Woodpride Flooring

Transcription

Woodpride Flooring

22
22
4
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 floor 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
Contents Features
August|September 2009
Vol. 22.4
One for the Books
By Catherine Liewen
Dying ash trees find a new
life at this library.
page 44
44
Your Business
Live and Learn
By Tricia Thompson
How one contracting company went green.
page 23
Legal Brief
By Jonathan Groner
Distinguish between employees and independent
contractors.
page 26
Money
By Heath Alderson
Retirement plan options for small businesses.
page 29
Management
By Jim Groff
Make your business environmentally sustainable.
page 31
29
On the Cover:
Ash-borer infested trees are used throughout this
Ann Arbor library. For more, see page 44.
Photo by Jim Haefner.
August|September 2009 Q Hardwood Floors 5
Contents
On the Job
17
In Every Issue
Ask the Expert
Finishing complicated floors, racking prefinished floors, and
looking for standards for prefinished flooring.
page 33
Chairman’s Message
From the Field
page 8
By Jeffrey Horn
What you should know about working on LEED projects.
NWFA News
page 10
page 36
Troubleshooting
Woodworks
By Jerry Kuehn
Dark spots take over an engineered floor.
page 17
page 39
Ad Index
Techniques
page 74
By Catherine Liewen
Discover ways to go green on your job
sites.
page 40
Product Focus
40
Reclaimed Wood
Flooring
page 49
Inlays, Borders + Vents
page 57
Industry News
Notes
Events
page 69
page 73
Special Advertising Section:
Companies Going
Green
page 65
6 Hardwood Floors Q August|September 2009
Products
page 71
>>chairman’s message
The magazine of the National Wood Flooring Association
NWFA Chairman
Don Finkell
NWFA Executive Director/CEO
Edward Korczak, CAE
NWFA Offices
111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd.
Chesterfield, MO 63005
U.S.: 800/422-4556 • Local and Int’l: 636/519-9663
Fax: 636/519-9664
E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.nwfa.org
Editorial Advisory Committee
John Lessick, Chair/Board Liaison (Apex Wood Floors Inc.)
Dan Antes (Distinctive Hardwood Floors)
Daniel Boone (Powernail Company)
Joe Boone Jr. (Wood Floors Online.com Inc.)
Galen Fitzel (3M)
Robert Humphreys (Majestic Wood Floors Inc.)
Sprigg Lynn (Universal Floors Inc.)
Robert McNamara (Bostik Inc.)
Charles Peterson (CP Wood Floors)
Jim Powers (Saroyan Lumber Company)
Genia Smith (Accent Hardwood Flooring Inc.)
Janet Sullivan (Lenmar Inc.)
Publication Staff
Kris Thimmesch
Publisher
Kim M. Wahlgren
Editor
Doug Dalsing
Assistant Editor
Colleen Wenos
Editorial Assistant/Circulation Assistant
Nicole P. Smith
Contributing Editor
Scott Maurer
Art Director
Marjorie Schultz
Electronic Production Manager
Scott Packel, Sadye Ring
Production Assistants
Gretchen Kelsey Brown, Peter Brown
Group Publishers
Sharon Siewert
Administration Director/Accountant
Kara Clark
Controller
Jennifer Boyd
Audience Development Director
Pam Walker
Sales Coordinator
Editorial and Advertising Offices:
Athletic Business Publications Inc.
4130 Lien Road • Madison, WI 53704
Phone: 608/249-0186 • 800/722-8764 • Fax: 608/249-1153
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.nwfa.org
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: In order to ensure uninterrupted delivery of Hardwood Floors, notice of change should be made at
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.
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
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.
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
Postage Paid at Madison, Wisconsin, and at additional mailing offices.
NWFA
Green
Schools
By Don Finkell
Chairman, NWFA
I
mportant legislation recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives that represents a huge victory for the U.S. hardwood
flooring industry. The “21st Century Green High-Performing
Public School Facilities” Act was amended to include language
that would “require agencies receiving grant funds…to disclose
whether any flooring installed was from renewable sources.”
Since wood flooring is the only renewable flooring option available, this is great news for our entire industry.
The bill specifically recognizes the environmental attributes
of hardwoods and authorizes more than $6 billion for new and
renovated school construction projects throughout the United
States. In addition, as originally passed by the House Education
and Labor Committee, the bill allows for the use of building products that meet LEED, Green Globes,
Energy Star or equivalent state
standards. Hardwood is awarded
points under all these programs.
The amendment was introduced
by Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) “to
provide that nothing in the bill shall
be construed to prohibit a local
educational agency from using
sustainable, domestic hardwood
lumber for public school modernization, renovation, repairs, or
construction.” The lead author of
the bill, Rep. Ben Chandler (D-KY),
backed the amendment, giving it the critical support it needed
for a nearly unanimous passage. The bill now goes to the U.S.
Senate for its vote.
The NWFA worked closely with the Hardwood Federation to
draft and support this legislation on behalf of its members and
the entire wood flooring industry, and will continue to support
this crucial official statement of support for hardwoods as a green
building material. The NWFA also will continue to champion the
inclusion of hardwood in any final legislation that is passed.
If you would like to help support this important legislation with
our political leaders or become more involved in representing our
industry in Washington D.C., please contact the NWFA. ■
The bill
specifically
recognizes the
environmental
attributes of
hardwoods.
NWFAnews
>>executive director/ceo message
news and information from the national wood flooring association | www.nwfa.org
Serving Our Communities
By Ed Korczak, CAE
Executive Director/CEO
N
elson Henderson is someone you probably have never heard of before. His family left Ireland
during the famine and settled in Ontario where he worked hard his entire life, farming the
land and raising his large family. His life was unremarkable, but his legacy survives in a quote
that was delivered to one of his sons on the occasion of the son’s graduation day: “The true meaning
of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” Nelson understood that despite
his modest means, charity defined his character.
NWFA members recognize this as well. This past year, despite some of the worst economic times
our industry has experienced in more than two decades, 32 NWFA member companies found the
time, the means, and the inclination to give to others. The range of their volunteerism is astounding, from replacing all the flooring in a home-away-from-home for families with children undergoing
cancer treatment, to providing the flooring for disabled soldiers returning from war, to donating
materials and labor for Habitat for Humanity, to refinishing floors in senior
citizen homes, to volunteering time for children in need, to repairing floors in
historic buildings.
Member companies recognized this year with an NWFA Community Service
Award at the 2009 Convention in Long Beach, Calif., include:
3M in Long Beach, Calif.; 3M in Annandale, N.J.; Accent Hardwood Flooring
in Durham, N.C.; Allegheny Hardwood in Emlenton, Pa.; Avi’s Harwood Flooring
in Martinez, Calif.; BR-111 Exotic Hardwood Flooring in Medley, Fla.; Costen
Floors in Henrico, Va.; Custom Hardwood Floors in Reno, Nev.; DriTac Flooring
Products in Clifton, N.J.; Dura Seal in Cedar Hill, Texas; Erickson’s Flooring and
Supply in Ferndale, Mich.; Erskine Interiors in Hudson, Wis.; European Flooring
Company in Upper Montclair, N.J.; Finishing Touch Hardwood Floors & Remodeling Company in Charlton, Md.; Flooring Designs in Madison, Wis.; Floors
Etcetera in Houston; Fortifiber Building Systems Group in Reno, Nev.; Golden
State Flooring in San Diego; Goodwin Heart Pine Company in Micanopy, Fla.;
John Griffiths Hardwood Flooring in Charleston, S.C.; Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring in City
of Industry, Calif.; L&L Hardwoods in Milford, Ohio; Maruhon in Hamamatsu City, Japan; Mullican
Flooring in Johnson City, Tenn.; Ogle’s Hardwood Flooring in Huntersville, N.C.; Powernail Company in Lake Zurich, Ill.; Rode Bros. Floors in Las Vegas; Seneca Millwork in Fostoria, Ohio; Sheoga
Hardwood Flooring & Paneling in Middlefield, Ohio; Stauf Adhesives USA in Memphis, Tenn.; W.D.
