab should be thoroughly Denver Hardwood Company tested for moisture before any installation Toll-free: 1-800-274-4144 begins. Common concrete moisture test- Mountain states: CO, WY, NE, KS ing methods include: Rio Grande Flooring Distributors Inc. • Calcium-chloride test (ASTM F- Toll-free: 1-800-825-5696 1869): measures the amount of moisture NM, West TX emitted from a 1,000-square-foot sample of slab surface in 60 to 72 hours. Welco Lumber Corp. • Concrete moisture meter: uses Toll-free: 1-800-999-3526 electrical impedance and electrical resist- Western US: AK, WA, ID, OR, MT, CA, AZ, NV, HI ance to measure moisture in the slab. • Phenolphthalein test: applied CANADIAN DISTRIBUTORS every 200 square feet in a job site. • Relative humidity (RH) tests: Welco Lumber Corp. Toll-free: 1-800-999-3526 measures RH by using either the Insitu BC, AB & Yukon Method (ASTM F-2170) or the RH Hood Method (ASTM F2420). Lamwood Products Inc. For solid wood products, a moisture 44 Woodbine Downs Blvd., Rexdale, ON M9W 5R2 Canada barrier or vapor retarder is typically rec- Tel: 877-526-9663 ommended. These include 6 to 8 mil ON,QC, NL, NS, NB, MB, SK, NT, PE polyethylene film applied over asphalt mastic, 15-pound felt applied over mastic .BSLFUJOH4BMFTtXXXLBSFMJBnPPSTDPN

Circle 45 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 69 On the Job | Techniques

3 and various other liquid sealants on the market specifically for wood flooring less than ⁄4 inch thick or solid plank wider than 4 concrete. Always check with the flooring, adhesive and mois- inches requires a wood subfloor over the sleepers. ture barrier manufacturers before installation to ensure that all Whichever method you use for an additional subfloor, allow 3 products and methods you are using are compatible. ⁄4-inch expansion space at the walls and vertical obstructions. 6) Additional subfloors: Depending on the product you’re installing, you may need to install a wood subfloor over the Older Subfloors slab. There are several methods, including: When you’re walking into a remodeling situation, you never • Floating subfloor: There are two common methods for know what you will encounter on the job site. Removing exist- 3 this. The first is to lay two layers of ⁄8-inch plywood over the ing floor covering can reveal many unpleasant surprises such slab without fastening or gluing them to the slab. One layer is as rotten boards, water damage, severe dips or humps, old laid, and the second layer is stapled or glued perpendicularly or adhesive or even mold. That is why it’s important to do a thor- diagonally over the top. The second method is to loose-lay one ough inspection from below from the basement or crawlspace. 3 layer of ⁄4-inch plywood cut into 16-inch planks perpendicularly Common older subfloors include: or diagonally to the direction of the flooring. The panels should • Solid Wood Subfloor. This type of subfloor is common 1 be staggered every 2 feet and spaced ⁄8 inch between ends. on older homes. As with plywood subfloors, if there is move- 5 • Glue-down subfloor: ⁄8-inch plywood panels are glued in ment or squeaks, refasten the subfloor to the joists and set pro- a staggered joint pattern directly to the slab. truding fasteners into the subfloor. The boards should be no 5 • Nail-down subfloor: ⁄8-inch or thicker plywood panels wider than 6 inches and installed on a 45-degree angle. If the 1 are fastened every 12 inches on center and every 6 inches subfloor is not acceptable, it can often be overlaid with ⁄2-inch along the border. plywood. Some wood flooring may not hold sufficiently if • Sleeper (screed) system – Common over radiant heat, installed directly over solid wood subfloors. Engineered or solid 1 this system has 2-by-4s spaced 12 inches apart. Solid strip or strip flooring less than ⁄2-inch thick and parquet flooring may 3 plank can be laid directly over a sleeper system, but engineered need an additional ⁄8-inch layer of plywood installed over these

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Sources for this article included Rusty Swindoll, NWFA; Mickey Moore, NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association; and Kevin Mullany, Benchmark Wood Floors Inc. Circle 49 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 71 The original chocolate-colored walnut inlays contrast with the maple hardwood flooring of this rowhouse. DesignOptions Renovation Revelations San Francisco remodel unveils rare discoveries

By Michelle Desnoyer

ew houses in this country have seen as much history as this San Francisco row house. Once the definition of Victorian magnificence when it was built in the Pacific Heights neighborhood in 1878, this Fstructure survived the earthquake of 1906, was moved more than two blocks down the street, was transformed into an apartment building, and even had a stint as a brothel. Nobody was up to the chal- lenge of restoring this historic structure until Jessica and Stephen Wynne happened upon it and saw how the items that were in a state of disrepair—particularly the damaged antique wood flooring—could add to the home’s charm.

When the Wynnes bought the house, it had been Matthew Millman carved into seven shoddily constructed apartments—not unusual in San Francisco, where many row houses are converted into apartment buildings and condominiums. The Wynnes wanted to restore the house to its original design, yet create a floor plan that would be functional for family living and entertaining. To get a better idea of what they wanted the house to look like, the homeowners researched its history and discovered it had been constructed in 1878 by a wealthy grocer family that could afford quality construction, which later prevented the house from being totally destroyed by its many renovations. The homeowners moved into two combined upstairs apartments during the reconstruction. They selected Amy Hall McNamara, president of San Francisco-based Gordon Hall & Associates Matthew Millman, www.matthewmillman.com Inc., who had previous experience in traditional residential design and had renovated more than

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 73 Design Options Matthew Millman “When I first walked into it—with the great tall ceilings—and saw some of the details that were not totally bastardized, I could see the house just had tremendous potential.”

Much of the original walnut inlay had to be recreated by hand.

a dozen Victorian-style houses, to create a floor plan. Her way she tried to spin it, Hall McNamara couldn’t make all the vision for the home was to open up and modernize the floor pieces fit, so she asked the homeowners to reevaluate what plan while still preserving its historic design. “I think my they really needed in order to be satisfied with the design. remodeling approach is respectful to the historic structure of The fireplace and walk-in closet were sacrificed. the house while trying to improve it for a more modern Once the floor plan was established, the Wynnes turned to lifestyle,” Hall McNamara says. As much as she tried to pre- San Francisco contractor Eric Thomas Maykranz, a restoration serve its historical integrity, however, many aspects of the expert whose passion is remodeling classic houses. “When I house had to be changed to accommodate modern-day first walked into it—with the great tall ceilings—and saw lifestyles. “People in Victorian times didn’t bathe as often, or some of the details that were not totally bastardized, I could have as many clothes, and they did not view cooking as a see the house just had tremendous potential,” Maykranz says. family gathering opportunity or as an occasion,” Hall McNa- The house revealed surprise after surprise when the reno- mara says, which meant bathrooms, closets and kitchens had vation work started. Previous builders had carelessly torn up to be revamped in the redesign. the house to run plumbing and electricity throughout the The first level posed few design obstacles. The upstairs, hastily constructed apartments, resulting in serious damage however, presented greater problems. “Working with Victori- that compromised its structural integrity. Perhaps to remedy ans is like a puzzle,” Hall McNamara explains. “The lots in this, a previous contractor filled an interior wall with brick San Francisco are only 25 feet wide, so you have to work to and mortar. “I had never encountered something like that in fit everything in.” The homeowners originally wanted a my life,” Maykranz says. “They actually laid up brick, deluxe master suite: a home office, fireplace, grand dresser, mortared it and patched it between the stud base throughout large walk-in closet and large bathroom. But no matter which the first floor.” This forced Maykranz to remove more than 30

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Circle 64 on Reply Card Design Options Matthew Millman

Project Details Architect: Amy Hall McNamara, Gordon Hall & Associates (San Francisco) General Contractor: Eric Thomas Maykranz (San Francisco) Flooring Contractor: Jim Robinson, Allwood Floor Company (San Rafael, Calif.) Flooring Supplier: Golden State Flooring (South San Francisco, Calif.)

The ornate central staircase is unusual in Victorian design. Fortunately, its details were preserved and the staircase needed only to be refinished.

tons of debris. He also discovered two drop ceilings through- other project until he saw pasted to one board an old flyer out the house: one to initially lower the ceiling and then a for a stag dance held just a couple of blocks north from the second to hide the damage to the first drop ceiling, both of house in the late 1800s. The homeowners framed the flyer which he removed to show the full expanse of the original and now showcase it in their family room. 13-foot-high ceilings. These drop ceilings also revealed old Probably the most precious gift hidden in this Victorian, plaster detailing, door trim and crown molding that however, was the hardwood flooring. “The homeowners Maykranz reused and recreated for detailing other areas of mentioned before the project that there were hardwood the house. “I had never seen a building so beautifully floors, but that they had taken a beating from water damage detailed before,” Maykranz says. and renovation,” Maykranz says. “It wasn’t until it came time The wooden staircase stands as the crown jewel in the for me to rip up the carpet that I saw just how great the detail house. Traditional Victorians typically had straight staircases was.” Underneath the soiled carpeting in the living room lay 5 adjacent to an exterior wall, but this grand piece commands an intricate walnut medallion in ⁄16-inch-thick strip maple attention with its lavish landing, fretwork and detailing, all of flooring with detailing that mirrored the fretwork in the cen- which were so well preserved that the staircase required only tral staircase. Lining the perimeter of both the living and din- refinishing. During his demolition work to put a pantry ing rooms were delicate chocolate-brown walnut inlays of beneath the stairs, Maykranz discovered wallpaper behind overlapping circles. The antique fir in the entryway was also the staircase, revealing that a room used to stand there and salvageable, requiring only resanding and refinishing. that the staircase was either moved or installed years after the “It was really a pleasant surprise,” Maykranz says. He con- house was built. Maykranz had planned to use the salvaged tracted out the hardwood flooring work to Jim Robinson, scaffolding boards from underneath the staircase for some owner of San Rafael, Calif.-based Allwood Floor Company,

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Circle 51 on Reply Card

www.mercierwoodflooring.com 1 800 463-3385 Design Options Matthew Millman

“It’s a grand home without being ostentatious.”

New walnut plank flooring in the kitchen modernizes the house, but doesn’t detract from the original hardwood throughout the first floor.

because Robinson has years of experience in such detailed In all, the actual renovation took over 14 months. flooring work. Because it was so damaged, the medallion Maykranz did most of the work himself, working seven days had to be recreated by hand, and pieces of the walnut in the a week and subbing out what he could, but often enjoying inlays had to be replicated, replaced, and then glued by the complicated detail work. At times, however, the amount hand throughout the 700 square feet of top-nailed antique of work and the timeframe were points of contention flooring. The crew was careful while using standard 8-inch between Maykranz and the homeowners. “Jessica really belt sanders on the floor, since the machines had a tendency wanted to get in the house, and I don’t blame her, but I to pull up the small pieces, which then had to be reglued. really wanted to get things done the right way,” Maykranz Color differences between the antique and new flooring notes. “Looking back, there isn’t anything in the house I were minimal since the wood floor had been covered with would say, ‘I wish I did this differently.’” carpeting and rugs for so long, and any difference between The finishing touches were completed by the homeown- the two was eliminated when the crew sanded off the old ers and their interior designer, who selected the colors, fur- finish before applying urethane finish. “You just have to take nishings and art that, like the rest of the design scheme, a deep breath, sit down and get the job done proper,” Robin- complemented the Victorian architecture but updated it for son says of the intense labor, which also included replacing modern living. “It’s a grand home without being ostenta- boards that had suffered from water damage. tious,” Hall McNamara says. “And, as a friend of the home- The original maple hardwood flooring in the kitchen had owners ... I have seen that the design works for both too many gaps to work well as the actual flooring, so Robin- entertaining and for the family.” So, every aspect of this Vic- son used it as a subfloor for 800 square feet of new 7-inch- torian gem—from its exquisite wood floors to its role as plank walnut hardwood flooring. family home—has truly returned to its former splendor. ■

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Circle 53 on Reply Card Show Guide

espite the diversity of Las Vegas, many of its frequent visitors fall into a rut, traveling to the same casinos, restaurants Dand attractions every year, essentially turning Sin City into “Same Old City.” But Hardwood Floors has the lowdown on the newest places to eat, stay and play for conventiongoers attending

Las Vegas News Bureau/LVCVA Las Vegas Surfaces 2008 January 30-February 1.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 81 Show Guide | Surfaces Preview

New Vegas Eats Dick’s Last Resort at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino (3850 Las Vegas Blvd.) offers casual, down-to-Earth dining and is famous for its deliciously messy cuisine, zany décor, rowdy waitstaff who have as much fun as the guests, live bands and let-loose atmosphere. • 702/597-7991 Luxor Steakhouse at the Luxor Hotel & Casino (3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) is an elegant dining facility where award-winning chef Daniel Nuss prepares entrees including aged prime beef, braised Maine lobster and filet mignon. • 702/262-4778. Social House at Treasure Island (3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) offers sinful sushi in a sizzling space, and is a celebrity favorite for late-night dining and dancing. • 702/894-7223 Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace (3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) is the world-renowned chef’s first restaurant outside of France and is said to serve some of the finest nouvelle cuisine in Las Vegas. • 702/731-7731 Pinazzi Italian Ristorante and Oyster Bar at Harrah’s (3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) features family recipes with modern twists and a comfortably posh décor. The menu features indulgent pasta dishes and its signature filet mignon encrusted with sun-dried porcini mush- rooms. • 702/369-5084 News Bureau/LVCVA Las Vegas Discover why Vegas is the city of sin ... and neon.

The Latest Nightlife nostalgic costumes serve drinks from the shimmering Dia- The Beatles Revolution Lounge at the Mirage (3400 S. mond Bar, and 60 plasma-screen TVs entertain guests. Las Vegas Blvd.) opened only six months after the high-pro- • 702/942-7777 file launch of The Beatles “Love, Revolution,” performed by Billed as an intimate rendezvous spot, Tryst at Wynn Las Cirque du Soleil. The ultra-lounge features cutting-edge, Vegas (3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) has enough nooks to feel interactive experiences to create a psychedelic sensory cozy despite its expansive 12,000 square feet. The visual environment and a contemporary interpretation of The Bea- highlight is the indoor-outdoor dance floor, which extends tles era. • 702/692-8383 15 feet over a man-made lagoon. • 702/770-3375 Jet nightclub at the Mirage (3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.) fea- Lucky Strike Lanes at The Rio (3700 W. Flamingo Road) tures three rooms of distinctively different sounds in a offers something a little different: It merges a 10-lane bowl- 15,000-square-foot space, catering to a variety of tastes. ing alley with a full-service restaurant and bar. After 9 p.m., Each room has its own dance floor, DJ and sound system. The main room offers the best of rock, hip-hop and popular dance music. Surfaces Wood Flooring Pocket Guide • 702/792-7900 When navigating through the show floor, don’t 40/40 Club by Jay-Z at the Palazzo (3339 Las forget your road map to wood flooring Vegas Blvd. S.) combines a lavish décor with exhibitors—Hardwood Floors’ “Surfaces Pocket sports memorabilia, and offers nighttime enter- Guide.” The booklet lists all NWFA members tainment and Latin-Soul cuisine, including fried exhibiting at the show, includes a product deviled eggs and Southern-fried chicken sticks. description for advertisers and also has an • 877/444-7777 essential foldout map with NWFA members’ booths highlighted. Stop by the Hardwood The Playboy Club at the Palms (4321 W. Floors/NWFA booths 114-115 for your free copy. Flamingo Road) integrates a sophisticated party atmosphere with high-stakes gaming. Bunnies in

82 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 54 on Reply Card Show Guide | Surfaces Preview Las Vegas News Bureau/LVCVA Las Vegas A trip down Fremont Street shows where Vegas has been, via its vintage casinos, and where it’s going, as seen on Viva Vision, a part of the Fremont Street Experience. the alley turns into a black-lit nightclub where guests can Strip, the Convention Center and downtown Las bowl and dance to the jukebox or DJ. • 702/777-7986 Vegas/Fremont Street in buses and trolleys. Tickets can be Sky Las Vegas (2700 Las Vegas Blvd.), the Strip’s first lux- purchased at many major hotels and casinos along the Strip. ury, high-rise condominium complex, offers one of the city’s best views of the Spring Mountains. Besides being one of Recent Retail Vegas’ newest buildings, Sky also offers the Sky Lounge for For those who prefer to lose their money to stores rather entertaining guests and Sky Retail for Strip shopping. than slot machines, the new Town Square (6605 Las • 702/877-4759 Vegas Blvd. S.) features 1.5 million square feet of retail shopping space and is designed to look like a vintage Vegas Premieres European village. • 702/269-5001 Monty Python’s “Spamalot” now plays in the Grail The- ater in the Wynn (3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S.). Lovingly adapted Vintage Vegas from “The Search for the Holy Grail,” this Broadway smash Iconic Vegas conjures up images of Elvis, Wayne Newton, features silly songs, dancing divas, knights in tights, feisty the Rat Pack and Liberace. If nostalgia is what you’re after, Frenchmen and a happy ending. • 888/320-7110 dust off that white jumpsuit, grab a mic, throw on a ring (or “Jersey Boys,” the 2006 Tony Award-winner for Best Musi- several) and check out the following: cal, is featured at the Palazzo (3339 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) in a Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee performs at the Barbary Coast theater built for the show. It takes viewers behind the music Hotel and Casino (3595 Las Vegas Blvd. S.). The 400-pound of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and follows their rags- performer claims to be a forgotten love child of the King and to-riches tale of four blue-collar kids working their way up is willing to take DNA tests to prove it. • 702/737-7111 to the heights of stardom. • 877/444-7777 The King is resurrected in the Legends in Concert (3535 S. Las Vegas Blvd.), which also showcases impersonators of A New Ride Buddy Holly, Madonna and Janis Joplin. The impersonators The Vegas.com Arrow provides transportation along the not only mimic celebrity looks, but they also use their natural singing voices. • 866/807-4697 Average February Temperature: high 62/low 37 Trent Carlini’s “The Musical History of the King” (2535 S. Annual visitors: 36.7 million Las Vegas Blvd.) brings Elvis back in full glory at the Sahara Average gambling budget per trip: $559 Theater. Carlini, an award-winning impersonator, performs a show describing the life of Elvis through his music from the

84 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 VISIT US AT BOOTH #G1104

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Everyone from the most sophisticated architect and interior designer to the most experienced floor sander have discovered that Synteko Waterborne Finishes are more durable than those of our competitors. Synteko offers low VOC, non-toxic, non-yellowing, revolutionary cross-linking formulas that dry hard and have excellent flow and leveling properties.

