Carpet, Underlayments & Adhesives

CARPET CASE STUDY: AIMIA CORPORATE OFFICE CIM PERSPECTIVE An Introduction to ACI What can ASTM do for you?

SPRING 2018 Vol 13 No. 3

Carpet, Underlayments & Adhesives INSTALL Warranty Contractor, Sonus Interiors, Inc. Interiors, Sonus Contractor, Warranty INSTALL

The Ofﬁ cial Publication of FCICA

Photo credit: WWW.FCICA.COM Meet the MRS.

The perfect skimcoat for our moisture-resistant product family

Planiprep ¨ MRS Moisture-Resistant Skimcoat with high compressive strength

• Mixes easily and applies smoothly • Not affected by high moisture conditions • Can be placed before HVAC systems or interior finishes are installed • High compressive strength for use in heavy traffic conditions

Contact your sales distributor or visit www.mapei.com for details.

MAPEI Americas Eﬀ ective entrance solutions that stand the test of time

Floormations© at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Why spend time and money to continuously replace carpet tiles and throw down mats when you could have a safe, cost-effective system easily installed or retrofitted into your entrance?

Those short-term options simply cannot match the strength and functionality of permanent CS Entrance Flooring Systems. Our products are time-tested, sustainable, and customizable for any entrance. Investing in a permanent entrance flooring system is the first step to long-term cost savings and a clean, safe facility for years to come.

To learn more, call Construction Specialties at 800.233.8493 or visit www.c-sgroup.com/efs. Before with throw down carpet

26 14

FEATURES COLUMNS 5 Chairman’s Letter 12 Sound Control in Multi-Family Calendar of Events Construction 7 Executive VP Column 16 Substrate Preparation Tips 28 CIM Perspective 22 Prevent Moisture Mitigation From 34 CIM Corner Disrupting Labor Schedules 41 FCICA Insights 26 Case Study: AIMIA Corporate Offi ce ARTICLES 30 Knowledge Share: An Introduction to 8 Product Spotlights ACI 14 Project Profi les 35 Knowledge Share: What can ASTM do 31/36 Business Articles for you? 38 New Products 66 From the Jobsite: Wagner Meters and 42 Recent FCICA News Sitefotos Partner to Benefi t Flooring 48 Member News Professionals 58 Industry News

4 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 CHAIRMAN’S LETTER OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction and the Flooring Contractor

BY MIKE NEWBERRY

On September 23, 2017, OSHA began but I have spent some time trying to gain an action to correct. enforcing the new standard OSHA 1926.1153 understanding of it and how it will impact • Every contractor is required to have a Writ- for Respirable Crystalline Silica. It went into our installation practices. Here are a few key ten Exposure Control Plan that consists of effect on June 23, 2017 but enforcement was facts from the standard that you should be at least a description of the tool and task postponed until the September date. aware of as you work to be compliant. being performed; a description of your For those of us who have been around • OSHA established a new action level control measures including work practices, the flooring industry long enough to for exposure at 25 micrograms over an engineering controls and respiratory pro- remember the impact the regulation 8-hour time weighted average. The new tection; the methods you will use to clean surrounding asbestos in construction you action level exposure limit is 10 times the equipment and your procedures to will recall a similar reaction our industry. lower than the previous standard. restrict access to the work area. Protecting workers from exposure to air- • Within the standard, OSHA has provided • Dry sweeping of the job site is no longer borne asbestos fibers became a high priority a list of common construction industry allowed. You must wet sweep or vacuum and it had an impact on the way we worked tools and task called Table 1. Table 1 lists with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA and the steps we had to take to provide ade- control methods and protection require- filter that meets OSHA requirements. quate protection to installers. The construc- ments for each tool in the table. Unfortu- • The standard also has provisions for tion industry stopped producing products nately, only about 5 of the tools listed are medical surveillance of employees that that contained asbestos so the threat of used in the installation of floor coverings. are exposed to respirable crystalline silica, exposure has been minimized greatly over Many tools we commonly use are not record keeping requirements, important the years. Since we won’t be able to stop addressed in Table 1. You will need to definitions and other information. producing products that contain crystalline work with your equipment and product One of the best pieces of information silica anytime soon, this standard will have a manufacturers to determine the proper about the standard is the OSHA document more permanent impact on our industry. engineering controls and work practices. 3902.07R 2017, called the Small Entity Since the enforcement date of the new • Every contractor is required to designate Compliance Guide for the Respirable standard, many in the floor covering what OSHA refers to as a Competent Per- Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction. installation business have made significant son for each of your jobs. OSHA defines It’s a free publication available at: https:// changes to work practices and spent sub- a Competent Person as someone who www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3902. stantial amounts of money on equipment in understands the standard, can recognize pdf. I recommend that you download this response to the new standard. existing or potential exposure hazards document and use it as a reference guide to I am not an expert on the silica standard and has the authority to take immediate assist you in being compliant. 

FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 3, 2018 MARCH 19, 2018 APRIL 5, 2018 APRIL 26, 2018 SUBExcel 2018 Commercial Flooring FCICA product webinar – FCICA webinar – Communication Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center Trade Show Protect-All Flooring & Ramifications of Tempe, AZ Beau Rivage Resort and Casino www.fcica.com/webinars Specifications, Part 2 www.asaonline.com Biloxi, MS Eric Lussier & Cherise Lakeside, Let’s Fix www.fcica.com/trade-show APRIL 10 – 13, 2018 Construction MARCH 1, 2018 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo – https://www.fcica.com/webinars FCICA product webinar – MARCH 20 – 22, 2018 Deep Dive Sika Corporation DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR Tampa, FL MAY 3, 2018 www.fcica.com/webinars Shanghai New International Expo Centre www.nfwaexpo.org FCICA product webinar – GCP Shanghai, China Applied Technologies Calendar of Events MARCH 8 – 5, 2018 www.domotexasiachinafloor.com APRIL 11 – 13, 2018 www.fcica.com/webinars FUSE Annual Meeting - Never ICRI Spring meeting – Miss a Beat MARCH 21 – 22, 2018 Seismic Solutions MAY 8 – 11, 2018 Sheraton New Orleans Hotel ICRI Concrete Slab Moisture Testing InterContinental Mark Hopkins Coverings 2018 New Orleans, LA Biloxi, MS San Francisco, CA Georgia World Congress Center www.fusealliance.com www.icri.org Atlanta, GA APRIL 4 – 6, 2018 www.coverings.com MARCH 18 – 20, 2018 Flooring Education Guild – APRIL 19 – 22, 2018 FCICA Convention – In It Spring 2018 Seminar StarNet Spring Meeting MAY 17, 2018 to Win It Dalton Convention Center Omni Orlando Resort FCICA webinar – OSHA Silica Beau Rivage Resort and Casino Dalton, GA ChampionsGate, FL Update Biloxi, MS www.flooringinspectorsguild.org/spring- www.starnetflooring.com Ben Mack, ARDEX www.fcica.com seminar-2018.html www.fcica.com/webinars

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 5 7439 Millwood Drive Western Advertising Manager: West Bloomﬁ eld MI 48322 Janelle Minghine (248) 661-5015 • f.(248) 661-5018 (734) 340-5211 [email protected] For subscription info or service, Production Manager: please contact Customer Service at: Jennifer Allen-Wise (847)763-9534 f.(847) 763-9538 or [email protected] Email: [email protected] VISION: Art Director: BNP Media Corporate Ofﬁ ce: Christopher Pirrone [email protected] FCICA, the resource for premier commercial 2401 West Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 700 Troy, MI 48084 flooring contractors. FCICA staff: (248) 362-3700 • f.(248) 362-0317 Kimberly Oderkirk, Executive Vice President Group Publisher: Dave Madonia [email protected] [email protected] MISSION: Sarah Probert Senior Editor: Kimberly Oderkirk Director of Membership [email protected] Promoting the advancement and continuous (249) 661-5015 • [email protected] development of Certified Installation Managers Kelly Fuller (CIM). Project Manager: Melanie Kuchma Director of Education [email protected] [email protected] Providing technical education, business support Lizzie Oderkirk and industry expert networking. Associate Publisher and Eastern Advertising Manager: Keith Parry Event & Marketing Coordinator [email protected] Delivering skills and knowledge to enhance the (973) 248-6097 • [email protected] professionalism of commercial flooring contractors. Jim Oderkirk Sales Consultant: Technical, Financial & Program Santiago Montero Consultant [email protected] [email protected]

A better vinyl adhesive. RollSmart.ª

TARKETTNA.COM 800.899.8916

6 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 Prepare now for FCICA’s 36th Annual Convention

BY KIMBERLY E. ODERKIRK

he office is getting ready to travel to Biloxi for the company is in compliance. FCICA Annual Convention and Commercial Flooring New to our magazine is the CIM Perspective column, where T Trade Show and we can’t wait to visit with all our CIMs will have the opportunity to write on a subject of their members. With record setting numbers in many cat- choice. Check out the article by Evan Acton, CIM, with Acton egories such as contractor representatives, Successors and CIMs Flooring as he discusses change orders as they related to a floor on site it will be a great event! prep issue a project. In the CIM Corner this issue, Kelly Fuller In this issue we have included 2 articles to help prepare you for discusses the value of the CIM program and showcases two of our educational sessions. Jeff Johnson with MAPEI Corporation our CIMs – Amy Johnston, CIM, and Mike Pigeon, CIM. The writes on page 30 “An Introduction to ACI” and Sonny Callaham CIM Corner can be found on page 34. with H.B. Fuller writes on page 35 “What can ASTM do for You?” The focus of this issue is Carpet, Underlayments & Adhesives, Both of these articles are introductions for their joint session on Mon- and throughout the magazine you will find installation articles, day March 19th at 11 am entitled ASTM F710 & ACI 302.2R-06. product profiles and project profiles on these topics. Take a few Chairman Mike Newberry, CIM, in his column on page minutes and check out all the great educational content this pub- 5, provides you with his insights into the OSHA Respirable lication has to offer. Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction and the Flooring Looking forward to seeing everyone in Biloxi for FCICA’s 36th Contractors. Please review his takeaways and make sure your Annual Convention! 

New Members BLAKELY PRODUCTS COMPANY METROPOLITAN/EVOKE FLOORING SERGENIAN’S FLOOR COVERINGS NOVALIS INTERNATIONAL Craig Leach Kathy Antion Jesse Tranel Jim Kups 13891 Stephens, Warren, MI 48089 7815 S 208th Street D107, Kent, WA 98032 3812 Kipp Street, Madison, WI 53718 105 Uppercrest Drive, Mooresville NC 28117 Phone: (586) 771-6600 Phone: (206) 719-6243 Phone: (608) 273-6300 Phone (704) 799-1111 x300 [email protected] kantion@evokefl ooring.com [email protected] [email protected] www.blakelyproducts.com www.evokefl ooring.com www.sergenians.com www.novalisinnovativefl ooring.us associate associate contractor associate

COMMERCIAL FLOOR RESOURCES M-D PRO SPECIFIED TILE AND FLOOR COVERING NATIONAL FLOOR SERVICES INC Paxton Pardee Julia Vozza Josh Hodges Luis Romero 153 Will Allen Road, Calhoun, GA 30701 1575 South Gateway Rd, Mississauga, ON 6716 Janway Rd., Richmond, VA 23228 1775 Corporate Dr. Ste. 135, Norcross GA 30093 Phone: (706) 383-8462 Canada L4W 5J1 Phone: (804) 553-3800 Phone: (470) 359-6926 ppardee@commercial-fl oors.net Phone: (800) 565-6653 josh@specifi edtile.com l.romero@nationalfl oorservices.net www.commercial-fl oors.net [email protected] www.specifi edtile.com www.nationalfl oorservices.net contractor www.mdpro.com contractor contractor associate

ON THE COVER

CARPET CASE STUDY: AIMIA CORPORATE OFFICE CIM PERSPECTIVE An Introduction to ACI What can ASTM do for you? Product: AIMIA Corporate Ofﬁ ce SPRING 2018 Vol 13 No. 3 Location: Butler Square, Minneapolis, MN

Carpet, Underlayments Contractor: Sonus Interiors & Adhesives Architect/Designer: MSR Design

INSTALL Warranty Contractor, Sonus Interiors, Inc. Interiors, Sonus Contractor, Warranty INSTALL Incorporating 24 different types of carpet, this project was no ordinary retroﬁ t. In fact, the interior architect’s

The Official Publication of FCICA Photo credit: WWW.FCICA.COM design was so complex that one journeyman was devoted to navigating the pattern, while the other journeyman completed the installation. Installed with precision and care by the team at Sonus Interiors, an INSTALL Warranty contractor with a history of working with large and complex commercial projects, the ﬂ ooring provides zoned workspaces that are welcoming to both clients and employees. Read more, page 26

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 7 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Schönox APF

ant to remove the need for demo, eliminate demo debris, hazardous waste, and reduce the W time and expense of your project? Schönox APF is a synthetic gypsum self-leveling underlayment for applications over clean, dry, well-adhered carpet tile or commercial broadloom carpet (that is well bonded to plywood, concrete, or existing flooring such as VAT). Prior to application, submittal of a completed pre-installation checklist, along with photographs of the application, job site layouts, and job site address is required. A Schönox Re- gional Business Manager or Technical Specialist must complete a pre-installation jobsite inspection for installations over 5,000 sq. ft. A job specific warranty is available. Schönox APF is often imitated, but never surpassed in performance. That’s why, for everything you put into your job, you need Schönox Ön It. 

8 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Sweet Seam® SkidLess

BY AMY MESSICK, ADHESIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

dhesive Technologies, LLC has devel- of the rugs. The slip resistance of Sweet Seam® A oped Sweet Seam® SkidLess: a new SkidLess far exceeds the ADA compliance and application of non-skid to be applied to OSHA standards for slip resistance. Due to these flooring, especially in the ever-growing custom standards, Sweet Seam® SkidLess will give large rug market. This new non-skid product has the and small clients peace of mind over the risk of possibility of replacing current SBR backings and natural rub- slip and fall issues that currently arise in the rug market today. ber backings applied to flooring. Sweet Seam® SkidLess passes rigorous field and laboratory testing, reduces raw material Cost Reduction and labor costs, provides flexibility in rate of application, and The next true advantage of Sweet Seam® SkidLess is the reduc- maintains excellent coefficient of friction results. tion of overall cost compared to traditional SBR backings. There are two ways that this product reduces cost. The first cost savings Rigorous Testing is within the material itself. Depending on the application rate of The first advantage to Sweet Seam® SkidLess is the vigorous testing the Sweet Seam® SkidLess, the reduction could be at least a fifty that this product has undertaken in order to insure product quality percent in raw materials. This reduction would be true for mass and endurance. Sweet Seam® SkidLess has been tested extensively produced rugs and the custom rug market. Mass produced stock for transfer with wear and heat, slip resistance, and compatibility of rugs could be an inline application method with the addition of different substrates which include latex backing, unitary backing, a combination air pressure/hot melt spray applicator. Depending non-woven polyester backing, non-woven nylon backing, polyure- on the quantity of the rugs manufactured, the ROI would be short thane backing, woven backing, and rubber backing. term because of the material cost savings. The transfer wear testing has been laboratory tested and The second cost reduction is found in labor. For the custom rug field tested. ASTM D6119-12 Contract Walker test was used to market, the labor cost would be reduced by one-third to two-thirds, test for transfer of wear of the non-skid, and the non-skid did depending on the size of the custom rug being manufactured. not transfer from the applied product to the floor substrate. Most custom rugs are still produced by manual labor, and each rug Our field testing has been replicated in laboratory testing to would require at least two people for the application of traditional show no transfer of the non-skid from the applied product to SBR non-skid backing and as many as four people depending upon the different types of floor substrates. The heat-aging transfer the size of the rug. The Sweet Seam® SkidLess application process of the non-skid was tested for two weeks at consistent 1600 can be performed by one person with a mobile air pressure/hot melt F temperature without transfer to metal, wood, or face fabric applicator system, reducing labor cost by 25-50%.

10 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Application Rate is continuously exposed to traffic. The rug will need to be moved Another advantage to using Sweet Seam® SkidLess is the flex- periodically to remove the debris accumulation underneath that ibility pertaining to the application rate and contact surface decreases surface contact and contaminates the non-skid nature area. The coefficient of friction can be increased by the level of of the SBR backing. The deflection of long term traffics deterio- application rate of Sweet Seam® SkidLess. This is advantageous rates the SBR backing, and the debris from that deterioration will because larger rugs require a smaller application rate because the decrease the coefficient of friction. SBR backings very rarely see coefficient of friction is increased by more surface contact area coefficient of friction recover to the original condition. over the entire rug due to the weight of the rug. However, the In contrast, Sweet Seam® SkidLess is non-porous in the area rate of application can be adjusted to accommodate smaller rugs applied on the rug and does not deteriorate over extended long- that weigh less without sacrificing the performance level of the term use. The debris accumulation that moves parallel to the coefficient of friction in these rugs. substrate can be cleaned when the rug is moved periodically. However, once Sweet Seam® Skidless is cleaned with water, the Coefficient of Friction coefficient of friction is recovered to the original amount before The coefficient of friction of SBR backed rugs typically decreases the accumulation of debris. with time due to particulates that migrate through the flooring Adhesive Technologies, LLC is dedicated to the continuous product, the accumulation of debris underneath the rug that improvement of the textile application industry. We believe that moves parallel on the substrate, and the deterioration of the Sweet Seam® SkidLess is competitive with other applications in SBR over extended long-term use. A large portion of the debris the industry. Due to substantive test results, reduction in raw migrating through the product can be removed with a thorough material and labor costs, flexibility in application rate, and coef- cleaning and extraction, but the problem is that the overall debris ficient of friction that does not diminish, Sweet Seam® SkidLess is never fully removed and builds up more frequently as the rug is the next step in improvement of non-skid rug applications. 

LUXURY VINYL DESERVES BETTER.

DISCOVER THE INSTALL ADVANTAGE.

INSTALL certification represents rigorous training, superior professionalism, and the highest standards in the industry. Enjoy increased visibility and increased business with the industry PRO-LUX Overcoming objections and problems of standard of excellence. INSTALL. LVP 777 installations is what we do at Stauf. LVP-777 is a specially formulated adhesive for the installation of luxury vinyl tiles and ADHESIVES SINCE 1828 planks. With this formulation, installers will find that it is easier to spread and www.staufusa.com can be used as 2 different adhesives in 1. You may wet lay this adhesive, or 866.GLUEUSA allow 30-40 minutes and it may be used as a pressure sensitive adhesive. DISCOVER THE ADVANTAGE AT LVP-777 is formulated to decrease shrinkage, increase green grab, reduce cupping and end peaking due to its extremely high shear strength. With INSTALLFLOORS.ORG bigger investments and better products hitting the LVT and LVP markets, doesn’t it make sense to use a better adhesive? Stick With What Works.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 11 INSTALLATION FEATURE

Sound Control in Multi-Family Construction

BY LARRY LYONS, AMORIM CORK COMPOSITES

dard states the IIC rating as the ∆ (Delta), or contributed value for the underlayment and flooring and is meant to provide some clarity as to the actual performance of systems. If you are looking at ∆ IIC data, in most cases a ∆ IIC value more than 20 will be required to provide Code Compliance. There is also a Field Test method for IIC testing (ASTM E1007). Tests done using this method are called FIIC tests. Products that have only FIIC data should be considered with caution. Field are very location specific, because of the wide variety of variables that can be encountered. Comparing the FIIC data of one product to the lab IIC testing of another product is not an accurate way to make an assessment ound Control for Flooring appli- the equivalent of voices, music, or similar. of relative performance. cations in multi-family construc- STC translates to Sound Transmission Class IIC values are not heavily influenced by Stion can be a confusing topic. and it is measured and tested per ASTM the presence of mass in the structure. A 6” With many different products Test Method E90. solid concrete slab, for example, has an IIC available and performance claims made, it Sound Control Underlayments and the rating of about 28, without underlayment is difficult to separate fact from marketing Flooring products installed contribute al- or flooring materials installed. Wood frame hype. To make an intelligent decision about most nothing to the STC rating of a flooring assemblies, without a sound mat or flooring what type of product to specify or install, it is assembly. The mass of the structure is what installed typically have IIC ratings around important to understand what is required by contributes the STC value. A 6” solid con- 30. These ratings are well below the Build- the Building Code and what the performance crete slab, for example, has an STC rating of ing Code requirement of 50 IIC and the standards of STC and IIC actually mean. about 52. STC ratings in the 60s or 70s on addition of hard surface or vinyl flooring, In multi-family construction in the Unit- Sound Control Underlayment product data without an underlayment will not markedly ed States, there are minimum IIC and STC sheets indicate that a ceiling assembly was improve the IIC rating. IIC improvement values that a floor/ceiling assembly (living used in the testing and the ratings noted requires a resilient material somewhere space over living space), must achieve. The should be viewed with skepticism. in the assembly to isolate and absorb the Uniform or International Building Code IIC refers to the measurement used to sound energy created by impacts. The table (U.B.C. / I.B.C.) call for a minimum 50 quantify the transmission of impact sound on the opposite page shows the IIC for a IIC and 50 STC values. Consult your local through a flooring assembly. IIC sound is 6” concrete slab at various levels of ∆ IIC Building Department, Homeowners Asso- the equivalent of foot steps, dropped arti- improvement and what the approximate % ciation or Property Manager for the exact cles, or furniture being dragged across the reduction in audible sound would be. requirements for your installation. floor. IIC means Impact Isolation Class and Tremendous improvement in IIC STC refers to the measurement used it is measured and tested for per ASTM ratings can be provided by the presence to quantify the transmission of airborne Test Method E492. There is an additional of a Sound Rated (aka Suspended) Ceiling sound through building elements, such as IIC test standard for concrete subfloors de- Assembly. Unfortunately, these types of walls or floors. This type of noise would be fined by ASTM Standard E2179. This stan- ceiling assemblies are virtually nonexistent

12 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 ∆ IIC Improvement 5 ∆ IIC (IIC33) 10 ∆ IIC (IIC38) 20 ∆ IIC (IIC48) 30 ∆ IIC (IIC58) Approx. % Reduction in Audible 15% Reduction 50% Reduction 75% Reduction 88% Reduction Sound in the world of multi-family construction. However, most of the You should make sure the underlayment product will be com- product data sheets for Sound Control Underlayments relate to patible with the flooring product selected and that the installation testing done with these Ceiling Assemblies. If you see STC or IIC will produce a Code Compliant result.  ratings in the 60s or 70s for an underlayment product, you can be certain that a ceiling assembly was use to achieve these numbers for marketing purposes. You can be certain that the product, if used in an application without a ceiling assembly, would not produce IIC or STC values similar to those shown on the data sheet. To attenuate IIC noise in floor assemblies, a Resilient or Sound Control Underlayment is required. The correct Underlayment Please make it will provide the resilience required for code complaint IIC noise reduction and the structural stability required for a responsible flooring installation. Floating hardwood or laminate flooring are home safe today. typically the least and bonded ceramic tile or natural stone assemblies are the most challenging application for sound attenuation performance. Vinyl products (aka LVT), are used extensively in lieu of carpet today in multi-family housing and present their own challenges. With vinyl products, there is a limit to the thickness of sound control products that can be used to prevent issues with indentation of the flooring. Different types of assemblies and flooring have different needs and there is no single product that is appropriate for all types of flooring. That is why suppliers offer a number of different products. Look for a manufacturer who can supply acoustical testing data that most closely matches the type of flooring and the construction of the building the products will be installed in. If a Sound Rated Ceiling Assembly was used in the testing, it should be disclosed and described in the test report. You should be able to see the test report and not just rely on the result shown Federated Mutual Insurance on the product data sheet. If a potential supplier does not have a Company and its subsidiaries* federatedinsurance.com tested assembly that closely approximates your conditions, you 18.05 Ed. 11/17 *Not licensed in all states. may be better served finding a supplier who does. © 2017 Federated Mutual Insurance Company

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 13 PROJECT PROFILE VAULT SUPPORT CENTER CAFETERIA, AKRON, OH

Messina Floor Covering Tackles the Honeycomb Effect

BY RICHARD N HUNN MBA, MSAC, MESSINA FLOOR COVERING, LLC

essina Floor Covering, LLC is a mid-size flooring As the carpet tile was hexagon shaped, each piece of sheet lino- construction company located in Cleveland, Ohio. leum had to be delicately cut in the shape of a hexagon to match Mike Messina, President, started his company over the carpet tile. 25 years ago, literally working from the ground Additionally, the portion of the floor that was in the main part Mup: “Mike gained exposure to all aspects of the flooring industry, of the dining room was also in the shape of a much larger hexa- cultivating relationships with manufacturers and learning the gon. This design was supposed to mirror the “honeycomb effect,” best installation techniques. Messina Floor Covering specializes “a model that emphasizes integration. It is based on the premise in all types of flooring to include Commercial Carpet, Resilient, that initiatives can interrelate with one another, thereby creating Ceramic, Wood, and Specialty Flooring. With his diligence and opportunities that increase impact, diffusion and cohesiveness” hard work, Messina Floor Covering is now one of Northeast (Stratovategroup, 2016). This is a great way of getting company Ohio’s leading flooring companies.” employees together to create bonds and increase productivity When 1st Merit Bank in Akron, Ohio, wanted to design a which have spawned from the friendships they make in this masterpiece in their dining room and cafeteria vault support soothing atmosphere. center in June of 2014, they came to Messina Floor Covering. Frank Yagl, union flooring supervisor for Messina, worked Messina Floor Covering, LLC worked as the sub-contractor to closely with his team for over 200 manhours to create the floor a larger construction company to complete the job. Little did design. Frank stated, “the most difficult part of the job was that Messina Floor Covering know that this project would eventually there was this one point on the floor about forty-five feet from the become a Two-Phase project based on who owned the build- edge of the service area, where a piece of equipment would evening. The intricate design would be colorful and look amazing tually rest, and we had to work backwards from that point to meet once the project was done. Vibrant hues of light green, yellow, the rest of the flooring that was already put down in the service light blue, medium blue, dark blue, and charcoal were scattered area.” In some areas, the sheet linoleum had to be cut to meet the throughout the pattern, showcasing the colors of 1st Merit Bank. carpet tile, so as to look as if it was a continuous pattern.

