HF-JuneJuly09-CoverWeb.indd 1 5/26/09 4:23:21 PM Great Finish Introducing the 3M™ Easy Change Disc System, from the same experts that developed 3M™ Regalite™ Floor Sanding Abrasives. There’s no hole: The sanding disc locks to the driving pad and stays put. That means no dish-out. No scratches. No swirls. No drum chatter marks. So, when the dust clears, all that’s left is a smooth, beautiful fl oor and your reputation for quality work. Making your job a whole lot easier. For more information, call 1-800-494-3552 or visit www.3M.com. 3M, Regalite and the Plaid Design are trademarks of 3M. © 3M 2008 002HF11_3M1108.indd 1 10/23/08 12:38:48 PM 003HF06_Mull609.indd 1 5/19/09 8:58:00 AM Contents June|July 2009 Features Vol. 22.3 Wood Floor of the Year 2009 See all the winners in this year’s prestigious contest. page 43 Coastal Cruisin’ By Doug Dalsing “A Day in the Life” spends a day with So Cal contractor Marc McCalla. page 54 43 Your Business Live and Learn By Kevin Mullany As times have changed, so has this New Mexico contracting business. page 25 Legal Brief By Phillip M. Perry Manage layoffs without getting sued. page 27 Management By Chris Witt Communicate with your employees during 46 tough times. page 29 On the Cover: Wood Floor of the Year winner Woodwright Hardwood Floor Co. Photo by Chas McGrath. June|July 2009 Q Hardwood Floors 5 HF-JuneJuly09-TOC.indd 5 5/26/09 4:28:19 PM Contents On the Job Ask the Expert 19 Straight talk on janka ratings, repairing factory-finished floors and cement boards as subfloors. In Every Issue page 31 Chairman’s Message From the Field page 8 By Rick Jones Do a better job by keeping these saw blade basics in mind. page 33 NWFA News page 10 Troubleshooting By Ray Darrah Woodworks A moisture barrier misunderstanding results in a cupped floor. page 19 page 36 Ad Index page 74 Step by Step By Joe Boone Jr. Use faux finishing to imitate exotics with domestic species. page 38 Techniques By Kim M. Wahlgren Hear about the old times on wood flooring job sites from someone who’s been there. page 40 38 Product Focus Tools + Supplies page 59 Industry News Special Advertising Section: Notes Products page 72 Imported Wood page 70 Flooring page 68 People Events page 71 page 73 6 Hardwood Floors Q June|July 2009 HF-JuneJuly09-TOC.indd 6 5/26/09 4:28:49 PM 08 009HF10_PaloDuro1008.indd 1 9/24/08 10:04:20 AM >>chairman’s message The magazine of the National Wood Flooring Association NWFA Chairman Don Finkell NWFA NWFA Executive Director/CEO Edward Korczak, CAE NWFA Offices 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd. Chesterfield, MO 63005 U.S.: 800/422-4556 • Canada: 800/848-8824 Signs Local and Int’l: 636/519-9663 • Fax: 636/519-9664 E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.nwfa.org Editorial Advisory Committee Genia Smith, Chair (Accent Hardwood Flooring Inc.) of Hope Sprigg Lynn, Board Liaison (Universal Floors Inc.) Joe Boone Jr. (Wood Floors Online.com Inc.) By Don Finkell Galen Fitzel (3M) Robert Humphreys (Majestic Wood Floors Inc.) Chairman, NWFA Brenda Kubasta (Oshkosh Designs) John Lessick (Apex Wood Floors Inc.) Robert McNamara (Bostik Inc.) or the fi rst time in months, the news about the economy is Charles Peterson (The International Parquetry Historical Society) Janet Sullivan (Lenmar Inc.) not all gloom and doom. Pending home sales rose for the Publication Staff Ffi rst time in months during March, from 80.4 percent to 82.1 Kris Thimmesch percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. New Publisher home sales were up as well, rising 4.7 percent in February. Most Kim M. Wahlgren signifi cantly, new home starts were up for the fi rst time in nearly Editor Catherine Liewen a year and rose an amazing 22.2 percent from January, the worst Managing Editor/Art Director month in history for new home production, according to the Doug Dalsing National Association of Home Builders. All of this is good news Assistant Editor for wood fl ooring professionals because our business is linked Marjorie Schultz directly with the building and construction industry. If their busi- Electronic Production Manager Scott Packel ness is rebounding, ours will follow. Sadye Ring The truth is, even with the decline in the housing market, Production Assistants there is still a lot of fl ooring work Gretchen Kelsey Brown going on out there. Floor Covering Peter Brown Group Publishers Weekly recently disclosed in its The news Sharon Siewert annual ReCo Market Intelligence Administration Director/Accountant Report that the average hardwood about the Kara Clark fl ooring sale is $2,326, and more Controller interestingly, the majority of that economy is