For additional information, call 866-SYNTEKO, or visit us on the web at www.nam.synteko.com.

ing 90 feet above pedestrians on the street. Battista’s Hole in the Wall (4041 Audrie St.), behind the Flamingo Hilton, provides hungry tourists with Italian food, personable service and a slice of old Vegas. • 702/732-1424 El Sombrero Café (807 S. Main St.) is one of Las Vegas’ oldest Mexican restaurants, having opened in the 1950s. The family-owned restaurant features home- made salsas and tortillas and large por- tions of traditional Mexican dishes. • 702/382-9234 Center Stage Steakhouse in the Plaza Hotel & Casino (1 S. Main St.) gives din- ers a view overlooking the Fremont Street Experience and serves up steaks, chicken and seafood. • 702/386-2512

Day Tripping If you’re planning on staying in the area for a while, save some time after Surfaces to check out the impressive scenery and engineering outside of Sin City.

Las Vegas News Bureau/LVCVA Las Vegas Recently opened, the Springs Preserve It can seem like a whole other world just minutes outside of the lights of Las Vegas. (333 S. Valley View Road) is a historical attraction at the site of the original water young days to the Vegas days. • 866/807-4697 source used by the first settlers in the area. • 702/822-7700 Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel (1205 Las Vegas Blvd. Just 20 miles north of the city is the Red Rock Canyon S.) lets visitors express or renew their vows with a themed National Conservation Area (HCR 33, Las Vegas). This Las Vegas wedding—complete with special effects—or Elvis site features the Keystone Thrust Fault, as well as many wedding packages. • 800/574-4450 other geological wonders. • 702/515-5350 Wayne Newton plays nightly at Harrah’s (3475 S. Las One of the most impressive man-made structures, the Vegas Blvd.). His dynamic stage presence consistently sells Hoover Dam (US 93) is located just 35 miles from Las Vegas. out shows and secures his reputation as “Mr. Las Vegas.” Here, visitors can hear about the history of the dam and take • 866/807-4697 in the impressive view of Lake Mead. • 888/248-1259 If you’re in the mood for nostalgia, stop by the Golden Lake Mead (601 National Highway, Boulder City, Nev.) is a Nugget (129 E. Fremont St.). This 60-year-old classic is the popular getaway for people looking to escape the bustle of largest casino-hotel in downtown Vegas. • 800/851-1703 Las Vegas. • 702/293-8907 Those missing Frank, Sammy and the rest of the gang can The Valley of Fire State Park (Overton, Nev.), 55 miles head over to the Greek Isles (305 Convention Center Drive), northeast of Vegas, offers vibrantly colored Southwestern where “The Rat Pack is Back” plays nightly. This show rock formations, petrified wood and ancient petroglyphs. It reprises each member’s greatest hits. • 702/492-3960 was recently named the best scenic drive in southern For the ultimate Vegas experience, check out the Liberace Nevada. • 866/807-4697 Museum (1775 E. Tropicana Ave.), which celebrates the Almost 300 miles from Las Vegas—but definitely worth the decorated pianist in all his glory. • 702/798-5595 drive—is the Grand Canyon (148 Sixth Ave., Page, Ariz.). The Fremont Street Experience (425 Fremont St.) cap- From donkey rides to helicopter tours to the family station tures the nature of vintage Vegas on the street that started it wagon, this majestic wonder can be seen from almost any all. The new touch is Viva Vision, a giant LED screen tower- mode of transportation. • 866/944-7263

86 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 FOR A DISTRIBUTOR NEAR YOU CALL 800.668.0664 AND ASK FOR TIM BUY ONE GET ONE FREE BUY NOW BEFORE THIS OFFER ENDS

Performance GUARANTEE

YOUR PROFESSIONAL ABRASIVES PARTNER WWW.CUMICANADA.COM

A MINIMUM ORDER OF $500 IN MASTER CASE QUANTITIES. LIMITED TIME OFFER. OFFER VALID ON CCI ABRASIVE LIST PRICE ONLY. OTHER TERMS & CONDITIONS MAY APPLY.

FOR A DISTRIBUTOR NEAR YOU CALL 800.668.0664. Circle 56 on Reply Card Show Guide | NWFA-Member Exhibitors (as of Nov. 15, 2007) Advertisers listed in boldface; see their product descriptions on the following pages.

Company Booth Company Booth Company Booth 3M...... G1411 Fudeli Industrial Canada Inc...... G2606 Prairie Shores Ltd...... G2204 A & W (Shanghai) Woods Co. Ltd...... 3460 Garrison Collection, The ...... G1626 Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC ...... G2541 Aacer Flooring...... G4229 Gartman Systems ...... G2356 Premium Mesquite Company ...... G4020 Absolute Coatings...... G1926 GE Sensing...... G1223 Preverco Hardwood Flooring...... 2260 Ace Hardwood Flooring Inc...... G2056 GerkoFlooring Industries ...... G4023 Prolex Flooring USA Inc...... G4129 Advanced Adhesive Technologies Inc...... 5945 Glitsa American Inc...... G1948 ProTeam Inc...... G1925 All American Wood Register...... G2141 Global Flooring Solutions ...... G3862 Protecto Wrap Co...... 3470 Allwood Import...... G3543 Global Market Partners Inc...... G1432 Quality Craft Ltd...... 3066 Alston Inc...... G2741 Goodfellow Inc...... 5371 R & D Coatings Inc...... G2453 Ambient Bamboo Products...... G2862 Graf Brothers Flooring Inc...... G3844 RB Rubber/Dash Multi-Corp...... 5713 American Hardwoods Inc...... G3508 Grill Works Inc...... G2522 RFMS Inc...... G3038, 3660 Amorim Industrial Solutions...... G1620 Guangzhou Fnen Wood Flooring Ltd...... G3029 Roberts/Q.E.P. Co. Inc...... 5166 Anderson Hardwood Floors ...... 4012 Hakwood...... 1358 Robinson Lumber and Flooring...... G1013 Appalachian Flooring Ltd...... G1829 Hardwood Floors Magazine...... 115 Saman...... G2216 Ardex Engineered Cements...... G2429 Hawa Bamboo Flooring Corp...... G1831 Saroyan Lumber Company ...... G1724 Authentic Pine Floors ...... G1422 Higuera Imports...... G1820 SASE Co. Inc...... G2047 Award Hardwood Floors...... 2854 Hillwood Products...... G3540 Scandian Wood Floors...... 3454 B.K.B. Hevea Products Sdn. Bhd...... 7650 Husky Flooring ...... G2029 Sentinel Products Inc...... G4238 Bamboo & Hardwood Imports...... G1514 IMI Floors Inc...... G4026 Shaanxi Aoke Wood Co. Ltd...... G4253 BASF Construction Chemicals ...... G1206 Inspect Solutions Inc...... G2460 Shamrock Plank Flooring...... G3742 Basic Coatings...... 4466 Inter-Continental Hardwoods ...... G4231 Shanghai Sihe Wood Co. Ltd...... G3817 Beno J. Gundlach Co...... G1629 J.H. Freed & Sons...... 1047 Shanghai Sino-Maple Wood Limited ...... 6548 Berry Wood Products ...... G1823 Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring...... 4038 Sherwin Williams ...... G2426 BSL Wood Products...... G3820 Kährs International Inc...... 1361 Sika Corporation...... 6954 Bois Chamois...... G2942 Karelia Hardwood Flooring Ltd...... 2866 Somerset Hardwood Flooring...... G2032 Bonakemi USA Inc...... 3260 Koetter Woodworking ...... 5710 Sound Seal...... G1200 Bostik Inc...... 5554 L.W. Mountain Hardwood Flooring Inc...... 7154 South Ocean Flooring...... G2756 BR-111 Imports & Exports Inc...... 5342 Laser Products Industries Inc...... G4433 Southern Pine Council...... G3306 Buckwold Western...... 2566 Launstein Hardwood Floors...... G4631 Stauf USA Adhesives LLC...... 5769 Cal-Flor Accessory Systems...... 7020 Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring ...... 4954 Strategis International Inc...... G2247 Canisol Ltd...... G4025 Leitz Tooling Systems ...... 3672 Super Detail...... G2605 Cantrust Manufacturing International Inc...... G1106 Lignomat Ltd...... G2452 Superfici America Inc...... G4634 CDC Larue Industries Inc...... G1600 Linco Enterprises Inc...... G2150 SupexBond Inc...... G1741 CFS Corporation...... G2632 Loba-Wakol LLC ...... 3777 Swiff-Train Company/Winton Tile/ Mannington Wood Floors ...... 4042 Chemcraft International Inc...... G1029 EarthWerks...... 3266, 3854 Mapei Corp...... 3032 Chemque Inc...... G1323 Synteko Floor Finishes ...... G1104 Margaritelli USA Inc...... 4948 Cherrybark Flooring Inc...... G4054 Tarkett...... 4034 Max Windsor Floors...... 1349 Chesapeake Bay Importing DBA Treesun...... G3656 Taylor Lumber Inc...... G2242 Mercer Abrasives, div. of Mercer ChinaFloors North America...... 2671 Tool Corp...... G2256 Taylor Tools...... G3622 Cikel America LLC ...... 7033 Mercier Wood Flooring...... 4660 Tembec Inc...... 3770 Clarke American Sanders...... G2432 Meridian Flooring ...... G1402, G1404 Teragren Bamboo Flooring, Panels and Veneers ....7142 Classic Manufacturing NW ...... G1959 Midwest Padding LLC...... 7420, 7520 Tom Duffy Company ...... 1051 Clear Lake Lumber Inc...... 1718 Mirage/Boa-Franc Inc...... 2050 Torlys Inc...... 1722 Color Rite Inc...... G2551 Model Hardwood Inc...... G2025 Tramex Ltd. c/o Black Hawk Sales Inc...... G1417 Costa & Grissom Machinery Inc...... G4444 Mohawk Finishing Products ...... G4140 Trout River Lumber LLC...... G3042 Country Wood Flooring Inc...... G3740 Mohawk Industries Inc. Special Goods Dept...... 7554 Ua Wood Floors Inc...... 4966 Courey USA/Quickstyle...... G2234 Mullican Flooring ...... 5925 UFloor Systems Inc...... 2266 Crain Cutter Company Inc...... 5960 National Carpet Equipment Inc...... 5742, G1238 United Gilsonite Labs...... G4029 CSC Corp...... 2217 National Wood Flooring Association ...... 114 United Wood Floor Corp...... G4233 Cumi Canada Inc...... G1923 New Parks, a div. of Zinsser ...... G3631 Urban Floor...... G1442 DBM Import, Export Inc...... G3834 Nikzad Import Inc...... G2022 US Floors ...... 2225 Decorative Imaging...... G2459 Noble Company ...... G1806 Vermeister SRL...... G2365 Delle Vedove USA...... G3747 Noblehouse/Floorco Int’l N. America ...... 3254 Verona Hardwood Inc...... G2252 Delmhorst Instrument Co...... G3621 NOFMA:The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Assn.G3310 Vicwood Industry (Suzhou) Co. Ltd...... 3466 Design Materials Inc...... 2708 Nova Distinctive Floors ...... G2343 Vintage Hardwood Flooring...... G2833 Diversified Foam Products Inc...... G1229 Novatek Corporation...... G1622 Wagner Electronics...... G2540 Dodge-Regupol Inc...... 6956 Oreck Commercial...... G3638 Waterlox Coatings Corporation...... G3562 DriTac Adhesive Group...... G1838 Oregon Lumber Company...... G2858 W.D. Flooring...... G2009 Duo-Fast...... G3738 Owens Flooring Co...... G1516 W.F. Taylor...... 4666 EcoTimber...... G4120 Pacific Solutions...... 5560 WE Cork Inc...... G2638 Ekowood (USA) Inc...... 7426 Padco Inc...... G2309 Wego International Products/ Elegance Exotic Wood Flooring...... 1119 PanTim Wood Products Inc...... 1325 South Mountain Wood Floors...... 2074 Engineered Flooring Manufacturers...... G1220 Para-Chem Inc...... 4072 Welland Industries Inc. Ltd...... G1716 Festool...... G2940 Pinnacle Interior Elements Ltd...... 2533 Wellmade Floor Coverings International...... G2442 Finium ...... G2615 Pioneer Millworks...... G2250 Weyerhaeuser...... 6751 Floor Style Products Inc...... G2542 Planchers Mistral Inc ...... G2114 Wickham Hardwood Flooring...... G2814 Flooring Deals Direct...... G1804 Plyquet ...... G2329 Wood Cellar Ltd., The ...... G3731 Foam Products Corp...... 6748 Porta-Nails Inc...... G2501 Wood Flooring Intl. Inc...... G3338, G3442, G3438 Forbo Flooring Systems...... G1729 Powernail Company ...... G2641 Wood-Forum HandelsgmbH...... G2844 ForesFloor...... G3231 Powr-Flite & Commercial Floor Woodlist Inc...... G2124 Fortifiber Building Systems Group ...... G1958 Care Equipment...... G4356 Zimair Displays...... G2829 Franklin International...... 3675 PPG Industries Inc ...... G3825 Zipema Wood Products Ltda...... G3922

88 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 57 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Aacer Flooring Booth G4229 Aacer XL Prefinished North- ern Hardwood Flooring provides quality and long life for those who desire the dramatic impact that only true hardwood floors can offer, the company says. Installa- tion of the flooring is fast and environmentally friendly, with no sanding or waiting for finishes to dry. 3M Circle 111 Booth G1411 3M Regalite Quick Change Discs are designed to deliver maximum results in minimal time. The tool- free design means these discs can Ace Hardwood Flooring Inc. be changed and replaced on-site Booth G2056 without downtime, saving users Established in Austin, Texas, in time and money on every job, the 1977, Ace Hardwood Flooring company says. has become one of the largest Circle 110 mesquite manufacturers in the wood flooring industry, it says. Ace Hardwood stocks large 1 3 volumes of ⁄2- and ⁄4-inch mesquite flooring, stair parts, trim and lumber. The company is displaying many of its new products at Surfaces. Circle 112

Advanced Adhesive Technologies Inc. All American Wood Register Co. Booth 5945 Booth G2141 On display at the All American Advanced Adhesive Wood Register booth is the com- welcomes visitors pany’s Advanced to its Surfaces Poxyfill Wood Floor booth to see the Repair Kit, which company’s new contains a specially MaxFlo Optimum formulated adhe- Airflow register sive for easily cor- line. These bi- recting hollow and directional registers provide a high-efficiency option to popping spots that can occur in wood flooring instal- standard vertical-slot registers. A more open vane design lations. Its cartridge system does not require expen- doubles airflow volume compared with standard wood sive dispensing equipment, and the cartridge and models, bringing the efficiency of these registers close to adapter is used in a standard caulk gun. that of metal models. Circle 113 Circle 114

90 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 58 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Appalachian Flooring Booth G1829 Not only is Appalachian Flooring exhibiting its full line of solid domestic and exotic prefinished floors, it is also Basic Coatings LLC showcasing its new 4-inch-wide, 13.5- Booth 4466 mm-thick prefinished engineered product. Available in red oak, jatoba and Basic is educat- hard maple, the new line comes in ing Surfaces lengths up to 7 feet and can be sanded attendees on its two to three times. TyKote Dustless Recoat System Circle 115 for recoating floors. This fast and easy three- step process means floors Baker’s Creek Premium Wood Flooring can be recoated Booth 1354 in one night and Baker’s Creek is back in business the next, the company launching its pre- says. TyKote is a wood floor bonding mium wood floor- agent that bonds water-based coating to ing at Surfaces. Each existing wood floors. plank of its flooring Circle 116 is crafted from premium woods and is structurally engineered to last generations, the company says. The company is introducing its full product line, including cypress and heart-of-pine engineered floors. Circle 117

BASF Construction Chemicals- Building Systems Booth G1206 BASF is launching its newest product, Chemrex CX-100, at Surfaces this year. Chemrex CX-1000 delivers the ideal performance and handling characteristics desired by contractors in the installation of engineered, solid, parquet prefinished, unfinished, bamboo and exotic hardwood flooring, the company says. Circle 118

BonaKemi USA Inc. Booth 3260 This year at Surfaces, BonaKemi is displaying its complete floor finishing system that’s Greenguard-certified for indoor air quality. Bona has pioneered its Envi- ronmental Choice System, featuring dust containment sanding systems, low-VOC waterborne finishes, and hardwood and hard surface floor cleaners. BonaKemi protects contractors’ health and the environment while assuring the ultimate in durability and beauty for hardwood floors, it says. Circle 119

92 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 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. Circle 59 on Reply Card Problems Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase Gluing Bostik Inc. Down Booth 5554 Bostik EMC is a high-performance, rapid- drying, water-based penetrating epoxy formulated to reduce moisture vapor Wood transmission and surface alkalinity from substrates, including concrete, cement backer board, radiant heat and cement- Floors? based terrazzo prior to installing hardwood. Problem Solved! Circle 120

BSL Wood Products Booth G3820 BSL Wood Products operates several manufacturing plants in eastern Quebec. Its wood floors are available in yellow birch, hard maple, Northern red oak and American cherry. More than just a hardwood flooring manufacturer, BSL also offers moldings, stains and more. Circle 121

Make wood flooring stay put with Problemsolver U.R.A., Urethane Cikel Brasil Replacement Adhesive. U.R.A. is a high solids, patented, tri-polymer Verde SA formula that provides quick green Booth 7033 strength, unsurpassed ultimate Cikel is exhibiting its bond strength and excellent retack. Brazilian exotic hard- The industry's premiere choice for wood flooring lines at installing engineered flooring, long Surfaces 2008. The com- planks and solid strip floors. pany is also highlighting its Quick Ship Program Engineered wood floors are down for the U.S. market. to stay with Problemsolver EW, Circle 122 Engineered Wood. EW is a high solids, advanced polymeric emulsion providing state of the art performance.