14 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 PROJECT PROFILE VAULT SUPPORT CENTER CAFETERIA, AKRON, OH

Approximately two years after the project was completed, the vault support center was sold to Huntington Bank, whose color scheme was different from the 1st Merit Bank original project. As shown in the diagram, the red dots indicated are where blue tiles had to be exchanged with charcoal-colored tiles. Over 200 sheet linoleum and carpet tiles had to be replaced. Our flooring team at Messina worked hard and long hours to carefully cut out the existing tiles, without disrupting the surrounding tiles, and peeled away the original sheet linoleum to expose the bare floor. Exposing the bare floor meant that the Messina team needed to sand the glue off the floor and re-prep the floor for the new tiles. According to Frank Yagl, “the second time around, we cut a big circle in the center of the tile, and then carefully removed the outer edges of the tile, trying carefully not to disrupt the tiles that were staying in place.” The man-hours for the rework on this job took almost twice as long as the team was only able to replace 2-3 tiles per hour. Additionally, there were some permanent pieces of equipment that could not be moved, so Frank and his team had to work around those more carefully to complete the job. 

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 15 INSTALLATION FEATURE

Substrate Preparation Tips

NSTALL acts as a driving force behind solving industry problems, especially when it comes to elevating training standards. IAs a key initiative in 2017, INSTALL increased its focus on substrate preparation by creating a certification program to set the foundation to directly address and eliminate substrate flooring failure. INSTALL instructor, Mark Olson, an integral part of the de- WOOD MOISTURE METER LINE velopment of the INSTALL substrate preparation program, provided insight on his top three substrate preparation tips:

Don’t Skip Proper Priming Proper priming is typically required by manufacturers in order to maintain the warranty. If a primer is improperly applied, or even worse, not applied at all, this increases chances of flooring failure and will void the product’s warranty. In addition, the replacement of the flooring will be disruptive to occupants, time consuming and can cost up to 10x the amount of the original installation.

Follow Manufacturer Mixing Requirements CONCRETE MOISTURE TEST Each manufacturer tests its products in different time increments to ensure the product will be mixed well enough and will work as intended. If it is not mixed correctly or by the manufacturer’s recommended time, it will increase the chance of installation failure. Not to mention, it may tarnish a contractor’s reputation and cost future business.

Dress for Success Wearing proper cleats for each job is crucial. Every flooring installer who works with self-leveling product will need to work directly with the product, blending pours as well as distribution. Wearing cleats also ensures that the primer that was installed beforehand will not be disturbed. 

16 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 START WITH SAFETY

52 Topics for Safety Talk Material

Forms for Safety Related Incidents

FCICA Members Download Your FREE Copy Login to the Member Center www.fcica.com/login

Not a Member? TODAY Join Today! GET YOUR COPY PROJECT PROFILE ULTA BEAUTY, EDGEWATER, NJ

The Gillespie Group and Ardex Team Up on Flooring Renovation Effort for Leading U.S. Beauty Retailer

n the past two years alone, ULTA Beauty has opened over 200 stores, becoming “For highly trafficked retail the largest beauty retailer in the US. Along the way the company has retooled environments, the quality and condition Ior renovated several existing properties, one recently being the 5,000-square foot of the flooring is a sometimes-under- store located at the prestigious Promenade in Edgewater, NJ, a multi-store shopping appreciated key component to the complex located along the Hudson River. New flooring was part of the renovation scope, overall experience and well-being of and The Gillespie Group, a leading NJ-based commercial flooring company, was selected both shoppers and employees.” to repair and replace the existing flooring.

With an established reputation for executing large projects in very tight timelines, The Gillespie Group was able to complete the flooring portion of the project in an impressive two days. The Gillespie Group chose ARDEX K 15® Premium Self-Lev- eling Underlayment to achieve perfectly level flooring conditions. “For highly trafficked retail environments, the quality The perfect combination and condition of the flooring is a sometimes-under-appreciated for resilient flooring key component to the overall experience and well-being of both shoppers and employees,” noted Bob Gillespie, CEO of The installation: TRIAC AT, Gillespie Group. “An uneven floor simply creates a myriad of MINIFLOOR Drive Unit problems for retailers.” ARDEX K 15 was specified for the project not only for its and GROOVY. ability to achieve a perfectly smooth, flat surface, but also for its fast-curing properties. “Given the tight timeline and high-quality expectations, ARDEX K 15 was an easy choice,” Gillespie explained. A proven product, ARDEX K 15 is one of the most specified self-leveling applications in North America. The Gillespie Group, an authorized ARDEX LevelMaster Elite Installer®, has had extensive experience with the product, having used it for numerous large flooring projects throughout New Jersey. “Key to any project with this type of turnaround is careful planning and diligent attention to details during application,” Gillespie added. “The team from ULTA was very accommodat- ing and a pleasure to work with. They were very happy with the newly renovated floors, and especially grateful that we For more info, contact: were able to accomplish our portion of the project on a tight [email protected] schedule.” 

18 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018

PROJECT PROFILE FUNDIDORA PARK, MONTERREY, MEXICO

Fundidora Park, Monterrey Mexico

ostik, Inc., a world leader in specialty adhesives quickly transform an old foundry wall into a modern, master- and installation systems for building construction, piece-quality work of art,” exclaimed Daniel Sanchez, Bostik recently announced the winner of the Bostik Mexico Mexicana’s National Sales Manager, Consumer & Construc- Mural Competition/Pro Category in typical grand tion Business Unit, who presided over the mural’s unveiling Bfashion. Ten of Mexico’s most well-known architectural de- as Master of Ceremonies to the nearly 100 industry profes- signers were commissioned to design a unique stone mural, sionals who attended. one of which to be selected as Grand Prize Winner by a panel Creative Edge President/Founder Jim Belilove added, “Over of industry-specific judges. The winning design would be 2,000 pieces of NuWa’s stone material were individually cut and fabricated by Creative Edge Master Shop, the firm precision-cut by our computer-driven waterjet systems. Tol- that first harnessed the capabilities of high-pressure waterjet erances were extremely tight for a project of this magnitude. technology to cut, fabricate and deliver unique architectural In most cases, joints were 1/16th of an inch or less! The entire projects. Stone material, provided by NuWa Stone, would mural was put together using Bostik installation materials. I consist of stunning marbles, granites, lava stones and basalts. cannot imagine a better product line to use for an undertak- Ultimately, this imposing 30’ x 30’ tour de force would be in- ing such as our Monterrey mural.” stalled in Monterrey, Mexico’s Fundidora Park as a ventilated Gracie Morris, President/CEO of NuWa Stone Inc. then façade on the wall of a massive, defunct foundry. stated, “NuWa Stone was proud to partner with Bostik and Designed by competition winner, architect Tomás Creative Edge to co-sponsor this latest installation of the Güereña, the Grand Prize mural is an interpretation of the stone-art contest in the beautiful city of Monterrey. The entire evolution/transformation of the former Steel and Foundry experience was seamlessly delivered and successfully exe- Company of Monterrey into Fundidora Park, a highly popular cuted from beginning to end, thanks to the wonderful team public venue and site of Latin America’s foremost Museum of at Bostik. The opportunity not only allowed NuWa Stone to Industrial Archeology. engage with local designers and architects in Mexico, but also “The mural was bonded and installed with Bostik’s to be a part of the winning artist’s vision through the use of high-performance technology, Panel Tack™, allowing us to natural stone.”

20 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 PROJECT PROFILE FUNDIDORA PARK, MONTERREY, MEXICO

Why is the CIM program for You? Flexible Online Training Career Advancement Industry Connections Competitive Advantage After the unveiling presentation, all attendees were invited Advanced Managment Skills to an upscale, lavish hospitality event right inside the former Steel and Foundry Company of Monterrey, hosted by Bostik. Your Greater Earning Potential “We’re highly focused on building our brand throughout the There is no other program like CIM available Americas,” declared Scott Banda, Bostik’s Director of Market- for Installation and Project Managers ing and Business Development. “This is a very ‘hot’ construc- Visit our Website for more Information: www.FCICA.com/CIM tion region, which currently is burgeoning with both new construction and high-end renovation. Mexico’s construction industry is very focused on using the most updated, specialty installation materials. As a result of that, we’re establishing legions of new and mutually beneficial partnerships throughout this part of the world.” 

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 21 INSTALLATION FEATURE Previously published in Floor Covering News, Volume 32/number 12, November 20, 2017

Prevent Moisture Mitigation From Disrupting Labor Schedules Four Best Practices for Limiting Costly Downtime

BY ELLIOT GORDON, GCP APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES

ized subcontractor is difficult to schedule and may delay the project for weeks. So, how do you avoid project setbacks and overcome the tricky balance of scheduling around unforeseen moisture in a flooring project? Consider the following four best practices:

Test Early & Test Again One of the biggest mistakes flooring contractors make is to not plan for the possibility of moisture at the time of sale. Flooring contractors need to do their homework before setting foot on a project and educate their customers about moisture. Excess moisture in concrete slabs is a common issue, whether working on new construction or a renovation. In new construction, accelerated project schedules may not allow time for the slab to fully dry—a process that can take several months. In renovation projects, older slabs may not have adequate waterproofing or the moisture barrier membrane may have become compromised over time. Whatever the reason, mitigating the problem before installing finished flooring is looring contractors carefully plan out their labor uti- critical to avoid a costly disruption. lization, so that they can meet their customers’ time- Get a moisture test done well in advance of installing F lines, limit costly downtime and maximize revenues. flooring by a certified pro. Anywhere from a year to a month However, it is difficult to plan precisely as unexpect- beforehand is ideal for conducting initial moisture testing to ed issues arise on flooring projects. One common challenge is start planning for the “what ifs”. This early testing will give moisture in flooring. If a floor has high moisture content, extra you the big picture of what you are dealing with—if mois- time is required to conduct moisture mitigation. ture levels are low, you know you will not need to allocate Contractors are under pressure to complete projects on ev- resources for moisture mitigation and you can free them up er-shorter schedules with ever-tighter budgets. The imperative for other projects. For higher levels, continue monitoring to get the job done quickly and efficiently may overshadow the moisture levels closer to installation time to make a final need to fully test concrete slabs to determine whether mois- decision on the best moisture mitigation strategy. If you leave ture remediation is called for. However, if moisture testing is the first moisture testing to days before installation, and there not conducted and moisture content sneaks up on you in the is a moisture issue, you will still have to delay the project to middle of a project, it can be extremely disruptive to schedules submit change orders and move around schedules. and it can be costly. Many contractors do not have the in-house By testing early you can plan for what products are needed capabilities to conduct moisture mitigation. Hiring a special- and schedule the right pros on the job at the right time. And, if

22 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 there is a moisture problem, you can order the right materials and submit a change order.

Products to Speed Up Timeline The traditional approach to moisture mitigation is the use of a two-part epoxy to seal the slab surface, providing a dry substrate for the floor. While effective, this method requires multiple coats and a long cure time, potentially delaying the project schedule. Newer technologies can help speed up the timeline when mitigation is required, freeing up labor for the next project. These innovations also help flooring contractors feel more comfortable maximizing their number of projects, while still meeting customers’ timelines. A proven moisture mitigation strategy is to apply a moisture barrier like KOVARA™ floor underlayments (previously known as VERSASHIELD®) prior to installing the finished flooring. KOVARA™ moisture barriers are sheet membranes designed to be laid down above the concrete slab but underneath floor coverings including carpet, vinyl, ceramic tile and more. When working on a renovation, moisture barriers can also be placed over intact existing flooring to avoid demolishing the old flooring. These latest sheet membranes for floor protection are designed to offer significant advantages over liquid epoxy. Contractors and building owners can enjoy reduced installation time and easy application, saving time and labor.

Training It is vital to spend the time and money to make sure your team is well-trained. They should know the proper installation techniques for all products used and how to use tools safely and properly. A well trained team works efficiently and avoids costly mistakes that can cause time-consuming delays.

Communication Another important element to keep a project running smoothly and on time is daily or at least weekly communication between the general contractor and the flooring contractor, even before the flooring installation begins. Regular communication will keep everyone in sync, keep the flooring contractor updated on the latest project schedule, and avoid unforeseen disruptions. Be sure to document all communication as well. After a phone call, follow-up with an email addressing what was talked about and agreed upon action items. This follow-up documentation holds everyone accountable and avoids miscommunication that can easily happen in quick phone calls when balancing multiple priorities. Planning well in advance, examining and testing projects before scheduling and ordering materials, using the latest innovations, training and communication all contribute to a well executed flooring project. It is critically important for flooring contractors to educate themselves and take the lead on necessary steps to avoid unexpected issues on a project. It will protect you from costly delays and your valuable reputation. 

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 23 PROJECT PROFILE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, NEW YORK CITY

Engineering a solution to deliver the mandate of perfectly flat floors and zero interior silica dust contamination.

hen the venerable New York Public Library drainage network was installed and a moisture barrier was ap- Main Branch at 5th Ave. and 42nd St. in plied. About 20,000 small bags of selfleveling underlayment New York City recently renovated 60,000 was proposed to level the space at an average depth of 2” to sf of dead storage space two stories below provide a flat, smooth level base for the new rack rail system. gradeW they faced formidable barriers. Built over the Croton Access was through a service hatch in the adjacent Bryant Reservoir and completed in 1911, this Beaux Arts landmark Park and then through a maze of underground corridors that building had underground space with very high moisture would have taken several weeks to load and remove the sub- conditions and the introduction of airborne silica dust con- sequent small bag debris. The GC faced a dilemma; there was tainments was prohibited. The library is open seven days a not enough time in the schedule for a traditional SLU installa- week, leaving short overnight windows for crews to work in tion, further complicated by the zero silica dust mandate and with very limited physical access. The space houses a new restricted hours that they could work in the space. highly sophisticated computer and motorized archival library New York-based Pyramid Floors recommended using the La- stack system holding 2.5 million invaluable research books ticrete Supercap system. They engineered a solution that solved that need to be safe, accessible and required a perfectly flat the dilemma. All the self-leveling underlayment is mixed floor to operate properly. The environment goal was to create outside using their patent-pending computer controlled mobile a space that was climate controlled at a constant 65o with blending truck that can mix and pump the equivalent of 600 40% humidity to protect books and manuscripts that dated bags an hour, up to 50 stories high. That kind of volume and back to the 1600 and 1700s. power was more than enough to reach and self-level the slab. Traditional methods were not going to work. An extensive The only thing that snaked through the subterranean space was

24 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 PROJECT PROFILE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, NEW YORK CITY

a hose. The Supercap system had a small exterior footprint and provided a simple, unobstructed delivery of the self-leveling product. The GC decided small bags were part of the problem, so Supercap’s product arrived in 2,300 lb. super-sacks. The cementitious calcium aluminate Supercap product has inherent self-drying properties that gains early high compressive strength and ultimately can reach over 5,000 psi. Trades can work on it the following day. Most importantly it provided stability and met the new rail system flatness specifications perfectly. The Project Supervisor said; “The results were fast, flat, dry and NO silica dust inside or outside. No one else can do what they did. This is what we all need to solve problems, save time and comply with the new OSHA silica dust ruling that keeps our people safe.” Laticrete Supercap is available as full-service installation, including floor prep, survey and placement. Self-performing contractors can now order Supercap as ready-mix delivery service. The Supercap team will train the contractor on state- of-the-art floor survey techniques and project estimating, and the contractor’s labor will install. The Supercap crew delivers and stages the super sacks and operates the pump truck. The contractor pays only for what is delivered wet-out-of-the hose. This new SLU ready-mix delivery service is allowing smaller contractors to bid on larger projects without any capital investment in the Supercap mobile blending unit. Supercap has consistently proven to install in 50% less time and 30% less cost, saving GC’s invaluable time on their schedules. There is also an added benefit; building out on a truly flat floor has a halo effect on many of the following trades, significantly lowering shimming and scribing time. The growth in installing large format ceramic tile and highly engineered wood wear surfaces demand that concrete substrates meet the manufacturers flatness specifications. GCs, building owners and architects are realizing how the Supercap system is helping them build better buildings at a better value. 

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 25 CASE STUDY

AIMIA Corporate Office Butler Square, Minneapolis, MN

utler Square wasn’t always full of trendy offices and retail mercial projects, the flooring provides zoned workspaces that are shops. In the early 1900’s, the building was home to welcoming to both clients and employees. Athletic Park, the 1,800-seat venue for the Minneapo- lis Millers and the St. Paul Saints. A century later, this DESIGN OVERVIEW Bnine-story historic landmark in Downtown Minneapolis is better Relocating AIMIA’s U.S. corporate headquarters to the historic Butler known as the home to corporate offices for companies like AIMIA. Square building in downtown Minneapolis was an opportunity for AIMIA, a data-driven marketing and loyalty analytics company, architect MSR Design to help the company redefine its workplace recently underwent a brand renaissance, emerging with a new name culture. Gone were traditional cubicles, and in entered expansive and culture. In celebration, the company set out to find and reno- collaborative workspaces, meeting tables and lounge-type furniture vate a flagship Twin Cities office. Butler Square was the ideal space, that provide choice and flexibility for employees. Three different but there was plenty of work to be done before move-in day. color-coded neighborhoods (green, blue, and purple) provide dif- After an extensive renovation, the resulting open-concept ferentiation and facilitate wayfinding throughout the office. environment seamlessly blends office and hospitality design and uses a dizzying array of flooring products. Installed with precision INSTALLATION CHALLENGES and care by the team at Sonus Interiors, an INSTALL Warranty Faced with a limited budget, MSR selected cost-effective finishes contractor with a history of working with large and complex com- and furniture to be used in innovative ways. While these decisions

26 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 ultimately saved money, the flooring installation process was complex and time constraints meant that there was zero room for error. INSTALL Warranty Contractor Sonus Interiors was selected to head up the flooring installation based on a preexisting relationship with the property management team. They were entrusted with the renovation, and immediately got to work with the archi- WE ARE tect to plan and install the intricate zoned design. MORE THAN Incorporating 24 different types of carpet, this project was no ADHESIVES. ordinary retrofit. In fact, the interior architect’s design was so complex that one journeyman was devoted to navigating the pattern, WE ARE while the other journeyman completed the installation. SOLUTIONS The pattern wasn’t the only challenge. During the initial tear- THAT STICK. out of the existing office space, the floors were so sticky from previous glue that you could literally get stuck in it. Having construction debris ground into the glue would have been a nightmare, so Immediate Access to 0.0 g/mL VOCs Sonus Interiors used a primer to seal the existing floors. If they All Traffic had not done this, the time spent to scrape the floors of construc- � Heavy Rolling Loads 3-4 Hour Working Time tion debris would have been exhausting, and it would have been a � All Trade/Consumer Traffic hazard to the other trades working in the space. Heat Weld in 1 Hour Industry-Leading Moisture pH Tolerance RESULTS Now offering the While the project proved complicated, with unexpected finds and a tight timeline, there was no delay when it came to the flooring 95% 98% RH RH installation. Thanks to Sonus Interiors’ INSTALL training and ON THE MARKET STANDARD PLATINUM certification, the team was able to ensure the integrity of the in- ADHESIVES ADHESIVES tricate design and provide a vibrant and contemporary new home for AIMIA. The resulting installation offers a seamless, bright and FOR MORE INFO, VISIT playful space that employees will enjoy for many years to come.  www.spraylock.com

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 27 PERSPECTIVE

Appropriate Floor Prep and Change Orders

BY EVAN ACTON, CIM, ACTON FLOORING

industry standards. We agreed to pour the job and charge per bag, so all parties knew exactly how much was used and what they were getting when all was said and done. At the beginning of the process we con- tacted ARDEX, and they sent a rep to the site to walk the job with us. After evaluat- ing, we decided on using ARDEX K 22 F™ since it was a wood subfloor. With the use of certified ARDEX installers, we were able to make a very smooth, level substrate with some of the roughest conditions possible. In the end the project ended up looking exactly how the owner wanted, solely because of the effort put into floor prep. For this project, it took over two weeks of emailing and phone calls just to get all parties together onsite to evaluate the issues at hand, but that’s what it took to get it right. It is vital as a contractor in situations like these to document everything that goes into the project. As soon as you know there is an issue, contact the general contractor. Don’t just show up with a piece of paper for him to sign because 99 percent of the s we all know there are the wooden subfloor that had been down for time that will not happen. Get all the parties many challenges flooring 60-plus years had some serious bows and involved—contractor, general contractor and installers face in today’s in- unlevel areas. We were installing a Tandus- owner if needed—because once you install Adustry, such as moisture in Centiva water jet cut luxury vinyl tile, with the material you have all the responsibility. the slab, accelerated sched- several intricate hallway patterns, and there Going over poor substrates happens all to ules, etc. However, the one that always was no way of installing without leveling. often, all it takes is a little time and effort to seems to rear its ugly head is the levelness Having priced a skimcoat, we notified explain why the change order is needed to and quality of the substrate that the floor- the general contractor that there was going hold the job to industry standards. If they do ing is going on, which is almost impossible to be change orders needed to complete the not accept your proposition, I would highly to predict when estimating a new job. work at hand. Initially we did have a lot of recommend requesting their response in a One of the most recent projects that we kick back from them, saying the budget was written from, expressing that they under- had this issue occur on was for the Univer- not there and we would have to “patch the stand you cannot warranty your work when sity of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. The build- worst areas”. After many emails with project installing over unsuitable flooring conditions. ing was called Little Hall, one of the oldest managers and the university, we agreed to do At this point if a failure occurs, everyone will buildings on Sorority Row, and most of It mock ups of what the floor would look like have an understanding that there were risks had never been under any serious renova- if we continued as quoted. Sure enough, we involved prior to installation. Change orders tions. When we got on site and started all came to the conclusion that pouring the are not the end of the world, and can make progress meetings it became very clear that floor was the only way to get it to acceptable life a lot easier on the average contractor. 

