What You Don’t Know Can Destroy Your Work By Steve Rausch When one discusses the level of difficulty and increased skill requirements in ceramic tile installations, most industry experts will agree that shower systems and water management are near the top of the scale. Steam showers seem to be the peak...
By Tom Jennings, WFCA VP, Member Services Many flooring businesses train their internal team members a variety of ways to positively manage the customer’s first impressions. This is both logical and necessary given the logic that “nothing happens until somebody sells something.” It’s been my obser...
By Robert Blochinger The match up of underlay material to the flooring product is crucial in the performance and integrity of all LVT and laminate flooring installations. The underlays for installing these flooring products are different and should not be used interchangeably. A laminate underlay is nor...
By Greg Mowat, Forensic Tile Consultants Tile contractors, their employees and sub-contractors are responsible for using good judgment in ensuring the substrate is properly prepared prior to proceeding with an installation. Failure to properly prepare the substrate and accept the substrate in good worki...
By Robert Blochinger After substrate preparation is complete, the next step is product installation. Whether the flooring type is carpet, wood, VCT, LVT, rubber, sheet goods, ceramic or porcelain tile, the installer is the last product quality control entity prior to installation. Make sure to check the...
By Bart Bettiga, NTCA In order for a tile installation to be successful, the substrate (surface that the tile will be adhered to) must be suitable and properly prepared. In many instances, especially in residential construction utilizing wood frame construction, a tile backer board is an e...
By Gregory Mowat, Forensic Tile Consultants There’s been a dramatic growth of stone tile installations in the last 40 years. As such, the success of any stone tile installation requires the consideration of the stone’s specific properties and the understanding of those properties due to performan...
By Brett Miller, NWFA Vice President of Education & Certification Over the past few years, sales of factory-finished hardwood flooring have risen dramatically. In 2014, about 55% of all wood flooring sales were for engineered flooring products, most of which are factory-finished, and about 31% was f...
The relationship between carpet care and carpet installation By Robert Blochinger There are many reasons for an installation failure. However, the least talked about is maintenance that is performed after installation. Both glue-down and stretch-in installation methods are susceptible to improper cleani...
The National Academy of Floor Covering Training (NAFCT) is proud to announce the addition of the IICRC Certification Wood Floor Maintenance Technician (WFMT) to its list of classes. IICRC-approved instructor Roy Reichow and the NAFCT are bringing the class to locations throughout the US and Canada with...