AAT's Problemsolver Series ends call Clarke American Sanders backs from cupping, end lift, shrinkage Booth G2432 and hollow spots. Both Problemsolver Clarke American is showcasing its Floor Abrader, formulas are easy to trowel, have excellent the latest in floor abrasion technology. It’s designed rebond and clean up beautifully. U.R.A. and to micro-abrade factory-finished and site-installed EW are low odor, VOC compliant, highly floors. Its tool-free, quick-change, multi-brush resistant to moisture emissions and backed design gives the FA-8 built-in versatility, by a limited Lifetime Warranty. while its easy-to-dismantle three-section body makes it easy to transport and store, the company says. Circle 123 1-800-AAT-GLUE • FAX 706-278-6207 www.aatglue.com [email protected] See us at Surfaces Space 5945

Circle 60 94 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Visit Our Brand New Booth at Surfaces Booth G2365

World Class

Producing The World’s Best Finishes For Over 30 Years. 866.413.5667 www.vermeisterusa.com Circle 61 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Classic Manufacturing Booth G1959 Classic Manufacturing presents solid Delmhorst Instrument Co. wood registers that are designed and G3621 tested for increased strength and opti- Delmhorst is dis- mum spread and throw. Grills come playing its in standard or custom sizes, with or TotalCheck Mois- without dampers. Customers can ture Meter, which choose from a wide selection of offers pin mode, wood species and prefinished colors. scan mode and a Circle 124 thermohygrometer that measures Cumi Canada temperature and relative humidity Booth G1923 and calculates Cumi Canada Inc. (CCI) dew point/GPP. manufactures high-quality TotalCheck’s RH sensor is removable and cloth and paper-backed conforms to the ASTM F-2170 standard to abrasives for the flooring determine if concrete floors have dried ade- and rental market. CCI has quately before installing hardwood flooring. an extensive product lineup Circle 126 of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and ceramic grains. All abrasives are backed by CCI’s Performance Guarantee, which the company says is the industry’s strongest. Circle 125 Delmhorst– The Better Option

Delmhorst Introduces TotalCheck— a 3-in-1 meter designed for the increased demands of the flooring professional.

h Pin and scan modes h Conforms to the ASTM F2170 standard h Fast and accurate measurement h Advanced data collection h Easy user interface with download capabilities h Beats the competition HANDS DOWN!!

Place your order today! 1-877-DELMHORST delmhorst.com

Circle 62 Circle 63 96 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 74 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Elegance Exotic Wood Flooring Booth 1119 Surfaces attendees can see the release of Elegance’s Pacific Koa line, which expands the company’s exotic offerings. Pacific Koa is available in wide (shown) and narrow widths, a large color pallet and lightly distressed finish. Elegance is also introducing a variety of other species and its newly completed distributor package. Circle 127 ForesFloor Booth G3231 ForesFloor is available factory- Engineered Flooring Manufacturers LLC finished in seven species, four Booth G1120 widths, six colors, five styles, two Floorlayers Engineered Wood Flooring is finishes and—to add protection manufactured to exact specifications— and value—its exclusive Moisture offering custom unfinished commercial- Guard protection and DuraStar quality flooring in most wood species finish. Visitors to ForesFloor’s and grades, with widths up to 10 inches booth can learn more and see and lengths up to 12 feet. The company the company’s beautiful Classic is displaying many of these products at Collection. its Surfaces booth. Circle 129 Circle 128 CHESS FLOORING MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE...! BRAZILIAN CHERRY • BRAZILIAN TEAK BRAZILIAN WALNUT • S.MAHOGANY ROSEWOOD • AND MANY MORE… A CLASSIC LOOK IS IN THE DETAILS SOLID PREFINISHED OR UNFINISHED 3 1 4⁄ ” or 2⁄ ” x 3”- 4”- 5” x random length. Quality Craftsmanship Custom Sizes, Woods, Prefinish FREE SAMPLES AVAILABLE Extensive Inventory in Stock #1 in Customer Service ... the necessary detail

Call Today 1-800-545-8368 Office and Warehouse 630 NW 113 Street www.classicvents.com Miami, FL 33168 Tel: 305.757.9400 Fax: 305.751.1302 Free # 1.800.966.3352 WWW.CHESSFLOORING.COM

Circle 65 Circle 66 98 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Please visit our Website at www.acehardwood.com Mesquite Products to view our virtual gallery of ﬁne wood products. • Flooring ½” x 3” – 5” ¾” x 6” – 8” 1’ x 7’ lengths T & G 4-sides • Herringbone

• End grain Blocks 3” x 3”, 3” x R. L.

• Countertops Butcher block 2” x 24¼” x 9’ 8” • Lumber 4/4, 6/4, 8/4

Exotic Woods

• Pecan • Red & White Oak • Walnut • Wenge • American Cherry • Antique Pine • Brazilian Cherry • Brazilian Walnut • Brazilian Teak • Santos Mahogany Also offering Slice-cut Engineered Products

10710-B North Lamar Blvd. Ace Austin, Texas 78753 Hardwood Flooring 1-800-994-9663

Circle 67 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Floor Style Products Inc. Booth G2542 Floor Style Products is displaying Glitsa American Inc. some of the latest equipment and supplies from its vendors. Atten- Booth G1948 dees can look for the newest Surfaces visitors products from Clarke American can stop by Sanders, Norton Abrasives, Len- Glitsa’s booth to mar and other vendors. check out Glitsa’s application tools, Circle 130 including its industrial tack mop. Glitsa also carries a complete line of The Garrison Collection hardwood flooring maintenance products, from Safeglides floor Booth G1626 protectors to cleaners and mops. The Garrison Collection is a compilation Circle 132 of fine hardwood flooring. This collection is available smooth or beautifully hand- distressed and also features exotic engineered woods from around the world that display not only the natural beauty of wood but also fine craftsmanship in manufacturing, the company says. Circle 131

Circle 68 100 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 unfinished commercial quality most wood species & grades widths up to 10 inches lengths up to 12 feet

Visit us at— Surfaces 2008 Some of our best work Booth G1220 Las Vegas, NV goes unfinished. January 30th - February 1st Your discerning customers prefer something a little more unique than the standard pre-finished wood floor shipped 3/16” Sawer in a cardboard box. That’s why we designed Floorlayers Superior construction Engineered Wood Flooring™, manufactured to your exact Micro laminate substrate specifications. Now you have that creative flexibility— Floorlayers™ offers longer planks, custom and standard widths, most wood species, even edges and ends milled to your specific requirements. Our commercial quality unfinished flooring gives you the depth and character of a solid hardwood installation, with all the benefits of an engineered product.

Circle 69 on Reply Card 714.998.5050 PHONE 714.998.5072 FAX Made in the U.S.A. www.FloorLayers.com Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Graf Brothers Flooring and Lumber Booth G3844 Graf Brothers Flooring and Lum- ber offers plank flooring up to 12 inches wide. All 9- to 12-inch planks are a minimum of 3 feet long, with possible lengths up to 12 feet. The new Graf Brothers product line at Surfaces includes engineered flooring. The engineered line includes 5- and 10-inch widths, with a 3.2-mm wear layer mounted on a 12-mm Russian Baltic birch foundation. Circle 133 Higuera Hardwoods Booth G1820 Visitors to the Higuera Hardwoods Hawa Bamboo Flooring Trading Corp. booth can see the company’s line of grade-A bamboo flooring, moldings, Booth G1831 stair parts, plywood and veneers. The Hawa is displaying a variety of solid construction and finish of all of engineered, distressed and strand Higuera’s bamboo products is superior bamboo flooring, along with solid in its basic raw materials, construction engineered distressed oak, maple and finish, the company says. and birch. Additionally, Hawa is fea- Circle 135 turing Brazilian cherry, tigerwood, santos mahogany and Brazilian teak engineered flooring. Circle 134

AMERICA’S LARGEST PRODUCER OF HARDWOOD VENEER AND LUMBER FOR FLOORING MEETING ALL YOUR NORTHERN HARDWOOD NEEDS FULL AND OFFSET ROTARY VENEER ENGINEERED FLOORING PLYWOOD WHOLE PIECE AND SPLICED SLICED OR SAWN VENEER 1/45” TO 1/6” (0.6mm to 4.2mm)

SPECIES AVAILABLE: HARD MAPLE SOFT MAPLE RED OAK CHERRY HICKORY WHITE OAK WALNUT ASH

VENEER SALES P.O. BOX 352 LUMBER SALES (715) 234-8181 GLADSTONE, MICHIGAN 49837 (906) 428-3113 FAX: (715) 234-8942 www.bessegroup.com FAX: (906) 428-3310 [email protected] [email protected]

Circle 70 102 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Wolff, a major brand of UFLOOR Systems, introduces Cobra and King Cobra: powerful, easy-to-use and incredibly efscient wood toor sanding machines... with all the moves. With these high-capacity, heavy duty uni-body sanders, you’ll waltz right through your next project!

See us at Surfaces 2008, booth # 2266

See more when you Samba. (Seven degree shallower angle of dust More dip in your Two-Step. tube allows for better visability) (Handy ball knob on top of dust tube for convenient pull-back)

Gauge the heat when you Hustle. (LED ready light tells if motor is overheating; volt meter indicates actual voltage)

More pull in your Polka. More torque in your Tango. (Left and right (New and powerful drum levers) 3.6 kW totally enclosed German motor)

Control the chatter in your Cha-Cha. (Lower durometer sanding drum compound for better grip and controlled chatter)

Brands of Uíoor Systems

6008 D High Point Road | Greensboro, NC, 27407 Ph: (336) 454.7000 | Fax: (336) 454.7001 Circle 71 on Reply Card Email: [email protected] | Web: www.ufloorsystems.com Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring Booth 4038 Johnson invites Surfaces attendees to discover the newest styles that every homeowner is looking for. This year, the company is showcasing its most popular lines while branching off to please customers with a taste for timeless beauty. Attendees can stop by the John- son Premium booth to check out Lignomat USA Ltd. its new hickory line. Booth G2452 Circle 136 Lignomat manufactures handheld moisture meters and offers a professional package for the hardwood Karelia Hardwood Flooring flooring installer and inspector, supplying both pinless and pin meters Booth 2866 for checking the moisture content of Karelia is displaying its full plank Story jatoba and the floor and subfloor. It also fea- North American maple Story, both of which have a tures a thermohygrometer for testing single-surface hardwood wear layer in a width of 7.2 ambient temperature at the job site. inches. These products are microbeveled and have been manufactured in Europe since early 2000, how- Circle 138 ever, due to increased demand, they were introduced to North America in the fall of 2007. Circle 137

It’s what you MOISTURE METER Ligno-Scanner SD don’t see that A pinless meter which offers great makes all flexibility and accuracy with built-in the difference. corrections for different species.

When you turn to Lubrizol (formerly Noveon, Inc.) for wood coating solutions, you get more than just high-performance products. One Company. Sure, our innovative technologies – like Carboset® acrylics, Sancure® polyurethanes and LancoTM Many Solutions. wax additives– can help you meet stringent VOC regulations, improve durability and enhance beauty. But, with Lubrizol in the mix, it’s what you don’t see that makes all the difference.

Our scientiﬁc know-how and years of application Come visit our booth at Surfaces to experience can also help you identify new opportunities and ensure that the best technology checkout our new line of concrete available is integrated into your products. We For more information on wood meters. Booth# G2452 combine global resources, unmatched technical coatings, call 1-800-380-5397 expertise and a commitment to responding to or visit our web site at Lignomat 1-800-227-2105 your unique needs – making us the single-source www.lubrizolcoatings.com PO Box 30145, supplier for any wood coatings application. Portland, OR 97294 www.lignomat.com Carboset® and Sancure® are registered trademarks of The Lubrizol Corporation LancoTM is a trademark of The Lubrizol Corporation © 2007 The Lubrizol Corporation E-Mail: [email protected]

Circle 72 Circle 44 104 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Come to the Party

The perfect mix of people and planning make all the difference in creating a successful event - and a successful business. At Elegance, we've combined the right ingredients to make sure your business will be the “in” spot for everything wood flooring.

nSolid & Engineered Pre-Finished Wood Flooring nWide variety of Premium Exotic Woods nStocked in our huge US Warehouse for immediate shipment nAttractive Wood Display Rack nDistributor Merchandising Program

EleganceExotic Wood Flooring

www.elegancewoodflooring.com 10808 6th Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

Surfaces Space 1119 T 909-980-5066 F 909-980-5442 Circle 79 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Max Windsor Floors Booth 1349 The Victorian Collection is Max Mercier Wood Flooring Windsor’s elite product line. This collection is hand-scraped and Booth 4660 hand-stained with two-tone colors This year at to achieve a Victorian look. The Surfaces, Alexander, Apollo and Maximus col- Mercier Wood lections are currently the company’s Flooring is dis- best sellers. playing several Circle 139 new prefinished products. As with its previous Mercer Abrasives, a div. of Mercer Tool Corp. lines of floor- Booth G2256 ing, these new products guarantee durable, Users wanting quality finish prepa- long-lasting beauty that answer the needs of ration can complete a sanding any contractor, the company says. cycle with Mercer’s open-coat, sili- Circle 141 con-carbide Sandscreen Discs. Heat-resistant, fast-cutting and reusable, Mercer’s Sandscreen Discs feature a mesh cloth backing and open-coat screening. This product and more are on display at Mercer’s Surfaces booth. Circle 140

THE WOODEYE STRONG ARGUMENTS COLLECTION Exotic Stair-Parts & Flooring No. 3: Unrivalled Treads Risers Nosing Moldings quality and Unfinished Solid Flooring functionality Eng./ Prefinished Flooring unctionality Eng./ Unfinished Plank Flooring Angelim Pedra Jatoba (Braz. Cherry) Cumaru Ipé (Braz. Walnut) Garapa/Garapeira Moabi Tamarindo (Br. Rosew.) Tatajuba Tigerwood Timborana (Additional species available - please inquire) Most items are in stock for next-day shipment! Very competitive prices High-quality products Please inquire for details & species availability Ph: 1-866-605-7271 (toll free) Fx: 253-437-4065 email: [email protected] www.franwoodfloors.com

Circle 75 Circle 76 106 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 IPE Jatoba Cumaru Tauari Andiroba Tigerwood Bloodwood Santos Mahogany

Australian Cypress AND MORE

Ph: 336.292.1500 Fax: 336.292.1155 [email protected] www.tradelink-group.com 1 Centerview Drive, Suite 300, Greensboro, NC 27407 Circle 77 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Model Hardwood Inc. Booth G2025 Every year, Model Hardwood makes heads turn at Surfaces with its innovative products and unique concepts, the company says. In 2008, Model is introducing a new collection in the S Series. Circle 143 Mirage/Boa-Franc Booth 2050 This year, Mirage’s offerings include the new Umbria, a rich dark brown Mullican Flooring color available on maple and red Booth 5925 oak. Because of the popularity of Mullican is displaying its Bucking- warm, exotic woods, the company ham Beech, an authentic represen- now offers sapele in 5-inch-wide tation of American-made plank. Mirage is also unveiling a hardwood flooring. These finely new and evolutive approach on crafted floors are precision-manu- sustainable development, it says. factured from the highest quality Circle 142 Appalachian hardwoods, the company says. The line is available in 3-, 4-, and 5-inch widths. Circle 144

National Wood Flooring Association Booth 113 The NWFA is the wood flooring professional’s one-stop resource for technical publications, training opportunities, networking events, professional recognition and certification programs. Surfaces attendees can see for themselves what the NWFA can do to advance their career and impact their bottom line. Circle 145

Owens Flooring Company Booth G1516 Owens Flooring Company is showcasing several new products at Surfaces. These introductions include new species in both the Plankfloor unfinished line and Owens Select factory-finished line, as well as an exciting addition to its product family— Owens Lite. Circle 146

108 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 sculpted by wind and weather.

reclaimed by mountain lumber.

Engineered Entique™ Distressed Oak Call for a free sample kit. | 800.445.2671 | mountainlumber.com Where Every Floor Has a Story to Tell.® Circle 9 9 on Reply Card

Reclaimed Antique Flooring Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Powr-Flite, a Tacony Company Powernail Company Booth G4356 Booth G2641 Powr-Flite is introducing its Black Max Floor Machine. This machine Powernail is showcasing its Pneu- combines the performance and dura- matic Model 200 nailer, which 5 5 bility of rotationally molded units nails ⁄16- to ⁄8-inch tongue- with the simple design of the Classic and-groove engineered metal floor machine. The combina- flooring. This model uses tion is unmatched in the industry, Powernail’s new E-Power- 1 1 and is backed by Powr-Flite’s satis- cleats, available in 1, 1 ⁄4 and 1 ⁄2 faction guarantee, the com- inches. These 20-gauge E-Power- pany says. cleats have been designed to hold engineered flooring securely while Circle 148 reducing the risk of damaging the flooring’s delicate tongue. Circle 147

Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC Booth G2541 Premiere is displaying its ver- satile finishing products that are the fruit of a $1,000,000 investment. The company has added a second fill machine to its production line, which has improved the quality of its finish, it says. Circle 149

ProTeam, The Vacuum RB Rubber Products Company Booth 5713 Booth G1925 RB Silent Tread XL, an acoustical underlayment with vapor barrier, is designed to ProTeam is displaying its new Super reduce room-to-room ambient noise. Easy CoachVac HEPA. The vacuum’s large and fast to install, RB Silent Tread XL lies 10-quart filter capacity is designed to flat to reduce minor subfloor imperfec- handle sensitive high-square-footage tions. It can be used with most floor con- areas that require the utmost cleanli- structions—concrete or wood—for ness. Its HEPA filter works in concert laminate, hardwood, engineered wood with ProTeam’s advanced Four Level and tile flooring. Filtration system to capture 99.97 percent of airborne particles 0.3 micron or Circle 151 larger, the company says. Circle 150

110 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 State of the art factory insures products are made to the highest quality standards. Ark offers the most comprehensive assortment of exotic wood floors. Featuring Ipé, Santos Mahogany, Tigerwood, Brazilian Cherry, Brazilian Rosewood, Brown Heart and other exotic wood species.