28 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018

KNOWLEDGE SHARE

An Introduction to ACI

BY JEFF JOHNSON, MAPEI

ithin our business segment relating to floorcover- providing resources for one of the most commonly bonded-to substrates ing products and installation there are a variety of we deal with in this industry: concrete. W well-known associations which offer a wealth of re- Say “hello” to the American Concrete Institute. If there is any sources and information on a specific flooring type organization more focused on one singular subject of concrete than the of subject. For example, The Resilient Floor Covering Institute covers all American Concrete Institute, I would be astounded. Founded in 1904 things relative to resilient flooring and was the main source of infor- and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, the American mation on asbestos when that topic was at the top of everyone’s hit list. Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the The Carpet & Rug Institute had its roots in developing resources and development and distribution of consensus-based standards, technical standards for the textile or carpet industry. The National Wood Flooring resources, educational and training programs, certification programs, Association stands ready to train, inform and lobby for all things related and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in to wood flooring. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the CTDA concrete design, construction and materials, who share a commitment (Ceramic Tile Distributors Association), NTCA (National Tile Contrac- to pursuing the best use of concrete. ACI has over 95 chapters, 125 tors Association) and the CTEF (Ceramic Tile Educational Foundation), student chapters, and nearly 20,000 members spanning over 120 coun- which cover the waterfront for all things ceramic or stone. And the list tries. This organization’s single-minded focus on concrete has given rise of related associations goes on, including the Floor Covering Installation to over 372 documents relating to concrete design and use. Contractors Association which deals with the business of floor covering One of those documents is extremely relative and important to the installation. So, if you look at that picture of industry associations and flooring industry and that is the ACI 302.2R-06 Guide for Concrete resources we pretty much have all the flooring aspects covered. But if Slabs that Receive Moisture-Sensitive Flooring Materials. The follow- you look closely you will notice one association or industry represen- ing is a direct quote from the statement of scope for this document: tative that is glaringly missing and that is an association dedicated to “This guide contains materials, design, and construction recommendations for concrete slabs-on-ground and suspended slabs that are to receive moisture-sensitive flooring materials. These flooring materials include sheet rubber, epoxy coatings, vinyl composition tile, sheet vinyl, carpet, athletic flooring, laminates, and hardwood. Chapters 1 through 8 provide an understanding of concrete moisture behavior and drying, and show how recommended construction practices can contribute to successful performance of floor covering materials. This background provides a basis for the recommendations in Chapter 9 to improve performance of floor covering materials in contact with concrete moisture and alkalinity. Because this guide is specific to floor moisture problems and solutions, refer to the most current editions of both ACI 302.1R, “Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construc- tion,” and ACI 360R, “Design of Slabs-on-Ground,” for general information. These two documents contain guidance on floor design and construction that is needed to achieve successful floor covering performance.” I have heard numerous disparaging comments from flooring related individuals stating “…those concrete people never think about floorcovering…” Nothing could be farther from the truth. The American Concrete Institute obviously understands the needs and expectations of the flooring industry and stands ready with resources, education and support to help insure floorcovering is installed properly and withstands the rigors it has been designed to withstand. It is highly recommended that you get to know the ACI a little better and a walk through of their website is a very good place to start. Check them out at www.concrete. org. At the upcoming FCICA Convention March 18-20 in Biloxi, MS, a session will be dedicated to exposing you to the ACI as well as getting to know very well all the great information contained in the ACI 302.2R- 06 guide and how it can help you understand this crazy concrete stuff better so your work can proceed flawlessly for years to come. 

30 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 BUSINESS

What Do My Employees Need to Know About Cybersecurity?

BY BRYCE AUSTIN, TCE STRATEGY

f you are not educating your employees on cybersecurity words stink. They are no fun to create, no fun to remember, and best practices, you are missing the biggest opportunity for no fun to type in. That being said, passwords are still the most improvement in your entire cybersecurity profile. Your common authentication method today. It is imperative to implement Iemployees have business-need access to a lot of important a password policy requiring complex passwords that can’t easily be data, and their ability to protect that data—or to inadver- guessed, and end-user training to go along with it. Microsoft’s Active tently let it walk out the door of your organization—is strong. Directory “require complex passwords” setting is a start, but Lack of education was at the heart of a number of incidents of end-user training is also mandatory. a major security breach. You have probably heard about the new Many users use the same passwords for every online sys- HR employee that got an email from the president of the organi- tem they need a password for. This is a problem. If one site gets zation asking for all the W2 information on every employee, so hacked, cybercriminals will try your credentials at all common that person sent them exactly as instructed. The employee did not websites, and possibly at your business’s VPN. It is imperative that recognize the fact that the email came from a hacker impersonat- your cybersecurity awareness training program encourage your ing the CEO, and a major security breach took place. team members to use different passwords for different sites, and Entire business models are based on this kind of fraud. Let’s pre- especially for any system that your company uses. tend that I am going to build a site with the world’s best collection of Most companies have some sort of safety guidelines that their cute pet pictures. I’ll give you the first 10 for free (and those 10 are the employees must follow or be aware of and cybersecurity should most adorable pictures you have ever seen), but to see more, you need be no different. There are a number of companies that specialize to set up a username and password. The access is still free, though. in this type of training, and they may or may not be a good fit for No big deal, right? Wrong. In this scenario, I own this website your company culture. Picking the right type of training is critical; and I am a criminal, and my business model is to try to use the having a good cultural fit is more important than the actual con- username and password you just entered at every major banking tent. Be sure to do proper due diligence to ensure that the training website, on all major email providers, on your company’s VPN content offered by the company or companies you are considering portal, and anywhere else that I think you might have used the is a good fit for the culture of your company. same username and password. I will then extract any valuable The important message here is that you already know you must information I can from those sites, sell the information for a profit, train your employees on certain things in order to have them possibly ransom your own data from you to make even more mon- perform their job functions. Cybersecurity is one of those things. ey, and then move on to the next victim. If you are uncertain as to how to structure a cybersecurity training Need some numbers to illustrate why educating your employees program, find an advisor that can help you. about cybersecurity practices is important? Questions to explore this topic further with your compa- • Per IDG’s 2016 Global State of Information Survey, 48 percent ny’s leaders: of data security breaches are caused by acts of malicious intent. • When was the last time you were trained on cybersecurity? Human error or system failure account for the rest. What did you take away from it? • According to the Ponemon Institute, 60 percent of employees • Do your team members who have access to sensitive data get use the exact same password for everything they access. Mean- additional training above and beyond those who do not?  while, 63 percent of confirmed data breaches leverage a weak, default or stolen password. Bryce Austin is the CEO of TCE Strategy, an internationally-recog- So where can your company start? Start with a training pro- nized speaker on emerging technology and cybersecurity issues, and gram. Your employees need to be educated on cybersecurity best author of Secure Enough? 20 Questions on Cybersecurity for Business practices. One of the issues that any cybersecurity awareness Owners and Executives. With over 10 years of experience as a Chief training program should address: Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, Bryce actively advises companies across a wide variety of industries on effec- Implementing real password policies. tive methods to mitigate cyber threats. For more information on Bryce There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to say it: Pass- Austin, please visit www.BryceAustin.com.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 31 HEADING????BONDING SERVICES EXPERIENCE THE GRANITE RE VALUE DIFFERENCE¨

Surety is the only line of insurance that Granite Re, Inc. offers, allowing the Granite team to provide contractors the quality service they need and deserve. Granite Re is well known for our creative thinking and flexibility within the industry. We strive to find ways to help clients—and this sets us apart from the rest.

Granite Re provides timely, efficient bonding services backed by financial strength and personal service.

Why Granite? We Specialize In: • Bonding projects up to $8 million per job. • Offering a wealth of underwriting experience, quick turnaround times, and impeccable service. • Responding to bond requests within 24 hours, and often provide same-day approval. • Employing experienced underwriters who know how to help your business grow and succeed in the contractor bonding marketplace. • Promptly delivering services available to provide the bonds you need in a timely manner

Superior Service at a Fair Cost Clients often tell us that quality service is more important than pricing. Nevertheless, it is important to match our product pricing with our clients’ financial strength and experience. This is why Granite Re will customize rates to reflect your business finances and marketplace expertise.

Financial Strength Over the past 25 years, Granite Re, Inc. has grown to be among the top surety writers in the United States. Independent insurance industry analyst A.M. Best® has given Granite Re an A (Excellent) financial strength rating. This financial stability allows our Company to offer contract bonding your business can trust.

Granite Re, Inc. is a wholly owned, subsidiary of Federated Mutual Insurance Company.

32 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 GRANITE RE, INC. AT A GLANCE

Our History Granite Re, Inc. began business in Oklahoma in 1986. Since then, Granite has provided small- and medium-sized contractors across the country creative bond lines tailored to meet their specific needs.

Who We Are • Home office—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Total employees—23 • Line of insurance—Surety Bonds • Among the top surety writers in the United States • Rated A.M. Best® A (Excellent) • Certificate of authority from the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Association Affiliations • National Association of Surety Bond Producers • National Bond Claims Association • Surety & Fidelity Association of America • Surety & Fidelity Claims Institute • National Association of Independent Sureties • Various Local and State Surety Associations • American Subcontractors Association

“ The company’s core principles are to provide tailored products to meet their clients’ needs, a commitment to quality service, and a focus on providing outstanding service to small and medium-sized contractors. They have done all those things exceptionally well. Today, they are one of the nation’s top 35 surety bond companies, with bonding capabilities in 36 states.” Jeff Fetters Chairman, President and CEO { Federated Insurance }

Granite Re, Inc. is a wholly owned, subsidiary of Federated Mutual Insurance Company.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 33 CORNER

The Value of the CIM Program

BY KELLY FULLER, FCICA DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

e have covered the program’s content to its fullest extent. in the program’s future development and is many aspects of the So let’s ask the Certified Installation now the chairman of the CIM Steering Com- Certified Installa- Managers or CIMs for short. Who better mittee that oversees the program. W tion Manager (CIM) to talk about the impact than the men and Mike earned his CIM designation while Program here in the women who have completed it? In each managing projects for a commercial floor- CIM Corner from how it started, to why upcoming issue of The Flooring Contractor ing contractor in California, but finds its content is so relevant and important to magazine, we will spotlight these outstand- that the program’s benefits extend into the commercial flooring industry. This time ing individuals. Learn what makes them his current role as a Technical Installation we wanted to talk about the value of the stand out from their peers and how the Specialist for a flooring manufacturer. He program and the benefits that the program CIM program helped them to become bet- is also actively involved with the gover- graduates have discovered as they apply ter equipped to manage their own flooring nance of the program and sits on the CIM their newly obtained knowledge to their projects or support commercial flooring Steering Committee. Most recently, Mike own flooring projects or to support flooring contractors and their management teams. presented the FCICA webinar “Project project management teams. We will kick off this new CIM Spotlight Management for Commercial Floor- But how do you determine the value of segment with two exceptional individuals, ing” where he covered important project education? What benchmarks can be used Amy Johnston and Mike Pigeon. management topics and outlined the to measure the benefits gained? It’s easy to Amy has the exclusive distinction of being benefits of the Certified Installation man- calculate the savings from taking an online the first person to earn the CIM designa- ager (CIM) Program. A recording of that course as opposed to a traditional class- tion. She experienced the program not just webinar is available on the FCICA website room, just add up the cost of travel, time as a student, but also as an instructor, as we www.fcica.com and YouTube channel. lost from being on the job, the price of the were fortunate to have her co-facilitate the For more information about the course, etc. Since the CIM program is en- learning module “Closing Out the Job” and Certified Installation Manager (CIM) tirely online, easy to access and self-paced, share her expertise as a Project Manager and Program or to submit your application none of that is really a factor. We wanted to Estimator working for a commercial flooring visit www.fcica.com/CIM or contact know what real benefits have come out of it contractor in Michigan. Since Amy received Kelly Fuller-FCICA Director of Education and how the CIMs have been able to utilize her designation, she has been very involved 248.661.5015; email [email protected]. 

AMY JOHNSTON, CIM MIKE PIGEON, CIM Company: Flooring Services, Inc. Company: ROPPE Corporation Title: Project/Installation Manager Title: Technical Installation Specialist Responsibilities: Estimating, quotes, installer Responsibilities: Installation and product job packets, billing, project management, purchasing training, job inspections, job start-ups, documentation Years at current company: 14 updates and maintenance, new product and adhesive Years in the fl ooring industry: 21 testing, customer service technical support Dream career: Nursing Years at current company: 3 Years in the fl ooring industry: 31 Why become an Certifi ed Installation Manager? Dream career: An astronaut, however I hear they do not need fl ooring in space yet. It was an obvious step in my career to go through the training to better myself and learn as much as possible from the other presenters. Completing the CEU requirements has been a Why become an Certifi ed Installation Manager? great way for me to stay current with changes in the industry as well. Being a former project manager, I wanted to broaden my knowledge in ALL aspects of the business. I know that FCICA has members that are some of the brightest minds in the What other educational opportunities have you participated in? industry and would be invaluable to me. OSHA 10, Asbestos certifi cation, Lead removal certifi cation, Fork lift trainer training, ARDEX, UZIN. I was a student and then a graduate assistant 16 times for Dale Carnegie training What other educational opportunities have you participated in? I have involved myself in numerous opportunities from my apprenticeship in the beginning What’s an interesting thing about you that most people to specifi c manufacturing certifi cations. I attend ALL educational sessions at FCICA events, don’t know? attend trade shows, am an active member of ASTM, and most of all I talk to people in the I am a closet Heavy Metal fan \m/ I am a closet Trekkie industry wherever I go. A conversation with an industry expert can go a long way.

What’s an interesting thing about you that most people don’t know? Although I’m Canadian born and played a lot of hockey, I was never really any good at it—but I love to watch it.

34 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 KNOWLEDGE SHARE

What can ASTM do for you?

BY SONNY CALLAHAM, H.B. FULLER

STM, formally known as American Society for Testing new standard is ASTM F3191 Standard Practice for Field Determi- and Materials, does more than just write documents nation of Substrate Water Absorption (Porosity) for Substrates to Afor the manufacturing of products; they design stan- Receive Resilient Flooring. This standard ensures everyone is eval- dards and test methods that improve the lives of mil- uating substrates in the same way. Now this may not sound like lions of people every day. ASTM was founded in 1898 by Charles its important, but as an adhesive manufacturer, I understand how B. Dudley, Ph.D. Dr. Dudley was a chemist with the Pennsylvania important it is to know the porosity of the substrate to understand Railroad. According to the American Chemical Society, Dudley the open and working time of the adhesive. ICRI, concrete CSP was one of the first to embody a description of the methods of chips are not only used for the mechanical bond of the material chemical analysis in specifications for materials. He also started being installed, but also for porosity. These chips can be subjective and was head of the first chemistry lab within a railroad company. and vary from job to job; now we have a standard that helps each Today there are more than 12,000 ASTM standards worldwide. job be evaluated in the same way for porosity. These standards are developed and approved with a voluntary If you ever have a question about how a material should be consensus. ASTM is driven by the expertise and commitment of evaluated, flooring, substrate or any other product, research its 30,000 members, who come from more than 140 countries. ASTM and chances are they have a standard for it. Membership They use good science, good engineering and good judgment to fees vary depending on what category you will join as, but the improve performance in manufacturing and materials, products meetings are free to attend (you just cannot vote until you are a and processes, systems and services. Businesses, governments and member) and everyone’s input is always welcome!  individuals collaborate openly and transparently in the technical committees, ensuring the standards combine market relevance with the highest technical quality. The standards development process is available and open to all interested parties at any time. As a flooring contractor, these standards ensure there is a clear guideline of what is expected for a successful installation. Many people only associate ASTM standards with the big 3: ASTM F710, Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring; ASTM F1869, Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride; and ASTM F2170, Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes. There are so many more that are specific to floor covering! Many of you have heard me speak of the big three; they are VERY important to a successful installation. If you ever submit a claim for a failure to an underlayment, adhesive or flooring manufacturer, you will be judged by one or all three of these standards. It is imperative that you and your Certified In- stallation Managers have a copy of these standards and are familiar enough with them to apply them to everyday applications. In 2012, the ASTM D14 Committee approved D7799, Standard Specification for Tufted and Woven Broadloom Carpet Adhe- sives Without Homogenous PVC or Non-PVC Backings. This standard covers specifications for broadloom carpet adhesives (Multi-purpose). The next year, ASTM F06 Committee approved F3010, Standard Practice for Two-Component Resin Based Mem- brane-Forming Moisture Mitigation Systems for Use Under Resil- ient Floor Coverings. Manufacturers of such systems can say they meet or exceed this requirement for moisture mitigation. Another

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 35 BUSINESS

Construction Documents: What Don’t You Know?

BY ERIC D. LUSSIER, PRECISION ATHLETIC SURFACES

t is an enlightening experience when you get out from pertain to your work. There is no way you can properly prepare behind your desk and start talking to other people in the a bid without reviewing all of the documents that pertain to the industry. It doesn’t take much time to figure out that every work you are required to provide. I discipline approaches a project and the documents from a The Contract Documents also require that the General unique and different perspective. Contractor review all of the documents related to the work. What is real travesty in Architecture, Engineering and Con- Most Subcontractors and Installers would not know this because struction (AEC) is that many of us are not getting adequate they don’t see the Owner/Contractor agreement. If you get the Contract Document education in our colleges, universities, trade job, you will be asked to sign an agreement with the General programs or on the job. This leads to added risk, cost overruns, Contractor that includes ‘flow down language’ requiring you to conflicts, disputes, time delays and sometimes even litigation. The comply with those same requirements. This typically means one worst part is that it is an easy thing to fix. If we were really moving sentence that says you have to comply with the same contract forward, Contract Document education would be required for requirements that the General Contractor has agreed to with the everyone working in the built environment. Owner. The only way to adequately understand these require- Right now, our education mainly comes from a trial by fire. You ments is to get a full copy of the documents and read them. screw up on the job and then you learn what you should not do 3. Division 00 – Procurement Requirements - Division 00 is typi- again. Unfortunately, we continue to hand down bad habits, mis- cally the first section in the Specifications. Sometimes it is distrib- conceptions and incorrect information from senior to junior staff. uted as a separate volume. These are all the rules of bidding and As a result, we continue to make the same mistakes. We would will include the General and Supplemental Conditions (broad like to try to start fixing that. administrative requirements for the project). Division 00 will This article is meant to give you just a taste of some of the things outline how your bid must be prepared, what documents must you should be thinking about and looking at before you submit be reviewed, how bids will be awarded, when the bids are due, your bid and, if awarded the contract, before you start the work. required (or not) pre-bid meetings and a host of other informa- Trust us when we say there is plenty more to learn but hopefully tion. If you are a Subcontractor, a one or two-page bid sheet from this will give you a head start. the GC with a couple sheets of your drawings and your spec 1. Understand that the Drawings and Specifications are written section is not enough. You need to, at the very least, review all for the General Contractor and it is the GC’s responsibility to of the Division 00 requirements to understand if there are other administer the means and methods on the job site, with all of things that affect you and your work. the other parties involved, to complete the work. That said, 4. Division 01 – Administrative Requirements - Division 01 understanding the Contract Documents will help you prepare a represents the rules of the road for your specific project (the better bid, reduce risk during the work, better communicate and 2nd level of Administrative Requirements for the Project that is protect your interests with the GC if there is a problem. more narrowly defined than the General Conditions). The list 2. Do you have a full copy of the Contract Documents? Drawings is lengthy in Division 01 and every item could potentially affect and Specifications? You are misguided and at risk if you think you you, your bid and your work. have all of the information you need on just a couple of sheets of Division 01 applies to the entire project and you will find drawings that show your work. There is a reason they are called items like: (this is only a partial list) ‘Contract Documents’. It is because the Contract between the • A description of the project. Owner/Architect and the Contract between the Owner/Contractor • Owner work or Owner furnished items. names the Drawings and Specs as part of the Contract. Would you • Price and payment procedures for the project. sign any other contract without reading all of the requirements? • Codes and reference standards. Also, if the documents are prepared correctly, the draw- • Required pre-installation meetings and scheduling. ings should show locations and spatial requirements and your • Submittal and mock-up requirements. specifications will outline the products to be used, installation • Alternates, Allowances and Unit Prices potentially effecting requirements and other special administrative requirements that your bid.