Flooring in Laona, Wis.; and Woodpride Flooring in Littleton, Colo.
These members have all made our communities better places by exemplifying the philosophy that
charity defines us as individuals, as communities, and as companies. The NWFA salutes them. ■
These members
have all made
our communities
better places.
NWFACPnews
>>nwfa certified professionals
news and information from the national wood flooring association | www.nwfacp.org
Commercial Inspections
By Jon Namba
President, NWFACP
D
espite the decline in the housing market, inspections remain steady because existing homes
are being bought and sold every day. In addition, commercial inspections continue to remain
strong as well, which is why the NWFA Certified Professionals has developed a Commercial
Inspector School to address the unique processes required for commercial inspections.
The curriculum will cover a wide variety of topics, including concrete, concrete testing, leveling
and preparation, moisture migration, sound control, flooring uses in commercial settings, installation
methods, protection and trade damage, architects and designers, and maintenance. The concrete
portion of the class will address concrete construction, PSI ratings, curing sealers and parting compounds, moisture sources, identifying problems and failures related to installing wood flooring over
concrete, fluctuations in slab temperature and how it affects wood flooring, and changes in interior
building temperature and humidity and its impact on wood flooring. Concrete testing will cover
anhydrous calcium chloride, RH, pH, and bond testing, while leveling and preparation will cover
the different types of levelers and compounds available, bead/shot blasting, and machine grinding.
Moisture migration will address liquid membranes, reactive penetrants, modified cementious overlays, dispersive membranes and assembly systems. Cork
and foam will be discussed as sound control measures, while the different
installation methods will be addressed, including glue-down, nail-down, and
floating. Instructors will also address responsibility for damages to the floor by
the installer and other trades, as well as the responsibilities of the architects
and designers on the job. Maintenance topics will include procedures for
cleaning and maintaining wood floors in commercial settings, and how ADA
requirements impact commercial applications. In addition to all these technical topics, the school will also teach you how to write a comprehensive and
unbiased inspection report.
The four-day school will be offered Sept. 21-24 at the NWFA headquarters
in St. Louis. To attend, you must be a certified inspector and have at least two years of field experience. The cost is $1,495 for NWFA members and $1,700 for nonmembers, which includes lunch each
day. A Commercial Inspector Certification Exam will be offered immediately following the school on
Friday, Sept. 25. The test will include one scenario and a variety of multiple choice questions. The
cost for the test is $250 (NWFA members) or $350 (nonmembers).
Conducting commercial flooring inspections is a lucrative and competitive business. Get the
validation you need to stand out from your competition. Getting certified as a Commercial Inspector
tells your customers that you are specifically trained to conduct inspections of commercial wood
flooring projects. To learn more, visit www.
nwfacp.org, or call 866/418-5408 (U.S.),
NWFACP 2009 School Schedule
800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/728-1922
(local and international). You also can reach Sept. 21–24.......Commercial Inspection ..............................St. Louis
the NWFACP at [email protected]. ■
The NWFA Certified
Professionals has
developed a
Commercial
Inspector School.
NWFAnews
>>education and training
news and information from the national wood flooring association | www.nwfa.org
Summer Studies
S
ummer has been a busy
time for the NWFA’s
technical schools. Following are recent schools and
the instructors who made them
happen:
Engineered gluedown flooring
was the focus
of a one-day
California school
in June.
Engineered Glue Down School
>> May 29 in Madeira Beach, Fla.
NWFA’s Rusty Swindoll led the
instruction. Volunteer instructors included: John Fairbanks and Chuck
Garvey, Bona US; and Kenneth
Kephart, Kephart’s Custom Floor
Covering Inc. The lead distributor for the school was Florida Hardwood Floor Supplies (Tampa, Fla.).
Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School >> June 3-5 in Riverside, Calif.
NWFA’s Frank Kroupa led the instruction, while volunteer instructors included: Arthur Tsatryan,
Art’s Flooring Inc.; Dave Stark, Bona US; Terry Green, Dura Seal; Mike Osborn, Glitsa American
Inc.; Steve Marley, Johnson Premium Hardwood Flooring; Gary Arnold, Synteko Floor Finishes; and
Mike Summers, UFloor Systems Inc.
Engineered Glue Down School >> June 26 in Folsom, Calif.
Avi Hadad of Avi’s Hardwood Flooring led the instruction, and other volunteer instructors included
Dee Lenston, Bona US; and Mathias Klein, Klein Hardwood Flooring.
NWFA 2009 Technical School Schedule
For more information: 800/422-4556 (U.S.) • 800/848-8824 (Canada)
[email protected] • www.nwfa.org
Aug. 19 – 21 ........... Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish (Tacoma, Wash.)
Sept. 15 – 18 .......... Wood Flooring Basics (St. Louis)
Sept. 22 – 25 .......... Jigs and Staircase Workshop (St. Louis)
Oct. 6 – 10 .............. Expert Installation (St. Louis)
Oct. 12 – 14 ............ Expert Sand & Finish (St. Louis)
Oct. 22 – 24 ............ Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish (Fairfield, N.Y.)
Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School >>
June 29-July 1 in Minneapolis
NWFA’s Steve Seabaugh led the school, while volunteer
instructors included: Galen Fitzel, 3M; Josh Neuberger,
Basic Coatings; Matthew Thrane, Bona US; Mike Farrell,
Clarke American Sanders; Larry LeFevre, Dura Seal; Stephen Schmid, Floors By Steve Inc.; Roy Reichow, National
Wood Floor Consultants Inc.; Gene Jarka, Powernail
Company Inc.; Douglas Dreis and Daniel Dreis, Solum
Inc.; Johannes Boonstra, Synteko Floor Finishes; Todd
Theisen, TMT Integrity Flooring LLC; and Mike Summers,
UFloor Systems Inc.
You’re Not the Same as Your Neighbor
Why Should Your Floors Be?
WHITE OAK
HICKORY
COTTAGE
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YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICE, WE’LL MAKE YOUR FLOOR
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WOOD ■ works
i n si g h t s a n d in fo r m a tio n o n th e h a r d w o o d flo o r in g in d u st ry
Off the Beaten Path
Salesman goes from business wear to bicycle shorts
T
erritory Manager Bryan Brodie of Custom Wholesale Floors’ (CWF)
Miami branch put the pedal to new metal in April, Earth Awareness
Month. Instead of making sales calls via car, he took a combination of
the Tri-Rail train system and his bicycle. Brodie called on five customers each day and averaged 25 miles by bike and 45 to 120 miles by
train. These calls highlighted CWF’s green flooring products, as well
For Earth Awareness
as the importance of FSC certification, LEED certification and CWF’s
Month, Brodie transoverseas vendors’ Lacey Act compliance, says CWF COO Joe DuPree Jr.
formed from normal
Brodie created quite a buzz around Florida, earning himself the title “The
sales guy to The
Wood Peddler,” as well as some new customers, DuPree says. After all,
Wood Peddler, doing
with his courier bag slung over his shoulder and his wheel rack and side
his part to save the
Earth and promote
bags loaded with everything from tote boards with mini samples, to strap
being “green.”
sets and file folders, to a laptop and bike repair kit, who wouldn’t notice
Brodie and his bike? Brodie says he met his goals of performing his sales
duties without a car while bringing green product awareness to his customers. “Most of them are still talking
about it today and will forever remember who to contact for any green products needed for future projects,”
Brodie notes. Inspiring others was another benefit; one customer even began riding her own bike to work.