2393 Tifal Ave., Irwindale, CA 91010 • TEL: (800) 918-6188 • FAX: (626) 357-8593 • EMAIL: [email protected] • www.ark-floors.com Circle 80 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

Shamrock Plank Flooring Robinson Lumber and Flooring Booth G3742 Booth G1013 Shamrock Plank Robinson is introducing its G5 Pre- Flooring is cision Engineered Hardwood exhibiting sev- Flooring at Surfaces. With state-of- eral of its prod- the-art technology, the company uct at Surfaces. has designed an engineered line to Attendees can complement its solid exotic floor- see Shamrock’s ing. Since 1893, Robinson Lumber planks in wal- and Flooring has taken care of its nut, hickory, customers and been a steward of cherry, and rift and quartered red and white oak. the forest, the company says. Also on display is Shamrock’s prefinished flooring in Circle 152 walnut and hickory and its strip flooring in red and white oak. Circle 153

Synteko Floor Finishes Booth G1104 Synteko offers an array of exceptional, high-quality waterborne wood floor finishes created for quality-minded professionals. Manufactured in the U.S., Synteko Sealmaster is a one-component, fast-drying waterborne sealer; Synteko Extra is a one-component, waterborne floor finish; and Synteko Best is a two-component, highly durable waterborne floor finish. Circle 154 Tramex Ltd. Booth G1417 Taylor Lumber Inc./ This year, Tramex is displaying its Sunshine Flooring Tramex CMEx- Booth G2242 pert, a multi-pur- Taylor, a leading pose moisture manufacturer of meter that allows rift and quarter- the utmost flexi- sawn flooring and bility in the mois- lumber, offers its ture and 3 ⁄4-inch solid hard- humidity measur- wood flooring ing needs of the unfinished and flooring industry. prefinished in red It combines non- oak, white oak, destructive moisture content measurement hard maple, wal- with humidity, temperature and dew point. nut, cherry, ash Circle 156 and hickory. Tay- lor is introducing its new line of engineered flooring, produced in-house, at Surfaces 2008. Circle 155

112 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 See us at Surfaces Booth G1432

www

* See the Precision Technology 10 Year Wear Warranty Brochure for details.

Circle 98 on Reply Card Show Guide | Exhibitor Showcase

UFloor Systems Inc. Booth 2266 Vintage Hardwood Flooring This year at Surfaces, UFloor is displaying Booth G2833 its high-capacity, heavy-duty, uni-body Vintage is sanders from its Wolff line. The showing its Cobra and King Cobra are power- entire product ful, easy-to-use and efficient 3 line of ⁄4-inch wood floor sanding machines, Pioneered Solid, the company says. 9 ⁄16-inch Crafted Circle 157 Engineered and 3 ⁄4-inch Solid Sawn hand- scraped and exotic flooring. VerMeister New products for 2008 include Booth G2365 hand-scraped maple and hickory. Vintage VerMeister is asking Surfaces attendees to is also showing its new Wire Brushed Col- imagine a waterborne sealer that looks lection in white oak and hickory. exactly like a solvent sealer on oak and Circle 159 exotic woods. Its new product line is a single-component waterborne that is more durable—with abrasion-, scratch- and chemical-resistance—than any other two-component finish on the market, the company says. Circle 158

2687 SF 4" No. One Common White Oak micro beveled for prefinish • 101 SF 1 1/2" Select Rift & Quartered Red Oak • 253 SF 5" No. One Common Rift & Quartered White Oak • 114 SF 2 1/4" Select Rift & Quartered Maple • 162 SF 1 1/2" No. One Common White Oak • 541 SF 5" No. One Common Heart Walnut • 382 SF 3"-4"-5" Select Pecan • 5510 SF 33/32" x 2 1/4" No. One Common Maple • 2498 SF 4" Select Rift White Oak • 1010 SF 3"-5"-6" No. Two & Better Hickory with custom bevel • 1942 SF 3 1/4" No. One Common Red Oak with custom bevel to match existing • 101 SF 3" Tennessee Red Cedar • 1000 SF 4" Select Heart Pecan • 304 SF 2 1/4" Select Rift & Quartered American Cherry • 1800 SF 6" & 8" No. One Common Poplar • 203 SF 1 1/2" Select Quartered White OakDid • 148 SF 2 1/2" SomeoneSelect Quartered White Oak • 3600 SFSay 2 1/4" x 9" Select Rift & Quartered Herringbone White Oak • 278 SF 4" Select Heart Prefinished Pecan • 152 SF 2 1/4" Clear Quartered White Oak • 1701Custom SF 4" Select Saddle Prefinished HickoryWood • 2687 SF 4" No. Flooring? One Common White Oak micro beveled for prefinish • 101 SF 1 1/2" Select Rift & Quartered Red Oak • 253 SF 5" No. One Common Rift & Quartered White Oak • 114 SF 2 1/4" Select Rift & Quartered Maple • 162 SF 1 1/2" No. One Common White Oak • 541 SF 5" No. One Common Heart Walnut • 382 SF 3"-4"-5" Select Pecan • 5510 SF 33/32" x 2 1/4" No. One Common Maple • 1800 SF 6" & 8" No. One Common Poplar • 1010 SF 3"-5"-6" No. Two & Better Hickory with custom bevel • 1942 SF 3 1/4" No. One Common Red Oak with custom bevel to match existing • 278 SF 4" Select Heart Prefinished Pecan • 1000 SF 4" Select Heart Pecan • 304 SF 2 1/4" Select Rift & Quartered Cherry

Hickory • Southern Pecan • Black Walnut • American Cherry Maple • Red Oak • White Oak • Ash • Poplar Tennessee Red Cedar & Others 800.243.4497 P.O. Box 100 • 1295 Industrial Drive Huntingdon, Tennessee 38344

Circle 81 114 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 82 on Reply Card Product Focus | Exhibitor Showcase

W.D. Flooring Booth G2009 Weyerhaeuser Inc. W.D. Flooring is showcasing its diverse product line of Booth 6751 hardwood flooring, includ- Weyerhaeuser is ing selections from its FSC- launching a certified products. Producing Lyptus single- more than 180 products strip engineered from herringbone to its flooring line for Mountain Grade with aver- Spring 2008. 1 age lengths of 7 feet, W.D. With an ⁄8-inch distinguishes itself through quality of product, product choice Lyptus wear and ease of doing business, it says. layer, this prod- Circle 160 uct offers the look of solid strip flooring Waterlox Coatings Corporation with the added benefit of engineered versatility. It is avail- Booth G3562 1 able in 3 ⁄4- and 5-inch widths and six prefin- Unlike common urethane finishes that con- ished colors: Natural, Fire, Stone, Earth, ceal the wood’s fine grain under a layer of Garnet and Wheat. plastic, Waterlox offers a handmade blend of tung oil and resin that penetrates the Circle 162 wood, yielding a rich, hand-rubbed look that’s durable and easy to maintain. The finish is VOC-compliant in all 50 states. Circle 161

Did Someone say EXOTICS?

Call your distributor today for Brazilian Cherry, Tigerwood, IPE, Australian Cypress, Santos Mahogany, Hickory, Maple, Walnut, American Cherry, Red Oak, White Oak

For the Best in Treads, Return Treads, Risers, Flooring Trim, Retro Treads, Handrails, Starting Steps, Newel Post, Half Circle Qtr. Round

Blackstone Stair & Millwork Morganston, NC 28655 Phone: 828.433.4747 • Fax: 828.433.5490 [email protected] www.blackstonestair.com

Circle 46 Circle 73 116 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 LET’S FACE IT, WE CANNOT TELL A LIE.

At Mohawk, we recognize that committing to environmentally sound initiatives cannot be a one-time effort, that’s why we’ve secured a number of our hardwood products with FSC Certification. A certified Chain of Custody up to the final point of sale enables your customers to identify and choose FSC certified products knowing there is a system in place to verify the sources of the wood used to manufacture the products. The FSC label provides the link between responsible production and your customer’s purchase. So if it’s got our name on it, you’ve got our word on it.

This is just one example of the concrete ways we recycle, reuse, and renew Earth’s limited resources. To explore the many other ways we are participating in sustainability that works, share with us at greenworksblog.com, and visit us at mohawkgreenworks.com.

Circle 97 on Reply Card Bring the northwoods home

E STRUC T xperience the feeling of hardwood ﬂoors built from IM U T R E A the forests of northern Minnesota. Our skilled craftsmen F I L

E L produce floors with the feel and beauty of nature — with exacting tolerances that would make any engineer envious. W A Y You pick the species, finish and dimensions and we’ll produce an R R A N T engineered floor that will bring the northwoods into your home.

Our flooring offerings include unfinished engineered, prefinished engineered featuring MinnLoc glueless installation, and A La Carte engineered manufactured to your specifications.

Circle 85 on R eply Card 800.788.9689 | AshawaBay.com | 9483 Ashawa Rd., Cook, MN 55723 Ashawa Bay Hardwood Floors are manufactured by Hill Wood Products, Inc. Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

Rack ’Em Up A guide to U.S. and Canadian unfinished wood flooring

nfinished hardwood flooring still dominates the market and manufacturers are racking up the options to meet your needs for any project. Hardwood Floors’ exclusive charts Uon the following pages give you a look at the various unfinished products available on the market. For more information on the companies in these charts, circle their corresponding numbers on the reply cards next to pages 10 and 146.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 119 A.E. Sampson Aacer Action Floor American Hardwoods

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry A.E. Sampson & Son Ltd. • Circle 185 •• • •• • •• •

Aacer Flooring • Circle 186 Aacer Northern Hardwood • • • • • • • • • • • • Aacer Peshtigo River Plank • • • • • • • • Aacer Café Hand-Sculpted • • • • • •

Action Floor Systems • Circle 187 ••••••••

Al Nahar Building Materials LLC • Circle 188 •••••••

Allwood Import • Circle 189 e1-u • • • • • • • •

American Hardwoods Inc. • Circle 190 •• •• ••••• • • ••

American Heart Pine • Circle 191 Truman • • • Truman Vertical • • • Grant • • • Hamilton Vertical • • • Lincoln • • •

Appalachian Lumber Company • Circle 192 Summit Plank • • • • • • • • • •

Appalachian Woods • Circle 193 Appalachian Wide Plank • • • •

Armstrong Hardwood Flooring • Circle 194 Solid • • • • • • Engineered • • • • Parquet • • •

120 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 American Heart Pine Appalachian Lumber Augusta Authentic Pine Floors

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15”; Eastern white pine in Select and Knotty. 3 ⁄4 3, 4 Red birch in Casual Rustic. 3 ⁄4 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Northeastern ash in Conservation Grade.

25 1 1 1 ⁄32 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4 Extremely tight-grained flooring; each tree is hand-selected for a distinctive floor. 25 ⁄32 4, 5, 6 Selected to yield a longer average length. 25 1 ⁄32 3 ⁄4, 5 A distressed floor that replicates antique Old World appearance; tight-grained.

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4

22 mm 60, 65 mm 1 0.9 mm Available in other species upon request.

9 ⁄16 533 mm

1 5 1 ⁄2, ⁄8 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 5 ⁄8, 4 mm Warranted for radiant heat; all-maple core; zero formaldehyde.

3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12”. 3 ⁄4 4 99% vertical appearance; infrequent small, tight knots; reasonably clear. 3 ⁄4 6, 8, 10 Not selected for heart-knots; not limited in size or frequency; nested 12’ packs. 3 1 ⁄4 4, 5 Heart pine; selected for 75% heart content; infrequent 1-1 ⁄2” knots; nested 8’ packs. 3 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12”; heart pine; 50% plus heart content; 1-4 ⁄2” knots.

3 ⁄4 3-9

3 ⁄4 5-12

5 3 1 1 ⁄16, ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4 3 1 ⁄8 33 ⁄8 5 ⁄16 12

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 121 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

Birch Creek Breeze Wood BSL Wood Products

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Augusta Lumber • Circle 195 ••••••••••••

Authentic Pine Floors Inc. • Circle 196 Authentic Pine • • • • Authentic Red Oak • • • • • Authentic White Oak • • • • Authentic’s Walnut • • • •

Birch Creek • Circle 198 Texturewood • • • • • • • • • • • •

Blackstone Stair and Millwork Inc. • Circle 199 Stair Treads and Mouldings • • • • • • • • •

BLC Hardwood Flooring LLC • Circle 200 BLC Hardwood • • • • • • • • •

Brazilian Direct Ltd. • Circle 201 ••••••••

Breeze Wood Forest Products • Circle 202 Nature’s Medley Plank Collection • • • • • • • • • • • Nature’s Medley Long Rustic • • • • • • • • • •

Bruce Hardwood Floors • Circle 203 Solid • • • • • • Engineered • • • •

BSL Wood Products • Circle 204 Signature BSL • • • • • • •

Byrne Wood Floors • Circle 205 Appalachian Classics • • • • • • • • • Commercial Classics • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Heritage Classics • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Canoak-USA • Circle 206 •• ••

Canterbury Flooring • Circle 207 Canterbury Signature Custom • • • • • • • • • • • • • Canterbury Signature Engineered • • • • • • • • • •

122 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Byrne Wood Floors Canterbury Flooring Carlisle Wide Plank Floors Centre Mills

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5, 6 Also available prefinished; Appalachian quality; nested bundle.

3 ⁄4 4-12 3 ⁄4 7-11 Random widths. 3 ⁄4 7-11 Random widths. 3 ⁄4 7-11

3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4-7 Specialize in customizing the face (texturing) of several new and reclaimed species.

1 1 110⁄2, 11 ⁄2 Complete line of stair treads to match all domestic species of flooring.

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4 Available presanded; a true mill-run grade; prefinished urethane or oil. 3 1 1 1 1 ⁄4 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4, 6 ⁄4, 7 ⁄4 Available presanded; 4-12’ lengths; also prefinished UV oil; Canadian-made.

5 3 1 1 1 ⁄16, ⁄4 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4 3 1 1 ⁄8, ⁄2 2 ⁄4, 3, 9 3, 5 varies

3 5 1 1 1 1 ⁄4, ⁄8 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4 Available in yellow birch, hard maple, Northern red oak and American cherry.

5 1 1 ⁄8 3 ⁄2, 4 ⁄2 9 4 mm Company has manufactured wide-plank engineered flooring for 25 years. 3 ⁄4 5-12 3, 11 5 mm Fumed colors available; 14 species in full select width and length planks. 3 ⁄4 5-12 3, 11 5 mm 25 years of manufacturing engineered flooring; fumed colors; character-enhanced.

3 1 1 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4

3 3 ⁄8 , ⁄4 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Standard Plank: 1-7’; Long Plank 2-12’; Estate Plank 4-12’. 5 1 ⁄8 3 ⁄4, 4, 5 10-11 5.2 mm Random length 1-7’; sawn wear layer.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 123 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

Chen Ho Chestnut Specialists Clear Lake Lumber

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Carlisle Wide Plank Floors • Circle 208 ••••• ••••••••• ••• •

Centre Mills • Circle 209 •• ••••••

Chen Ho Lumber Co. Ltd. • Circle 210 El Engineered Series • • • • • • • • • • • •

Cherokee Wood Products • Circle 211 •• • ••• • •••

Chestnut Specialists Inc. • Circle 212 Custom Milled • • • • • •

Chickasaw Brand Hardwood Flooring • Circle 213 •• •• ••

Clear Lake Lumber • Circle 214 American Made Flooring • • • • • • American Made Flooring • • • • American Made Flooring • • • •

Creative@Home • Circle 215 Antique Impressions Alder Collection • • • • • • Antique Impressions Oak Collection • • • • •

Cumberland Lumber & Mfg. Co. Inc. • Circle 216 •••••

Custom Flooring Patterns • Circle 217 •• • ••••••••••

Czar Floors • Circle 218 Chess Parquet • • • • • • • • • •

Dean Hardwoods Inc. • Circle 219 Prestige Hardwood Flooring • • • • • • •

124 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Creative@Home Custom Flooring Patterns Czar Floors Dean Hardwoods

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

3 ⁄4 4-10 3 ⁄4 4-12 3 ⁄4 6-20

3 ⁄4 random to 10 Widths depending on species.

8 or 10 3 or 4 Thicknesses: 10.8, 11.8, 15.8 mm; widths: 90.5, 120.6 mm; frame sawn.

3 3 ⁄4 3-8 10 ⁄16 Both solid and engineered can be processed in select and character grades.

25 ⁄32 4-16 Custom manufactured flooring from chestnut, oak and pine lumber; RW, RL, T&G.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 4⁄, 3, 3 4⁄, 4, 5, 6 4” white oak select or better; 4” Cherry Pioneer. 3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5, 6 4” Hickory Pioneer. 3 1 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄4, 5 3 ⁄4” hard maple clear.

3 9 3 9 3 1 1 1 Sol.: ⁄4, Eng.: ⁄16, ⁄4 varies ⁄16: 7, ⁄4: 11 5 mm Widths: solid: 3, 3 ⁄2, 4 ⁄4, 5, 6”; eng.: 5, 6, 9 ⁄4, 10”; alder species. 3 ⁄4 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 11 5 mm Can supply standard plank, wire-brushed or handcrafted time-worn.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

5 3 3 ⁄16, ⁄8, ⁄4 any Herringbone and flooring patterns come tongue-and-grooved for easy installation.

1 3 ⁄2- ⁄4 9-24 Parquet is available in many species, sizes, number of fingers.

3 1 3 ⁄8, ⁄2, ⁄4 3-8 Specialties are precision milling, wide width and long length; exotics also available.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 125 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

ElmwoodCompany Reclaimed EngineeredCompany Flooring Manuf. The Flooring Mill

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Elmwood Reclaimed Timber Inc. • Circle 220 •••••••••••

Engineered Flooring Manufacturers LLC • Circle 221 FloorLayers Engineered Plank Flooring • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Flooring Mill, The • Circle 222 TFM’s Country Hardwood Flooring • • • • • • • • • •

French-Brown Wood Floors Inc. • Circle 223 French-Brown • • • • • • • • • • •

Goodwin Heart Pine Company • Circle 224 Wild Black Cherry • • • • • • •

Graf Brothers Flooring • Circle 225 Graf Brothers Plank • • • • • • • • •

Green Elf Flooring/Hong Ding Lumber Co. Ltd. • Circle 226 •• •• ••••• •

Green River Lumber • Circle 227 Traditional Collection • • • • • • • •

Grizzly Floors • Circle 228 •• •••• •

Hardwood Flooring of America LLC • Circle 229 Terra • • • • • • • •

Hardwoods of Morristown • Circle 230 •• ••• •• • •• • •• • •• •

Harvest Timber Co. • Circle 231 Pioneered Wood • • • • • •

Hassell and Hughes Lumber Co. • Circle 232 •• ••• •

126 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 CompanyGoodwin GrizzlyCompany Floors GrafCompany Brothers HarvestCompany Timber

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

5 1 3 ⁄8, ⁄2, ⁄4 up to 12 Elm, redwood, locust, sycamore; also end-grain flooring tiles; custom millwork.

3 ⁄8-1 2-10 10 up to 6.5 mm Suitable for high-end residential and commercial applications; most species.

3 ⁄4 4-6

3 ⁄4 3-12 Parquet and plank.