36 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 • Sustainable design requirements for the project. Requirements). Basically, you have three places to look to • General product requirements. understand what you are required to do and provide. • Project closeout requirements. Part 2 PRODUCTS is everything you need to know about • Maintenance material requirements. the products you are to provide for your work. Manufactur- • Substitution Requirements (before and after the bid). er, type, style, size, color, transitions, accessories, etc. You • Rules of communication. will also find things like factory testing requirements. • Quality assurance and testing requirements. Part 3 EXECUTION includes all of the information and • Requirements for how your materials are delivered, handled requirements for the installation of your product. This can and stored. include things like pre-installation testing, limits on • Project warranty requirements. substitutions, performance criteria, operation and controls, • Temporary facility requirements. shop fabrication, assembly, finishing methods, installation Every single item above has the potential to affect the time instructions, preparation, site quality control, cleaning, you have to spend on the work of the project, which then affects closeout activities, training and maintenance. the bid you need to prepare. Nobody wants to find out after they have signed a contract that the project has extensive submittal The bottom line is that there is very important information in requirements that may take a lot of hours, or an expensive mock- the full drawings and specifications of which you need to be aware. up or something else that you did not include in the bid because Having full knowledge of these items will help you spot conflicts you didn’t see it. Remember, you are required to review ALL of the between the drawings and specifications, understand what work Contract Documents. is expected of you and help you reduce risk from the very begin- 5. The Actual Specification Section for your Work: At our work- ning. If you are awarded the project, this early knowledge of the shops and presentations, the general feedback from Subcontrac- requirements will help you ask the right questions, plan your work tors has been that they only look at the sections specific to their efficiently, proactively address issues and save you time. work, if they look at the specifications at all. This is a mistake and This article represents only a portion of the knowledge you you are exposing yourself to added risk if that is how you operate. should have if you work in any discipline in Architecture, Engineer- a. If you are a flooring subcontractor, besides looking at the ing or Construction. The good news is, there are places you can get requirements for your work, you should understand and this knowledge with programs that are well rounded and affordable. review the specifications for the subfloor that goes under The Construction Specifications Institute offers cradle-to-grave your product. We all know that the concrete is poured or education in Project Delivery through the CDT (Construction Doc- the sub-floor is installed typically well before the flooring uments Technologist) Education Program. You can find out more installer arrives on the job. Also, a flooring installer is often here: https://www.csiresources.org/certification/cdt coming in at the 11th hour as the GC doesn’t want to be FCICA offers the CIM (Certified Installation Manager) Program performing construction on new floors. This is the absolute which also offers education in Construction Documents. Informa- worst time to discover you have a problem. tion on that program is located here: https://www.fcica.com/CIM If you understand what your product requires for the We hope you join us at the table for better coordination and subfloor, review those specs during the bid period and collaboration with less risk! point out any problems that you may find (i.e. inadequate concrete curing time) prior to the bid – you have a good About Let’s Fix Construction chance of having it corrected in an Addendum and not The mission of Let’s Fix Construction is to bring all parties to the table having to deal with (and/or pay for) the issue later. Even with equal knowledge so we can deliver the best projects possible. We if it doesn’t cost you actual dollars to deal with an issue, if it hope this article is just one step in that direction. Check out our efforts costs you time, it’s the same thing. here at www.letsfixconstruction.com. If you are attending the FCICA b. Your Spec Section(s) are specific to your work and has Convention in Biloxi, we would love to have you attend our session. three parts. This is for a reason and designed as such to LetsFixConstruction.com was co-founded by two AEC professionals help you find what you need quickly and easily. from opposite coasts. It is a grass roots effort to bring all disciplines in our industry to the table to share knowledge and find solutions to Part 1 GENERAL of the Section is the third layer of problems we encounter on the job every day. Their efforts currently in- Administrative Requirements on the project. These clude blogs from knowledgeable and respected members of the indus- requirements are specific to your product. Part 1 will try, workshops/educational sessions and a newly launched podcast.  include things like submittals, warranty, pre-installation meetings, codes, closeout procedures, samples, mock-ups, Eric D. Lussier of Precision Athletic Surfaces outside of Burlington, Ver- testing, etc. SPECIFIC TO YOUR PRODUCT/ mont and Cherise Lakeside, Specifier for LSW Architects of Vancouver, WA INSTALLATION. These requirements are IN ADDITION met through the Construction Specifications Institute. They have a shared TO the General Conditions (Broad Project Requirements) passion to do more than just gripe about issues plaguing our industry which and the Division 01 Requirements (Specific Project Wide was how LetsFixConstruction.com was born in August of 2016.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 37 NEW PRODUCTS

1 1. ARDEX UI 720™ FLEXBONE® Floating Uncoupling Membrane ARDEX Americas is pleased to announce that ARDEX UI 720™ FLEXBONE®Floating Uncoupling Membrane is now available in convenient sheets for purchase at ARDEX distributors throughout North America. A revolutionary unbonded, fl oating uncoupling membrane for true 100% uncoupling, the ARDEX UI 720 FLEXBONE sheets are designed for installer convenience on smaller jobs. Each sheet is 39” wide x 78.75” long (1 m wide x 2 m long) for 21.5 ft2 (2 m2) of coverage per sheet. ARDEX UI 720 FLEXBONE saves up to 50% on installation time and cost and is an ideal solution for frequently changed-out fl oors or for use directly over an array of dif- 2 fi cult substrates that would normally require subfl oor preparation prior to installation. The unique bone shape design allows for fast and easy prefi lling in just one pass.

2. Crossville’s Bohemia Porcelain Tile Collection Empowers Boho-Chic Style Crossville, Inc. has announced the launch of Bohemia, the brand’s latest porcelain tile collection. Taking inspiration from the history and spirit of nomadic cultures, the line offers unconventional takes on texture and color. Bohemia is offered in eight versatile, nuanced colors in a fabric-like, unpolished ﬁ nish that is simple to maintain and highly durable. The spectrum of colors includes bold, light-to-dark neutrals, as well as blue and green offerings. The colors are 3 inspired by—and named for—the unapologetic, informal style of the boho-chic movement: Free Spirit, Drifter, Artist, Vagabond, Tinker, Wanderer, Rebel, and Beatnik.

3. Battery-powered pro-grade fl ooring stapler Introducing the world’s fi rst battery-powered pro-grade fl ooring stapler 18 GA Flooring Stapler (DCN682) from DEWALT. The 18 Gauge Flooring Stapler drives 18 Gauge 1/4” narrow crown staples from 1/2” to 1-1/2”, making it ideal for installing solid and engineered hardwood ranging in thickness from 3/8” to 5/8”. A contact arm optimized for fl ooring, along with a tool-free adjustable base, helps to drive fasteners accurately at the proper angle and depth. A brushless motor powered by a DEWALT 20V MAX* Lithium-Ion battery make it ready to go to work without the 4 hassle of using gas, a compressor, or a hose.

4. New electric radiant fl oor heating system The new LATICRETE STRATA_HEAT™ electric radiant fl oor heating system consists of the world’s fi rst heat conductive thin-set additive, an innovative high-performance fl oor heating wire, an uncoupling mat and a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat. In addition to minimizing fl oor heat up and cycle time to reduce energy costs, STRATA_HEAT features a smart-focused design that is Amazon® Alexa compatible.

5. Desso’s Capsule Collection 5 Tarkett recently launched Desso’s Capsule Collection for the hospitality market. The collection’s designs are a visual representation of soft movement, layered textures, and tactile interest. Interlacing threads, woven elements, and deconstruct- ing fabrics allow each design within the Capsule collection to be unique, while, the simulated effects throughout each unify the aesthetic. The collection’s color palette mirrors that of that natural environment, featuring shades of blues and Greenery, Pantone’s 2017 color of the year as an accent.

38 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 6. Ecore Commercial Launches 6 Brand New Rx Collection Ecore announced that its Ecore Commercial product collection formerly known as Tru has been renamed Rx and now features new products, colors and patterns. The Rx Collection provides unique fl ooring solutions for healthcare, senior living spaces, fi tness facilities, and any area expecting heavy commercial use. Forest Rx now features six original wood grain patterns and fi ve new patterns. Terrain Rx was renamed Strait Rx and includes six modern fi nishes that look like linen. In addition, two brand new products were added to the line – Cosmos Rx, which includes six solid colors with subtle highlights that add depth and movement, and Infi nity Rx, which features six linear patterns. The fi fth product in the Rx Collection, Galaxy Rx, is a virgin rubber surface fusion bonded to a performance backing. Galaxy Rx remains unchanged and features 12 solid, soothing colors. 7

7. Explosion Proof Tablet from Larson Electronics The EXP-TBLT-10I-W10-128G-4G from Larson Electronics is an explosion proof tablet for fl ammable work sites. This device is intrinsically safe and powered by an Intel Quad-Core Atom processor with 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, great for effi cient multitasking. The 10.1” screen has a 1920 x 1200 resolution, and touch capability that works with gloved hands. This IP65 rated unit supports 2.4GHz and 2.5GHz Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, as well as NFC connectivity, and has a 12-hour runtime, great for web browsing applications. This explosion proof tablet features multiple ports including: USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and HDMI on system connector, micro USB, microSDXC card slot and a headset jack. For imaging and HD video capturing this tablet has a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with fl ash, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. 8 8. EasyFillPro by LOBA EasyFillPro, the newly developed joint fi ller by LOBA, has been available for several months now – and is conquering the market at a terrifi c rate. The joint fi ller excels through its maximum fi lling ability, rapid drying speed and excellent sanding properties. First-class color matching on oiled or coated surfaces makes it universal- ly applicable. The environmentally friendly all-rounder has a neutral odor and there- fore is particularly pleasant to work with. With plenty of positive customer feedback, this “newcomer” from LOBA is now thoroughly tried-and-tested in practice. • Filling ability and rapid drying save time • Easy to use, impressive color matching • Environmentally friendly with a neutral odor

9. New TYTAN® Subfl oor High Yield Adhesive Offers 9 Strength, Savings – and No Squeaks TYTAN Subfl oor High Yield Adhesive offers a completely unique and innovative formula that combines the strength, durability and environmental compliance of polyurethane cartridge adhesives with the cost savings and speed of foam adhesives. It offers superior gap fi lling properties and creates a bond up to two times stronger than the competition to reduce stress on fasteners, thus preventing squeaks. The unique formula dispens- es easily and cures even at below-freezing temperatures or on wet or frozen joists. Plus, it meets every construction adhesive environmental regulation in the country. TYTAN Subfl oor High Yield Adhesive is formulated for installing OSB, plywood, treated lumber, composite decking, and many other popular construction materials and is ideal for a variety of applications, including manufactured and modular housing. It is HUD tested for shear-wall, non-shear wall and fl oor applications and exceeds ASTM D3498 requirements.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 39 NEW PRODUCTS

10 10. Crossville’s New Java Joint Collection Is Steeped with Bold, Smooth Style Crossville, Inc. has announced the launch of Java Joint, its latest porcelain tile collection. This domestically-produced line incorporates on-trend hues and sizes to offer designers inventive options to create a range of looks for diverse projects. With modern sensibilities, the surface visual of Java Joint features striations of crema and bold neutrals. The striations’ linear effect is interpreted in fi ve colors—Two Sugars, House Blend, French Press, Flat White, and Fresh Ground—all offered in an easy-to-clean, 11 unpolished fi nish. This unique collection is available in the generous and versatile 12” x 24” fi eld tile format. Bullnose, cove base, and 2” x 2” mosaic options provide an array of solutions to answer project requirements and create fully fi nished looks. 11. New explosion proof white LED spotlight for forklifts Larson Electronics LLC, Industrial lighting expert, has released a new explosion proof white LED spotlight for forklifts. This fi xture is listed for worldwide use and is NEMA Type 3, 4, 4X, 7 (B,C,D) and 9 (E,F,G) rated for use in harsh conditions. 12 The EXHL-TRN-LE4-FKWL-WHT-1224 from Larson Electronics is a Class 1 Division 1 & 2, Class 2 Division 1 & 2, and Class 3 Division 1 &2, explosion proof LED spotlight. This LED spotlight contains fi ve 5-watt LED bulbs that produce a total of 2,250 lumens of white light, while only drawing 25 watts. The spotlight beam has a 5º spread, providing operators with a high intensity center beam visible during both day and nighttime operations. This light acts as both forward area illumination and a visual path indicator of the forklift for pedestrian safety. 12. Lunada Bay Tile Tomei Neutrals Unlock Door to World of Versatility When Lunada Bay Tile recently updated its Tomei glass tile collection with fi ve neutral hues in two fi nishes, design possibilities multiplied innumerably. The versatile new neutrals provide a solid foundation that promotes the use of color to create a mood – from conservative, to sophisticated, to passionate. The new colors—Linen, Stratus, Horizon, Pumice and Vapor—bring the Tomei collection to 24 colors in two fi nishes, natural (glossy) and silk (matte). Choose from two 13 mosaic sizes, 1 x 1 and Falling Water; three fi eld tile sizes, 3 x 6, 3 x 9 and 3 x 12; and a coordinating liner. 13. The Hand Grade Collection Havwoods International offers an engineered hardwood plank collection that makes any space appear bigger. The Hand Grade Collection measures an astounding 13 feet long and from 11-19 inches wide (compared to the standard 6-8 feet long and 7 inches wide plank). The Hand Grade Collection is made from high quality, pre-fi nished engineered 14 boards and is available in eight shades. Three of the shades offer a contemporary style while the remainder display the unique characteristics of a time-worn fl oor. 14. New DEWALT Mid-Range Impact Wrenches DEWALT announces two new 20V MAX* 1/2” Mid-Range Impact Wrenches (DCF894 and DCF894H). They are available in detent pin style for users who need maximum socket retention and hog ring style, for users who value quickly being able to change sockets. At 3.48 lbs. (tool only) and 6.95” to the front of the anvil, the 20V MAX* 1/2” Mid- Range Impact Wrenches are compact yet deliver high-power and torque. Each tool achieves 330 ft.-lbs. of maximum torque, 0-3,100 impacts per minute, and no-load speeds from 0-900 and 0-2,000 RPM in two mode settings (low and high) designed for use in a wide variety of applications. These applications include threaded couplings, pipe fl anges, wheel lugs, and concrete anchor setting, among others.

40 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 FCICA INSIGHT

FCICA Insights: We have an app for that!

BY LIZZIE ODERKIRK, FCICA EVENTS & MARKETING COORDINATOR

f you’ve attended either a convention or a mid-year meeting recently, you probably know all about our Imobile event app, now hosted on AttendeeHub. We also have a second app—a mobile resource available to anyone, not just FCICA members. This app mirrors our online directory, so when our member companies update their information, the app reflects those changes. The app’s member directory is available as a searchable, categorized list under the Busi- nesses icon, which also includes our Techni- cal Directory. Additionally, three categories are accessible on the home screen for your convenience: Contractors, Manufacturers and Consultants. You can also register for FCICA events and webinars right from the app, stay up to date with recent news, view job offers, and peruse member deals—all in the palm of your hand. Hopefully you’re a regular attendee of FCICA’s convention and mid-year events and have heard log back into past events at any time. about our mobile events app. We started publishing event Speaking of mobile devices, both of these apps can be information in a mobile app in 2014. Since then, our events accessed in the iOS and Android stores, and are compatible have become nearly paperless, with everything from the at- with smartphones, tablets and computers. The event app can tendee roster and schedule to handouts and hotel maps conve- also be located on any internet browser, so if you forget your niently located in the app. app store password, don’t worry! You can still get to the app The event app also provides several opportunities to our and all its contents. attendees and their companies. Sponsorship and advertising To download either app, click on the links below. If you slots are available, and we also promote all of our Platinum have any questions, call us at 248-661-5015, or email me at and Gold members. Additionally, attendees can network with [email protected].  other companies and attendees on the app, through features such as bookmarking, direct messaging and exchanging contact information, all of which they are encouraged to do so to FCICA MOBILE APP ITUNES APP STORE achieve points towards the top spot in the leaderboard of the GOOGLE PLAY 4-Day Challenge game. Another wonderful benefit of using the mobile event app is the unlimited access to all the trade show information, including exhibitor lists, floor maps, FAQs, and more. Premier Exhibitors ATTENDEEHUB MOBILE EVENT APP have the chance to add content to their company profiles—social ITUNES APP STORE media links, technical documents, marketing materials, etc. This GOOGLE PLAY makes the event app a great member reference, as you are able to

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 41 RECENT FCICA NEWS

FCICA to attend 2017 NAFCD edge protection only available through FlashCove Prefabricated + NBMDA Annual Convention Bases Inc. In 2016, FlashCove Prefabricated Bases Inc. was pur- FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, will be at- chased by Roppe Holding Company, and at this time additional tending the 2017 NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention, Novem- resources were added to improve manufacturing and create a ber 14 – 16 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO. Stop by second manufacturing location in Fostoria, OH. Learn more at Booth #835 to learn about FCICA membership benefits and the www.flashcove.com. flagship Certified Installation Management (CIM) program. Get involved with FCICA! FCICA to host Guide for Successful Flooring Installation webinar FCICA will host FlashCove FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, product webinar in December continues their live online educational series FCICA, the Flooring with a webinar on Thursday, December 14, Contractors Associa- 2017 at 11:00 am EST. Don Styka, Tarkett Di- tion, announced their rector of Field Services, will present Guide for December product Successful Flooring Installation. promotional webinar featuring FlashCove Prefabricated Bases. This webinar session is designed to provide FCICA invites you to join us on December 7, 2017 at 11 am an understanding of the project conditions necessary to create EST, for a free informative webinar introducing the FlashCove a successful flooring installation for your clients. After partici- product, how it works, brief installation and how to get material pating in this course, you will understand: to a jobsite. Since every FCICA webinar is interactive, you’ll get ➢• Importance of proper site conditions the chance to ask questions during the LIVE Q&A at the end of ➢• Necessity for moisture testing the session. ➢• Importance of controlling job-site temperature and humidity If you cannot make the LIVE webinar, register anyway and ➢• Proper storage and acclimation of flooring materials we’ll send you the recording. The recorded session will also be ➢• Basic subfloor preparation featured on FCICA’s website www.fcica.com, and housed on the ➢• Protecting newly installed flooring FCICA YouTube channel. Don’t miss this FREE webinar! ➢• Importance of the initial maintenance process These product webinars are free to all attendees regardless of FCICA membership status, but you must pre-register. Using this information, you will be able to maintain control Register now at https://www.fcica.com/events/details/ of your design intent and protect the interests of your client webinar-flashcove-product-webinar-80. Registration deadline throughout project execution. As with every FCICA webinar, this is Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 3:00 pm EST. Join FCICA session will include an interactive Q&A, so bring your questions! for this FREE session on December 7, 2017 featuring FlashCove Join us November 16 at 11 am EST; register today at https:// Prefabricated Bases. www.fcica.com/events/details/webinar-guide-to-successful- Are you at Certified Installation Manager (CIM)? FCICA webi- flooring-installation-73. Registration deadline is Wednesday, nars provide one hour continuing education credit (CEU) toward December 13, 2017 at 3:00 pm EST. Join FCICA for this FREE your CIM renewal requirements. webinar titled Guide to Successful Commercial Flooring Instal- The concept for a Prefabricated FlashCove Base was lation. originally conceived by a flooring contractor who, out of sheer Are you at Certified Installation Manager (CIM)? FCICA webi- frustration with the poor performance of site-formed bases, set nars provide one hour continuing education credit (CEU) toward his mind to designing a product that would perform reliably for a your CIM renewal requirements. lifetime. After a lengthy design, development and testing period, Don Styka is currently the Director of Field Services for FlashCove Prefabricated Base was created and patented, and Tarkett and has worked in the industry for 38 years. He started it proved so innovative and successful in the industry that it his career as an installer prior to a 15-year career in floor cover- won the 1994 IIDEX Gold Award for Product Design. That same ing distribution. He has been with Johnsonite | Tarkett for the year, FlashCove Prefabricated Bases Inc. (FPBI) was created past 17 years. Throughout Don’s career he has been active in to promote the virtues of the base and provide support for the organizations that strive to provide education, training, and ad- growing demand from architects, contractors and end-users. vancement opportunities to installation professionals, including FPBI is the only company that stands behind their base with CFI, IICRC, INSTALL, and FCICA, where he is currently the Vice a Lifetime Puncture Warranty, which is why they have become Chairman of the Associates Committee. the preferred choice at top hospitals, laboratories, universities and other facilities where an uncompromised hygienic environ- Certified Installation Manager ment is critical. The commitment to quality and innovation has Program Scholarship Available continued with the creation of additional flooring solutions FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, in cooperation such as the unique stainless steel accessories for finishing and with ARDEX Americas and nora systems, Inc., announced that

42 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 RECENT FCICA NEWS

the next quarterly Bruce New- tion to improve our industries and to benefit the customers of brough Memorial Scholarship is our company members.” available for the Certified Installa- tion Manager Program. Register now for FCICA Convention The scholarship, valued at $1,225, will enable yet another 2018 and Annual Commercial Flooring installation manager to distinguish themselves from their peers Trade Show by enrolling in and completing the Certified Installation Manager FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, has opened reg- (CIM) Program. Applications will be accepted now through istration for Convention 2018, In It to Win It, hosted at the Beau December 17th, and the winner will be announced at the end of Rivage Resort & Casino, March 18-20, 2018, with pre-convention December. events March 17th. Individuals interested in applying for the Bruce Newbrough Be In It to Win It with FCICA! Convention 2018 attendees will Memorial CIM Scholarship can visit www.fcica.com/CIM to have an opportunity to attend five (5) engaging educational download the application. Questions regarding the scholarship sessions, ample time to network and voice opinions during should be directed to Kelly Fuller at [email protected]. committee meetings and fun events, plus meet with over 50 About the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program exhibitors including flooring manufacturers, business services, The CIM program provides industry-specific training modules and flooring industry partners during the Commercial Flooring led by experts that speak from years of floor covering experi- Trade Show on March 19, 2018. ence packaged with assessments to confirm the vast knowl- FCICA has a great line up for educational sessions led by edge obtained. The program is completely online, allowing users industry experts, including the following topics: to work at their own pace, on their own time. For more informa- • ASTM F710 & ACI 302.2R-06, presented by Sonny Callaham of tion about the CIM Program, go to http://www.fcica.com/CIM. H.B. Fuller and Jeff Johnson of MAPEI Americas The Bruce Newbrough Memorial Scholarship was estab- • Communication & Ramifications of Specifications, presented by lished to provide educational opportunities to floor covering Cherise Lakeside and Eric D. Lussier of Let’s Fix Construction Installation Managers who have demonstrated exceptional • Auditing Your Flooring Project, presented by Mike Pigeon, commitment to and excellence in proper substrate preparation CIM, of Roppe Holding Company and installation of floor covering. Bruce Newbrough, as ARDEX • How to Implement Your Ideas & See Results: “Effectively Driv- Director of Technical Services and later Applications Develop- ing, Achieving & Sustaining Positive Change”, presented by ment, tirelessly utilized every opportunity to further his vision Rhonda Robinson of Robinson Enterprises and passion for industry education and training on proper sub- • Innovations in Multilayer Flooring – A Panel Discussion, strate preparation, all for the purpose of achieving successful moderated by Pat Kelly of Synergy Flooring. Panelists include installations. This is the foundation on which FCICA, the Floor- Beth Steel, Six Degrees; Bill Treiber, Artistic Finishes; David ing Contractors Association was built and the reason that Bruce Altman, Metroflor; and Don Styka, Tarkett was a dedicated ambassador of this organization. Additionally, attendees can earn continuing education credits FCICA and ICRI establish partnership (CEU’s) by attending the entire educational session. Those FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, and ICRI, the working on their Certified Installation Manager CEUs will receive International Concrete Repair Institute, have signed a Memoran- a maximum of 8 credits by attending FCICA’s educational ses- dum of Understanding between the two organizations. sions 1 – 5, all 4 demonstrations, and the Commercial Flooring In this understanding, the two organizations will cooperate Trade Show at Convention 2018. and coordinate efforts between them. This includes ensuring Once again, the CIM computer lab will be available during that members of each group are aware of the mission and ac- Convention to anyone enrolled in the Certified Installation Man- tivities of each other; exchanging website links; attending each ager program, providing a chance to work on the CIM modules other’s conventions; support each other’s education programs; and assessments on location. For more information about the and more. CIM program, visit http://www.fcica.com/CIM and to see avail- “FCICA is excited to be partnering with ICRI,” says Kim able dates and times for the computer lab, visit http://www. Oderkirk, Executive Vice President of FCICA. “Through sharing fcica.com/annual-convention. resources and knowledge, we hope to work together to discuss FCICA and the Successors Task Force invite you to help sup- and tackle issues in the flooring industry, especially regarding port Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, by donating items concrete.” such as current magazines, coffee and packaged cookies, new “ICRI has had ongoing contact with many FCICA member clothing, telephone cards, and hygiene products to help make companies for several years through our Concrete Moisture the patients’ stay more enjoyable. Testing Certification Program,” said ICRI President Brian Daley. The annual event is open to all involved in the industry. Reg- “ICRI is very pleased to now formalize a collaborative working istration for the event can be completed online at http://www. relationship with FCICA so our organizations can share informa- fcica.com/annual-convention.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 43 RECENT FCICA NEWS