Denise R. Thompson Circulation & Database Director market—57.9 percent—is in Colleen Wenos residential replacement work, not not all gloom Circulation Assistant new home construction. In fact, Pam Walker only 32.2 percent represented and doom. Sales Coordinator builder work, while the remaining Editorial and Advertising Offices: Athletic Business Publications Inc. portion—9.9 percent—represented commercial jobs. In other 4130 Lien Road • Madison, WI 53704 words, our industry is tied more to the existing home market than Phone: 608/249-0186 • 800/722-8764 • Fax: 608/249-1153 the new home market, which is good news. As Americans decide E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.nwfa.org to stay in their homes for longer periods of time, they are making efforts to make their homes more comfortable and valuable by making improvements that they might previously have put off. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: In order to ensure uninterrupted delivery of Hardwood Floors, notice of change should be made at This often includes upgrading their fl ooring, and hardwood fl oors least five weeks in advance. Direct all subscription mail to Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704-3602, call 800/722-8764 or fax 608/249-1153. For faster service, visit us online at www.nwfa.org/member/mag.aspx. Single copy price is $8. continue to be the fl ooring option of choice, offering beauty, Subscription price is $40 for seven issues in the U.S.A. and Canada. International subscriptions (via airmail) are $65. Hardwood Floors is published bi-monthly, plus the annual industry resource book, and distributed without charge to those active in the durability and long-term value. wood flooring industry. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704-3602. Publication Mail Agreement #40049791. Canadian mail distribution information: International Mail Express, Station A, P.O. Need more positive news? The media is reporting that con- Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5. Printed in the U.S.A. © 2009 Athletic Business Publications Inc. and National Wood Flooring Association. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (ISSN 0897-022X) Periodicals sumer confi dence is up for the fi rst time in months as well. And Postage Paid at Madison, Wisconsin, and at additional mailing offices. as consumer confi dence rises, consumer spending rises with it. That’s news we can all use. ■ 8 Hardwood Floors Q June|July 2009 HF-JuneJuly09-ChairM 8 6/2/09 9:24:59 AM 009HF06_Glitza609.indd 1 5/19/09 7:11:30 AM >>executive director/ceo message NWFAnews and information from the nationalnews wood flooring association | www.nwfa.org Twists on Tradition By Ed Korczak, CAE Executive Director/CEO or years now, the wood fl ooring industry has been all about customization. Purchasers invari- ably were interested in doing something unique with their fl oors, something that would make Ftheir fl oors unlike their neighbor’s fl oors and would refl ect their own personal style. If you need evidence of this trend, just take a look at the amazing winning entries from this year’s Wood Floor of the Year contest that appear in this issue of this magazine. These photos represent some of the most unique wood fl ooring installations within our industry during the past year, but at the same time, designers tell us that a new trend is emerging, and it is no big surprise that the catalyst for this design shift is the economic downturn we have all been dealing with for the past few years. Consumers are spending their money more conservatively these days, and when they do spend it, the items they are purchasing are more conservative, as well. These items range from the cars they drive to the clothes they wear, but include items for their household, too—appliances, furniture, décor items, lighting and even their fl ooring choic- es. Wood is still the fl ooring of choice for many homeowners and commercial Much of the wood businesses, but in many cases, the fl ooring they are choosing is refl ecting their newfound conservatism. Tradition is in again, but with a twist. fl ooring is returning Much of the wood fl ooring being sold today is returning to the traditional fl ooring that has been in U.S. homes for generations—strip fl ooring in domes- to the traditional tic species. But now this tradition is being tweaked to refl ect slightly updated trends, like plank instead of strip, or ash instead of oak or walnut. Other modi- fl ooring that has fi cations are prevalent as well, such as adding a simple, understated border to outline the perimeter of a room or to highlight a dining or seating area.