3 5 1 1 1 sol: ⁄4; eng.: ⁄8 2 ⁄2, 3 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4, 7 9” in solid only.

3 ⁄4 3-12 Specializes in riftsawn, quartersawn and long length.

1 9 5 9 3 ⁄2, ⁄16, ⁄8 3 ⁄16, 4 ⁄4 7, 9, 11 2, 3, 4, mm

25 1 st ⁄32 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5 Maple comes in 1 , select and natural grades; red birch also available.

3 5 1 7 sol.: ⁄4, eng.: ⁄8 2 ⁄8-10 ⁄8 10 4.5 mm

19 7 ⁄32 3 ⁄16, 5 3 3.2 mm Exotic species also available including tzalam, chechen, naya, machiche.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5 3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 4 3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5 3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 4 3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4

3 1 3 1 3 7 7 ⁄4 varies Widths: 3, 3 ⁄8, 4, 4 ⁄4, 5, 5 ⁄8, 6, 6 ⁄4, 7, 8, 8 ⁄8, 10 ⁄8”.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 127 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

HeidelbergCompany HeisterCompany House HomerWoodCompany

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Heidelberg Flooring • Circle 233 •••••••• ••• •••••••••••••

Heister House Millworks • Circle 234 •••••••••••

Heritage Oak Flooring • Circle 235 •••••••••••

Herwynen Saw Mill Ltd. • Circle 236 ••••••••••

Historic Floor Co. Inc. • Circle 237 Sugarpine Plank • • • • • Low Country Cypress Plank • • • • Delta Pine • • • • • Heritage New Heart Pine • • • • •

Historic Woods Inc. • Circle 238 •• ••• •••• •• ••••

HomerWood Hardwood Flooring • Circle 239 ••••• •• •• ••••••

Howell Hardwood Flooring • Circle 240 •••••••••••

Hull Forest Products Inc. • Circle 241 Wide Plank Hardwood Flooring • • • • • • • • • • • • Traditional Wide Plank Pine • • • • • Quarter and Rift Sawn Wide Plank • • • • • • •

Indiana Hardwood Specialists Inc. • Circle 242 Indiana • • • • • • • • • •

J.M. McCormick Co. Inc. • Circle 243 •••••••••´

Kentucky Wood Floors • Circle 244 ••• •••••••• •• ••••

128 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Howell Hardwood Flooring Hull Forest Products Indiana Hardwood J.M. McCormick

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

5 ⁄8 3, 4, 5, 6 9 4 Radiant-heat-approved; 2-8’ random lengths; standard up to 10’ available. 3 ⁄4 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 2-12’ random lengths available; specializing in custom floors, hand-scraped.

3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4, 6 ⁄4, 7 ⁄4, 8 ⁄4, 9 ⁄4, 10 ⁄4, 11 ⁄4”; end-matched up to 9 ⁄4”.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4 Long average board lengths.

3 ⁄4, 1 12-22 “Immense” plank; ideal for Colonial and early-American style homes. 3 ⁄4 12 Cypress; contains minimal knots. 3 ⁄4 10, 12 Southern yellow pine; harvested in the coastal plains of the Southeastern U.S. 3 ⁄4 6, 8 Harvested from extreme Northern native yellow pine forests; has tight rings.

3 ⁄4 3-12 9 7 mm Random widths, depending on species; random lengths 2-17’; end-matched.

5 ⁄8 3, 4, 5, 6 multi 4 mil Smooth and Amish hand-scraped character-grade flooring available. 3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5, 6 Smooth and Amish hand-scraped character-grade flooring available.

3 1 1 ⁄8, ⁄2 2 ⁄4, 3, 5, 6 3, 5 2.5, 3.2, 4 Full line of unfinished engineered products: value or premium-based.

3 5 1 ⁄4, ⁄8, ⁄2 3-10, 3-15 (ro) Most available in Select, Country and Character grades; red oak in clear grade. 3 5 1 ⁄4, ⁄8, ⁄2 7-19 Wider widths upon request; average plank length is 13-15’; three grades. 3 5 1 ⁄4, ⁄8, ⁄2 3-6 Blend of select and country grades; both radial and vertical grain.

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 1 ⁄2, 2, 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8”.

3 1 1 1 3 1 1 ⁄8, ⁄2 2 ⁄4, 3, 5, 7 3 ⁄10- ⁄8, ⁄6- ⁄2

3 5 3 5 3 3 1 3 3 5 3 varies ⁄4-8+ ⁄8: 10, ⁄4: 7 ⁄8: ⁄16, ⁄4: ⁄4 Thicknesses: solid: ⁄8- ⁄4, eng.: ⁄8- ⁄4”; company manufactures complete custom floors.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 129 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

KentuckyCompany Wood Floors KoetterCompany Woodworking L & CompanyL Hardwoods

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Knights’ of Meaford Inc. • Circle 245 •• •••

Koetter Woodworking Inc. • Circle 246 Heartwood by Koetter • • • • • • • • Quartersawn by Koetter • • • • • • •

L & L Hardwoods • Circle 247 •••• ••

L.M. Flooring • Circle 248 ••••••

Launstein Hardwood Floors • Circle 249 Engineered Floating Floor • • • • • • • • • Wideplank Quartersawn • • • • • • • • • •

Lebanon Oak Flooring Co. LLC • Circle 250 •••••••• ••••• •••••

Living Elements • Circle 251 ••••

Louisville Wood Floors • Circle 252 ••• •••••••• • •••

Maxwell Hardwood Flooring • Circle 253 ••••••••

McMinnville Mfg. Co. • Circle 254 Velvet • • • • •

Mercier Wood Flooring • Circle 255 •• ••

Millwood Specialty Flooring • Circle 256 Millwood • • • • • •

Missouri Hardwood Products • Circle 257 ••••••••••

Mullican Flooring • Circle 258 Unfinished Solid • • • • • • • • • Unfinished Engineered • • • • • • • • •

130 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 L.M.Company Flooring LaunsteinCompany Floors LouisvilleCompany Wood Floors CompanyMaxwell

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

3 1 1 3 ⁄8, ⁄2 1 ⁄2, 1 ⁄4, 2

3 ⁄4 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Hand-scraping available. 1 1 ⁄2 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5 Hand-scraping available.

3 ⁄4 3-10 Product is in 10’ pallets to give a better average length .

3 1 3 1 3 1 3 ⁄8, ⁄2, ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 5 2 mm Widths: ⁄8: 7, ⁄2: 9, ⁄4:12”.

9 3 ⁄16 4, 5, 6, 7 3 ⁄16 3 layers of quartersawn hardwoods; 10’ and shorter; very stable. 3 ⁄8 varies Widths: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9”; quartersawn; presanded.

5 1 1 3 1 ⁄16 varies Widths: 1, 1 ⁄3, 1 ⁄2, 1 ⁄4, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8”; lengths from 18”-14 ⁄2’. 3 1 1 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4 Lengths: 1 ⁄4 to 10 ⁄2’; limited amounts prefinished. 1 1 1 1 1 ⁄2 1 ⁄2, 2, 2 ⁄4 Lengths 1 ⁄4 to 10 ⁄2’; limited amounts prefinished.

1 3 ⁄2, ⁄4 3, 4, 5, 6 Solid mesquite tongue-and-groove flooring.

3 3 3 ⁄4, ⁄8 ⁄4 to 7 3 6 mm Smooth or hand-distressed.

3 1 1 1 1 ⁄4, ⁄2 varies Widths: 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5, 6, 7”; unfinished hand-scraped now available.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5, 6, 7 Also available in Rustic Grade.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 2, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5, 6 Available in AHMI-verified sustainable lumber. 9 ⁄16 3, 5 7 3 mm

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 131 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

MullicanCompany Flooring MuscanellCompany NationalCompany Hardwood

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Muscanell Millworks Inc. • Circle 259 Muscanell Plank • • • • • • • • • • • • Dry Canyon by Muscanell • • • • • • • •

National Hardwood Flooring & Moulding • Circle 260 Castle Flooring • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

North Pacific • Circle 261 Springcreek Flooring by North Pacific • • • • • • • •

Northeastern Supply • Circle 262 Herringbone • • • • • •

North Wood Flooring • Circle 263 •• •••••••••

Northern Michigan Hardwoods Inc. • Circle 264 American Hardwoods Collection • • • • • • • • • • • •

Old Wood • Circle 265 ••

Oshkosh Designs • Circle 266 The Parquet Collection • • • • •

Owens Flooring Company • Circle 267 Plankfloor by Owens Flooring Co. • • • • • • • • • •

P.G. Hardwood Flooring/Model • Circle 268 ••••••••••

Partee Flooring Mill • Circle 269 Partee • • • • • • • •

Planchers Mistral Inc. • Circle 270 Mistral • • • • • • •

Premier Hardwood Products Inc. • Circle 271 ••••••••••

Rare Earth Hardwoods • Circle 272 End Grain Line • • • • • • • • • Figured Collection Engineered • • • • Figured Collection Solid • • Reserve Engineered Plank • • •

132 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Northeastern Supply Northern Michigan Owens P.G./Model

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

3 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8”; also alder, madrone, wormy maple, tanoak. 3 ⁄4 8, 9, 10 Other species: wormy maple, bay laurel, big leaf maple.

1 5 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 ⁄2, ⁄8, ⁄4 varies 3, 9, 11 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 mm Widths: 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4, 6 ⁄4”; hand-distressed available.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5, 6”; rift and quartered red and white oak.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4 to 5 ⁄4 Wider widths available upon request.

3 1 1 1 1 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4, 7 ⁄4, 9 ⁄2”;Douglas fir.

5 ⁄16 varies

5 1 1 ⁄8 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5, 6 10 4.7 mm Sawn lumber wear layer; long lengths up to 7 ⁄2’; warranted for radiant heat.

3 33 3 1 1 1 ⁄4, ⁄32 varies Widths: 1 ⁄4, 2, 2 ⁄4, 2 ⁄2, 3 ⁄4”.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4

3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4

3 3 1 1 ⁄8, ⁄4 2 ⁄2, 3, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

9 ⁄16 3 9 3.5 mm All domestic species can be processed as end-grain products. 9 ⁄16 4 9 3.5 mm Distinct crotch grain figure. 3 3 1 ⁄8, ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5 Bird’s-eye maple; available in natural grade and all-white sap grade. 9 1 ⁄16 2 ⁄4, 3 9 3.5 mm Bird’s-eye maple; available in Standard, Prime and Exhibition grades.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 133 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

Rare Earth Real Wood Floors Saroyan Lumber

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Real Wood Floors • Circle 273 •••••••• •••

Regent Kingdom Limited • Circle 274 Koiwood Engineered • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Koiwood Solid • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ressler Hardwoods and Flooring Inc. • Circle 275 Keystone Hardwood Flooring • • • • • • • • •

Saroyan Lumber Company • Circle 276 Custom Hand Distressed Flooring • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Premium Series Hardwood Flooring • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Seneca Hardwood Lumber Co. Inc. • Circle 277 The No Name Brand • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Shamrock Plank Flooring • Circle 278 Shamrock Plank • • • • • • • •

Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling • Circle 279 ••••••••••••

Smiley Lumber Inc. • Circle 280 Mill Standard Birch and Larch • • • • • •

Smith Flooring • Circle 281 ••••• •

Snow Country Hardwoods • Circle 282 •• ••••••••

Somerset Hardwood Flooring • Circle 283 Somerset Options • • • • •

Southern Wood Floors • Circle 284 Preferred Pine • • • Select Grade • • • • Vertical Grain • • • Cottage Grade • • • Southern Pine Wide Plank • • •

134 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Shamrock Sheoga Southern Wood SouthFloor

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

5 1 ⁄8 2 ⁄4 to 6 9 5 mm

1 5 5 3 7 1 1 1 ⁄2, ⁄16, ⁄8, ⁄4, ⁄8 2 ⁄4-9 7, 11 ⁄8- ⁄4 3 1 up to ⁄4 2 ⁄4-9

3 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8”.

5 3 5 3 3 1 varies varies ⁄8: 10, ⁄4: 13 5 mm Thicknesses: eng.: ⁄8, ⁄4, solid: ⁄4 and custom; widths: eng.: 3-10, solid: 1 ⁄2-11. 5 3 5 3 3 1 varies varies ⁄8: 10, ⁄4: 13 5 mm Thicknesses: eng.: ⁄8, ⁄4, solid: ⁄4 and custom; widths: eng.: 3-10, solid: 1 ⁄2-11.

3 1 3 3 ⁄4, ⁄2, ⁄8 ⁄4-12 Tongue and groove.

3 1 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8”; available in 2-10’ packaging.

3 1 1 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄4 Wider widths upon request; quartered and rift red and white oak available.

3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 4, 5, 6 Schoolhouse Quarter Sawn Larch and Homesteader Circle Sawn Larch available.

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 Making flooring for 60 years.

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 1 ⁄2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄4, 4, 5 Also available in Brazilian cherry.

3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10”; hand-selected for maximum heartwood content. 3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12”; wide plank available in heart pine and antique. 3 ⁄4 4, 5, 6 Selected from a pinstripe pattern that provides a uniform appearance. 3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10”; wide plank in heart pine and antique heart pine. 3 ⁄4 4, 6, 8, 10 Wide plank from same southern longleaf as heartpine; sustainable forest sources.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 135 Product Focus Unfinished Wood Flooring

Sticks & Stones Strategis Stuart

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry SouthFloor • Circle 285 Engineered Heart Pine • • • • • Cottage Grade • • • Preferred Grade • • • Select Grade • • • Southern Pine Plainsaw • • •

Sterling Pacific Wood Products Co. Ltd. • Circle 286 Homag • • • • • • • • • • •

Sticks & Stones Dist. Inc. • Circle 287 Shaver Hardood • • • • • • • • • • • •

Strategis International Inc. • Circle 288 Trillium Uniclic • • • • •

Stuart Flooring Corporation • Circle 289 •••••••••

Syracuse Commercial Floors • Circle 290 •• •••••••••• •••••••••••••

Taylor Lumber Inc./Sunshine Flooring • Circle 291 ••••••••••• •• •••••••

Tembec Enterprises • Circle 292 •• •

Ten Oaks • Circle 293 •••••

Tianjin Senlong Industry Co. Ltd. • Circle 294 •••••••• Solid • • • • • • • •

Timeless Wood Floors Inc. • Circle 295 •••• ••••

136 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Taylor Lumber Ten Oaks Tianjin Timeless Wood Floors

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

9 5 5 ⁄16 7 ⁄8 3 ⁄32 Can be used with radiant heating systems; patented interlocking t & g. 3 ⁄4 varies Widths; 4, 5, 6, 7, 10”; 3” for antique; available in heart pine, antique heart pine. 3 ⁄4 varies Widths; 4, 5, 6, 7, 10”; wide plank heart pine, smaller knots 3 ⁄4 varies Widths; 4, 5, 6, 7, 10”; available in heart pine and antique heart pine. 3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 3, 4, 6, 8, 10”; wide plank; 99% knot-free, simple and elegant.

1 3 ⁄2, ⁄4 3, 5 multi 2, 3, 4, 6 mm

3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4-8

3 ⁄4 5 4 mm The timeless beauty of maple with advanced Uniclic technology.

3 1 1 1 1 ⁄4, ⁄2 1 ⁄2, 2, 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4 Black locust available; single-slot parquet in red and white oak in various lengths.

3 ⁄4 varies Custom colors available on orders over 8,000 square feet. 9 ⁄16 varies 9 3.5 Custom colors available on orders over 8,000 square feet.

5 ⁄8 3, 5 9 5 mm Select and Better, rift and quartersawn; 12-84” lengths. 3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5 6, 7” widths in oak only; plain, rift and quartersawn.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 5 Company also carries four gym systems and FSC maple.

3 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4 Has a moisture barrier seal on all sides.

9 3 1 1 ⁄16, ⁄4 varies 2, 3, multi 2, 2.5, 3 mm Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄5, 4, 5, 6”; hand-scraped and distressed. 25 1 1 ⁄32 varies Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄5, 4, 5, 6”; hand-scraped and distressed; also prefinished.

3 1 ⁄4 3 ⁄2 Hand-scraped, custom oil.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 137 Timeless Wood Floors (GA) Turman W.D. Flooring Waltersdorff

INSTALLATION TYPE OF FLOORING METHOD SPECIES Walnut Hickory/Pecan Pine Solid Engineered Parquet Nailed Glued Stapled Floated Red Oak White Oak Maple Ash Beech Birch Cherry Timeless Wood Floors Inc. (GA) • Circle 296 Heirloom Solids • • • • • • • • • • Heirloom Engineered • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Top Grade Floors Inc. • Circle 297 TGF Custom Flooring • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Triton International Woods • Circle 298 Triton Solid Plank Flooring • • • • • • • • • • •

Turman Hardwood Flooring Co. Inc. • Circle 299 ••••••

Ua Wood Floors • Circle 300 ProLine • • • • • • • • •

Urban Floor • Circle 301 ••••••••••••

W.D. Flooring • Circle 302 •• •••••••••

Waltersdorff Mfg. Co. • Circle 303 •• ••••••••

Weaber Inc. • Circle 304 •• •••

Wide Plank Hardwood Ltd. • Circle 305 ••••••••••

Woods Company Inc., The • Circle 306 Traditional Country Flooring • • • • • • • •

Zhejiang Green Home Wood Co. Ltd. • Circle 307 Green Home Wood • • • • • • • • • •

138 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Weaber Wide Plank Hardwood Woods Co. Zhejiang

FLOORING WIDTHS NUMBER WEAR LAYER THICKNESS (inches) OF PLIES THICKNESS (inches) ( inches) ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12”; available hand-scraped, wire-brushed; reclaimed. 9 1 1 ⁄16 varies 9 3, 4 mm Widths: 3, 4, 5, 5 ⁄2, 7 ⁄2”; also in wire-brushed, hand-scraped and prefinished.

5 3 1 3 1 ⁄16, ⁄8, ⁄2, ⁄4 ⁄2-12 4-5 mm Rift and quartered, quartered only and rift only; stair accessories and vents.

3 1 ⁄4 3 ⁄4, 4, 5

3 1 1 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4

1 1 9 3 1 1 1 1 ⁄2 varies 5 3 mm Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3 ⁄16, 4 ⁄4, 5 ⁄2, 7 ⁄2”; 5 ⁄2 and 7 ⁄2” widths are special order.

3 1 ⁄8-1 2 ⁄2-8 varies .05-.6 mm Manufactured to order; minimum orders of 11,000 to 14,000 square feet.