FCICA will host Schönox product ated Marketing Representative. Federated will provide you with webinar in January a thorough review of your current coverage and analysis of your FCICA, the Flooring Contrac- business needs including business succession, estate plan- tors Association, announced ning and employee retention strategies. Choosing a reliable their January product promo- insurance company that fully understands the unique problems tional webinar featuring Schönox HPS North America Inc. and exposures of our industry is one of the most important busi- FCICA invites you to join us on January 11, 2018 at 11 am EST, ness decisions that you will make. FCICA encourages you to for a free informative webinar hosted by Schönox HPS North take advantage of a complimentary, no-obligation review of your America Inc., providing a dialog and description of Schönox insurance coverage and learn about the many risk management products used on real applications before and after. Since every programs available through our newest endorsed partner. FCICA webinar is interactive, you’ll get the chance to ask ques- * Not all products and services available in all states or for all firms tions during the LIVE Q&A at the end of the session. If you cannot make the LIVE webinar, register anyway and FCICA to host Vetting an we’ll send you the recording. The recorded session will also be Inspector’s Qualifications webinar featured on FCICA’s website www.fcica.com, and housed on the FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, FCICA YouTube channel. Don’t miss this FREE webinar! continues their live online educational series These product webinars are free to all attendees regardless with a webinar on Thursday, January 18, 2018 of FCICA membership status, but you must pre-register. Reg- at 11:00 am EST. Paul Pleshek, President of ister now at https://www.fcica.com/events/details/webinar- NAFCT, will present Vetting an Inspector’s schönox-hps-north-amercia-product-webinar-86. Registration Qualifications. deadline is Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 3:00 pm EST. Join This webinar session will help you to better FCICA for this FREE session on January 11, 2018 featuring understand inspectors, their qualifications, and how to locate Schonox HPS North America Inc. and select an inspector. Using this information, you will be able Are you at Certified Installation Manager (CIM)? FCICA webi- to hire a trustworthy inspector to handle a claim. As with every nars provide one hour continuing education credit (CEU) toward FCICA webinar, this session will include an interactive Q&A, so your CIM renewal requirements. bring your questions! HPS North America, Inc., a division of TMT America, has part- Join us January 18 at 11 am EST; register today at https:// nered with Schönox® to be the sole provider of the complete www.fcica.com/events/details/webinar-vetting-an-inspector-s- Schönox product array to North America including primers & qualifications-87. Registration deadline is Wednesday, January moisture mitigation systems, subfloor repair products, floor 17, 2018 at 3:00 pm EST. Join FCICA for this FREE to members leveling compounds, adhesives, and waterproofing materials for webinar titled Vetting an Inspector’s Qualifications. Not a mem- installing all types of floor coverings. The trademark Schönox®, ber of FCICA? You can still attend the webinar; the non-member with its unique problem solvers and product systems, was cre- price is $29.95. ated for professional use. Learn more at http://hpsubfloors. Are you at Certified Installation Manager (CIM)? FCICA webi- com/. nars provide one hour continuing education credit (CEU) toward your CIM renewal requirements. Visit www.fcica.com/CIM for FCICA endorses Federated more information. Insurance as vendor partner Paul Pleshek is currently the President of the National FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, is pleased to Academy of Floor Coverings Training (NAFCT) and the Owner/ exclusively endorse Federated Insurance as our insurance pro- President of Floor Claim Solutions Inc. Paul has been in the vider and vendor partner. Known for its innovative products and floor coverings industry since 1990 and was first certified by the personal service, Federated is making a significant multi-year IICRC as a senior carpet inspector in 1995. He has since been commitment to supporting FCICA and its members’ businesses. certified as an NWFA Wood Floor Inspector; IICRC Certified Se- Founded in 1904, Federated specializes in affinity relation- nior Carpet Inspector, Resilient Flooring Inspector and Subfloor ships, and today is exclusively recommended by hundreds of Substrates Inspector; Inspector Training Services (ITS) Vinyl state and national associations just like ours. Federated offers Inspector, Hardwood Inspector and Hard Surface Inspector; and an array of insurance coverages including property and casualty, is also one of only 23 NWFA Certified Commercial Wood Floor workers compensation, life, and disability insurance. Federated Inspectors in the country. also offers exceptional contract bond services through Granite Paul is very active in the floor inspections industry, serving on Re, its wholly owned subsidiary.* The company is A+ (Superior) by committees for NWFA, IICRC, FCLC, CFI, FCICA, FIEG and NICFI A.M. Best® and has once again been named to Ward’s 50® Top as well as on the Board of the IICRC, NICFI and FIEG. He was Performers list for property & casualty insurance companies. elected Vice President of the NICFI in 2010, President in 2012 FCICA’s endorsement of Federated establishes a partnership and again elected President in 2014. As President of the NICFI, that gives you access to personal service from a local Feder- he initiated the NICFI Mentor Program to further the education

44 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 RECENT FCICA NEWS

of new or inexperienced inspectors, help started the Floor Cov- day, January 31, 2018 at 3:00 pm EST. Join FCICA for this FREE erings Leadership Council With the WFCA, NWFA, FCICA, MIA session on February 1, 2018 featuring Tools 4 Flooring. and others, and also co-designed and implemented two NICFI Are you at Certified Installation Manager (CIM)? FCICA webi- web sites including the claimssolutions.org site that have gener- nars provide one hour continuing education credit (CEU) toward ated millions of dollars in inspections for NICFI inspectors. your CIM renewal requirements. About Tools 4 Flooring® FCICA to host ICRI Concrete Slab Tools4Flooring.com is an online store providing a large selec- Moisture Testing Certification in Biloxi, MS tion of flooring equipment, supplies and accessories. We are a FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, will host the ICRI division of E.J. Welch Company, Inc. – an established business Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Certification on Wednesday, proudly serving customers since 1962. Our customers have March 21 and Thursday, March 22, 2018, at the Beau Rivage come to rely on us for competitively priced leading brands of Resort and Casino in Biloxi, MS, in conjunction with the FCICA installation products. It is our mission to provide “Quality Prod- Annual Convention and Commercial Flooring Trade Show. ucts, People and Services to help our Customers Succeed.” We For more information and to register for the ICRI Concrete have worked to provide only the best products from manufac- Slab Moisture Testing Certification hosted by FCICA, visit turers you can rely on like Crain, Gundlach, Roberts and Taylor http://www.icri.org/event/2018_CertBiloxi_March. FCICA mem- Tools. Our products ship from several fully stocked warehouses bers: please call the office for your discount code! throughout the midwestern United States. We take pride in our The Certification program has two tiers: excellent customer service team and encourage interaction with • Tier 1 applicants are those who are not regularly engaged in our customers. Learn more at www.tools4flooring.com. slab moisture testing, yet have an active interest in learning more about the tests, what the tests mean, and how the tests FCICA announces Mark Holman is should be performed. Bruce Newbrough Scholarship winner • Tier 2 applicants are those who seek full certification. FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, in cooperation with ARDEX Americas and nora sys- Both tiers require attendance at a 3-hour educational tems, Inc. is pleased to announce the next recipi- session, followed by a written exam. Tier 2 full certification ent of the Bruce Newbrough Memorial Certified applicants will also be required to perform each of the four ap- Installation Manager Program (CIM) Scholarship. plicable ASTM tests under the watchful eye of a qualified judge Mark Holman works for Garmon and Com- who will not provide any level of coaching. pany, in Charlotte, NC. After studying Civil Pre-qualification for acceptance into the Tier 2 full certi- Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he fication program will be previous hands-on moisture testing had the opportunity to open a commercial flooring installation experience, as approved by ICRI. As an alternative, applicants business. To ensure a consistent work load, he sought to master may take the optional Demonstration and Workshop to fulfill the the installation techniques of the many types of floors and con- previous testing experience requirement. Tier 2 Recertification crete preparation methods. It was important to him to strive for written exam is also available at this class. the highest possible certifications in each type of material. Garmon & Company gave him the opportunity to come out of FCICA will host Tools 4 Flooring installing and become a field supervisor. Mark said, “Using my ex- product webinar in February perience to catch a problem before it becomes one is very gratify- FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Associ- ing. I always try to improvise and find a way to complete jobs even ation, announced their February product if conditions, schedule, or materials are not ideal. If someone promotional webinar featuring Tools 4 Flooring®. says it can’t be done, that’s the project I want to be on!” FCICA invites you to join us on February 1, 2018 at 11 am “The opportunity provided in the CIM program to learn more EST, for a free informative webinar hosted by Tools 4 Flooring about our profession and how to be more proactive and capable about dust collection systems, floor prep tools, and stripping in all aspects of managing a project is invaluable. Any new or demolition machines (both ride on and walk behind). Since knowledge that I can acquire to make jobs better for our com- every FCICA webinar is interactive, you’ll get the chance to ask pany and our installers is greatly appreciated. I hope to continue questions during the LIVE Q&A at the end of the session. Bruce Newbrough’s legacy by passing along the knowledge I If you cannot make the LIVE webinar, register anyway and receive to others.” we’ll send you the recording. The recorded session will also be This scholarship, created in remembrance of Bruce New- featured on FCICA’s website www.fcica.com, and housed on the brough from ARDEX Americas, provides for the entire program FCICA YouTube channel. Don’t miss this FREE webinar! costs associated with the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) These product webinars are free to all attendees regardless Program including application, content, and assessment fees. of FCICA membership status, but you must pre-register. Register Scholarship applications are accepted throughout the year; the now at https://www.fcica.com/events/details/webinar-tools- next scholarship opportunity will be awarded in March. Applica- 4-flooring-product-webinar-88. Registration deadline is Wednes- tions are available on the FCICA website: www.fcica.com/CIM.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 45 RECENT FCICA NEWS

Know before you go! Join FCICA for a FCICA’s website for the most up-to-date list of CIMs and their webinar about the Convention 2018 contact information. mobile event app • Al Farquhar, CIM – Lippert Flooring & Tile FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, • Erik Klaasen, CIM – DCO Commercial Floors continues their live online educational series • Karina Martinez, CIM – Synergy Flooring with a webinar on Thursday, February 15, 2018 • Kelsey Richardson, CIM – Synergy Flooring at 11:00 am EST. Lizzie Oderkirk, Event & Mar- • Mike Keller, CIM – Jack Laurie Group keting Coordinator for FCICA, will present Know • Payam Riazati Kesheh, CIM – Universal Metro Inc. Before You Go – Using the FCICA Events app. This webinar session will provide instructions FCICA Convention 2018 is the place on downloading and logging into the app, as well as walk you to be for education and networking through all the features and information available in the palm of FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, is pleased to your hand. The Convention 2018 app will be live for the webinar, so announce that the 2018 Commercial Flooring Trade Show will you can get logged in and explore before the event even begins! As feature over 50 leading manufacturers, flooring industry service with every FCICA webinar, this session will include an interactive providers, and more. Q&A, so bring your questions (and your app store password). The Commercial Flooring Trade Show will be held at the Beau Join us February 15 at 11 am EST; register today at https:// Rivage Resort & Casino on March 19, 2018 from 3 – 7 p.m, with a www.fcica.com/events/details/webinar-know-before-you- Happy Hour from 6 – 7 p.m. The trade show provides attendees go-using-the-fcica-events-app-89. Registration deadline is the opportunity to network with technical representatives, learn Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at 3:00 pm EST. Join FCICA for about new products and solutions, and ask questions. For a list this FREE TO ALL webinar titled Know Before You Go – Using of exhibitors, click here. the FCICA Events app. Four exclusive product demonstrations will precede the trade Lizzie Oderkirk is currently the Event & Marketing Coordinator show: DriTac Flooring Products, GCP Applied Technologies, for FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association. She graduated MAPEI Corporation and TRAXX Corporation. from Michigan State University in 2017 with a B.A. in Profes- FCICA has a great line up for educational sessions led by sional Writing. She has completed project work for FCICA since industry experts, including the following topics: 2012, composing marketing materials, launching their social • ASTM F710 & ACI 302.2R-06, presented by Sonny Callaham of media presence, and, more recently, managing their mobile H.B. Fuller and Jeff Johnson of MAPEI Americas event app, used during their bi-annual convention meetings. She • Communication & Ramifications of Specifications, presented has assisted in the coordination, promotion, and execution of by Cherise Lakeside and Eric D. Lussier of Let’s Fix Construc- FCICA’s Convention and Mid-Year events for the last five years, tion with record-breaking attendance and engagement. • Auditing Your Flooring Project, presented by Mike Pigeon, CIM, of Roppe Holding Company Meet the new Certified • How to Implement Your Ideas & See Results: “Effectively Driv- Installation Managers ing, Achieving & Sustaining Positive Change”, presented by FCICA, the Flooring Contractors As- Rhonda Robinson of Robinson Enterprises sociation, is proud to introduce new • Innovations in Multilayer Flooring – A Panel Discussion, CIMs as of January 25, 2018. moderated by Pat Kelly of Synergy Flooring. Panelists include The following professionals have Beth Steel, Six Degrees; Bill Treiber, Artistic Finishes; David completed all requirements of the Certified Installation Manager Altman, Metroflor; and Don Styka, Tarkett (CIM) Program to enhance their core skill set, experience, and knowledge base, which are necessary to successfully manage Attendees can earn continuing education credits (CEU’s) by commercial flooring installation projects. Visit the CIM roster on attending the entire educational session. Those working on their Certified Installation Manager CEUs may receive a maximum of 8 credits by attending FCICA’s educational sessions 1 – 5, all 4 demonstrations, and the Commercial Flooring Trade Show. Convention 2018 is also an approved event for IICRC Continu- ing Education Credits. IICRC Certified Technicians that attend all of the FCICA’s educational sessions 1 – 5, all 4 demonstra- Freight Solutions tions, and the Commercial Flooring Trade Show will receive 2 credits assigned in the cleaning/restoration, or inspection or for the master categories. FCICA Convention attendees who desire to Flooring receive IICRC credits must notify FCICA. Certificates of attendance to track CE credits will be provided as requested. Professional In conjunction with Convention 2018, FCICA will host the ICRI

46 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 RECENT FCICA NEWS

Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Certification on Wednesday, featured on FCICA’s website www.fcica.com, and housed on the March 21 and Thursday, March 22, 2018, at the Beau Rivage FCICA YouTube channel. Don’t miss this FREE webinar! Resort and Casino. For more information and to register for the These product webinars are free to all attendees regardless ICRI Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Certification hosted by of FCICA membership status, but you must pre-register. Reg- FCICA, visit http://www.icri.org/event/2018_CertBiloxi_March. ister now at https://www.fcica.com/events/details/webinar- FCICA members: please call the office for your discount code! sika-corporation-product-webinar-90. Registration deadline is Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 3:00 pm EST. Join FCICA for FCICA will host Sika product webinar this FREE session on March 1, 2018 featuring Sika Corporation. in March Are you at Certified Installation Manager (CIM)? FCICA webi- FCICA, the Flooring Contractors nars provide one hour continuing education credit (CEU) toward Association, announced their your CIM renewal requirements. Visit www.fcica.com/CIM for March product promotional webi- more information. nar featuring Sika Corporation. About Sika® Sika Corporation, based in Lyndhurst, NJ, is a leading sup- FCICA invites you to join us on plier of specialty chemical products and industrial materials March 1, 2018 at 11 am EST, for a serving construction and industrial markets including transpor- free informative webinar hosted tation, marine, and automotive. Its technologies are focused on by Sika Corporation covering sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting. Sika’s all of their new self-leveler line, product lines include roofing, concrete admixtures, specialty including a low dust reduced mortars, epoxies, structural strengthening systems, industrial product. Since every FCICA webinar is interactive, you’ll get the flooring, sealants, adhesives, specialty acoustic and reinforcing chance to ask questions during the LIVE Q&A at the end of the materials. Sika Products are used in a wide array of applica- session. tions and always fulfill the highest quality standards. They are If you cannot make the LIVE webinar, register anyway and committed to customer satisfaction, innovation, and teamwork. we’ll send you the recording. The recorded session will also be Learn more at https://usa.sika.com/. 

The International Concrete Repair Institute offers certification in… CONCRETE SLAB CONCRETE SURFACE MOISTURE TESTING REPAIR TECHNICIAN

Your solution to Your qualification moisture issues! in concrete surface repair! • Improve the performance of concrete slab moisture testing • Competency-based program • Report more consistent, accurate, using current best practices for and reliable test results training and evaluation Example of SME Demonstration • Make better decisions on when • Includes five online training a concrete slab is ready for a floor modules, an online knowledge covering installation exam, and performance exam (either video recorded or live at an on-site location) Example of a Performance Exam Video Submission • Qualifies individual to perform pre- and post-placement inspections and testing

FIND THE BEST! BE THE BEST! Visit WWW.ICRI.ORG for more information.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 47 MEMBER NEWS

Andrew Bonham Named multiple divisions including: commercial flooring, floor care, President & CEO of Tarkett NA ceilings, walls, roof deck systems, cladding and access flooring. Tarkett has announced the appointment of Andrew Bonham as “Bonitz remains committed to developing our associates president and chief executive officer of Tarkett North America, internally into future leaders. I am very excited for the future of the effective March 5, 2018. Augusta location, but more importantly for Ben. He has tremen- Bonham will succeed Glen Morrison, who became CEO of dous potential, and I am confident he will help grow the Augusta Tarkett Group on September 1, 2017. operation, and likewise, positively impact and enhance the lives of Bonham will be a member of the Tarkett executive committee the entire team,” says Pete Larmore, President & CEO of Bonitz, Inc. and will be based at Tarkett’s North American Headquarters in Solon, Ohio. Bonitz, Inc. Announces Retirement of Bonham has extensive experience in the construction, industrial Senior Vice President Larry Hutton equipment, and specialty chemicals industries, and he has held Bonitz, Inc. has announced the forthcom- several global leadership positions, as well as regional leadership ing retirement of Larry Hutton effective in Europe and North America. Since 2014, Andrew has been senior May 31st, 2018. Mr. Hutton has elected vice president, Americas, at ESAB (Colfax Corporation) where to retire following 42 years of service, he successfully led the integration of acquisitions, drove opera- including the past 16 years as Senior Vice tional and commercial excellence programs, and set up a growth President of Bonitz Flooring Group. operating structure in South America. In this position, Bonham was “The success of Bonitz as an organi- responsible for more than $1 billion of revenues, 1,800 employees, zation, and especially the Flooring Group’s success, is a direct and 11 manufacturing facilities across North and South America. reflection of the impact, influence, and success of Larry’s tenure Starting his career at General Electric in 1984, he spent more than and contributions,” says Pete Larmore, President & CEO of Bonitz, ten years at GE Plastics Silicone in marketing and sales. In 1996, Inc. “I appreciate the leadership Larry has demonstrated from the he joined Allied Signal, an American aerospace, automotive, and beginning and wish him nothing but the best in retirement.” engineering company (currently Honeywell). From 2000 to 2014, he Mr. Hutton joined Bonitz in 1976, immediately making essen- led various B2B activities within Invensys, a multinational technology tial contributions in the accounting department, before being company, and W.R. Grace, a global specialty chemicals provider. promoted to Controller and Vice President of Finance. In 1991, Bonham was born in Spain and is an American citizen. He he assumed an operational role as Manager of the Columbia holds a Bachelor of Sciences in mechanical engineering from Flooring office before being promoted to Senior Vice President Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and a MBA from of the Flooring Group in 2003, with responsibility for South Averett University. Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. In 2015 he was named to the Bonitz, Inc. Board of Directors. Bonitz, Inc. Appoints New “Bonitz is an incredibly special company, and I feel so for- Managing Partner in Augusta tunate to have spent my entire career here,” said Hutton. “Any Bonitz, Inc., the parent company of Bonitz Flooring Group, one success I have achieved is the culmination of the hard work and of the nation’s largest independent flooring companies, has commitment of the many Bonitz associates I have had the privi- announced the appointment of Ben James to Managing Partner lege to work with over the years. I will miss them all greatly.” in the Augusta, Georgia market. Mr. Hutton’s retirement from Flooring Operations is effective “I am elated that Ben has accepted the opportunity to lead the May 31st, 2018, at which time he will assume a part-time role Augusta team. His vast experience in commercial flooring will reporting to Mr. Larmore and working on special projects for the serve him well in his new position,” says Phil Ashley, Bonitz Vice remainder of 2018. President. “His willingness to relocate his family exemplifies his commitment to the Bonitz team and the Augusta market.” Bostik Acquires XL Brands James most recently held the position of Project Manager, and will in Flooring Adhesives assume responsibility of his new role on January 1. He will relocate With a new production facility in Dalton, Ga., XL Brands offers with his family to Augusta from the Raleigh, North Carolina market. innovative and environmentally friendly solutions that are fully “Ben has been an integral member of the Raleigh office for complementary to Bostik’s product range in the U.S. This many years, from Installer to Project Manager, and now Managing bolt-on acquisition, which complements Bostik’s acquisition Partner in Augusta,” says Dale Lambe, Managing Partner of Bonitz of CMP last May, will help Bostik become one of the leaders Flooring in Raleigh. “He will be truly missed here, but we wish him in floor covering adhesives in the U.S. The proposed acquisi- luck in his new, well-deserved promotion. Great things are in order tion is expected to close at the end of 2017 and is subject to for the Augusta office.” regulatory approval by antitrust authorities. Bonitz, Inc. continues to be a leader and innovator after more With this transaction, Arkema is actively pursuing its devel- than 60 years by providing the best in the world project con- opment strategy in adhesives, which should exceed one third sulting and project management. Augusta is one of 18 markets of the group’s sales by 2023. in which Bonitz, Inc. operates as a major subcontractor across For more information, visit www.bostik.com.