Brodie plans to ride again in the future.—N.S.
TREE ■ id
What hardwood tree is this?
Turn the page to find out.
Energetic Efforts
Manufacturer invests in going green
C
ork and bamboo flooring, as well as other
green flooring products, are showing up in
USFloors’
many building projects, both residential and com- goes green
mercial, and Dalton, Ga.-based USFloors’ (Dalton, from its
Ga.) CEO Piet Dossche believes that trend is only flooring to the the roof,
where solar panels reduce
just beginning. To that end, the company conenergy use.
structed a 100,000-square-foot green manufacturing plant, which began production of cork and bamboo flooring and wood
flooring from managed or FSC-certified sources in late 2008. The building’s
green features include high-efficiency, low-energy lighting, compressors designed to slash energy usage, low-flush toilets and bathroom motion sensors,
and bamboo or cork flooring in all office areas, Dossche says. The company is
now putting finishing touches on a 35,000-square-foot distribution extension.
Both buildings are pending LEED certification. The company also has reduced
its carbon footprint by generating alternative energy through photovoltaic
(PV) solar panels installed on the roof. The first of three installation phases is
complete, creating enough electricity to power four area homes, the company
says. With the next two phases, the system will exceed 94 kilowatts, powering
a large portion of the building’s electricity.—N.S.
August|September 2009 ■ Hardwood Floors 17
WOOD ■ works
Breathing Easy
Study adds new element to American chestnut restoration
esearchers and scientists have been diligently working to
revive the American chestnut, which has been struggling
against a lethal Asian fungus since the 1930s. While a new
hybrid of the American chestnut is currently being introduced
to the wild and could bring back in full-force the nearly vanquished species, there is another far-reaching benefit: Having
the trees around would also make a dent in the amount of
carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere, according to a study conducted at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Douglass
Jacobs, an associate professor of forestry and natural resources at Purdue, found that American chestnuts grow much faster
and larger than other hardwood species, allowing them to
sequester more carbon than other trees. And, since American
chestnuts are often used for high-quality hardwood products,
they hold the carbon longer. Trees absorb about one-sixth of
the carbon emitted globally each year; increasing this could
make a considerable difference in slowing climate change,
Jacobs says. This finding offers yet another compelling reason
to help the historic species thrive again.—N.S.
TREE ■ id answer
Purdue University file photo/Nicole Jacobs
R
Jacobs examines a new American chestnut hybrid.
VINTAGE ■ moments
Earth Advocate
Hardness as Wood Flooring: 1910 on Janka scale.
At a Glance: A tall tree—up to 130 feet—from the
southwest region of Western Australia, jarrah has
bark that splits into fibrous strips. A unique quality of the tree is that it has a large underground
swelling that stores carbohydrates, allowing young
jarrah trees to survive forest fires. As wood flooring, the species is valued for its hardness and rich,
deep color.
18 Hardwood Floors ■ August|September 2009
oday, environmental awareness is as prevalent as the air
we breathe. Gaylord Nelson ( June
4, 1916-July 3, 2005), however,
was aware before it was fashionable. A longtime environmental
advocate, Nelson traveled on the
Conservation Tour with President
John F. Kennedy and received the
Presidential Medal of Freedom
for his environmental work. His
role as principal founder of Earth
Day—first observed in 1970—helped
bring environmental issues into the
public eye; about a billion people now
celebrate Earth Day across the globe.
“We’re going to have to do a whole lot
more, and give nature at least a chance
to repair some of the damage we’ve
done,” he said then—apt advice for
today.—N.S.
Photo courtesy of The Wilderness Society
T
Fritz Albert
Photo previous page: Dennis Haugen/www.forestryimages.com, this page courtesy of Boral Timber
Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)
Nelson, shown with
President Kennedy
(top), was a lifelong
Earth advocate.
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© Floor Designs Copyrighted by Mannington Mills, Inc. ®©™ Mannington Mills, Inc. 2009
WOOD ■ works
Green ■ speak
Your guide to green vocabulary
Old-Growth Forest:
A forest significantly past the age of maturity of its
dominant species. (University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point)
his term is
often mentioned when people are discussing
environmental
issues, especially
illegal logging,
but there isn’t just
one definition for
what constitutes “old growth.” Forests classified as
old-growth are usually characterized by well-developed structure, many snags (large dead trees), dead
wood on the ground; and a late successional forest
type for the area. “Old-growth” sometimes refers
specifically to undisturbed areas that have never been
harvested.
© Andertoons
HARDWOOD FLOORING ■ mini-quiz
1. True or false? Cork flooring tiles can be installed below, at or above grade.
2. Carbonized bamboo flooring is darker due to
a process that includes...
a. steaming the bamboo
b. staining the bamboo
c. burning the bamboo
d. a chemical bath highlighting the carbon
already present in the material
3. Which of the following certifications would
make it possible for a wood flooring product to
earn LEED points? (more than one answer possible)
a. PEFC
b. SFI
c. CSA
d. FSC
5. Identify the following domestic hardwood
species:
a.
b.
c.
d.
4. What does IAQ stand for?
Answers: 1. False (they should not be installed below grade) 2. a 3. d 4. Indoor Air Quality 5a. Cherry b. Ash c. Hard maple d. Red oak
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More than 130 MAPEI products help to contribute valuable points toward LEED-certified projects.
System Solutions for the Flooring Industry
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Your Business
Live and Learn
Turning Green
The market is catching up to this environmental contractor
By Tricia Thompson
ur market here in Phoenix is usually about three
or four years behind the times as far as trends
go, and that proved true for the green movement,
too. While that had been going strong for years across the
country, it didn’t really hit our market until about a year
ago. Once we got into this economic mess, it was like a
lightbulb went on: The shift in attitude about the environ-
O
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Mixing with Millennials
F
iStockphoto
inding and keeping good,
young talent can be challenging, and keeping Millennial employees (also called
Gen-Y), motivated and happy
requires different techniques:
1) Give them ownership.
They believe they are special
and like to make their own
decisions and take ownership.
2) Give regular feedback. Millennials yearn for feedback.
3) Show them the Big Picture. Millennials know what’s
going on in the world, and their jobs can seem mundane, so
explain their role in the “big picture.”
4) Let them do good. Millennials care about the world;
help them by doing simple charitable works as a company.
5) Build enjoyment into the workplace. They want to
enjoy their time. This comes through creativity, spontaneity
and relationships with those around them.
6) Give them bragging rights. Millennials are a hypercompetitive bunch. Find out what they value most and give it
to them.