25 ⁄32 all Over 180 products, 1 million square feet manufactured monthly.

3 1 ⁄4 varies Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8”; custom thicknesses available; 9-192” lengths.

3 1 ⁄4 2 ⁄4-51⁄4 SFI-certified.

3 1 ⁄4 3-9 ⁄4 Douglas fir; only hickory, no pecan; flooring customized to clients’ specifications.

3 ⁄4 varies Widths: 3-11” (red oak, white oak, white pine); 3-8” (walnut, cherry, hickory).

3 5 1 1 5 1 1 3 ⁄5, ⁄8, ⁄2 varies 8 ⁄2, ⁄8 Widths: 2 ⁄4, 3, 3 ⁄4, 4 ⁄4, 5, 6”.

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 139 Circle 86 on Reply Card IndustryNews Notes

Hoboken Closing Shocks Industry; Assets to be Liquidated oboken Hardwood Floors LLC (Wayne, N.J.), forfor the $66 million in secured debts owed to Wachovia, Hmerly the largest U.S. distributor of hard floor coverings down from $100 million owed in June, The Record stated. with branches throughout the East Coast from Westbrooke, The bank has retained LiquiTec, the liquidation arm of Maine, to Pompano Beach, Fla., as well as Texas, suddenly AccuVal Associates Incorporated (New York), to liqui- closed its doors and shut down November 5 after 77 years date Hoboken’s approximate $50 million in flooring inven- of business. tory. More information on the liquidation can be found by Rumors abounded for months that Hoboken, which was contacting Bob Gaudiosi at [email protected] or a liq- acquired by private equity firm Code Hennessey and Sim- uidation sales agent at 800/570-1946, ext. 121. mons (Chicago) in 2005, was having financial problems. The repercussions of Hoboken’s closing quickly reverber- Questions arose when longtime partners in the business Ira ated throughout the industry, and the fallout is expected to and Joel Lefkowitz, who controlled a minority percentage continue. The company’s sudden failure left many sur- of the company upon their departure, vacated their posi- prised—and shortchanged. Hoboken supplier Wood Floor- tions—Ira in June, Joel in September. Ira is now CEO with ing International (Burlington, N.J.) is closing its doors as Ark Floors (Irwindale, Calif.). Joel was replaced with new a consequence (see story on page 142). Former suppliers CEO Mark Steele in October, but reportedly remained a Columbia Flooring Inc. (Portland, Ore.) and Millwood partner in the business. It was the rapid expansion of the Specialty Flooring (Ellijay, Ga.) filed a lawsuit on October company after this acquisition and the downturn in the 30 against Hoboken for $892,511 and $127,993, respec- housing market that company executives blame for finan- tively, covering debts for which they had not been paid. cially overstretching Hoboken, according to northern New According to The Record, Hoboken owes approximately Jersey newspaper The Record. $400,000 to $500,000 in overtime pay to employees, many Fear of financial trouble was fueled by several waves of of whom were left without any health insurance. employee layoffs, including the firing of 120 employees at Now that the largest distributor in the industry is gone, the end of October. The remaining employees received an the market there is evolving. John Blesing, president of e-mail in the early morning hours of November 5 from Blesing’s Flooring (Clifton, N.J.), a former Hoboken con- Craig S. Dean, managing director of restructuring firm AEG tractor customer, said he is seeing many smaller distributors Partners LLC, informing them the business had closed. pursuing Hoboken’s former customers. “Many distributors The e-mail said, “... as of late Sunday evening, the com- are picking up the slack in the area. I see a lot of new play- pany’s lenders have elected to stop funding the business on ers coming into play; they’re trying to come into the mar- a go forward basis. There, at this time, the Hoboken Wood ket,” he said. Floors, SPI Floors and Reliable businesses are closed.” National Wood Flooring Association Executive Direc- Two days later on November 7, Hoboken filed for bank- tor/CEO Ed Korczak said the association has been receiv- ruptcy, electing Chapter 7 rather than Chapter 11 because ing many calls from former Hoboken customers trying to the company “would be unable to obtain financing or to figure out where to turn, and the association is encouraging generate enough cash to fund an expensive Chapter 11 them to call the manufacturers directly to find distributors case,” according to a quote given by Dean to the Associ- and also use the online Resource Book at www.nwfa.org. ated Press. In the filing, Hoboken claimed assets and debts Some members also have been using the NWFA ListServ to totaling more than $100 million each, and between 1,000 try to source product (NWFA members can sign up for the and 5,000 creditors. ListServ by e-mailing to [email protected]; more infor- However, the bankruptcy case was dismissed on Novem- mation can be found under “Member Networking” at ber 16 by Delaware District Judge Christopher S. Sontchi www.nwfa.org). when the court determined Hoboken had no assets beyond Former Hoboken suppliers quickly found new distribu- those owed to the bank and other secured lenders, and had tion in the area. Mirage/Boa-Franc (St-Georges, Quebec) no money to pay for the administration of Chapter 7, announced the following new distributors for its products: according to The Record. J.J. Haines (Glen Burnie, Md.) and BWA Belknap White Charlotte, N.C.-based Wachovia Bank National Associ- Alco (Mansfield, Mass.) for New England, Wheeler ation, Hoboken’s lead agent of several secured creditors, (Orlando, Fla.), a division of J. J. Haines, in Florida, Trin- filed suit three days after the bankruptcy case was dis- ity Hardwood Distributors Inc. (Houston, Texas) in missed, seeking to seize Hoboken’s assets as compensation Texas, Apollo Distributing Company (Fairfield, N.J.) for (continued on page 142)

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 141 Industry News | Notes

Hoboken Shuts Doors (cont.) New York City, northern New Jersey and western Connecti- is expanding its distributorship Patriot Hardwood Floors cut, and Derr Flooring Co. for New York City, northern and Supply (see story on page 144), and Accord opted to New Jersey and western Connecticut. “We have taken all the sell its products direct. Weeks before Hoboken’s closing, steps on our side to be sure that retailers had product avail- Accord had terminated its relationship with the company due able to them,” said Luc Robitaille, vice president of market- to rumors of its decline, according to Jack Eyal, president of ing for Mirage. BR-111 Exotic Hardwood Flooring (Miami) Accord, and has hired three former Hoboken sales employ- announced that it has a new sole distributor for the New ees—Douglas Borges, Leigh Sterrett and Rick Lewis. York City metro area, Apollo Distributing Company. Som- Brenda Kubasta, president of former Hoboken supplier erset Hardwoods (Somerset, Ky.) also named Apollo Dis- Oshkosh Designs (Winneconne, Wis.), lamented the loss of tributing Company its distributor for New Jersey, Connecticut the great business relationships Oshkosh had with Hoboken and New York; along with Bayard Sales Corp. (Philadel- representatives. “You just hate to see someone that big and phia) for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and parts of powerful go down,” she said. Virginia and West Virginia; and NRF Distributors (Augusta, Rick Holden, executive vice president of distributor Derr Maine) to cover Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Ver- Flooring Co. (Willow Grove, Pa.), a Hoboken competitor, mont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and parts of New York and said he is sad to see Hoboken go. “For us, our families go Pennsylvania. back a long, long way,” Holden says. “[Hoboken was a] great Former suppliers Armstrong Hardwood Floors (Lan- competitor and they were a hardworking, strong company; caster, Pa.) and Accord Hardwood Flooring (Boca Raton, it’s a real tragedy for the families.” Fla.) have developed different distribution tactics. Armstrong No one at Hoboken or AEG could be reached for comment. WFI Lays off Employees, New Stream Plans to Close Business Buys Tarkett NA s a consequence of Hoboken closing, wood flooring manufacturer Wood he North American group of Tarkett A Flooring International (WFI) (Burlington, N.J.) is in the process of closing TInternational (Nanterre Cedex, its business. WFI laid off 30 employees on November 2, and has a skeleton crew France) has been acquired from Tarkett in place to wind down the business, company CEO Bill Jopling said. International by private investment group WFI had aggressively expanded the business over the last three years, working New Stream Capital (Ridgefield, Conn.) with larger distributors and expanding its commercial business, and the company for an undisclosed price. The new com- made the 2007 “Inc. 5,000” list, which cited WFI’s growth from $14.0 million in pany, ArborCraft, is headquartered in revenue in 2003 to $22.9 million in 2006. Johnson City, Tenn., and is operating as Given WFI’s aggressive growth and the stagnant economy, the aftermath of an independent organization with two Hoboken closing proved too much for WFI. “We had largely extricated ourselves prefinished manufacturing facilities out of Hoboken except for the commercial side,” Jopling said. “Hoboken bounced located in Johnson City and one in Mont- a bunch of checks, stranded a bunch of containers at port, and then there was pelier, Ind. Matt Galvez leads the com- roughly $700,000 in projects for November and December deliveries that got pany as CEO. unconnected.” While that was bad enough, WFI also had $1 million in inventory at According to Wendy McIlquham, mar- its distributors waiting for a November 1 launch with a national account. The marketing director of ArborCraft, the new keting pieces for that account included SKUs from both WFI and Hoboken, and company is the third-largest manufacturer when Hoboken closed, the national account killed the entire program. of prefinished flooring and intends to “I voluntarily called in the bank, because I’m trying to do the right thing by revive the Harris brand in order to boost everybody,” Jopling said. “We had to watch the potential liabilities coming out of the company’s place in the market. “One the aftermath of Hoboken, so we’re basically winding down WFI the corporation, of our really big drives for next year is a and on the other side, there will be another organization springing up.” major refocus on our distributors,” While it is painful to close the business he started in 1998, “It was the right thing McIlquham says, noting the company will to do,” Jopling said. “We certainly weren’t going to let it get worse and worse and sell the Harris brand only through distrib- do it like Hoboken.” He expects that other companies will suffer the same fate as a utors and retailers, while the FloorCraft direct result of Hoboken going under. “I’ve got to wonder how many other suppli- brand will be available at big-box stores. ers are going to go,” he said.

142 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 78 on Reply Card Industry News | Notes

Armstrong Expands Lumber Liquidators Patriot Hardwood IPO Falls Short ollowing Hoboken’s closing, Armstrong Flooring Prod- umber Liquidators Inc.’s (Toano, Va.) initial public Fucts (Lancaster, Pa.) is expanding Patriot Hardwood Loffering on November 8 sold 10 million shares at $11 per Floors and Supply Inc. (Wilmington, Mass.), a distributor- share, totaling $110 million, and the company’s stock price ship that was part of Armstrong’s acquisition of Triangle has fallen since. When the company announced last April Pacific in 1998. Patriot’s new territory includes Connecticut, that it filed for the IPO, it reported that it would raise up to New York and parts of New Jersey north of Ocean County, $150 million. Media reports indicate that expectations were in addition to its former territory of Maine, Massachusetts, to sell 11.5 million shares at $12 to $14 per share, and that New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. A new branch the timing of the IPO during the housing slump weakened location will be selected shortly in New Jersey. The company the offering. On November 15, Chairman Thomas Sullivan has hired eight additional salespeople—many of whom are sold 4.1 million shares of stock at $11 each. As of press time, former Hoboken employees—for this new branch, according shares were trading at $8.77. The company’s stock is traded to Paul Murfin, vice president of sales at Armstrong Flooring on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LL.” Products. Patriot carries Bruce, Armstrong, Robbins and Sullivan could not be reached for comment. HomerWood, as well as a range of unfinished hardwood Manufacturer News brands. Armstrong will retain its distributors on the East Gestion Gino Ouellet, president and general manager of Coast, including Belknap-White (Mansfield, Mass.) for BSL Wood Products, (Mont-Joli, Quebec) has acquired 58 Bruce, Armstrong and Robbins Hardwood; Derr Flooring percent of the shares of Plancher Ancestral (St-George-de- (Willow’s Grove, Pa.) in New Jersey and New York as a Beauce, Quebec), a manufacturer of high-end oiled wood Bruce Hardwood distributor; and Apollo Distributing (Fair- flooring and complementary products. The two companies’ field, N.J.) for Armstrong Hardwood. flooring products will be marketed and distributed independ- In addition, Armstrong has expanded its distribution in the ently of each other under their own brand names. The acqui- South with Johnson Wholesale (Atlanta) as a Bruce distrib- sition has expanded BSL by 35 employees, and Plancher utor in Florida, Georgia and southern Alabama. Cain and management will stay in place. Bultman (Jacksonville, Fla.) will distribute Robbins hardwood in Georgia, in addition to the full line of Armstrong UFloor Systems Inc. (Greensboro, N.C.) has opened a products. 4,000-square-foot distribution and machine service center in In other company news, Armstrong Holdings Inc., the Denver. The company now distributes, repairs and ships former parent company of Armstrong World Industries Inc. parts for its line of Wolff wood floor sanders, the Cobra and (Lancaster, Pa.), has established a timetable for its dissolution. King Cobra, out of this new location. Mike Hodges has been December 5 will be the last day of trading common stock, and appointed product manager of the distribution center; he no further trading or transfers will be recognized after this previously worked for BonaKemi USA. date. On December 12, American Stock Transfer & Trust Com- PennWood Products (East Berlin, Pa.) held an open house pany will begin distributing the $28 million in assets to share- at its facility in East Berlin to celebrate the reconstruction holders. Following this distribution, Armstrong Holdings Inc. and improvements to its finishing building. The event was will file Articles of Dissolution and will cease to exist. held October 9, exactly one year after the former building In further company news, Armstrong World Industries’ caught fire. (Lancaster, Pa.) third quarter 2007 wood flooring net sales Cali Bamboo (San Diego, Calif.) has opened a distribution were $191.9 million, a decline of 12 percent from $217.2 mil- center in Philadelphia. All orders and calls will still be placed lion in the same quarter of 2006. The company attributed the through the company’s San Diego branch. decrease to the housing market slowdown. Adjusted operating income of $13.5 million declined from $16.5 million for Decorative Flooring (Port St. Joe, Fla.) held a wood floor- the same time period in 2006; Armstrong said the decrease ing school September 13 at its facility in Port St. Joe. Instruc- was due to the fact that the sales decline and higher lumber tors for the school included Daniel Boone of Everwood prices offset improved manufacturing productivity and a bet- Floors, Bob Moffett of Ceno Group, Charles Peterson of ter product mix. For the entire company, third quarter net The International Parquetry Historical Society and Donnie sales were $913.3 million, up 1 percent from $902.3 million Bouchard of Perfection Home Flooring. Vendors repre- in the same period for 2006. Adjusted operating income from sented at the school included Bostik Inc., Powernail Com- continuing operations of $83.8 million increased 5 percent pany, Festool, Ceno Group, Professional Coatings and compared with $80.1 million in the same quarter in 2006. U-V Cured.

144 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Industry News | Notes

DriTac Adhesive Group (Brooklyn, A study by the Freedonia Group, an The study also shows a shift in product N.Y.) has partnered with Granwax independent business research com- mix to higher value formulations in Products Ltd. (Derbyshire, United pany, has concluded the demand for both coatings and preservatives, due Kingdom) to market and distribute two wood protection coatings and preserva- primarily to environmental issues. of DriTac’s adhesives in the United tives, including those for hardwood Those interested in purchasing the Kingdom, Scotland and Ireland. flooring, is forecast to increase 3.4 per- study can contact Corinne Gangloff at Magnum Wood Floors (North cent per year to $3.4 billion in 2011. 440/684-9600 or visit Charleston, S.C.) has moved its head office to 3294 Ashley Phosphate Road, Suite 2G, North Charleston, SC 29418. The phone number is 843/225-3373 and the fax number is 404/745-0274. The company’s warehousing facility remains in Calhoun, Ga. Vecoplan (Archdale, N.C.) celebrated its newly expanded headquarters at a grand opening on September 15. The 1-800-669-4621 new facility features 10,000 square feet ONE OF THE of office space and 50,000 square feet LARGEST INVENTORIES of warehouse space. The company has IN THE SOUTHEAST also opened its new state-of-the-art test lab, which contains a selection of # UNFINISHED SOLID STRIP & PLANK # Vecoplan’s most popular shredders and RED OAK • WHITE OAK • ASH wood grinders. WALNUT • CHERRY • HICKORY Artistic Finishes Inc. (St. Paul, Minn.) HARD MAPLE • HEART PINE has committed to a five-business-day EXOTIC SPECIES lead time for about 80 percent of its 1 1 1 total volume of molding parts, a two- 1 ⁄2 • 2 ⁄4 • 3 ⁄4 • 3 • 4 • 5 day reduction. CLEAR • SELECT & BTR • SELECT Mohawk Industries (Dalton, Ga.) 1 COMMON • 2 COMMON • SHORTS ranked 154th in the top 250 most inno- FIRST • SECOND & BTR • THIRD vative users of information technology BLOCKS • HERRINGBONE in the nation, according to Information Week’s annual study. Information Week PATTERNS & BORDERS reviews businesses based on their technology strategies, investments and # PREFINISHED SOLID RED OAK FLOORING # 3 1 1 administrative procedures. ⁄4 x 2 ⁄4 • 3 ⁄4 — SELECT • CLASSIC • COLONIAL Mapei Corporation (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) has awarded Tom Tedford of # LAMINATED STRIP & PLANK FLOORING # 3 1 1 Flo-Tech Inc. (Phoenix) a place on ⁄8 • ⁄2 x 2 ⁄4 • 3 — RED OAK • WHITE OAK Robby Gordon’s pit crew in the UNFINISHED • PREFINISHED NASCAR Nextel Cup Series as part of Mapei’s Easy Pass to NASCAR promo- # PARQUET - PREFINISHED & UNFINISHED # tion. Mannington Mills (Salem, N.J.) has # HARDWOOD REGISTERS - MOULDINGS # awarded its Stand on a Better World Awards to Barbara Drennen of Kent, EXCELLENT PRICES GYM FLOORS Wash., for her local contributions; 4125 HIGHWAY 70 WEST QUICK SHIP: FACTORIES HICKORY, NC 28602 Debra Bonde of Livonia, Mich., for OUR TRUCK OR COMMERCIAL 828-322-9404 national contributions; and Nancy MOTOR FREIGHT RESIDENTIAL FAX 828-322-2202 Press of Portland, Ore., for her global contributions. Circle 91 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 145 Clarke American CAV 26