48 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 FREE EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS for FCICA Members!

April 26 at 11 am EST Pt. 2: Communication & Ramifications of Specifications

May 17 at 11 am EST OSHA Silica Update

June 21 at 11 am EST Pt. 2: ASTM F710

July 19 at 11 am EST Rubber Sheet Installation & Maintenance REGISTER NOW MEMBER NEWS

Chris Stulpin Named Chief Team and will work directly with Life Company operations; Property Creative Officer for Tarkett NA and Casualty Underwriting, Claims, Field Services, Marketing, and Mar- Tarkett announces the promotion of Chris Stulpin to chief cre- keting Services and Support; Special Accounts; and Granite Re, Inc. ative officer for Tarkett North America. In this newly created role, “Positioning the organization with the next generation of Stulpin will lead design, marketing communications, product leadership is one of my most critical duties,” said Fetters, who had management, and marketing project management functions. held the role of president until this appointment. “Mike Kerr, whom Stulpin joined Tarkett in March 2015 as senior vice president of I have known and worked with for over 35 years, is exceptionally design. During this time, he has helped define market needs and qualified for these new responsibilities and is supported by an the future of flooring products, including the development of Col- outstanding executive leadership group.” lections Infinies, Tarkett’s introduction of technologically advanced A native of Michigan and a graduate of Central Michigan Uni- digitally printed LVT. versity, Kerr has served in a number of key roles over his 36-year Prior to joining Tarkett nearly three years ago, Stulpin worked career. His career began as a Marketing Development Trainee in within Mohawk’s design group for 12 years, as well as in market- 1981 and then to a Marketing Representative position in Michi- ing positions with Bentley Mills and Interface. He’s also served gan in December of 1982. In April 1986, he was named District as a marketing consultant within the flooring industry and for Marketing Manager in Southern Indiana, followed by his promotion Barney’s New York and Giorgio Armani. to Regional Marketing Manager for the Great Lakes Region headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, in June of 1993. In April 1998, Consolidated Carpet’s “Strive for Kerr was appointed Vice President and Director of Association Risk 75”—75 Good Deeds to Celebrate 75 Management Services and moved his family to Owatonna. Good Years Kerr was then appointed First Vice President and took on the This coming November, Consolidated Carpet will reach an incred- responsibilities of Director of Field Operations – Marketing. He has ible milestone – its 75th anniversary. Being a third- generation, held several major leadership roles in the Home Office includ- family-owned business and not only surviving, but thriving after 75 ing chairing the Commercial Health Team and the Commercial years is no easy feat. Owing much of its success to the communi- Lines Team. He also held executive leadership responsibilities for ty it serves, and the industry in which it operates, the company will Marketing, Advertising, Human Resources, Property and Casualty celebrate this occasion by giving back. The Strive for 75—75 Good Services, and Office and Physical Services. Deeds to Celebrate 75 Good Years, is a program adopted by the In April 2010, Mike was appointed Senior Vice President with the company and its associates that will highlight the dedication to title of Director of Insurance Operations. In November 2013, he was service the company has long held. Consolidated will perform 75 appointed Executive Vice President. He has played a major role on good deeds throughout 2018 to highlight the success that their Federated’s Operations Team with chair responsibilities for three years. community and industry helped them achieve. All of Consolidat- On September 1, 2016, Mike was named Chief Operating Officer. ed’s initiatives will be shared on social media. “Mike lives and breathes integrity,” Fetters added, “and adheres “As the year goes on, we will celebrate our success through good to the core principles and values upon which our company has deeds we perform individually, and as a company, that benefit our in- been built. His role as President will be highly focused on con- dustry and community,” CEO David Meberg said. A few of the deeds tinuing the successful implementation of our Business Plan and that are occurring this month are: the donation of the “Green Carpet” Operational Initiatives to assure profitable company results.” for this month’s Muscular Dystrophy Association Muscle Team Fund- raiser at Chelsea Piers on January 9th, a contribution to the Carlstadt, GCP Applied Technologies Partners N.J. Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a Silver Sponsorship of the New with Habitat for Humanity in Hurricane York City Chapter of Corenet, and participation in the 37th Annual Recovery Efforts Friends of St. Dominic’s Benefit Dinner as a Benefactor Sponsor. GCP Applied Technologies (NYSE:GCP), a leading global provider You can follow Consolidated’s “Strive for 75” on the company’s of construction products technologies, has donated roofing and social media platforms which can be accessed directly from their flooring products to Habitat for Humanity to support the repair, website at www.consolidatedcarpet.com. rebuilding and new construction of homes for families impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Federated Insurance “The hurricanes of 2017 have caused unprecedented devasta- appoints new President tion, forcing thousands of people out of their damaged homes,” Federated Insurance Companies’ Chairman and Chief Executive said Craig Merrill, GCP’s Vice President, Global Marketing. “We are Officer Jeff Fetters announced Wednesday the appointment of pleased to assist Habitat for Humanity in its long-term hurricane Michael G. Kerr to the role of President of the Companies effective recovery initiative, providing needed roofing underlayments and December 1, 2017. Kerr will add these responsibilities to his cur- flooring tools to repair and rebuild homes in Florida and Texas. rent role as Chief Operating Officer. Our eyes are on Puerto Rico as Habitat continues to assess the As President, Kerr will assume greater responsibility and author- situation there and determine construction plans.” ity for the operational functions that drive the Companies’ financial Habitat has set an initial goal to help more than 6,000 families results. He will continue to be a member of Federated’s Operations across regions impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria

50 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 MEMBER NEWS

with home repairs and new construction. In Florida, Hurricane levels above its competitors. With strong sales and distribution Irma’s high winds caused extensive roof damage, especially in already in place, we anticipate tremendous growth for the brand.” South Florida and Florida Keys. To assist, GCP has donated its For more information on HPS Schönox Ön It campaign, check premium product, GRACE ICE & WATER SHIELD® self-adhered out hpsubfloors.com. roofing underlayment, and its TRI-FLEX® XT synthetic roofing underlayment to rebuild and help protect from future damage. HPS Schönox Names In Texas, where Hurricane Harvey caused record flooding, Three New Regional VPs GCP has donated flooring tools to the Houston area Habitat Moving into 2018, HPS Schönox continues its expansion of chapters to replace flood damaged floors. GCP’s Orcon® carpet sales support throughout the U.S. naming three new regional installation tool sets make installation quicker and easier. vice presidents. Andy Buonsante is responsible for the Western GCP Applied Technologies also raised over $60,000, through a region, Greg Jodarski covers the Southeast and Brandon Hagen combination of employee and company donations, to assist employees represents the Midwest. living in the hurricane impacted regions with hurricane relief efforts. Buonsante will lead his sales team within the eleven western “We are fortunate that all our employees in the affected areas states plus Hawaii and Alaska. are safe and we are committed to support them during this diffi- Jodarski covers the south and midsouth, from North Carolina cult time,” said Kevin Holland, GCP’s Vice President and Chief Hu- to Florida and Georgia to Texas. Having 20 years of experience man Resources Officer. “Recovering from these disasters is going from installation to manufacturing, Jodarski is more than qualified to take a long time and we will continue to help where we can.” leading his territory. Hagen is one of HPS Schönox longer tenured employees HPS Schönox Announces and over the years has proven himself capable of rising to the New Brand Campaign demands that this position brings. Hagen is responsible for the Schönox strives to provide unparalleled support and solutions. region that includes North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Their 2018 brand campaign, Ön It, will show that HPS Schönox Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. does business differently and is committed to doing it right. The campaign will debut this month on all the company’s Jack Laurie Group Launches Nation’s advertising, branding and marketing collateral, as well as internal Only Merit Shop Floor Covering and external communications. They will kick off at both World of Apprenticeship Program Concrete and The International Surfaces Event in Las Vegas. Jack Laurie Group (JLG), The mission of HPS Schönox is to move the flooring industry Indiana’s largest commer- forward through innovation, solutions and service. “Our passion cial flooring and interiors for science and technology combined with our experience and ex- contractor, has partnered pertise in construction helps to build better floors, better spaces, with Associated Builders better relationships and better communities,” said HPS Schönox and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) Principal Thomas Trissl. to offer the nation’s only The new campaign aims to communicate the HPS Schönox merit shop floor covering difference to its audiences with the following messages: apprenticeship program. The • “When you need the most technically advanced subfloor sys- program was created to boost the talent base of skilled floor cov- tems in the industry, Schönox is Ön It” ering installers and address the construction industry’s staggering • “When you have questions about how to level a floor from hell, workforce shortage, which began during the Great Recession. our team is Ön It” With guidance from the Flooring Contractors Association (FCI- • “When you’re up against an insane deadline, count on us to be CA), Jack Laurie Group developed a four-year curriculum in floor Ön It” covering installation that culminates with a graduate’s certification • “Wherever you seek innovation, reliability and lasting results, as a trade journeyman. Participants are paid for on-the-job training, we’re Ön It” and a minimum rate of pay is guaranteed throughout the program. “HPS Schönox is the flooring expert that’s ready to listen, learn Participants also have opportunity to earn an associate’s degree and work side by side with you,” said Trissl. “That’s why for every- from Vincennes University completely free of charge, thanks to a thing you put into your job, you need Schönox Ön It.” grant from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The campaign creative was jointly developed by HPS Schönox The program has been certified by the U.S. Department of La- and partner agency Luckie & Company. The team worked to reposi- bor (DOL) as an official or “bona fide” apprenticeship. This is the tion the brand, build brand identity and execute the new campaign. first time the nation’s labor department has approved an appren- “This was one of those times when the right client and the right ticeship program in Indiana created by a private employer. Until opportunity came together to create an ‘aha!’ moment for us,” said now, all DOL-certified programs were offered by trade unions. Brian Conley, Director - Strategic Engagement at Luckie. “There’s Indiana is a Right-to-Work state, so nearly 80 percent of the con- nothing in the marketplace like Schönox products, and we’re ex- struction work is completed by merit shop employees. cited to launch something that will position HPS Schönox several “This is a huge opportunity for the entire construction industry

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 51 MEMBER NEWS

and the men and women who strive to make it their profession, and sales efforts for key product lines and vertical markets as well we are optimistic about the impact the program will have on the as align marketing efforts with strategic business growth. local economy,” said Tom Postell, JLG vice president of operations “The entire Mats family joins me in congratulating Nancy and and chief architect of the program. “I feel responsible for finding, Rich on their new positions,” said Hume. “Strong leadership de- developing and supporting the next generation of construction velopment at our highest executive level positions the company tradespeople here at Jack Laurie Group and in our communities. for accelerated growth and continued market advancement.” Ultimately, the success of our company depends upon it.” Following the 2008 financial crisis and housing debacle, con- Metroflor Announces Winners of struction-related occupations declined by nearly 1 million or 16 2017 Performance Awards percent overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Metroflor Corporation celebrated the 2017 sales performance Many of those who left never returned, even when the industry re- of its distribution partners by bestowing its performance bounded, instead pursuing jobs that were considered less cyclical. awards at a rock and roll celebration at the House of Blues in This led to a critical shortage in skilled workers, particularly in the Mandalay Bay during The International Surface Event (Surfac- 25- to 45-year-old age group, and higher wages in the industry. es) 2018. Hardwood flooring installers make an average of $52,477 Over 600 people—including Metroflor’s entire sales team and per year, according to Salary Expert. The average journeyman its distributors, aligned dealers and other key customers and at Jack Laurie Group also makes north of $50,000 annually, and friends—rocked out during The Unbound Tour 2018 – A Celebra- the minimum starting rate is $18 an hour. tion of 80s Arena Rock. The apprenticeship program is the latest addition to JLG’s Jack • Once again, Tri-West, Ltd. won the most awards, a total of five: Laurie University, an in-house employee development program The Paramount Award, honoring the distributor that pur- that offers ongoing training and certifications in a variety of ser- chased the greatest overall amount of Metroflor products in vices and professions. 2016; the Engage Genesis, Metroflor LVT and Prevail Distrib- The apprenticeship includes classroom, lab and field training utor of the Year accolades; and the Distributor National Sales by JLG’s own National Center for Construction Education & Re- Champion Award bestowed to John Mayer. search (NCCER)-certified instructors. More specifically, require- • Herregan Distributors accepted the Engage Award as well as ments include 8,000 on-the-job hours and 576 classroom and lab the Midwest Region Award received by Brian Boll. hours. The program is completely tuition free, but participants • Reader’s Wholesale Distributors, Ltd. won the Aspecta award must have a high school diploma or GED. Participation in the as well as the President’s Award, honoring the distributor Vincennes University associate’s degree program is optional. exhibiting the most comprehensive and unparalleled support The Indiana/Kentucky chapter of Associated Builders and of Metroflor Corporation, its brands and products. Contractors will host a graduation ceremony at Lucas Oil • Harvey Johnson of Mastercraft Flooring Distributors received Stadium, including dinner for two and a tour of the stadium, for the Distributor Visionary Award for his vision, passion and participants who complete the program. conviction pioneering Metroflor’s initiatives. Interested candidates are asked to visit http://jacklauriegroup. com/careers/. Click on the ‘register’ tab and fill out the short Following is a complete listing of all the award winners: contact form. • Konecto Distributor of the Year Award-Ohio Valley Flooring • Artistek Distributor of the Year Award-Adleta Corporation Mats Announced Executive • Metroflor Dryback LVT Distributor of the Year Award-Tri-West, Ltd. Team Promotions • Engage Distributor of the Year Award-Tri-West, Ltd. Nancy Pedrick has been promoted to chief sales officer (CSO) • Aspecta Distributor of the Year-Reader’s Wholesale Distribu- and Rich Ruhlin to chief marketing officer (CMO). tors, Ltd. Pedrick joined Mats in the spring of 2017, bringing with her 20 • Prevail Distributor of the Year-Tri-West, Ltd. years of sales management experience in the architectural sales • Eastern Region Sales Champion-Chris Gaddy, William M. Bird process. Her previous roles include vice president of sales at & Co., Inc. Humanscale, where she led the sales team to over 400% growth • Midwest Region Sales Champion-Brian Boll, Herregan Distrib- during her tenure. In her new role as CSO, Pedrick is responsible utors, Inc. for leading, strengthening and expanding the Mats sales team to • Southwest Region Sales Champion-Angela Brooks, Adleta obtain revenue growth targets. Corporation Ruhlin has been promoted to CMO, reporting to CEO Barry • Western Region Sales Champion-Mike Gallagher, The Cronin Hume. Beginning his tenure at Mats in 2000 as New England Company regional sales manager, Ruhlin has more 25 years of sales • Distributor National Sales Champion-John Mayer, Tri-West, Ltd. and account management experience. He was promoted to • Distributor Visionary Award-Harvey Johnson, Mastercraft vice president of healthcare development in 2008, joined the Flooring Distributors management team in 2013 and became senior vice president • President’s Award-Readers Wholesale Distributors, Ltd. of sales in 2016. In his new role, Ruhlin will continue to support • Paramount Award-Tri-West, Ltd.

52 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 MEMBER NEWS

Metroflor Publishes Aspecta Roppe Corporation publishes first Declare Labels in 5 New Languages Health Product Declaration Metroflor Corporation announced that it has published all the Roppe Corporation, a leading commercial flooring manufac- Declare labels for its Aspecta LVT commercial range into five turer that produces a wide selection of American Made rubber languages: Spanish, French, Italian, German and Dutch-the first and vinyl wall base, tile, tread and accessory products, recently company ever to do so in multiple languages. published their first Health Product Declaration (HPD) for their Analogous to nutrition labels for building products, the Envire® Rubber Sheet and Tile products. first-ever Declare label for a rigid-core LVT product was issued Envire Rubber Sheet and Tile is specifically formulated to be free for Metroflor’s Aspecta Ten, a multi-layer flooring product that of Red List chemicals, PVC, phthalates, and halogens. Envire is also features the company’s proprietary Isocore Technology. proudly made in the U.S.A. and meets FloorScore®, NSF332 Gold Because the International Living Futures Institute did not and CHPS criteria. The unique flecked design of tonal rubber chips have a system in place to accommodate Declare label transla- helps hide dirt and debris between cleanings, while the versatile tions, it took on the challenge and developed a formal protocol palette of 32 designer inspired hues aligns with our other rubber for label translations moving forward to ensure that the rigor of tile and tread products and coordinates with FlashCove®, Pinnacle the Declare program is maintained in every language. & Pinnacle Plus wall base and accessories lines. All color options are available at a Single Price Point within each product category. Halstead & Metroflor Donate The Health Product Declaration® Collaborative (HPDC) is a to Puerto Rico Disaster Relief not-for-profit member organization committed to the continuous Halstead and Metroflor have donated $100,000 to the Unidos improvement of the building industry’s performance through Disaster Relief Fund for relief work in Puerto Rico following Hur- transparency, openness and innovation in the product supply ricane Maria. The contribution reflects the company’s historical chain. The organization created, supports and evolves the Health commitment to philanthropy in a meaningful way, particularly in Product Declaration, an open standard format for the accurate response to natural disasters. reporting of material contents and potential health hazards. In addition to the company’s gift, any donations made to the “Publishing HPDs for Roppe products is an important and neces- Unidos Disaster Relief Fund by Halstead and Metroflor em- sary step for us,” stated Bart Rogers, RHC VP of Sales and Marketing. ployees will be matched dollar for dollar by Harlan and Sabina “We understand these documents not only help our customers make Stone. To date an additional $6,000 has been raised. more informed purchasing decisions, but they confirm our desire to be transparent as it relates to material health issues that are so Protect-All® Flooring Earns Top 50 Prod- important in the design world today and moving forward.” uct Recognition from retrofit Magazine HPDs qualify for numerous green building rating systems, Protect-All Flooring is proud to announce that updates made to their including LEED v4, Living Building Challenge (LBC), Green line of screws in early 2017 have earned Top 50 Product recognition Globes, WELL, FIT-Wel and Google Portico. from retrofit magazine. The fifth-annual Top 50 Products will appear in retrofit’s special January/February 2018 issue, which celebrates Shaw Acquires Scotland-Based the products that received the most reader inquiries from the maga- Sanquhar Tile Services zine’s September/October 2016 through July/August 2017 issues. Shaw Industries has acquired Scotland-based carpet tile manu- “We consider retrofit a source book for our readers to find facturer Sanquhar Tile Services (STS). innovative solutions and products for their own retrofit projects,” This acquisition expands Shaw’s carpet tile footprint to meet said Publisher John Riester. “The Top 50 Products special in our the needs of its global customers-complementing the com- January/February issue is a great resource to our readers about pany’s carpet tile manufacturing facilities in Cartersville and the products their peers thought were most interesting within the Adairsville, Georgia and in Nantong, China. pages of retrofit.” STS, a long-established carpet tile manufacturer in the U.K., After receiving customer feedback earlier this year, Protect-All’s will continue to serve its customers as part of Shaw’s commercial #8 screw was upgraded to a self-drilling stainless steel 1 ¼-inch flooring division. Shaw, founded 50 years ago, and STS, which hex head with a hex head driver. A new #12 stainless steel screw has been manufacturing carpet tile for 45 years, share cultures of was also introduced to the product line, which features a 1 ¼-inch innovation, service and long-tenured, experienced associates. counter sunk head with a square drive along with a 5/16-inch concrete drill bit, a square drive bit and lead anchor. These screw Shaw Investing $184 Million to sizes join the #10, 2-inch stainless-steel (counter sunk head) Upgrade Alabama Fiber Plant screw with a square drive, which includes a 5/16-inch concrete Shaw Industries will invest $184 million in its Andalusia, drill bit, square drive bit and lead anchor. Alabama manufacturing facility, which creates fiber used to “Protect-All Flooring strives to offer a variety of solutions for the manufacture carpet. complex needs of the commercial flooring industry,” said National Sales The project will include construction of new and expanded Manager Jerry Lee. “It’s an honor to know that the update to our line of building assets and installation of substantial amounts of new screws not only piqued interest, but hit the mark on installers’ needs.” manufacturing equipment.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 53 MEMBER NEWS

The changes will improve efficiency and production as well as As a result of the merger, Wheeler said his Tuftex rep will ergonomics and safety for the more than 1,000 associates who now also have the Anderson line, which makes sense instead of work at the plant. Additionally, improvements to chillers and the having two people. He also believes Shaw “needed to do some- use of new equipment stand to improve energy efficiency. Dem- thing” with Tuftex and not let it fall away and be gobbled up like olition work is underway at the facility, and new equipment is set other mills. “Shaw really is trying to hold onto that brand, which to be in place and operational by mid-2018; the facility will remain is smart because Tuftex makes great carpet.” operational throughout the transition. In his Salinas showroom, hard surface products are generally In October, Shaw announced its plans to invest more than positioned on one side of the floor, across from soft surfaces. $42 million in its Meigs County, Tennessee carpet plant to mod- However, when the Anderson Tuftex displays come in, Wheeler ernize the facility and enable the company to use both nylon and will likely pair them together in one common area, which he be- polyester fiber at the location, including recycled PET. lieves will stimulate sales. “As a Kool-Aid drinking Shaw customer who has had a great relationship with Shaw over the years, I Shaw merges Anderson, am excited about this branding.” Tuftex brands into one Dean Howell, owner of two Moda Floors & Interior stores in What has been rumored for months is now confirmed. Shaw Floors, Atlanta, got his first glimpse of the Anderson Tuftex pairing at parent company of the venerable Anderson Hardwood and Tuftex the Shaw Flooring Network winter market earlier this year (FC- brands, has announced plans to merge the two with the combined en- News, Jan. 30. Feb. 6.) Like Wheeler, he believes in the combined tity to be called Anderson Tuftex. The change is effective Jan. 1, 2018. marketing strategy. “Shaw’s plans to re-energize the Anderson For Shaw, the deal made sense because both brands have a brand is exciting. They’re trying to elevate the image of Ander- long heritage in the flooring industry and are a natural fit. Accord- son the way they are doing with the Tuftex line.” ing to Carrie Edwards Isaac, vice president, Anderson Tuftex, the brand will take a holistic and consumer-centric approach to mar- Tarkett Donates Employee Time keting and product development. This, she said, is based on the & Materials to 5 NOLA Charities fact today’s consumer demands a simplified shopping experience Tarkett announces its North America sales team will be volun- both in-store and online. teering at five New Orleans-area nonprofits on February 1. “The entire consumer journey is changing and has been for quite This volunteer effort is made possible through Tarkett Cares, some time,” Edwards Isaac said. “Consumers are finding inspiration a key part of the company’s social responsibility initiative. everywhere and are more directly connected with brands than ever Nearly 350 Tarkett team members will be volunteering at before. But purchasing flooring is complicated and consumers feel nonprofits throughout the city, supporting agencies focused on pressured to get it right. At Anderson Tuftex, it’s about simplicity. assisting the families and children of New Orleans. The compa- We don’t want to overwhelm consumers with options but, rather ny-sponsored day of volunteering is part of Tarkett’s North America craft intentional designs that serve as a canvas for their lives.” national sales meeting and will result in approximately 1,400 hours Anderson Tuftex will be showcased at Shaw Connect 2018 volunteered in New Orleans to assist the five following agencies: winter markets and will unveil the new premium brand at Surfac- • St. Bernard Battered Women’s Program’s Domestic Vio- es in Las Vegas. The future of these two legacy brands will focus lence Shelter on their new, collective brand identity by working with their • Arise Academy valued retail partners to drive premium floor covering sales. • Hoffman Early Learning Center Head Start • LowerNine.org “We’re committed to elevating the discussion with our cus- • Boys & Girls Club of New Orleans tomers and providing them with a beautiful product mix that In addition to employee time, Tarkett is also donating flooring, they’re eager to sell,” said Trey Thames, vice president of sales, paint, landscaping supplies, and other building materials to complete Anderson Tuftex. “By offering bold, yet timeless patterns and projects such as installing flooring, painting murals, creating play- foundational colors in both hard and soft surface flooring prod- ground areas, building group dance spaces, creating outdoor picnic ucts, we’re empowering our customers to create a seamless and exercise areas, and installing kitchen cabinets and countertops. shopping experience for consumers.” For many Shaw retailers the announcement doesn’t come as Tarkett Names Steve Vosburgh VP a surprise, although it is welcomed news. of Commercial Resilient Sales Todd Wheeler, owner of Wheeler’s Flooring in Salinas, Calif., Tarkett has announced the appointment of Steve Vosburgh as vice said that while he initially questioned the merging of an East president of commercial resilient sales for Tarkett North America. Coast line (Anderson) with a West Coast mill (Tuftex), he be- In his new role, Vosburgh will be responsible for overall lead- lieves the pairing ultimately makes sense. “It goes hand in hand ership of the commercial resilient sales business and strategy. with the trends in the industry of carpet losing share and—in the Vosburgh holds a master of science in organizational devel- last few years—the growth of hard surfaces. Tuftex has a good opment and leadership from Saint Joseph’s University, and he rug program; Anderson is a good hardwood brand. To have the earned two bachelor’s degrees from Monmouth College. brands merge and complement each other I believe will be a Vosburgh has focused his professional career in sales of products good marriage.” designed for the built environment, with nearly 30 years of experi-