Tip Fallon is founder of Speaking for Change, a consultancy
that advances the success of college students. To reach
him for speaking, consulting or coaching, e-mail TipFallon@
Speakingforchange.com.
ment went 180.
This area was one of the hardest hit by the housing
market crash, and that has forced some builders to shift
focus and look at doing different things, like green building. Designers are suddenly focused on going green,
too. This change has left some wood flooring contractors
scrambling to catch up with the times, but we’re fortunate
in that we’ve been promoting environmental
products for years—
long before most of our
customers really cared.
Now, although the
housing market here
is still difficult, we’re
uniquely positioned to
help customers who are
going green.
A main reason for
that is our focus on reclaimed flooring. Not long after we took over the business
from my husband’s father, I saw a picture in Hardwood
Floors of a reclaimed floor. I remember thinking it looked
awesome, and wondering about all the history that had
gone into it. I told my husband that we were going to do
those floors out here, but our state is really conservative—
plain, square-edged oak and cherry—and he looked at me
like, “Who is going to buy this?” But I found a reclaimed
supplier and showed a sample to one of our designers.
She said “What is it?” I told her, “This is reclaimed wood; it
came from another structure.”
At that point, eight years ago, “reclaimed” didn’t mean
anything to anybody here. The green, recycled aspect
didn’t appeal to people, but the story with these floors
did, and the designer ended up using the floor in a
project she was working on. The wood for that particular
project had come from a church, and the supplier sent me
an old photo of it, which I framed for the customer. For
us, the rest is history because word got out about these
At that point,
eight years ago,
“reclaimed” didn’t
mean anything to
anybody here.
Your Business | Live and Learn
floors, and it’s been a focus of our business ever since.
The interesting thing is that back then, I was excited
about the fact that we weren’t cutting down any trees to
create these floors, but nobody else was. If you used the
term “recycled” in the more affluent neighborhoods, you
kind of turned
people off
because they
thought they
were getting
junk, so you
had to be careful how you
talked about it.
Things
couldn’t have
been more
different in
California, though. At the same time we were getting into
using reclaimed woods, we also started doing work in
Orange County. The more we got into doing business
there, the more I realized how incredibly environmentally
conscious the builders were. Even back then, the contrac-
If you used the term
“recycled” in the
more affluent
neighborhoods,
you kind of turned
people off.
tors I met with were mainly interested in reclaimed flooring, and if the flooring wasn’t reclaimed, they wanted to
make sure the wood was FSC-certified. Because of the
VOC restrictions, we also had to make sure that all of the
samples we used had water-based stains and finishes,
which was a little bit challenging because those products
really change the look of our reclaimed flooring compared with using poly.
Today we’re members in some of the green building
organizations in California. It’s very interesting because
they have such high benchmarks for what percentage of
the project needs to be recycled—it’s about 90 percent
of the whole house. When we do work there, to be safe,
we use the most restrictive VOC levels we can find for the
area, because the VOC regulations are constantly changing. Some contractors are always complaining about the
VOC regulations and trying to avoid them, but if you’re
constantly looking for that loophole, you’ll hang yourself
out there.
Now our market back here in Phoenix is starting to
look a little more like California. We have some builders
who are starting to get into green building; one just built a
house that was 82 percent recycled, which is high for this
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Your Business | Live and Learn
market. We also had a home show about six months ago
that was all about green building, from energy to lighting
to flooring. People asked a lot of questions about low- or
no-VOC finishes. As a company, we are constantly examining: What are people asking for, and is it physically possible to do what they want with the products we have? We
never want to limit their options. For finishes, if customers
want low-VOC, we go with water-based products. If they
want no-VOC finishes, we use a vegetable-oil-based coating. We just need to be sure the customer is aware of how
their finish choice will provide a totally different look on
the floor.
Because we’ve been working with these products for
so long, we have a lot of credibility with our customers. I
have long-term relationships with my mills, whether they
are selling reclaimed flooring or FSC-certified products.
For exotics, I deal with one supplier I trust to provide environmentally responsible products. I’m always digging for
new and different environmental products, too. We source
reclaimed flooring made from everything from tobacco
barns to wine barrels. Recently I found a company that
is making flooring out of lodgepole pine trees damaged
by beetle infestations in Colorado. The destruction of the
beetle to the tree is devastating, but the colors that come
out of it—a bluish-gray hue—are awesome. I give the
company a lot of credit, because otherwise these trees
would probably end up going in the chipper.
These days,
everybody is
jumping on the
green bandwagon, and I
think that’s a
positive change.
When we do a
reclaimed floor,
I wonder, “Who
walked on this
floor before?” It
really makes you think about how we’ve kind of come full
circle. It’s a shame we had to be so wasteful for so long
before we woke up, but I just hope this green trend is a
permanent change. ■
I give the company a
lot of credit, because
otherwise these trees
would probably end up
going in the chipper.
Tricia Thompson is co-principal/treasurer at Mesa, Ariz.based Enmar Hardwood Flooring.
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Your Business | Legal Brief
A Distinctive Difference
Distinguish between employees and independent contractors
By Jonathan Groner
early every flooring contractor deals with people who
work with him to keep the
business running smoothly and get
projects completed. The law classifies
some of those people as employees
and some as independent contractors.
This distinction can make a great deal
of difference in your business, and
understanding this is vital to keeping
your business out of serious trouble.
Although this article isn’t intended to
be the final word, here are a few basic principles that will help keep your
business on the right track.
N
It’s About Control
In general, an employee is someone
who is subject to the control of the
employer not only with respect to
what work is to be done, but also
how the work is to be done. The
more control you exercise over workers, and the more detailed the instructions are that you give them, the
more likely they are to be considered
employees. Conversely, less control
and less detail will tend to classify the
person as an independent contractor.
The law breaks down the concept
of control into several parts: behavioral
BUSINESS Q & A BY JIM BLASINGAME
Q:
As a home-based business owner, can I just use my
personal checking account for my business?
A:
No. You should have a separate account for your business for numerous
reasons. If you’re using a trade name for your business, you cannot deposit checks made out to the business into your personal account. Other reasons
include:
• Separating business income and expenses for tax purposes
• Establishing business credit accounts
• Practicing good accounting procedures
• Enhancing your professional image
You will not be taken seriously as a business professional if you pay your business bills with a personal check. A lot of banks now offer small businesses a lowor no-fee checking account. Check with the bank where your personal account
resides to see what business services they can offer.
Jim Blasingame is the creator and award-winning host of the nationally syndicated
radio/Internet talk show, “The Small Business Advocate,” and author of Small Business
is Like a Bunch of Bananas and Three Minutes to Success. Find Jim’s show and more
at www.SmallBusinessAdvocate.com, plus instant answers to your questions at his small
business knowledgebase, www.AskJim.biz.
control, financial control, and the relationship between the parties. Behavioral control can involve telling someone
what tools or equipment to use, what
people to work with, what precise
schedule to follow, or where to do the
work. For example, your crews are too
busy, so you hire a contractor to install
1,000 square feet of No. 1 common
strip oak flooring on the first floor of a
customer’s home. That’s all the detail
you give him. This contractor is almost
certainly an independent contractor,
because you controlled relatively little
of his behavior—you told him what to
do but not how to do it. You didn’t tell
him what tools to use or how to install
the flooring.