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3M...... 2 Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring ...... Circle 30 ...... 59 Aacer Flooring LLC...... Circle 7 ...... 16 Lignomat USA Ltd...... Circle 44 .....104 Ace Hardwood Flooring Inc...... Circle 67 ...... 99 Lon Musolf Distributing Inc...... Circle 83 .....153 Advanced Adhesive Technologies Inc...... Circle 60 ...... 94 Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc...... Circle 72 .....104 All American Wood Register Co...... Circle 14 ...... 28 Max Windsor Floors...... Circle 82 .....115 Allwoods Hardwood Flooring/Chess Floors....Circle 65 ...... 98 Mercer Abrasives, div. of Mercer Tool Corp. ....Circle 5 ...... 11 Appalachian Flooring Ltd...... Circle 38 ...... 62 Mercier Wood Flooring Inc...... Circle 51 ...... 77 Appalachian Lumber Co. Inc...... Circle 25 ...... 42 Mirage/Boa-Franc...... Circle 33 ...... 55 Ark Floors Inc...... Circle 80 .....111 Model Hardwood Inc...... Circle 53 ...... 80 Baker’s Creek Wood Floors...... Circle 27 ...... 45 Mohawk Industries...... Circle 97 .....117 BASF Construction Chemicals LLC ...... Circle 64 ...... 75 Mountain Lumber Company Inc...... Circle 99 .....109 Basic Coatings ...... Circle 6 ...... 13 Mr. Hardwoods Inc...... Circle 88 .....146 Besse Forest Products Group ...... Circle 70 .....102 Mullican Flooring ...... Circle 4 ...... 9 Blackstone Stair & Millwork Inc...... Circle 46 .....116 National Hardwood Flooring & Moulding...... Circle 89 .....151 BonaKemi USA Inc...... Circle 1 ...... 3 Norton Abrasives ...... Circle 17 ...... 33 Bostik Inc...... Circle 95 .....163 NWFA...... Circle 24 ...... 43 Brazilian Direct Ltd...... Circle 68 .....100 NWFA...... Circle 58 ...... 91 BSL Wood Products...... Circle 28 ...... 48 Owens Flooring Company ...... Circle 18 ...... 35 Carlisle Wide Plank Floors...... Circle 48 ...... 71 Palo Duro Hardwoods Inc...... Circle 16 ...... 29 Carroll Hardwood Co...... Circle 81 .....114 Palo Duro Hardwoods Inc...... Circle 36 ...... 53 Cikel Brasil Verde S/A...... Circle 52 ...... 79 Panel Town & Floors...... Circle 90 .....157 Clarke American Sanders...... Circle 10...22-23 Powernail Company Inc...... Circle 11 ...... 24 Classic Manufacturing N.W...... Circle 66 ...... 98 Powr-Flite, A Tacony Company...... Circle 47 ...... 70 Cumi Canada Inc...... Circle 56 ...... 87 Precision Techology...... Circle 98 .....113 D & M Flooring LLC...... Circle 74 ...... 97 Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC...... Circle 39 ...... 63 Dean Hardwoods Inc...... Circle 9 ...... 21 ProTeam Inc...... Circle 26 ...... 49 Delmhorst Instrument Co...... Circle 62 ...... 96 RB Rubber Products Inc...... Circle 43 ...... 70 Domotex...... Circle 40 ...... 64 Real Wood Floors (MO)...... Circle 32 ...... 47 Dura Seal...... Circle 2 ...... 4 Robinson Lumber & Flooring...... Circle 35 ...... 57 Ecotek Inc...... Circle 41 ...... 65 Shamrock Plank Flooring ...... Circle 96 .....164 Elegance Exotic Wood Flooring...... Circle 79 .....105 Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling Inc....Circle 12 ...... 26 Engineered Flooring Manufacturers LLC...... Circle 69 .....101 Surfaces ...... Circle 84 .....155 Floor Style Products Inc...... Circle 87 .....149 Synteko Floor Finishes ...... Circle 55 ...... 85 ForesFloor...... Circle 19 ...... 41 Taylor Lumber Inc./Sunshine Flooring...... Circle 42 ...... 50 Franwood International Inc...... Circle 75 .....106 Timbermate USA Inc...... Circle 31 ...... 52 Garrison Collection, The...... Circle 23...38-39 Tradelink Wood Products Inc...... Circle 77 .....107 Glitsa American Inc...... Circle 8 ...... 19 Tramex Ltd...... Circle 49 ...... 71 Goodwin Heart Pine Co...... Circle 20 ...... 36 U.S. Sander LLC...... Circle 86 .....140 Graf Brothers Flooring Inc...... Circle 50 ...... 67 UFloor Systems Inc...... Circle 71 .....103 Grizzly Forest Products ...... Circle 21 ...... 37 VerMeister...... Circle 61 ...... 95 Hardwood Flooring Center ...... Circle 91 .....145 Vintage Hardwood Flooring ...... Circle 15 ...... 31 Hawa Bamboo Flooring Corp...... Circle 57 ...... 89 W.D. Flooring...... Circle 3 ...... 7 Higuera Hardwoods...... Circle 29 ...... 44 Waterlox Coatings Corp...... Circle 13 ...... 27 Hill Wood Products Inc...... Circle 85 .....118 Weyerhaeuser Company...... Circle 59 ...... 93 Horizon Forest Products ...... Circle 94 .....161 Wood Floors Unlimited Inc...... Circle 93 .....156 Industrial Air Solutions Inc...... Circle 22 ...... 37 Wood Plus Hardwood Flooring LLC ...... Circle 92 .....159 ITW Industrial Fastening/Duo-Fast...... Circle 34 ...... 56 Wood Pro Inc...... Circle 78 .....143 Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring ...... Circle 37 ...... 61 Woodeye North America Inc...... Circle 76 .....106 Karelia Hardwood Flooring...... Circle 45 ...... 69 Woods Company Inc., The ...... Circle 63 ...... 96 L & L Hardwoods ...... Circle 73 .....116 Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products...... Circle 54 ...... 83

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 147 Industry News | Notes

www.freedoniagroup.com. Wicanders Cork Flooring (Hanover, Md.) is holding its WHAT’S HOT Born of Nature contest for all professionals who create a design or project using Wicanders products. First place is a In this sidebar, distributors from across the country five-day trip for two to Portugal. Photos of projects should be answer a simple question: “What products are hot in e-mailed to [email protected]. For more your area?” information, visit www.wicanders.com. Stephen Smith, manager, Classic Wood Floors Distributor News (Springfield, Mo.): Mirage/Boa-Franc (St-Georges, Quebec) has announced “Like a lot of people, we’re selling more rustic-look- that Ohio Valley Flooring (Cincinnati) will distribute Mirage ing flooring, in our case, mostly solid unfinished. The products in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and west Pennsylvania. most popular species are oak and hickory. I guess people are going toward these trends because they Trustor Coatings (Wausau, Wis.) has added two new dis- want a more natural looking floor, or something to tributors: Universal Hardwood & Moulding (Los Angeles) match their rustic house.” and Tree Products Hardwoods (Eugene, Ore.). Mercier Wood Flooring Inc. has selected Primco Limited Jeff Fisch, marketing director, Premium Wood (Calgary, Alberta) as a distributor in Canada for the region Floors & Supplies Co. Inc. (Brooklyn, N.Y.): “We between the Pacific coast and Ontario’s Thunder Bay, as well still mostly sell strip red and white oak, because as the Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut territories. that’s what most people are putting down on their BR-111 Imports and Exports Inc. (Medley, Fla.) has floors. Our exotics are becoming quite popular, selected Wheeler Total Flooring Solution (Miami) to dis- though.” tribute its products throughout Florida. Harco Clear Coatings (North Brunswick, N.J.) has added International Raceway. the following distributors: Floor Supply & Equipment (Los Horizon Forest Products (Raleigh, N.C.) hosted its 10th Angeles); Old Master Products (Van Nuys, Calif.); Pyramid annual Customer Appreciation Nights October 8-11 and Hardwood Flooring (Glendale, Calif.); and S & S Hard- awarded Sea-Doo GTI 4-Tec Watercraft to Fantastic Floors wood Supply (Los Angeles). (Charleston, S.C.), Ed Newsome Hardwood Floors, (Wilm- Robina Floors (Kennesaw, Ga.) has selected Classic Tile ington, N.C.), Phil’s Hardwood Floors (Raleigh), Weeks (Elizabeth, N.J.) as a distributor for its engineered hard- Hardwood Flooring (Greensboro, N.C.) and Scotts Cabi- woods, and Design Distributing Inc. (Richmond, Va.) for nets (Raleigh). In other company news, Horizon has transi- its laminate and solid wood products. tioned into its new 101,640-square-foot building located at 4115 Commodity Parkway in Raleigh. The phone and fax Design Flooring Distributors (Pompano Beach, Fla.) part- numbers remain the same. nered with Anderson Hardwood Floors, Mirage/Boa- Franc, Kährs International, Artistic Finishes, W.F. Golden State Flooring (South San Francisco, Calif.) held its Taylor Co. and Bostik for customer appreciation events annual Vendor Show October 17-19 at its Sacramento, Santa October 24-25. The events were held at the company’s Fe Springs, South San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., loca- Orlando branch and at its new 1,700-square-foot Design tions. More than 1,000 customers were treated to raffle Center Showroom and expanded Customer Service Center in prizes, discounted items and T-shirts. The company has also Pompano Beach. In addition, Design Flooring Distributors is constructed a 1,200-square-foot addition to its prefinished celebrating its 25th year supplying both Anderson Hardwood showroom in San Jose, Calif., to showcase its unfinished Floors and Kährs International wood flooring to Florida spe- products. cialty retailers. Long Floor (Richmond, Va.) held training seminars Septem- Retailer News ber 18-25 for sales staff and customers at its Beltsville, Md., Entrepreneur Magazine recognized hardwood flooring Chesapeake, Va., and Richmond, Va., locations. Participating dealer ICC Floors (Indianapolis) as No. 144 on its “2007 Hot vendors included 3M, BonaKemi USA, Clarke American 500 List.” Sanders, Dura Seal and W.D. Flooring. In other company news, Long Floor partnered with Association News Clarke American Sanders (Springdale, Ark.) to host its sec- The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) ond annual Customer Appreciation Event at the Chevy Rock Greenbuild 2007 International Conference and Expo was & Roll 400 NASCAR race held September 8 at the Richmond held in Chicago November 7-9. Its exhibit space at

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McCormick Place was sold out, with 850 exhibitors, and The overall National Association of Home Builders/Wells attendance was 22,875—nearly a 10,000 increase from the Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) remained unchanged 2006 event. The event kicked off with a buzz — nearly 8,000 in November at 19. The index gauging current sales condi- people attended the opening plenary session, which featured tions remained at 18, while the index gauging sales expec- former president Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker. tations for the next six months declined a single point to 25. The NWFA has received two MarCom Creative Awards, an The index gauging traffic of prospective buyers rose two international competition that recognizes “outstanding points to 17. achievement by marketing and communication professionals.” The association received a Gold Award for its NWFA On the Web 2007 School Brochure and a Platinum Award for its 2007 The Wood Floor Depot (Galax, Va.) has launched its Final Convention Campaign. Touch Web site at www.finaltouchwoodfiller.com. The NAHB will launch its National Green Building Program Sekulic International Trading Co. (Los Angeles) has February 14 at the 2008 NAHB International Builders’ Show updated its Web site at www.specialflooring.com. in Orlando, Fla. The national initiative will link dozens of Sika Corp. (Lyndhurst, N.J.) has launched a new Web site at successful state and local green building programs with a www.sikafloorusa.com. universal online certification tool, national registry of green Aascent Stair & Rail (Westminster, Md.) has launched a Web homes and green builders and a range of educational tools site at www.stepsabove.com. and resources for home builders and buyers. Long Floor has launched its newly designed Web site at The Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association Inc. www.longfloor.com. (MFMA) has enacted an accreditation program for sports flooring installers. For more information, visit The USGBC has updated its Web site, www.usgbc.org. In www.maplefloor.org. addition, it has launched a consumer education site, www.thegreenhomeguide.org. The International Standards and Training Alliance (INSTALL) has added five members: Dayton Superior Wood floor specialist Tina Boone of Boone, N.C., has (Dayton, Ohio), GAF-Elk (Fontana, Calif.), Graf Brothers launched a new Web site at www.boonewoodbrokers.com. Flooring and Lumber (South Shore, Ky.), Lewis G. Wicanders Cork Flooring (Hannover, Md.) has started a Migliore & Associates (Dalton, Ga.) and Kährs Interna- blog at wicanderscorkoakblog.com. tional (Altamonte Springs, Fla.). Harvest Timber Co./Pioneered Wood Flooring (Lakebay, Wash.) has launched its new Web design at www.harvest- By the Numbers timber.com. New residential sales of single-family houses in September 2007 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 770,000 Business for Sale units, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. This is An established 27-year-old high-end custom hardwood floor- 4.8 percent above the revised August rate of 735,000 units ing installation and refinishing business on the California but is 23.3 percent below the September 2006 estimate of coast is for sale. The company’s extensive customer list and 1,004,000. contractor referral base provides plenty of repeat business. Total housing starts for October 2007 were at a seasonally For the past several years, gross revenues have consistently adjusted annual rate of 1,229,000 units, according to the U.S. exceeded $1 million. The asking price is $175,000. For more Commerce Department. This is 3 percent above the Sep- information, call Andy Borges at 408/385-0516. tember 2007 figure of 1,193,000 units, but 24.5 percent below the October 2006 rate of 1,560,000 units. Beware of Fraudulent Telephone/Internet Scheme Several companies in the hardwood flooring industry have CORRECTION been targeted in a scam involving Internet Relay, a free service that allows hearing and speech-impaired people to communi- In the Prefinished Wood Flooring Product Focus in the cate over the phone by typing in information that is read by October/November 2007 issue, the listing for BLC Hard- an operator. In a typical scenario, a company receives a call wood Flooring should have indicated that the company’s from the Relay service and the caller requests a large order of solid prefinished flooring can be nailed down, glued down product, implying that it’s urgent. The credit cards, checks or or stapled down, and also that the finish is aluminum money orders the person uses to pay are fraudulent. Most of oxide, not wax. the calls are actually originating in Nigeria. For more information, visit www.stoprelayabuse.com/Nigerian.fraud.0.html.

150 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Circle 89 on Reply Card Industry News | People

Manufacturers The Master’s Craft Flooring Company (West BonaKemi USA Inc. (Aurora, Colo.) has restruc- Plains, Mo.) has added Eric Self to its national sales tured its management team, which resulted in the staff. Self has more than 12 years of experience in departure of Ron Peden, president and CEO. distribution. He can be reached via e-mail at BonaKemi AB (Malmö, Sweden) President and [email protected]. CEO Dr. Kerstin Lindell now serves as managing Lenmar Inc. (Baltimore) has added Brett Butler to director for BonaKemi USA. The executive manage- its sales team. Butler previously worked at New Parks ment team includes: John Rauvola, sales and mar- as national accounts manager. He can be contacted at keting; Kirk Roberts, product management; Paul 713/899-2229 or brett.butler@insl-x-com. England, operations; Brad Stone, finance; and Erin Wright, human resources. Welco Floor Coverings (Vancouver, British Colum- bia) has appointed Marc St-Cyr flooring sales man- Cikel American (Pompano Beach, Fla.) has named ager. He can be contacted at 800/999-3526 or by Gerry Schappell vice president of sales. Schappell e-mail at [email protected]. was at Hoboken Floors for more than 20 years, most recently as vice president of sales for Florida, Oshkosh Designs (Winneconne, Wis.) Georgia and Texas. He can be contacted at 800/971- has named Isabel Antunes territory man- 7896 or [email protected]. The company has ager for the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. also named George Celtrick director of sales. Cel- She is based out of Manorville, N.Y., and trick has more than two decades of experience in can be reached at 516/509-9218 or at the wood flooring industry, most recently at Austin [email protected]. Hardwood Flooring. He can be reached at 800/971- Zipema Wood Products (Curitiba, Brazil) 7896 or [email protected]. has added Ma Wen Hao to its Shanghai, Isabel Antunes Harold M. Stuhl Jr. has been appointed vice presi- China, sales staff. Wen Hao has more than five years dent of the Rubber Group of DASH Multi-Corp. of experience in hardwood flooring distribution. He (St. Louis), a group of wholly owned subsidiaries can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] that include RB Rubber Products Inc. or at 86-1381-796-0206. Preverco Hardwood Flooring (St-Augustin-de-des- Award Hardwood Floors (Wausau, Wis.) maures, Quebec) has hired David Pierce as territory has appointed Allen Smith director of manager for the Northeast United States. Pierce is sales for the Southwest territory. Smith pre- responsible for Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, viously worked in distributor sales for Massachusetts and New York. Pierce most recently Columbia. was a district manager for Mohawk Industries. Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring Powernail Company Inc. (Lake Zurich, (Papineauville, Quebec) has hired Vincent Ill.) has hired Mark Mukosiej as regional Dagnault as its senior marketing director- Allen Smith sales manager. Mukosiej covers Florida, merchandising. Dagnault previously worked for Proc- Georgia and eastern Tennessee. He previ- ter & Gamble. The company has also added ously worked for BonaKemi USA. Dono- Gabrielle Lamirande-Gauvin as merchandising van Norton will also represent Powernail manager. as regional sales manager. Norton covers The Nydree Group (Forest, Va.), the par- Mark Mukosiej West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and ent company of Gammapar and Perma- South Carolina. He most recently managed Grain, has promoted Stephanie wood flooring crews for Western Carolina Hackworth to sales operations manager. Home Place. She has been with The Nydree Group Clarke American Sanders (Springdale, since 2004 as customer service coordinator. Ark.) has hired Sheldon Walker as sander PennWood Products Inc. has added six manager for the West. Walker has more employees to its office and management Stephanie Hackworth than 20 years of experience in the hard- staff. Christopher Lamason is the com- Donovan Norton wood flooring industry and previously pany’s new technology director, Paul Shimek is worked for Glitsa American. manufacturing manager, Thomas Devore Jr. is Larry Shideler, who founded ProTeam Inc. (Boise, supervisor of sanding, Michael Hottinger is sales Idaho) in 1987, has retired from active management manager of Dallas-sales region west, Karla Leon is and will remain with the company as chairman. quality assurance auditor and Amy L. Davis is cus-

152 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Industry News | People

tomer services representative. Distributors Vecoplan LLC (High Point, N.C.) has Long Floor (Richmond, Va.) has promoted Danny appointed Vinnie Carpentieri to national Yarbrough to outside sales and Nicole Hudson to sales manager-mobile division, to oversee inside sales. The company has also promoted Paul all mobile shredding system sales. Wimer from branch manager to sales manager, and Magnum Hardwood Floors (Charleston, Phil Kearney to manager of the Beltsville, Md., S.C.) has appointed Joe Valenza exclusive branch. manufacturer’s representative for Magnum Floor Style Products Inc. (Hastings, Mich.) has Vinnie products in the New York, New Jersey, appointed Bob Blevin manager of its Maryland Carpentieri Pennsylvania and Maryland markets. location. Blevin is a 14-year hardwood flooring Blastrac (Oklahoma City) has named industry veteran. Spencer Murphy sales service technician. Erickson’s Flooring & Supply (Ferndale, Mich.) The company has also appointed Phil has hired Kelly Earls as a salesperson. Earls is Johnson area sales manager for Georgia, based out of the Ferndale location and will cover Alabama and Mississippi. central Michigan. She can be reached at 800/225- Arrow Wood Floors (Beaverton, Ore.), a 9663 or [email protected]. national importer and distributor of hard- Spencer Murphy wood flooring from mills in China, Dealer/Contractors Indonesia, South America and Europe, has Brent Sorbet is now technical services manager at hired Ken Barhorst as its national sales representa- ProStar Inc. (Milwaukee). He was previously at tive. Barhorst previously worked as sales representa- Basic Coatings for 14 years, most recently as field tive for Base King. services manager.