54 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 MEMBER NEWS

ence in textiles, wallcoverings and commercial fl ooring. He held lead- solutions to rough and ugly scenarios.” ership positions at Designtex and Mohawk prior to joining Tarkett. HPS Schönox asked three well known people in the industry to serve as judges for the contest entries. The judges UFLOOR Systems Inc. becomes included Kimberly Oderkirk, Executive Vice President of The Uzin Utz North America, Inc. Flooring Contractor Association; Dean Thompson, President As of January 1, 2018, Uzin Utz AG, Ulm, Germany announced part of Resilient Floor Covering Institute; and Peter Craig, Concrete of its global growth strategy by changing the name of its North Floor Specialist and Consultant with Concrete Construction. American subsidiary, UFLOOR Systems Inc. to Uzin Utz North All identifying information was removed from the entries America, Inc. This change of name has also occurred with all of its and only project photos and notes were available so the judg- subsidiaries worldwide and will be followed by a global reworking es could remain impartial. The judges were asked to evaluate of the company’s visual image. the projects based on the severity of the original subfl oor’s “In recent years, we have been able to steadily expand our mar- condition, the skill and attention to detail taken in executing ket share and our sales revenues in the area of our fl ooring systems the project, and the quality of the fi nished subfl oor. – both nationally and internationally. We feel that there is still more It was an honor to be asked to judge HPS Schönox’s Worst potential, which can partly be achieved by adapting our corporate Subfl oor Contest,” said Oderkirk. “I have followed the contest structure to the needs of the future. The change of name is there- proceedings each year and was thrilled to have a chance to fore an important phase in creating a solid foundation for further get involved in such a unique industry event put on by one of growth within a uniform corporate image. In addition, the new FCICA’s members.” company name refl ects the close connection and position of Uzin First, second, and third place winners were chosen and Utz North America as a full subsidiary of the Uzin Utz Group, which were awarded prizes including Schönox dollars, a trip to Las is active worldwide,” explained Philipp Utz, member of the Executive Vegas, Apple watches, and YETI coolers. The winning compa- Board and great-grandson of the company founder, Georg Utz. “The nies were as follows: change of name allows our companies to make even better use of Iowa Wall Sawing won fi rst prize the high level of awareness of the Uzin Utz corporate brand for their with a renovation of a room in a own business activities”, continued Philipp Utz. 100-year-old building. “The fl oor was The company, with headquarters in Ulm, Germany, manu- in seriously bad shape,” said Jamie factures product systems for laying fl oor coverings of all types Bonazza. “My fi rst onsite visit I was including surface treatment products, along with the machines unsure if we could do anything. The subfl oor was completely for laying the fl oorings, and distributes these throughout Eu- breaking and crumbling.” The team used Schönox US on the rope, North America and Asia. The Uzin Utz Group is now active 2200 sq. ft. space. The customer wanted to keep the fl oor an in 49 countries throughout the world. This measure represents industrial look so after coating they sealed the fl oor. a further milestone in the company’s globally focused strategy Floorz Denver took second place and will further strengthen its competitiveness worldwide. with a careful restoration of an on- cology level at a hospital. “We could Worst Subfl oor Contest Winners Named not make any noise to remove the The winners of the HPS Schönox Worst Subfl oor Con- old adhesives,” said Kurt Bowers. test™ were announced during a ceremony at the International “The hospital was very happy that we could proceed without Surfaces Event in Las Vegas, Nev. noise of traditional full removal.” A combination of Schönox HPS Schönox’s annual Worst Subfl oor Contest seeks to products were used including Schönox VD, AST, and SL. answer the question, “What lies beneath?” Many installers face They primed with Schönox SHP, leveled with AP and nightmare scenarios when they start a new project. They choose skimmed with APF. to partner with Schönox materials to tackle those extreme sub- Tim Hogan’s Carpet – Lakeland fl ooring challenges. They are encouraged to take photos during gained third place with their repair the process and submit these photos along with description of on a multilevel home. They worked to Schönox products. cover existing plywood and concrete “We are always interested to see how our customers use our and trenching areas. Michael Barney product line in their projects,” said Doug Young, Executive Vice commented, “We had a mess.” They repaired some of the President. “It is a great feeling knowing that our systems can be holes in the slab with Schönox VD, RR and SL. Then primed

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 55 MEMBER NEWS

the floor with Schönox VD and poured US. They did some E.J. Welch Company - new premier final patching with Schönox SL before installing flooring. distributor of PROVA products First Honorable Mention was awarded to Floor to Ceiling Car- Jan 25, 2018 kicked off the introduction of the PROVA Ceramic pet One for their work on an extremely unlevel residence. “The en- & Stone Installation Accessories product line to the E.J. Welch tire lower level of the residence was unlevel concrete,” said Mark Company sales team at their training center in Elk Grove Village, Lawrence Jensen. After beginning the project, they also found they Illinois. The full day training program - designed specifically had a moisture problem. After scraping off all existing tile and for sales professionals by M-D PRO (a division of M-D Building glue they used Schönox KH Fix to prime and then pumped ZM. Products) - was used to educate and equip the E.J. Welch team “The floor looked fantastic and was very flat and smooth.” with all of the technical information they required to start selling Second Honorable Mention was achieved by Vortex Commer- PROVA products with confidence. This event also marked the cial Flooring for their efforts overhauling two levels of a school. first day that the two teams united together in what is sure to be There was tile removed by abatement and further abatement was a great distribution partnership for M-D PRO and E.J. Welch. required to remove old patch compound. Multiple Schönox prod- The training was led by M-D PRO’s Duane Farley, National ucts were used including SHP, KH-Fix, AP, APF, and Renotex. Bob Sales Manager and Technical Specialist for Canada alongside Patrey remarked, “Finish product was easy to install once the floor the PROVA Installation Specialist for the U.S., Mark Albonetti. A was leveled. It was a great smooth installation.” group of M-D PRO’s territory sales managers were also on site “We would like to thank everyone who participated in our to support and answer any questions. The training consisted annual Worst Subfloor Contest,” said HPS Schönox Principal of a half day of theoretical product education and a half day of Thomas Trissl. “We’re so proud that this contest was well-re- hands-on installations of the PROVA-SHOWER systems. Even ceived for the fourth year in a row. Congratulations to all of those who had never picked up a trowel before got their hands our winners!” dirty and learned from an installer’s perspective. It ended with a written sales evaluation to test how much of the information was Capri Announces actually retained and all associates passed with flying colors. Launch of New Website Keith Throm, Vice President Sales & Installation Products at E.J. With a new web address, www. Welch played an integral role in the development of this partner- capricollections.com, Capri starts ship and had some great feedback for M-D PRO. “E.J. Welch had 2018 with an updated website. bought M-D products for over 35 years until M-D’s exit a few years The site features include larger ago from the professional distribution channel. We are excited to product and installation images, be back and join the M-D Pro team with the Prova Ceramic and user friendly sample cart, quick Shower System line. After our day of training our sales team said access to Pinterest for additional that this was the most complete educational hands-on training installation images and our new that they have ever completed. Kudos to the M-D Pro team for Overstock program. Overstock putting together such a strong product line and training program.” products, which are all first qual- More training dates are scheduled and underway with other ity, consist of overruns, non-standard sizes, custom colors and E.J. Welch sales associates in their remaining locations. By off shade/color goods at reduced prices. March 2018 M-D PRO will have trained the entire team of 35 to As indicated on the website, we have renamed the Capri cork ensure a successful start to the launch of PROVA products at products Capri Collections. Capri Collections include AND/OR E.J. Welch and a prosperous future. “M-D PRO is excited and rubber cork rolls and tiles, Re-Tire recycled rubber, Capri Fitness honored to have partnered with such a well respected distribu- & Rec, Nuovo rubber cork tiles and treads, Mediterra cork and tor like the E. J. Welch Company to carry the PROVA System. We Capri Floats. Known for saturated colors, subtle neutrals, solids, see the enthusiasm and professionalism in their sales staff that textures and unique patterns, Capri products are available in certainly will be beneficial to their customers and to the growth multiple formats - rolls, tiles, planks, treads, glue down and and success of the PROVA product line.” Steven LaGrou, V.P., glueless. Since we began in 2006, all Capri products have been Sales & Marketing, M-D PRO. created to meet the requirements for a variety of commercial PROVA products are already available and being sold at all flooring and vertical applications. E.J. Welch branch locations and will also be available online at We are inspired by the creative ways the Capri products www.tools4flooring.com by March 2018. Tools4flooring.com have been specified and installed. A visit to our installation allows for end users all over the world to have access to industry gallery: https://www.capricollections.com/installation-gal- leading products. PROVA products will not only gain more mass lery/ illustrates the versatility of Capri Collections. distribution and visibility through this e-commerce hub but also For more information please contact marketing@capricol- be the first complete and competitive product line of its kind to lections.com or call 800.492.2613. be featured on this website. 

56 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018

INDUSTRY NEWS

Women in Stone Unveils March 22 Revised Wine & Stone Program Florida Stone Summit: Analyzing Shop Performance M S International, Deerfield Beach, FL

April 26 California Stone Summit: Analyzing Shop Performance M S International, San Diego, CA

May 24 South Carolina Stone Summit: Stone Shop Administration Pacific Shore Stones, Charleston, SC

MIA+BSI: The Natural Stone Institute announces that a newly June 7 revised Wine & Stone program is available through Women in Wisconsin Stone Summit: 12 Business Axioms Stone. The new program includes a revised CEU presentation that Universal Granite and Marble, Oak Creek, WI covers ten stones and places a greater emphasis on the correla- tion between wine and stone. The revised Wine & Stone kits also June 28 incorporate new branding, new stone samples, a preparation New York Stone Summit: Analyzing Shop Performance tutorial, and other items to ensure a memorable CEU event. M S International, Brentwood, NY Kim Dumais (Miller Druck Specialty Contracting), Women in Stone co-chair, commented: “Women in Stone is proud to July 26 present our newly updated Wine & Stone program. Our goal in Kansas Stone Summit: 12 Business Axioms revising the program was to offer an all-inclusive presentation, M S International, Lenexa, KS including an education forum and networking initiative. Our hope is that this program will offer another opportunity for the September 20 stone industry to engage and educate the design community Indiana Stone Summit: Know Your Business about natural stone, a topic we are all so passionate about. Just Global Granite and Marble, Indianapolis, IN like no two stones are alike, no two wines are alike—the connection is natural!” October 11 To schedule your Wine & Stone event, contact Sarah Gregg New Jersey Stone Summit: 12 Business Axioms ([email protected]). Visit www.naturalstoneinsti- Artistic Tile, Secaucus, NJ tute.org/womeninstone to learn more. November 1 Natural Stone Institute Announces Arizona Stone Summit: Stone Shop Administration 2018 Stone Industry Education Series Arizona Tile, Tucson, AZ The Natural Stone Institute and Stone World magazine are pleased to announce the schedule for the 2018 Stone Industry ASA Announces the SAP Education Series. This year, Stone Summits will be held in ten ‘It’s Your Monkey Now’ Award cities across the United States. ASA announced a Subcontractors Are Prey (SAP) Award to a The ten Stone Summits scheduled for 2018 will be facilitated subcontract clause that makes a subcontractor the crane oper- by a team of experienced industry leaders, including GK Naquin ator’s employer, regardless of who actually writes the worker’s (Stone Interiors), Tony Malisani (Malisani, Inc.), Duane Naquin paycheck. The SAP “It’s Your Monkey Now” Award goes to the (Stone Interiors), and Eric Tryon (Premier Surfaces). New this following clause: year, each of the facilitators will present a fully unique program “Any Contractor employee or representative is the Borrowed on four different topics: Knowing Your Business, Analyzing Shop Servant of the Subcontractor while such employee or representa- Performance, Stone Shop Administration, and the 12 Business tive is hoisting material.” Axioms. Under common law, an employer is liable for any acts of its Participants who register before February 1, 2017 will receive employee within its broadly defined “scope of employment.” 20% off their registration. For more information, please visit “Borrowed servant” is a legal principle under which the firm that www.stoneindustryeducation.com. The 2018 Stone Industry “borrows” the employee, rather than the employee’s regular em- Education Series is as follows: ployer, is liable for the employee’s actions that occur while the employee is under the control of the temporary employer. For February 21 example, under this clause, the crane operator only has to obey Texas Stone Summit: Know Your Business the request of the subcontractor’s signaler on the ground, with- Arizona Tile, Austin, TX out exercising any thought or independent judgment because

58 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 INDUSTRY NEWS

the consequences all belong to the subcontractor. The clause Construction employment totaled 7,099,000 in January, a also raises questions about who is responsible for assuring that gain of 36,000 for the month and 226,000, or 3.3 percent, over the crane operator “must have the authority to stop and refuse 12 months. The economist pointed out that the¬¬ year-over- to handle loads” when there are safety concerns, and is “compe- year growth rate in industry jobs was more than double the 1.5 tent” (and beginning in 2018, “certified”) under OSHA rules. percent rise in total nonfarm payroll employment. The award’s title, based on the Polish proverb, “Not my circus, Residential construction—comprising residential building and not my monkeys,” recognizes that under such a clause, the sub- specialty trade contractors—added 19,000 jobs in January and contractor may not own the crane but assumes total responsi- 88,400 jobs, or 3.3 percent, over the past 12 months. Nonresi- bility for the actions of the crane operator, although he/she was dential construction (building, specialty trades, and heavy and selected, trained and paid by someone else. A subcontractor civil engineering construction) employment increased by 16,400 should strike the “borrowed servant” clause, which amounts to jobs in January and 137,200 positions, or 3.3 percent, over 12 a broad-form indemnity for crane accidents that isn’t limited by months. standard, indemnification contract modification language. ASA’s The number of unemployed jobseekers with recent construc- tongue-in-cheek SAP Awards recognize achievements in the tion experience fell to 707,000 in January, down from 859,000 use of predatory contract language in the construction industry. in January 2017, while the unemployment rate in construction Nominations for SAP Awards can be submitted to ASA Chief dropped to 7.3 percent last month from 9.4 percent a year Advocacy Officer E. Colette Nelson at [email protected]. earlier. The number and rate were the lowest for January since the series began in 2000. Unemployment data by industry are Jacy Bolden Named Director of not seasonally adjusted, and winter figures for construction are CARE’s CA Stewardship Program normally higher than they are for total nonfarm employment, but Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has named Jacy Bolden these declines show how difficult it has become for the industry as the first full-time director of the California Carpet Steward- to find experienced workers, Simonson said. ship Program. Average hourly earnings in the industry climbed to $29.33, Bolden comes to CARE with extensive experience in product a rise of 2.9 percent from a year earlier. The economist noted stewardship, waste and environmental policy as the founder of that construction pays nearly 10 percent more per hour than the consulting firm The JBC Groups. Her work includes corporate average nonfarm private-sector job in the United States. sales, solid waste systems, recycling and composting opera- Construction officials said that a new presidential push to tions and nonprofit management, as well as municipal and local boost infrastructure investments by $1.5 trillion over the next government program operations and policy development. ten years would give a needed boost to infrastructure contrac- In 2004, she was named Recycler of the Year by the California tors who, according to construction spending figures released Resource Recovery Association. yesterday, have seen lagging demand compared to other market In collaboration with Peoples and the CARE team, Bolden segments. Moreover, significant new and long-term investment will be responsible for the management and administration of in infrastructure would help encourage more people to consider all aspects of the Program, including delivering services to its high-paying careers in construction. target audiences to increase reuse, recycling and diversion of “Bringing our aging infrastructure back to a state of good post-consumer carpet discards in California. repair will support short-term economic growth while making Based in the Los Angeles area, Bolden looks forward to trav- our economy more efficient and competitive over the long-term,” eling extensively to meet with stakeholders across the state. said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “These new investments will also send a clear signal to Construction Employers Add 36,000 new workers to consider careers in construction and the mid- Jobs in January and 226,000 Over the dle-class life those jobs support.” Year Construction employment increased by 36,000 jobs in January Crossville Marks Tenth Tile Installation to the highest level since August 2008, according to an analysis in Specially Adapted Smart Home Built of new government data by the Associated General Contractors by the Gary Sinise Foundation of America. Association officials said a possible new measure As the exclusive tile supplier for the Gary Sinise Foundation’s being discussed in Washington that would invest an additional R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empow- $1.5 trillion in repairing and improving infrastructure would both erment) in 2017, Crossville recently celebrated the 10th specially help the sector continue to add jobs and attract new workers. adapted smart home dedication. Throughout the past year, “The construction industry has consistently added workers at Crossville has donated more than 10,000 square feet of tile for nearly double the rate of the overall economy,” said Ken Simon- installations in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other son, the association’s chief economist. “The outlook remains spaces inside homes custom-built for wounded veterans and positive for further growth in the industry. But finding workers to their families. complete all projects will be a challenge with unemployment so “It’s exciting to know we have contributed to help 10 deserv- low overall and in construction.” ing heroes and their families enjoy the comforts of brand new,

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 59 INDUSTRY NEWS

specially-adapted smart homes. Our tile is a part of the everyday tection Agency (EPA) Environmentally Preferable surroundings that are making life better for those who’ve sacri- Purchasing (EPP) Program as a recommended ficed so much,” says Lindsey Waldrep, Crossville’s vice president ecolabel for sustainable federal purchasing. The of marketing. EPA EPP Program provides recommendations of The beauty of tile is far from being the only driving force specifications, standards, and ecolabels to help for incorporating Crossville products into the design of these federal purchasers identify and specify environ- unique homes. Tile’s performance, versatility, and ease of clean- mentally sustainable products and services. ing are also key factors in its use. Interface, Inc. has achieved GreenCircle CEF “The tile specified for each family has been chosen to make certification. This is an example of a flooring life simpler and solve challenges, all while looking beautiful for product that meets verification recommendations the long term,” Waldrep shares. set by the EPA. The dedication of U.S. Navy EOD1 Andrew Bottrell’s home in The basis of these recommendations come San Diego, Calif., marks Crossville’s 10th R.I.S.E. home complet- from EPA guidelines developed through a stakeholder consen- ed this year. Crossville tile was installed in the master bath, sus process, ensuring a transparent, reliable approach. The rec- guest and upstairs bathrooms, and in the laundry room—cover- ommendations leverage existing private-sector standards and ing the floors and walls. ecolabels to encourage and simplify the process of sustainable The master bath and shower floor and walls feature Cross- purchasing in the US government, while developing a frame- ville’s Gotham collection. With subtle striations, aggregate work to recognize environmental performance and address the finishes, and lived-in colorations of concrete, this collection key environmental or health impacts within product categories. provides an urban aura for the space. In addition, Crossville’s Product categories to date include: cafeteria, construction, cus- Ebb & Flow collection accentuates the master bath walls with a todial, electronics, grounds/landscaping, and office/furniture. touch of stone and glass. An internationally recognized, third-party certification entity The upstairs bath features Crossville’s Buenos Aires Mood providing independent verification of sustainability claims, collection. This line offers an elegant color, touchable texture, GreenCircle is ISO 17065 compliant, following industry require- and sensuous movement to offer the right look and feel for a ments for organizations certifying products, processes, and relaxing space. services. GreenCircle certification is additionally recognized by both the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Crossville Unveils 2018 Color Trend Home Innovation Research Labs’ (HIRL) National Green Building in Recently Released Look Book Standard (NGBS) and the International Living Future Institute Crossville, Inc. has released its (ILFI) as a valid third-party certification entity. GreenCircle’s CEF 2018 Color Trend Look Book, label for flooring products enables purchasers to easily review forecasting the use of black and and understand flooring sustainability attributes, such as carbon rich, shadowy hues in commer- footprint, recycled content, material ingredients, and manufac- cial and residential design in the turing attributes. coming year. The engaging dig- “Now recognized by the EPA, GreenCircle’s CEF label for ital publication is now available flooring products will continue to support the movement in for free browsing or download- government procurement to specify products with decreased ing by clicking here. environment impact and verified sustainability metrics. When In addition to visual inspira- purchasers are accurately informed and educated, they are tion for the 2018 color trend, Crossville’s publication includes empowered to make the best choices. Purchasers have a big quotes from an array of nationally recognized interior designers. role in selecting sustainable products as well as encouraging “The perspectives of leading designers really put this year’s continuous improvement with product manufacturers to provide color trend in context,” shares Lindsey Waldrep, vice president more sustainable products. We encourage all procurement of marketing for Crossville. “We hope the visual inspiration and teams to utilize the recommendations set by the EPA when mak- insights help guide those who specify tile products to make ing purchasing decisions,” said Tad Radzinski, co-founder and bold color choices for upcoming projects.” Certification Officer of GreenCircle Certified, LLC. To download the book and peruse Crossville’s fashion-for- Government and private purchasing teams alike should utilize ward collections in this stunning visual publication, click here. recommendations and guidelines such as these in order to meet sustainable purchasing goals, reduce impact, and reduce GreenCircle Certification Recognized spending by selecting products with life cycle cost savings. by EPA as a Recommended Ecolabel Refer to the EPA EPP Program Recommendations website for for Federal Purchasing more information on certification criteria, and to view all the rec- GreenCircle Certified, LLC’s (GreenCircle) Certified Environ- ommended specifications, standards, and ecolabels for federal mental Facts (CEF) multi-attribute label for flooring products purchasing. has been recognized by the United States Environmental Pro- The EPA guidelines encourage continuous improvement of

60 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 INDUSTRY NEWS

not only the recommended standards and ecolabels, but the serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee which includes: products and services addressed. Federal purchasers can visit Kevin Pearson, chair-elect; Craig Kersemeier, first vice presi- GSA’s Green Procurement Compilation for all applicable green dent; Jeff Bishop, second vice president; Steve Moran, treasur- purchasing requirements, including EPA’s recommendations. er; and Matt Cole, secretary. “The IICRC has had a banner year in terms of growth,” said II- New shades for Havwoods CRC President Richard Greene. “With this new line of leadership engineered wood collection and some fresh faces on the Board, we’re excited to see what the future will bring.” Additional members of the 2017-2018 Board of Directors include: • Dennis Blake • Joe Dobbins • Jessika James • Scott Mitseff • Robert Pettyjohn

For more information about the IICRC, please visit http:// www.iicrc.org, or contact Jennifer Petersen at jpetersen@mul- berrymc.com.