To determine financial control, you
must determine if the person makes
his own investment in equipment,
tools, or office space; if he is available to be hired by others; if he has
the opportunity to make a profit or a
loss; and whether he is paid by the
project and not an hourly or annual
salary. A person meeting this description is likely to be considered an
independent contractor or freelancer,
not an employee.
For example, you have a person
who cleans your showroom and office
every Monday and Thursday evening.
You pay him a fixed amount per evening, not an hourly or yearly salary. He
brings his own mops and rags to the
job. He cleans for another company
every Tuesday and Friday evening.
This person is likely to be an inde-
Your Business | Legal Brief
pendent contractor. In contrast, consider an office manager
who comes to work in your office every weekday. She often
brings plants from home to decorate the office, and she
pays out of her own pocket for farewell parties and gifts for
other employees. However, you pay her an annual salary,
and she does not work for anyone else. Even though she
has invested some of her own money in the running of the
office, she is likely to be considered an employee.
Finally, you must determine the relationship between
parties. This control deals with whether the employee receives benefits, such as sick leave or health insurance, and
how permanent the relationship is. A true freelancer is
unlikely to receive any such benefits, while an employee
normally will receive at least some benefits. An independent contractor is likely to enter into temporary relationships with various companies.
Making Classifications
You may wish to classify a worker as an employee because an employee will typically exhibit more loyalty, can
be trained more thoroughly, and will work more closely
with others than would a set of independent contractors.
However, there are benefits to classifying a worker as an
independent contractor.
Since you, as an employer, are not required to provide
Social Security, unemployment insurance, and other benefits to an independent contractor, this choice normally will
be less expensive and involve less paperwork. In addition,
you will enjoy more flexibility—you are free to change the
size of your work force as needed for the job.
The golden rule is to avoid treating an independent
contractor as someone whom the law views as an employee. Breaking this rule may result in your business having to pay back withholding taxes plus interest. The IRS
also could impose significant fines—even prison time—if
the violation is found to be significant, long-lasting and
willful. State labor departments, which administer unemployment insurance programs, could file suit for back
unemployment taxes. And workers who believe that they
were misclassified as independent contractors can file
private lawsuits seeking overtime pay, retirement benefits,
profit-sharing, disability pay and a host of other benefits.
This is truly a distinction that makes a difference. ■
Jonathan Groner is an attorney and freelance writer in
Washington, D.C.
Your Business | Money
Offering Retirement Options
A boon for businesses and employees
By Heath Alderson
ven with the global recession in full swing, some small businesses are still growing and looking for ways to improve and keep the best employees. Offering a retirement plan can provide
small businesses with tax benefits while also helping to attract and retain talented workers.
What’s more, some of them are specially designed to be inexpensive and easy to administer.
E
401(k) Plans
The most widely used retirement plan offered today, the 401(k), can be offered by businesses of
any size. Very small businesses typically avoid them, though, because of the potential administrative burden they can create. Employees can contribute up to a certain amount set by the employer
or up to $16,500, whichever is lower, and employer contributions do not count toward this amount.
Those 50 years and older can contribute an additional $5,500 per year. Contributions are made by
the employee on a pre-tax basis, and earnings on the plan are not taxed until funds are withdrawn.
The employer’s costs, including plan contributions, are tax deductible. Because earnings can be reinvested for decades without being taxed, they can compound and create a much larger retirement
nest egg than if earnings were subject to taxation.
An alternative plan, the Roth 401(k), works slightly differently. Instead of being funded with pretax
dollars that are taxed at distribution, Roth 401(k)s are funded with income that is already taxed, but
contributions grow tax-free. Distributions are not taxed, as long as they are made after the participant reaches age 59½, dies or becomes disabled. In addition, at least five tax years must pass after
the participant’s first contribution.
The employer determines how long the employee has to work
before becoming eligible for plan benefits (i.e., when the employee
is “vested”), and pre-approved plan documents are available that can
reduce the administrative burden for small businesses. Employers
typically match employee contributions to some extent, but that is not
a requirement.
Businesses with up to 100 employees can avoid the administrative burden of nondiscrimination testing (proving that the plan is not
favoring key employees, such as owners) by establishing a SIMPLE
(Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) 401(k) plan.
When employers use a SIMPLE 401(k), highly compensated employees can maximize benefits, regardless of the level of participation by
other employees, as long as they meet other requirements. For example,
unlike with a traditional 401(k) plan, employers are required to make
contributions for all employees who received at least $5,000 in compensation the previous year—and all contributions are 100 percent vested.
As with a traditional 401(k) plan, employee contributions are optional.
However, with the SIMPLE plan, the employer is required to make a
matching contribution of up to 3 percent of each employee’s pay, or
Your Business | Money
a non-elective contribution of 2 percent of each eligible
employee’s pay. Employees can contribute up to $11,500 for
2009. No other contributions can be made to this plan or to
any other retirement plan the company may have.
SIMPLE IRA
The SIMPLE IRA is designed for businesses with up to 100
employees who each earned over $5,000 the preceding year
and do not have another plan in place.
Employees are eligible if they earn more than $5,000 in
either of the two preceding years and earn at least that much
in the current year. The contribution limit for each employee,
including business owners, is $11,500 for 2009, plus a $2,500
catch-up for employees over age 50, so neither employees
nor employers can contribute as much for themselves as
they can with some other plans. Withdrawal before age 59½
carries a penalty of 25 percent during the first two years of
participation, after which the penalty drops to 10 percent.
One advantage of the SIMPLE IRA is that it creates little
administrative burden, discrimination testing is not required and plan documents do not need to be filed with
the IRS. The deadline to establish a SIMPLE IRA plan is
Oct. 1 of the current tax year.
Profit-Sharing Plans
Employers using profit-sharing plans determine a percentage of profits they wish to contribute to a retirement plan.
The limit is 20 percent of profits and individually up to 25
percent of salary, up to $49,000, for the 2009 plan year. Employees cannot contribute to profit-sharing plans.
Profit-sharing plans create an incentive for employees to
make the business more profitable, since the more money
the business makes, the greater the amount that goes into
their plan. If the business is not profitable in a given year, of
course, no contributions are necessary. Eligibility is based on
the company’s vesting schedule, and professional assistance
is typically needed for account administration.
When deciding which plan fits your needs best, consider
your goals and the makeup of your workforce. Choose a
plan that will serve your business not only today, but for
many years. The right plan can be good for business and
your personal retirement. For a primer on this topic, see Publication 560 on the IRS’ Web site, www.irs.gov. ■
Heath Alderson is a representative with the John Hancock
Financial Network in Memphis, and he can be reached at
901/767-7212, ext. 170, or [email protected].
What Real Pros Are Saying.
“I am very pleased with the performance of this machine.
When I worked in Çoor sanding a few years ago we used other
Çoor sanders, but I am now starting my own business and I
chose the FloorCrafter®, and I’m so glad I did.
My Ærst job has been adding on hardwood and re-Ænishing
existing hardwood in my personal home and I’m so excited to
Ænd my next job because I love my new machine. I just want
to thank Clarke American Sanders for being such a strong
company and I hope you stay strong and remain the backbone
of the American Çoor sanding industry.”
- Ethan Price
Owner, Uriah Builders
Because Pride Still Matters.
A NilÆsk-Advance Brand
www.americansanders.com
Your Business | Management
Moving to Green
Take your business to the next level with sustainable practices
By Jim Groff
ustainability: the practice of achieving the needs of today without jeopardizing tomorrow.