Circle 83

December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 153 Industry News | Products

1 Mountain Lumber has released its Guinness engineered hardwood flooring line produced from Guinness beer vats. Guinness comes in 3- to 6-inch random widths and 18- to 60-inch random lengths. The wear layer is 3 mm thick and the sublayer is a 9- layer cross-ply birch for a total thickness of 15 mm. Guinness also features a seven-coat anti-scratch aluminum-oxide finish. Circle 165

1 2 Lignomat has developed its DX/C moisture meter with an E- 12 electrode. This meter offers a wood moisture range of 5 to 65 percent, built-in species corrections for 20 wood group settings, including exotic and domestic species, and an easy-to-read digital display. The E-12 electrode offers flexibility of reading deeper into the wood with pins that range from 1 to 2 inches. This allows users to check if the core is as dry as the surface, helping to prevent moisture problems. Circle 166

3 Mapei Corporation has introduced its Planiseal WFM, a 2 wood flooring membrane that reduces moisture vapor emission from concrete substrates, which is a cause of failed glue-down 1 installations. Planiseal WFM has in-plane crack isolation up to ⁄8 inch, which can reduce flooring installation failures due to the transfer of underlying cracks caused by contraction and expansion of the concrete substrate. The product also serves as a sound-reduction membrane, with a Sound Transmission Class rating of 66 and an Impact Insulation Class rating of 69. Circle 167 3 4 Pollmeier now manufactures designer finishes for its Euro- pean Beech hardwood floors. The finishes, WashedLook (shown) and Design Line, add character to this glue-down flooring, which utilizes flexible polyurethane adhesives and displays exceptional milling techniques perfected with the best in Ger- man engineering, the company says. Circle 168

5 Seneca Millwork Inc. now offers transitions in three handcrafted finishes. The finishes are variations of a multi-step process that creates an antique look by first staining the transitions one color and then a second color. The hand-scraped transitions have the undulated look of rough planks scraped smooth 4 over time. Seneca’s products, including T-moldings, reducers, baby threshold, quarter round, wall base, stair nosings and stair treads, are all available prefinished, unfinished or in the three handcrafted finishes. Circle 169

6 Armstrong World Industries has patented its new NextGen technology for locking engineered hardwood flooring. This 5 flooring eliminates glue, nails and staples, permitting faster, less expensive installation, the company says. NextGen technology provides increased lock strength, resulting in a tighter fit

154 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Your retail business connection. Your retail industry resource. YOUR SHOW.

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Circle 84 on Reply Card SOURCE CODE: G13 Industry News | Products

between boards and a more dimensionally stable floor with a higher tolerance to moisture, seasonal and climate changes, the company says. NextGen is available in Armstrong Locking Hard- wood, a collection of exotic and domestic hardwoods, and Bruce Turlington Lock & Fold domestic hardwood flooring. Circle 170

7 Gentry Hardwood Floors has designed its FusionPlank solid hybrid flooring system with the look, feel and wear properties 3 6 of traditional ⁄4-inch solid hardwood flooring, but with the dimensional stability that allows for below-grade, concrete slab installations usually reserved for engineered flooring products. FusionPlank floor planks have two basic layers. The base layer is manufactured from smaller pieces of hardwoods that are fin- ger-jointed, then assembled into a solid piece of wood. The wear layer is available in American, Asian, European and other exotic woods and comes prefinished in seven colors or unfin- 1 7 ished. Fusion Plank comes in widths of 3 ⁄2, 5, 6 and 7 inches and lengths up to 7 feet. Cirlce 171

8 UFloor Systems Inc. has introduced its Uzin MK 95, a solvent- and water-free polyurethane wood flooring adhesive with

Circle 93 156 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Industry News | Products

hard elastic properties. Uzin MK 95 has a quick drying time and can be sanded after 24 hours, the company says. A one-component polyurethane adhesive, Uzin MK 95 sets rapidly, yet has a working time of 50 to 60 minutes. It has no swelling effect due to excellent trowel-ridge formation that secures the wood flooring to the substrate, limiting any potential deflection in the wood, the company adds. Circle 172 8

9 Basic Coatings LLC has developed its Basic Floor Dragon 17 buffer with a dust containment port that attaches to Basic’s Power Dragon 26 vacuum to keep the work area clean and dust-free. The Dragon has a reliable 1.5-hp motor for sanding, 9 stripping, spray-buffing and staining jobs with ease, the company says. Circle 173

10 Start ‘N’ Finish Hardwood Floor Products has released its Start ‘N’ Finish Courses (SFCs), which can save more than 75 percent of the time spent installing the first and last three rows of a wood flooring job, the company says. Each SFC is made up 3 1 of ⁄4 by 2 ⁄4-inch wood flooring in 6-foot lengths with three rows of strip ends that allow precise interlocking with the remaining 10

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1 1 3/8”, 1/2” & 3/4” x 1 ⁄2”, 2 ⁄4”, 3”, 4”, 5”, 6”, 7”, 8”, 9”, 10” & 12” Oak, Maple, Cherry, Hickory, Walnut, Ash, Beech & Exotic Species 3M • Basic Coatings • Dura Seal • BonaKemi • Polo-Plaz • Masterline • Watco Appalachian Floor Vents • Wood Ventures • Mullican • Somerset • Bruce • Hartco Robbins • Kährs • Homerwood • Sheoga • Taylor Lumber • Clarke American Sanders Crain • Stanley Bostitch • HighPro • Senco • Franklin International • Bostik’s Best Columbia Flooring • Witex • Wilsonart • Quick Step We Will Ship Anywhere 1063 Dublin Road • Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 488-0334 • (614) 488-0359 • www.paneltown.com • [email protected]

Circle 90 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 157 Industry News | Products

flooring. The SFCs save time and minimize gapping issues, as well as help prevent nicks on cabinets and walls, the company adds. SFCs are available in all grades and species. Circle 174

11 Norton Abrasives has designed its Norton 3X Sanding Glove. The glove makes sanding easier because it conforms to many shapes and is ideal for reaching into confined spaces such as underneath a radiator, the company says. The 11 firm yet flexible structure of the glove allows for easy access to difficult places, and helps eliminate fatigue caused by holding a block or pad, the company adds. The open mesh fabric material protects the hand during sanding and allows ventilation. Circle 175

12 Husky now offers its 84-watt portable tripod fluores- cent work light with 360-degree illumination. The tripod is 33 inches long when folded up. The lamp stands 5 feet, 4 inches tall and can light spaces up to 17 by 24 square feet by producing 300 watts of incandescent light in all directions 12 with no heat buildup. It draws less than 1 amp of power, and its two 42-watt compact florescent light bulbs are set in a Save Your Hardwood Floors

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158 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Industry News | Products

well-protected telescoping module that automatically powers on when the module is raised, eliminating the struggle to find power buttons in a dark work area. Circle 176

13 Blastrac has released its BG 250, a 10-inch surface grinder used for concrete cleaning, leveling and removing mastics, epoxies, urethane, paint and other coatings. It can also be used for leveling out high spots and curled joints. The walk-behind grinder has oversized rear wheels for easy transport and supe- 13 rior control on uneven surfaces, the company says. Rubber- mount handle bars reduce vibration and operator fatigue. Circle 177

14 Wintersteiger Inc. has introduced its DSG, a thin-cutting frame saw for producing lamellas for engineered floors. Servo- controlled precision feed and increased drive performance make the Sonic one of the fastest thin-cutting frame saws with 50 percent more capacity than other models, the company says. The tolerance-free saw-guiding system with linear bearings and 14 high-quality saw blades with a cutting kerf of 0.043 inch gives users precise lamellas, the company says. Circle 178

Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc., manufacturer of Synteko Floor A SERVICE PLUS +++ COMPANY!!!!! Finishes, 1-877-238-9534 is currently looking for www.woodplushardwoods.com Manufacturers Sales Reps in the U.S. with knowledge and Nationwide Shipping understanding of the hardwood Distributing : Pre-finished and Unfinished Flooring: floor industry. Synteko has a Solids and Engineered available Oak, Maple, Hickory, Ash, Birch, Walnut, American Cherry, Australian Cypress, Brazilian Cherry, full line of floor finishes to Tigerwood, and many others!!! expand the selection of Also : Stair parts, Moldings, Transitions and Registers, products that you are currently available for a complete look in all species!!! offering your customers. To enhance : we also have medallions, specialty floor patterns, borders and corners!!!

Call for Equipment, Sandpaper, Finish, Fillers and Fasteners: Please contact Lou Jones at All that’s needed to put down and finish a hardwood floor. 866-796-8356 or email [email protected] 111 Depot Avenue, Galax, VA 24333 Tel: 276-238-9534 Fax: 276-238-9537 E-Mail: [email protected]

Circle 92 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 159 Industry News | Events

Domotex Hannover NAHB National Green Building Conference January 12-15, 2008 « Hannover, Germany May 11-13, 2008 « New Orleans More than 47,000 professionals from the wholesale, retail, This show covers all areas related to the green building indus- skilled, architecture and interior design trades will travel to try, including environmental building materials, construction, Hannover to learn about the latest trends in the floor covering codes and standards. For more information, call 800/368-5242, industry. For more information, call 49-511-89-0 or visit ext. 8338; e-mail [email protected] or visit www.nahb.com. www.domotex.de. Greenbuild 2008 Surfaces 2008 November 19-21, 2008 « Boston January 30-February 1, 2008 « Las Vegas This conference serves as a tool for professionals in the green Surfaces 2007 attracted 38,246 retailers, manufacturers, distrib- building industry to learn about design, construction and utors, architects, designers, builders and installers, and 1,065 building management. For more information, call 202/742- exhibitors, more than 200 of which were NWFA members. 3818 or visit www.greenbuildexpo.org. For information, call 800/547-3477 or visit www.surfaces.com. International Builders’ Show ASSOCIATION SCHOOLS February 13-16, 2008 « Orlando, Fla. More than 1,900 exhibiting companies and 104,000 atten- NWFA dees were at IBS 2007. This show provides members of the A wide range of NWFA technical training schools are home building industry with the opportunity to see cutting- offered each year. The St. Louis schools are held at the edge products. For more information, call 202/266-8111 or newly expanded NWFA training center. Contact NWFA by visit www.buildersshow.com. phone at 800/422-4556 (U.S.); 800/848-8824 (Canada); 636/519-9663 (local and international); by e-mail at instal- MFMA Conference [email protected]; or visit www.nwfa.org. The 2008 March 5-8, 2008 « San Diego, Calif. school dates are: This biennial conference is the official show for the Maple Jan. 23-25 ...... Portland, Ore...... Intermediate Install., Sand & Finish Flooring Manufacturers Association, which provides informa- Feb. 12-15...... Long Beach, Calif...Intermediate Install., Sand & Finish tion about maple flooring and related sports systems. For more Feb. 27-29...... St. Louis...... Custom Design & Craftsmanship information, call 847/480-9282 or visit www.maplefloor.org. March 4-7 ...... St. Louis...... Wood Flooring Basics March 10-13 ..St. Louis...... Wood Flooring Inspection Domotex Asia/Chinafloor April 8-11 ...... San Francisco ...... Adv. Interm. Install., Sand & Finish March 11-13, 2008 « Shanghai, China April 23-25 ....St. Louis...... Intermediate Install., Sand & Finish Domotex Asia/Chinafloor 2008 is expected to surpass its May 6-9...... Hartford, Conn...... Adv. Interm. Install., Sand & Finish record-setting 2007 attendance, which included more than 928 May 21-23...... St. Louis...... Subfloor Prep & H.W.F. Install exhibitors and 35,695 attending floor covering professionals. June 18-20...... Riverside, Calif...... Intermediate Install., Sand & Finish For more information, contact Melody Shen at 86-21-6247- Aug. 26-29 ....Atlanta...... Adv. Interm. Install., Sand & Finish 7668, ext. 935/922; [email protected]; or Sept. 9-12 ...... St. Louis...... Adv. Interm. Install., Sand & Finish visit www.domotexasiachinafloor.com. Sept. 16-19 ....St. Louis...... Wood Flooring Basics Sept. 22-25 ....St. Louis...... Wood Flooring Inspection rd NWFA 23 Annual Education Conference Oct. 7-11...... St. Louis...... Expert Installation and 2008 Wood Flooring Expo Oct. 13-15 ...... St. Louis...... Expert Sand & Finish March 25-28, 2008 « Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Oct. 22-24 ...... Phoenix...... Intermediate Install., Sand & Finish The largest convention in the world dedicated exclusively to Nov. 5-7 ...... St. Louis...... H.W.F. Makeover—Basic to Adv. wood flooring, this show offers educational sessions, indus- Nov. 12-14 ....Minneapolis ...... Intermediate Install., Sand & Finish try-specific exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, Wood Floor of the Year Awards, and networking opportunities. For more NOFMA: The Wood Flooring information, contact the NWFA at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), Manufacturers Association 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and interna- NOFMA offers a school for floor covering inspectors, tional), e-mail [email protected] or visit www.nwfa.org. home inspectors and other professionals in wood flooring-related businesses. In cooperation with NWFA and Coverings 2008 MFMA, NOFMA also offers schools at the NWFA head- April 29-May 2, 2008 « Orlando, Fla. quarters providing basic instruction on installation, sand- Coverings 2008 returns to Orlando’s Orange County Conven- ing and finishing. For more information, call 901/526-5016, tion Center. For more information, call 886/285-3691 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.nofma.org. 703/683-8500, or visit www.coverings.com.

160 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Industry News | Events

MANUFACTURER EVENTS Armstrong Wood Products flooring contractors. The 2008 Installation training courses and Armstrong offers complete installa- classes will be offered February 26- Product Knowledge courses. Call tion schools and advanced work- 29, April 15-18, June 2-6 (beginners 800/MOHAWKU, e-mail mohawk_ shops at its Lancaster, Pa., training only), July 15-18, August 12-15 and [email protected] or visit center. Call 800/356-9301, ext. 5376, November 11-14. For more informa- www.mohawk-university.com for for more information. tion, call Betty Jo Hargrave at more information. 800/872-5515 or e-mail bettyjo.harg- Basic Coatings [email protected]. Mullican Flooring Basic Coatings offers its Basic Pro Mullican Flooring offers its Mullican Schools in Toledo, Ohio. The com- Clarke American Sanders Tech 101 classes in Johnson City, pany is offering several schools for Clarke American Sanders hosts Tenn, on how to installand sell Mul- its 2008 program. For more informa- three-day sanding seminars at its lican products. The company has tion, contact Kellie Smithson at Springdale, Ark., facility. The com- several classes planned for 2008. For 800/441-1934, ext. 3798. pany’s 2008 seminars will be held more information, call 800/844-6356. May 20-22, July 15-17 and October BonaKemi USA 28-30. For more information, call ArborCraft Inc. BonaKemi holds four- and five-day 800/235-0367. Tarkett offers two-day flooring semi- Sand & Finish schools at its Monroe, nars at its headquarters in Johnson N.C., training facility for both profes- Mohawk Industries City, Tenn. For more information, call sional and beginning hardwood Mohawk Industries holds Wood Wendy McIlquham at 800/842-7816.

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Raleigh, NC: 919-255-9010 sWilmington, NC: 910-343-3331 Greensboro, NC: sKnoxville, TN: 865-342-0050 Charleston, SC: 843-744-4442 Long Floor: Richmond, VA: 804-353-4419 www.LongFloor.com Chesapeake, VA: 757-420-8sBeltsville, MD: 301-419-0033 www.HorizonForest.com Circle 94 December 2007|January 2008 ■ Hardwood Floors 161 WoodShowcase Classic Elegance Handcrafted flooring complements home’s Old World style Photos courtesy of Visbeen Associates Inc. Photos courtesy of Visbeen Project Details Location: Ada, Mich. Wood: White oak, walnut, mixed species in medallion Finish: Proprietary oil-and-wax finish Flooring Contractor/Designer: Birger Juell Ltd. (Chicago, Ill.) Architect: Visbeen Associates Inc. (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

he owners of this Michigan estate set out to create a masterpiece that reflects their whimsical styles combining a variety of patterns, tex- Ttures and colors. Integral to the design of the massive project was the approximately 5,000 square feet of wood flooring throughout the home. To achieve the look the clients were after, the designers enlisted the help of Birger Juell Ltd. to create custom floors throughout. “The customers wanted to use a variety of patterns and textures appropriate to the aesthetic requirements of each space,” says Chuck Crispin, president of Birger Juell. The foyer and hallway feature hand-scraped rift and quartersawn white oak laid in various patterns. The focal point is a concentric oval sunburst that frames a rose medallion crafted from verawood, lacewood and rosewood. For the study, the homeowners chose a hand-scraped walnut Bordeaux pattern to complement the large arched trusses. All the floors were finished with five coats of Birger Juell’s proprietary oil-and-wax finish, completing the Old World look the clients wanted while creating a work of art underfoot. — C.L.

162 Hardwood Floors ■ December 2007|January 2008 Proud member of the green clique.

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CHERRY 0 HICKORY 0 WALNUT 0 RED OAK 0 WHITE OAK RIFT & QUARTERED RED OAK 0 RIFT & QUARTERED WHITE OAK

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