MFA Finalizes Category Names Happy New Year! As you’re looking ahead to 2018, we know that After multiple meetings and considerable industry consul- hardwood flooring will continue to grow in popularity, and the tation, the Multilayer Flooring Association (MFA) board of direc- team at Havwoods International is already anticipating a high tors, with unanimous agreement, has aligned on two category increase in demand for product from commercial and residen- names to describe rigid products in the multilayer vinyl flooring tial projects. The international hardwood flooring supplier has category. noticed a rising trend among designers—more neutral tones and The categories are defined by the type of core in the prod- looks of reclaimed wood. But, in many instances, these choices uct: “WPC” products represent the class of rigid vinyl flooring are outside of their budgets. products with an expanded or foamed polymer core; and “SPC” That’s why Havwoods International has introduced new products refer to the class of rigid vinyl flooring products with a shades to its pre-finished engineered wood collection that offer solid polymer core. timeless elegance of grey tones and the reclaimed look of wood Rigid core vinyl products have gained massive market but much more cost efficient. Here’s a look: reception over the past few years. Rapid growth, technological • The Relik collection’s newly added Coalburn ($11.05 per sq. advancements, and many new products in the market have con- ft.) fits into the trending grey tones. tributed to significant retailer and consumer confusion. The MFA • Another new addition to the Relik collection is Sandford was organized in 2016 to set performance and safety standards ($11.05 per sq. ft.) This reclaimed option offers reds and for this emerging category as well as clear up the confusion for blues—ideal for making a statement to any space. the floorcovering industry. • The PurePlank range now features a striking grey tone with WPC and SPC products may still have significant differences the Lunas plank, which is easy to install and highly cost effi- within each category, including the type of surface, the formula- cient at $5.80 per sq. ft. tion of the core, production methods, and type of backing. The • Another reclaimed wood choice is Bay ($9.95 per sq. ft.) from MFA is continuing to work on further definition and the estab- the Venture Plank collection. It’s been fumed so the color lishment of ASTM standards for performance. The association goes right through the wear layer making scratches less said its goal is to enable continued trust for consumers, retail- visible. ers, and specifiers in this growing product category. For more information, visit multilayerflooringassociation.com. IICRC Announces 2018 Board of Directors and Executive Committee Mullican Flooring and Appalachia The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certifica- Service Project Partner to Build New tion (IICRC) today announced the election of five new members Homes for 120 Families Affected by to its 2018 Board of Directors. New Board of Directors members Natural Disasters include Dan Mesenburg, Paul Pleshak and James Tole. Steve Mullican Flooring, a leading manufacturer of quality hardwood Moran and Carey Vermeulen were re-elected. floors, partnered with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) to Following the election, the new Board of Directors elected build homes for more than 120 families affected by the 2016 Pete Duncanson as Chairman of the Board. Duncanson will West Virginia flood and Great Smoky Mountains wildfires.

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 61 INDUSTRY NEWS

To date, 42 new homes have been completed in Rainelle, Solutions in Baltimore, MD was the 2017 recipient of the award. West Virginia, with another 19 homes currently under construc- Wagner has been a distributor member of NAFCD since the as- tion. Four homes have been completed in Gatlinburg, Tennes- sociation’s inception in 1971. He has served on NAFCD’s board of see, and three are in progress. In an effort to reduce project directors in multiple capacities and continues to be heavily involved cost and increase the impact and reach of ASP, Mullican donat- in the association. ed hardwood flooring in excess of 100,000 square feet. The NAFCD Leadership in Action Award recognizes individuals “Mullican Flooring has been a valued and consistent for the positive impact and meaningful contributions that they have supporter of Appalachia Service Project and our mission made to their company’s success. The recipient of the 2017 NAFCD of making the homes of low-income families in Appalachia Leadership in Action Reward was Kyle Gorny of Blakely Products in warmer, safer and drier for many years,” says Walter Crouch, Warren, MI. Gorny has been involved in the construction and build- ASP President/CEO. “In the next year, more than 40 additional ing industries for over 25 years and began his career with Blakely homes will be built in West Virginia and another 18 in Tennes- Products in 2011. Committed to learning from the bottom up, he see. When done, more than 120 families who lost their homes started by becoming familiar with the customer service and oper- to disaster will benefit from the partnership between ASP and ational functions of the business, and soon used his experience to Mullican Flooring.” help the company provide improved services. In October 2017, the third and fourth of 25 new homes com- Introduced in 2015, NAFCD recognizes a member who has mitted to being built in Gatlinburg and Sevier County were ded- made outstanding contributions in furthering NAFCD membership. icated. The second and third dedications were for brother and From increasing engagement with current members and growing sister Ernest Ogle, 75, and Trula Mae Bible, 84, who grew up in support from industry partners to exceptional efforts in member the same house and will now reside as neighbors in the newly recruitment, the NAFCD Growth Award is presented to a member constructed homes. ASP will continue to dedicate homes as who has had a positive impact on the association over the past they are finalized, sharing the stories of those in the Rainelle year. Zack Zehner of and Gatlinburg communities. Mannington in Salem, NJ was presented with this year’s NAFCD In June 2016, the West Virginia floods accumulated up to Growth Award. Since joining the NAFCD board of directors, Zehner 10 inches around the state in 24-hours and claimed 23 lives, has been proactive in promoting NAFCD’s value to his compa- while also forcing a state of emergency in 44 of 55 of the state’s ny’s distributors and also encourages participation in key NAFCD counties. In the same year, wildfires swept through the Great offerings, such as the Annual Convention and the recently updated Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in NAFCD Financial Benchmarking Report. November of 2016. The fire killed 14 people and destroyed over Visit www.NAFCD.org for more information and to view all past 2,800 buildings and burned over 17,000 acres of land in total. NAFCD award recipients. “Mullican Flooring has tremendous belief in Appalachia Service Project’s vision to continue to rebuild communities Shiva Parvaresh joins hit by natural disasters. Walter Crouch’s leadership ability has Nemo Tile + Stone enabled ASP to restore hope, enthusiasm and energy to the Nemo Tile + Stone is pleased people in these areas. The organization truly does God’s work to announce the company’s here on Earth,” said Neil Poland, President of Mullican Flooring. latest hire, Shiva Parvaresh, In recent years, Mullican has also donated and installed Client Service Specialist work- new flooring in both Appalachia Service Project’s Jonesville, ing in the New England region. Virginia, and Brenton, West Virginia, volunteer and staff training Shiva will be working closely centers. On October 20, 2017, Mullican Flooring was award- with Steven Wallace, Nemo’s ed a Medal of Distinction from Appalachia Service Project in Director of Specifications recognition of the company’s efforts and investment in the in the area, to engage with Appalachian community. clients, liaise with Nemo’s New York City-based teams, and NAFCD Announces Award Winners at coordinate events for local clientele in the architecture and design Annual Convention community. Shiva will work with clients of all types to ensure posi- Celebrating leaders in the floor covering industry, the North Ameri- tive relationships, effective communication of the Nemo brand, and can Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) announced to manage project deliverables. its NAFCD Lifetime Achievement Award, NAFCD Leadership in Drawn to Nemo by President and CEO Matt Karlin’s vision for Action Award, and NAFCD Growth Award recipients at the 2017 the future and passion of his team, Shiva is excited to bring her NAFCD Annual Convention. dynamic personality and wide range of interests to her new role. The NAFCD Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals Previously an interior designer, Shiva has also led luxury product who have shown exceptional leadership and made outstanding merchandising for a major retailer, where she became well versed contributions that have led to expanding the vision of the floor in product design, sales, customer service, and strategies to covering distribution channel. Bob Wagner of Fishman Flooring expand into new markets – all key aspects as Nemo broadens its

62 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 INDUSTRY NEWS

presence in New England. Shiva’s people-focused approach has The asthma & allergy friendly® driven her success in sales and client relations, while her inquisitive Certification Program in Las Vegas mind will help her explore untapped market potential for Nemo. at the SURFACES Event

New ASTM Standard Supports Innovation in Multilayer Flooring A new ASTM International standard covers initial performance requirements for rigid core resilient flooring. This relatively new type of flooring is becoming popular due to its water resistance, durability, board-like feel that makes it easy to install, and avail- ability in a wide array of designs, textures, and formats. The standard (soon to be published as F3261) was developed by ASTM International’s committee on resilient floor coverings (F06). Manufacturers of this flooring, which features a middle core layer made of hard plastic, will now have a consensus set of performance requirements to target, according to committee members. “We started with a set of minimum criteria for both commercial and residential applications that we could collectively agree upon,” said Dennis Bradway, corporate product and standards manager for Mannington Mills. “As we continue to refine and consider additional criteria, we must keep in mind that such criteria, be Did you know that there are two cutting-edges flooring companies, meaningful and relevant for the intended use and application.” Tarkett and Congoleum, who have passed our scientific standards The creation of standards for these products is aimed at and earned the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification? providing buyers and consumers with confidence in this product The latest innovative company certified by our program, Con- category. Testing laboratories will also be able to use the new goleum, showcased their flooring products at the International standard to provide testing and certification services. Surface Event in Las Vegas from January 30th - February 1st. For the occasion, the Director of the asthma & allergy friendly® OSHA Penalties Certification Program attended the event along with our newest Below are the penalty amounts adjusted for inflation as of Jan. flooring client and also spread the word about the Certification 2, 2018. Program to help cutting-edge companies differentiate their flooring products. Type of Violation Penalty Investing in healthier product has become a much more Serious $12,934 per violation important life style choice for consumers seeking to make Other-Than-Serious informed choices for their families. The Nielson’s 2015 Global Posting Requirements Health and Wellness Report revealed that 88% of consumers Failure to Abate $12,934 per day beyond the are willing to pay more for healthy, which opens up increasing abatement date opportunities for healthier flooring manufacturers. Willful or Repeated $129,336 per violation

About Allergy Standards Limited State Plan States Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) is an international certification States that operate their own Occupational Safety and Health company that prepares independent standards for testing a wide Plans are required to adopt maximum penalty levels that are at range of products to determine their suitability for asthmatics and least as effective as Federal OSHA’s. individuals with associated allergies. ASL has devised a series of proprietary testing protocols and suitability specifications for For More Assistance products to meet in order to be eligible for certification as asthma OSHA offers a variety of options for employers looking for com- & allergy friendly®. ASL has developed these protocols to identify pliance assistance. that products that consumers can trust have been subject to rig- The On-site Consultation Program provides professional, orous testing to determine their relative suitability for people with high-quality, individualized assistance to small businesses at no cost. asthma and allergies. The program works with patient advocacy OSHA also has compliance assistance specialists in most of groups, retailers and manufacturers across product categories our 85 Area Offices across the nation who provide robust out- that are relevant to a ‘healthy home’ concept including textiles reach and education programs for employers and workers. and apparel, air cleaners, dehumidifiers, paints, bedding, vacuum For more information, please contact the Regional or Area cleaners, washing machines, stuffed toys, cleaning services, and Office nearest you. more. http://www.allergystandards.com 

The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 63 H E A D I N G ? ? ? ?

The Unhappy Reality of Slip and Fall Accidents Although it varies by industry, claims made by businesses for slip and fall accidents account for more than 20 percent of general liability claims each year, and have an average payout of more than $20,000. Every business has the potential to experience these incidents, but the retail and commercial industries are often prime targets for slips and falls, most likely due in part to their frequent interaction with the public. Likewise, certain times of the year also seem more prone to slip and fall incidents, such as colder months and the autumn and winter holidays. The causes definitely vary, but three particular circumstances commonly increase a business’s risk. One area of increased risk is simply more traffic. Regardless of the reason, more traffic naturally points to a greater chance for mishaps. Add other distractions such as point of sale displays, store demonstrations, or any other typical “shopping” distraction, and the risk increases. To reduce this risk, you would need to reduce foot traffic, and what business owner wants to do that? A more acceptable alternative is to emphasize the importance of regular facility inspections, on-going housekeeping, and sound maintenance practices. Next is seasonal weather. Depending on your store’s location, rain and winter’s sleet, ice, and snow can significantly impact slip and fall frequency. Couple this with customers who may not be wearing appropriate footwear for the conditions, and your risk increases. Businesses should implement policies to keep walkways, driveways, and customer parking areas clear of ice and snow accumulation.  Pay special attention to drainage runoff or discharge from buildings, canopies, and landscaping.  Many incidents occur after a day of snow/ice melt and the refreeze in the evening or morning hours, which are also often the busiest times of day.  And don’t forget indoor slips and falls. Customers inevitably track in whatever type of precipitation is outdoors, creating wet and slippery floors, especially around entrances. Keeping employees aware of and on the lookout for these increased weather-related risks is critical to slip and fall prevention—inside and out. And last, but certainly not least, is fraud. The winter holidays in particular are prime time for fraudsters. The reasons are as varied as the people involved, but often they stem from an increased need for money, or even simply taking advantage when larger crowds or weather conditions present an opportunity. Fraud can be hard to detect and prove, but being aware of fraud indicators, keeping video surveillance footage, and documenting your housekeeping details (e.g., When was ice melt laid? When was the floor mopped?) can be valuable for helping to combat fraud. Slip and fall incidents and their root causes can be obvious (an icy sidewalk), or not so obvious (a “staged” fall for fraudulent purposes). In other words, business owners need to be ready for all conditions. Look at your business through the eyes of a customer, paying special attention to the three common causes discussed here. They show what your business could be exposed to, and the preventable situations you can remedy to help you avoid an insurance claim. For more information on slip and fall prevention, contact your local Federated marketing representative.

This article is intended to provide general information and recommendations regarding risk prevention only and should not be considered legal advice. Following these guidelines does not guarantee reduced losses or elimination of any risks. This information may be subject to regulations and restrictions in your state. Qualified counsel should be sought regarding questions specific to your circumstances and applicable state or federal laws. © 2017 Federated Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

64 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 How can the CIM program benefit Your Company? Flexible Online Training Customer Satisfaction Increased ROI Competitive Advantage Advanced Project Management Your Path to Quality Assurance There is no other program like CIM available for Installation and Project Managers

Visit our Website for more Information: www.FCICA.com/CIM FROM THE JOBSITE

Wagner Meters and Sitefotos Partner to Benefit Flooring Professionals

agner Meters’ concrete flooring data via Bluetooth® and automatically upload the division and Sitefotos, a software readings to the user’s account in the cloud. The W company, announced today a moisture readings, along with any photos, are tagged partnership which enables inte- to the location and project. They are then time gration of the Sitefotos photo documentation app stamped and stored on the cloud for easy and quick with Wagner’s Rapid RH® Bluetooth® Smart Reader. retrieval by the project personnel. Wagner Meters is the first company in the floor- Since 2005, the Rapid RH® system has been providing industry to use a Bluetooth-enabled device to ing flooring professionals with extremely fast, accurate, allow users to take ASTM F2170 compliant relative and reliable moisture testing of concrete floor slabs humidity (RH) readings. before installation of finished floor products. Now, the This partnership allows flooring contractors and superior, cutting-edge technology of the Rapid RH® can other users of the Sitefotos app to read Rapid RH® be paired with convenient, digital photo documentation at each jobsite. “The idea for our partnership started when the developer of Sitefotos noticed many of his customers were taking photos of echno ® T lo the digital readings from our Rapid RH Smart Sensors, which 1 g in medium y measure RH and temperature in concrete. After he approached 4 bed ® non-sag thin bed us about integrating his app with the Rapid RH , we soon saw RECORD 4 one i component y how this could better serve not only our mutual customers, but n g 1 lo Techno future customers as well,” says Jason Spangler, Wagner Meters’ SETTING Flooring Division Sales Manager. Photo Documentation UZIN. HIGH PERFORMANCE When a flooring contractor’s employees and subcontractors use 4 IN 1 TILE & STONE MORTARS. the Sitefotos mobile app to take photos of flooring and project conditions, the app can now receive RH readings directly from the Rapid RH® Bluetooth® Smart Reader. This will eliminate the need to fill out paper forms and ensures that the data is categorized and time stamped to the correct project. “Having photo documentation with the date and time is not only valuable for communication involving a contractor, his employees, and subcontractors, but because everything is well documented, it’s also very valuable to help battle future liability should a flooring failure occur,” says Sitefotos CEO Michael Lindenbaum.

Open to Other Partnerships EXTREMELY FINE AGGREGATES • VARIABLE WATER RATIO According to Spangler, the success of this partnership could uzin.us SUPERIOR SAG/SLIP RESISTANCE • ISO AND ANSI CERTIFIED pave the way for integrating the Smart Reader with other apps in the market. “We’re certainly open to other similar opportunities should they arise,” he says. 

66 The Flooring Contractor Magazine Spring 2018 FREE PRODUCT WEBINARS

Your Opportunity to …. Gain the Best Insight and Learn About Unfamiliar Products

Learn Proper Applications and Techniques Directly from the Manufacturer’s Technical Representatives

Enhance Your Product Knowledge Ask Questions During the Live Q&A! Don’t Miss These Upcoming Manufacturer Led Webinars: March 1, 2018 Sika Corporation

April 5, 2018 Protect-All Flooring

May 3, 2018 GCP Applied Technologies

June 7, 2018 MAPEI Corporation

Learn about how your company can host a product webinar Contact Kelly Fuller at 248.661.5015 or [email protected] FCICA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS 2017-2018 PLATINUM SPONSORS CHAIRMAN VICE CHAIRMAN OF ASSOCIATES Mike Newberry Don Styka Inside Edge Commercial Interior Services Tarkett Office: (651) 389-3932 Office : (440) 708-5811 Cellular: (651) 208-8410 Fax: (440) 708-9511 E-mail: [email protected] Cellular: (216) 973-3745 E-mail: [email protected] VICE CHAIRMAN Pat Kelly IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Synergy Flooring Ltd. Gerry Swift Office: (770) 794-8200 Lotus Building Services, LLC Fax: (770) 794-8363 Office: (703) 266-2903 Cellular: (678) 836-5521 Fax: (703) 637-0009 E-mail: [email protected] Cellular: (703) 929-1445 Email: [email protected] SECRETARY/TREASURER J.R. Allred EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Dalton Carpet One Kimberly E. Oderkirk Office: (706) 353-0547 FCICA Fax: (706) 353-2141 Office: (248) 661-5015 Cellular: (504) 717-0496 Fax: (248) 661-5018 E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 877-TO-FCICA (877-863-2422) Cellular: (248) 388-4605 E-mail: [email protected]

FCICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TERMS EXPIRING 2018

GRAHAM DANIEL SETH PEVARNIK CAPOBIANCO ORTIZ-BACON ARDEX Americas Capri cork Allstate Floors and (724) 203-5215 (717) 823-0569 Construction Seth.pevarnik@ gcapobianco@ (410) 327-6400 ardexamericas.com capricork.com danielortiz@allstate floors.com

TERMS EXPIRING 2019

AMY JOHNSTON LARRY CHANDLER BOB WALLUM Flooring Services, Inc. William M Bird Co. Finish Line Flooring (734) 522-2622 (678) 873-9888 Services ajohnston@flooring [email protected] (201) 803-4878 services-inc.com (201) 261-6055 fax [email protected]

TERMS EXPIRING 2020

CURTIS BLANTON BRENT FIKE JEFF JOHNSON DCO Commercial Floors Roppe Corporation MAPEI Corporation (706) 353-0547 (419) 435-8546 (954) 246-8717 [email protected] bfike@roppe [email protected] holdingcompany.com

GOLD SPONSORS

ALLIED CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES CHILEWICH SULTAN LLC COMMERCIAL ONE ECORE GERFLOR LATICRETE INTERNATIONAL LATICRETE SUPERCAP SIKA CORPORATION SPONGE CUSHION STARNET TRAMEX LTD. WAGNER METERS WE CORK THE ONLY TRADE SHOW IN THE WORLD DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE WOOD FLOORING INDUSTRY.

Learn new skills and grow your business at Expo Join more than 3,000 like-minded attendees and exhibitors from all over the world to share a common passion: wood flooring. As an attendee, you will gain knowledge to improve your business, connections to expand your professional network, and inspiration to build your career.

EXPO TRADE SHOW More than eleven hours on the show floor to view new products and experience hands-on demonstrations.

THINK TANK SESSIONS Participate in interactive programming FINAL DIVE that will focus on marketing/sales, management, and industry-specific Ascend from the depths with the Plank Tank winner announcement technical topics. and a reception with live music from a fun, local band!

PRE-EXPO SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION Open to NWFA members, Symposium Expo registration is an all-access package that will focus on science as it relates to the includes all events for one flat rate. Pre-Expo wood flooring industry. Participants Symposium and Golf Tournament are an additional fee. NWFA Membership is required. will receive two CCUs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER VISIT NWFAEXPO.ORG

TrowelFastTM Vinyl Flooring Adhesive

Install flooring faster.

RESISTS Moisture Ideal for LVT, LVP, VCT and ADHESIVE resistant up to solid vinyl heterogeneous DISPLACEMENT 95% RH / or homogeneous and disbonding under sheetgoods* heavy rolling loads 10 lbs. MVER

HEAT WELD AFTER 60 MINS FAST EXTENDED OPEN TIME DRYING allows flooring Accepts flooring as installation for up soon as 10-20 minutes to 6-8 hours

For complete details, visit tecspecialty.com

*Refer to product data sheet or call the technical support line 800-832-9023 for an approved list of flooring. ©2018 H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc. TEC®, TEC® logo and TrowelFast™ are trademarks of H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.