There can be no doubt that the building industry has taken this standard to heart.
The United States Green Building Council hopes to increase the number of commercial
LEED-certified projects from just 600 at the end of 2006 to 100,000 projects by 2010. American homeowners also have been going green—nearly 2.5 billion Energy Star-certified products have been
purchased since the program began in 1992, according to the Environmental Protection Agency,
and more than 70 percent of all Americans recycle as a habit, according to a 2007 study by Harris
Interactive.
In spite of the groundswell of support for sustainable practices, it may be difficult for companies
to understand their own “green-ness,” or to take the initial steps toward becoming a greener business. There can, however, be significant benefits to doing so. A “greening” plan may lead to more
cost-effective operations, higher morale and even new marketing opportunities.
As with many things, the key is to develop a clear plan and to avoid procrastination. Here’s how:
S
iStockphoto
Commit to Going Green
Companies should identify their motivation to go green. Pragmatically, conservation makes economic
sense. As a company reduces
its use of electricity, water and
other resources, it reduces its
overhead, thus improving its
bottom line. Ethically, the concept of environmental stewardship is not simply a grand idea
associated with the ozone layer,
rain forests and polar bears;
conservation and the wise use
of the earth’s limited natural
resources should always help
guide a company’s day-to-day
activities. Professionally, businesses have a responsibility to
show their dedication to these
practices to their vendors and
customers and to be advocates
for sustainability. Businesses
don’t have to make a choice
between these reasons, but they
do have to articulate their own
strategies for being green.
Your Business | Management
Define Your Mission
Before making practical and operational changes, it pays
to develop an environmental policy for your business that
will serve as the foundation for your efforts. The policy
should include a mission statement that explains the
rationale for, and the intended effects of, a company-wide
green program. This statement should also be forwardlooking; it should underscore the commitment to sustainability and outline goals for the green program when possible. The idea behind this written policy is to define the
principles that will guide all greening efforts and tactics.
There’s no longer
any argument to take a
wait-and-see attitude toward
the concept of going green.
Identify Green Strategies
Next, develop a plan and timeline for implementing practical steps toward sustainability. Start by detailing any green
approaches your company already has adopted. These
may involve a wide range of practices, from reducing
waste material on a job site to trimming the use of electricity in an office setting. Then, consider what actions you
can take to improve the sustainability of your company.
These, too, may vary widely. Review any and all industryspecific and operational possibilities along with commonplace—but effective—ideas. Here are just a few.
Processes that reduce waste in your office:
• Turn off computers and monitors at the end of each
workday.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
• Reward employees who use public transportation,
walk or bike to work.
• Develop incentives for your staff to contribute sustainable ideas.
Sustainable manufacturing or construction processes:
• Use resources efficiently.
• Dispose of waste materials in a responsible manner.
• Use renewable or reclaimed products and resources.
• Use and create products with minimal packaging.
• Use low- or no-VOC and low-allergen materials.
• Select products that are more durable, which require
less replacement.
•Establish an on-site disposal or recycling program.
There are many options available. Start by selecting tactics that your company has the capability to achieve. Over
time, initial success will breed even greater success.
Advocate Green
As you implement your green program, continue to keep
yourself educated about green trends and issues. When
your company becomes a resource for customers, vendors
and others in your sphere of influence, you differentiate
yourself from your competition. In addition, by embracing
sustainable practices, your company can recast itself as a
forward-thinking, environmentally conscious organization.
It’s an image that can both boost company morale and create marketing opportunities. Here are a few practical steps:
Educate your team. Take time to train employees, sale
representatives and business partners about your green
program. Speak of your key messages and why green is
important to growth. Educating your team is an inexpensive, effective way to build momentum and create interest
and excitement for a program.
Review communications. Step back and assess all of
your marketing communications: ads, brochures, direct
mailers and other materials. Consider including messages
and images to reinforce your company’s embrace of green
practices.
Focus on your Web site. Be sure your Web site’s content
and design reflects your company’s sustainability efforts.
In addition, review your search engine optimization (SEO)
program. Be sure all key words, links and other SEO tactics work to boost your site rankings for Web visitors using
green-related search terms.
Get Started
There’s no longer any argument to take a wait-and-see
attitude toward the concept of going green. Take the first
step by identifying the green practices you already employ
and look more closely at places where you might improve
or add green practices. Then, simply build from there.
Companies that carefully orchestrate a green marketing
approach will be poised to take fullest advantage of this
growing market. ■
Jim Groff is president of York, Pa.-based Baublitz Advertising, a full-service building-industry-focused marketing
firm and member of the U.S. Green Building Council. Its
newest marketing tool, the Environmental Impact Assessment, is a Web-based program that streamlines the process
of specifying green qualities and pinpointing attributes
that support LEED standards. Reach Jim Groff at groffjc@
baublitz.com.
On the Job
Ask the Expert
From Finishing to Butt Joints
Multidirectional Finishing
I’m about to finish a job with
large-scale parquet and multiple
borders and inlays. How do I
approach finishing the floor?
Johannes Boonstra, sales and technical support supervisor at Pontiac,
Mich.-based Synteko Floor Finishes,
answers:
Floors with wood pieces oriented in
multiple directions often make it challenging for a “streak-free” application
of the final coat. More and more floor
finish manufacturers suggest utilizing a roller application for floors with
multidirectional installations. Roller application allows applications across the
grain pattern of wood floors without
leaving the typical and pronounced
streaking of the matting agent in the
finish coat often associated with a
linear application like a T-bar, brush or
lambswool applicator. Check with the
finish manufacturer of your choice for
advice on potential roller application
on multidirectional floors.
On such floors, it is of utmost importance that the final finishing coat
has all the time possible to flow and
level. So, apply the finish in a rather
fast but controlled fashion; do not
overwork it. During the application,
avoid any direct airflow across the
floor and cover windows to prevent
direct, hot sunlight from warming up
the floor too much.
It is important that the floor, air and
finish are at the most ideal application
temperature to promote the best potential flow and leveling. Check with
the manufacturer of the finish you
plan to use but, generally speaking, a
range of 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit is
ideal. Cooler temperatures will result
in reduced flow and leveling, since
all finishes tend to thicken up when
they are cold. Warmer temperatures
will result in rapid evaporation of the
solvents in the finish and are likely to
cause poor flow and leveling.
Racking Right
I mainly install prefinished
floors. Most boxes only have
two or three lengths in them at
the most. I try to follow NWFA
guidelines for staggering the
joints, but with no luck—I still
have H joints and stair steps.
What else can I do?
Avi Hadad, owner at Avi’s Hard-
wood Flooring in El Sobrante, Calif.,
answers:
You can cut different lengths from
those boards and match the end joint
as desired. First, use a good 60-tooth
blade on your sliding miter saw to
score the top layer with the carbide
teeth only. Then, finish the cut. This
will give you a splinter-free cut. Next,
use a router with a correct-size bit
to groove the end joint and, finally,
match the profile. Use a file to bevel
the edge; a scraper, sandpaper or
a block plane to roll the edge; and
stains or Sharpie-type markers to color it. Now you have custom lengths
TRICK OF THE TRADE
Drawing in Dust
A
fter sanding, it seems to take forever for that tiny airborne dust to settle down
onto the floor; that’s why many contractors wait to coat until the next day,
after the dust has settled. Using a box fan with a filter taped on it—drawing in dusty
air and exhausting clean air—can help speed the process, trapping airborne dust
instead of just blowing it around. The number of fans and filters needed depends on
the size and configuration of the area.
Thanks to Galen Fitzel, technical service specialist at 3M, for his tip. Do you have a
Trick of the Trade? Send it to [email protected].
On the Job | Ask the Expert
and no excuse to ignore guidelines
(plus, your floor looks so much better than the competition’s floor).
What’s the Norm?
My customer is complaining about some butt joints in
the solid prefinished floor I
installed—they aren’t exactly
square, but they look fine to
me. What is the industry standard I can show my customer?
Frank Kroupa, technical services
advisor at the National Wood Flooring Association, answers:
In the case of prefinished wood
flooring, there are few established
guidelines you can refer to when
dealing with the customer. This is
an issue not just with end joints, but
many other factors. What do we say
to the customer who says they can
fit 100 dimes in gaps throughout
their floor? Cupping, overwood and
underwood, and dimpling on the face
of prefinished flooring due to the
fasteners are also issues, as are very
minor dents or slight crushing along
Customer expectations are paramount
when standards or
guidelines are vague
or non-existent.
the board sides from being hit by a
mallet. You may find them perfectly
acceptable, but the customer may not.
Regarding butt joints, the generally
accepted industry practice is that they
must be fillable and barely visible
from a standing position. Remember
that butt joints can have different
causes: the flooring not being straight,
the floor not being tight or the flooring having unsquare ends.
While it won’t help you in this case,
the best approach is to create your
own “standards” for your customer
when you’re selling the floor. Don’t
set yourself up for problems by having every sample floor look perfect.
Show the customer realistic examples
of what that product will look like
when it’s installed in a home, and
point out what you will consider to
be acceptable and unacceptable as
you install the floor. The more you
educate the customer ahead of time,
the less likely you’ll end up in a dispute later, when you’re trying to get
paid. Customer expectations are paramount when standards or guidelines
are vague or non-existent. ■
“What our customers
are saying…”
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me ease into the program.”
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On the Job | From the Field
Taking the LEED
What contractors should know about working on LEED projects
By Jeffrey Horn
eadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an
internationally recognized building rating and certification system for
green or high-performance buildings.
Cities across the United States have
passed or are considering ordinances
requiring LEED certification for new
buildings. The trend is clear, and anyone involved in construction should
know about LEED. Everyone working on one of these projects will be
involved in meetings during the integrated design process and must be
able to discuss how their work might
L
affect credit compliance; following
are the credits relevant to wood flooring contractors.
Environmental Quality (EQ)
Environmental Quality (EQ)
Prerequisite 2: Environmental
Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control: To
prevent contamination of indoor surfaces and systems, the project must
be completely non-smoking or permit
smoking only in limited, protected
areas, even during construction.
EQ Credit 3.1: Construction
IAQ Management Plan: This en-
TALES FROM THE FRONT
Stuck in the Middle
Curiosity didn’t kill this cat
R
iStockphoto
obert Romanczuk, owner at Floorwood Solutions in Brampton,
Ontario, recalls a strange animal encounter when he used
to work for a builder. A coworker had gone to a house to fix a
complaint about a squeak in the floor. He removed the plywood in
the area and left for a few minutes to go prepare the new piece of plywood, then
installed it. The next morning, when Romanczuk got to the job, the coworker was already back in the same spot with the drill removing that same piece of plywood, because the homeowners were missing their cat and had heard strange noises coming
from underneath the floor. With the plywood removed and a flashlight shooting into
the darkness under the floor, they could indeed see the creature’s shiny eyes but, in
typical feline fashion, it wouldn’t come out. So, everyone had to leave the room, and
the cat finally made a run for it out of the joist space and out the door.
If you have a true (and printable) story to share, e-mail it with your name and phone
number to [email protected].
compasses several areas:
• During Construction: The project
manager will be concerned with
anticipating and preventing IAQ problems resulting from the construction/
renovation process.
• Scheduling of Deliveries: Deliveries of wood and other absorbent
materials are to follow dirt-, dust- and
VOC-producing construction activities in order to reduce exposure to
contaminants from other building
materials.
• Source Control: Your highest dirt/
dust producing activities should be
scheduled around other construction
activities and could require you to
work during “off hours”; the wood
finishes and adhesives specified will
be low-VOC or no-VOC.
• Pathway Interruption: The project
documents may specify a dust containment system and your work area
may be sectioned/sealed off and be
exhausted directly to the outside.
• Housekeeping: for a wood flooring contractor, this is generally vacuuming and proper disposal of cut-offs
and other waste.
EQ Credit 3.2: Construction
IAQ Management Plan: Before
Occupancy: This credit requires
a flush-out of the air volume with
outdoor air, or testing the air contaminant levels after the installation
of all finishes but before occupancy
to document that pollutants and contaminants referred to in 3.1 have been
Industrial strength
time and dust remover.
dealt with properly.
EQ Credit 4.1: Low-Emitting Materials: Adhesives
& Sealants: All wood flooring adhesives must comply
with the South Coast Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD) Rule No. 1168, which specifies a VOC limit of
100 g/L less water. For subfloor adhesives, the limit is 50
g/L less water.
EQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials: Paints &
Coatings: All clear wood finishes, floor coatings, stains,
primers and shellacs applied to wood flooring must not
exceed the VOC content limits established in SCAQMD
Rule 1113. Documentation of compliance and VOC limits
are available from the manufacturers.
EQ Credit 4.3: Low Emitting Materials: Flooring
Systems: All hard-surface flooring, including wood, must
be certified as compliant with the FloorScore standard by
an independent third-party or meet VOC emissions criteria
developed by the California Department of Public Health,
widely known as Section 1350.
EQ Credit 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products: For the wood
flooring contractor, subflooring and engineered flooring
fall under this credit. These materials, including their
adhesives, must contain no added urea-formaldehyde
resins. The credit allows for naturally occurring traces of
formaldehyde.
The ProTeam Super CoachVac® attaches
& detaches to floor sanders, capturing fine dust
before it re-enters the environment.
Materials & Resources
Materials & Resources Credit 2.1 & 2.2: Construction Waste Management: A project-wide plan will be
in effect to divert waste from landfills. The wood flooring contractor’s cut-off waste and other un-usable wood
materials, along with other construction debris, will go
to a designated area for removal. If your flooring comes
packaged, consider unpacking it at your company’s location. If possible, request that the manufacturer use the least
amount of packaging while still protecting the product
Answer: The contractor is using the nail puller
directly against the base, which could damage it.
WHAT’S WRONG
WITH THIS PICTURE?
866.888.2168
www.pro-team.com
The American Lung Association and ProTeam are partners in an educational campaign about
Indoor Air Quality issues. The American Lung Association does not endorse products.
EXCELLENT GREEN WOOD CARE
HAS A NEW NAME...WOCA!
“For a hard wearing natural
looking floor, WOCA Oil Finish
is the answer. Many colors can
be achieved using this very green
floor finish and I will stake my
company and reputation on
this product.”
Sprigg Lynn, President
Universal Floors
Washington, DC
The leader in organic hardening oil finishes
introduces its VOC-free oil and polishing pads
for single coat application.
A great fit for manufacturers wishing to increase
the appeal of their prefinished flooring.
WoodCareUSA LLC
800-242-8160
www.woodcareusa.com
during shipping. This plan will also include cans, bottles and other food and
beverage packaging brought onsite by
construction personnel.
MR Credit 3.1 & 3.2: Resource
Reuse: This involves something near
and dear to my heart: wood flooring
from reclaimed wood. Certification is
not required for this but a statement
of origin will be requested; a letter
from a reputable supplier should
suffice.
MR Credit 5.1 & 5.2: Regional
Materials: To contribute to 5.1,
flooring must have been milled
within 500 miles of the project site;
for 5.2, it must have been both harvested and milled within the 500-mile
radius. If it is a salvaged wood (for
MRc3) it must have been reclaimed
from a building and milled within
500 miles. A statement of origin is
required.
MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials: For the wood flooring contractor, the only likely applicable product is bamboo flooring.
MR Credit 7: Certified Wood:
FSC is the only certification accepted
by LEED. FSC starts at the forest and
goes via Chain-of-Custody (COC)
certification to the manufacturer and
distributor. Flooring contractors are
considered the end user as it relates
to COC. As LEED is written, if contractors install FSC-certified flooring
they have purchased (and for which
they have documentation—PO’s,
invoices, etc.—showing the manufacturer’s FSC certification and FSC COC
for all other parties in between), the
flooring contractor does not need FSC
COC certification. Reclaimed wood
flooring is excluded from this credit.
When you have questions on a
project about specifics regarding
LEED points, be sure to consult with
the LEED Accredited Professional assigned to that project. ■
Jeffrey Horn is president of York, Pa.based Aged Woods Inc. and is a LEED
Accredited Professional.
On the Job | Troubleshooting
In the Dark
Dark spots are taking over this engineered floor
By Jerry L. Kuehn
The Problem
Last January, I was commissioned by a flooring manufacturer to inspect a prefinished 3-inch engineered oak floor that
had developed dark spots. The homeowner was convinced
the flooring was defective and wanted the floor replaced.
The Procedure
The Gulf Coast-area home was late-1970s construction
with a concrete slab. The homeowner had moved into
the house in 2002; the home had been vacant for a year
before the sale was completed. Prior to move-in, she
hired a contractor to replace all the floor coverings with
engineered wood
flooring adhered
directly to the slab.
The homeowner observed several small
dark spots begin to
appear in the floor
10 months prior to
my inspection (about
six years after movein). These dark areas
increased in size and now covered a large portion of each
room in the home. She said she used the cleaning product
recommended by the wood flooring manufacturer and
never mopped the floor with water.
The dark areas in the
floor encompassed
about 40 percent of
the entire floor.
The Cause
By the time of inspection, the dark areas in the floor
encompassed about 40 percent of the floor. Moisture
content readings revealed the flooring was saturated with
moisture. However, the flooring was not delaminating,
and no cupping was evident. No visible water entry was
observed, and the homeowner stated there had been no
broken pipes. Interior relative humidity was above 75 percent and the temperature was 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
An investigation of the exterior of the home revealed the
soil line was above the first brick row around the home’s
perimeter. A black plastic soaker hose was placed adjacent
to the slab under the soil. Drainage of the flower beds was
toward the concrete slab, with only a minimum amount
of open areas for water to flow away from the slab. The
homeowner said the previous owner suggested using the
soaker hose to water the slab for an hour once a week to
help prevent the slab from cracking in the summer.
Because the home had been vacant for a year before
the new owner moved in, the slab may have been at an
acceptable moisure level when the new flooring was
installed (the installer for this job was long gone by the
time of the inspection, so no information about moisture
testing at the time of installation was available). After
completion of the installation, the homeowner introduced
moisture to the slab as suggested by the previous owner,
but the new wood floor did not allow the moisture to
evacuate through the surface as did the old carpeting.
How to Fix the Floor
The flooring had to be replaced at the homeowner’s
expense and the slab watering technique discontinued.
Because the soil was above the level of the slab, the new
flooring had to be treated as a below-grade installation.
Unfortunately for the homeowner, she did not have recourse with the installer or the manufacturer of the wood
floor under the terms of the warranty.
In the Future
Water and wood flooring do not mix. Even if a home
is more than 30 years old, that doesn’t mean the slab is
dry. Seasonal changes affect the moisture content of a
slab, and so does the grading around the house. Flooring
installers should always perform a moisture test on a slab
prior to installation, check the grading around the home’s
foundation and educate the homeowner about what moisture can do to a wood floor. Adding water to prevent slab
cracking is often recommended but seldom needed in the
Gulf Coast area. This was an expensive lesson learned by
the homeowner. ■
Jerry L. Kuehn is a 40-year wood flooring veteran, an
NWFACP CWFI, and technical services manager for T&L
Distributing LP in Houston.
On the Job | Techniques
Good to be Green
Help the environment and your bottom line
By Catherine Liewen
oing green is all the rage these days, and green products and promotions are everywhere
you look. Evolving beyond the hype to turn your wood flooring business into an ecofriendly one can be more than just a way to take advantage of the hottest marketing trend—
it can be a means to expand your business and become more profitable. Greening your business
can attract new clientele and differentiate your company from the rest. Furthermore, in the process
of saving the planet, you can also save money by cutting out waste and operating more efficiently.
Here are four ways you can “green” your contracting business.
G
1) Choose High-Quality, “Green” Wood
By selecting high-quality wood flooring from a reputable manufacturer, you help ensure that the
floor is going to last a long time. For prefinished floors, a high-quality finish will last longer, reducing the amount of resources put into the floor over time. Also, a thicker wear layer will endure
multiple sandings, increasing the floor’s lifespan and lessening the chances of the floor becoming
scrap in a landfill.
Sustainability is another key consideration, and
there is increasing demand for products that can
help clients earn points for LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design), a third-party
green building certification system developed by
the U.S. Green Building Council that is the most
widely accepted building certification. It is most
prevalent for commercial projects but also has
programs for residential buildings, renovations,
and other types of projects as well. (For more
on LEED, visit www.usgbc.org.) Below are some
flooring options that can earn the favor of customers looking for sustainable materials; some
also qualify for LEED points (for specific details
on qualifying for LEED points, see “Taking the
LEED” on page 36):
• Sustainable flooring: Despite last year’s
amendments to the Lacey Act, there are still
products on the market that are illegally logged.
The safest option is to purchase certified flooring. Currently, the only certification that qualifies for LEED points is FSC (Forest Stewardship
Council). The NWFA also offers its Responsible
Procurement Program (RPP) to recognize companies that practice responsible forest manage40 Hardwood Floors ■ August|September 2009
ment and are working toward offering FSC-certified
products. Other flooring certifications include SFI
(Sustainable Forest Initiative), CSA (Canadian Standards
Association) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement
of Forest Certification). If certified flooring isn’t an option,
the next safest bet is to buy domestic products, the vast
majority of which come from sustainably managed forests.
• Reclaimed flooring: Reusing wood materials
from old buildings and sunken logs is one of the most
sustainable practices. Reclaimed flooring also qualifies
for LEED points.
• Locally-sourced flooring: Local products minimize transportation costs and resources and, depending
on the distance, may qualify for LEED points.
• Dead or dying trees: Trees that are diseased or
dying, or those that are low-diameter from overcrowded,
unhealthy forests, can be turned into flooring while
helping to improve the ecosystem. (A great example of
this can be seen in this month’s Design Options article
on page 44.)
• Bamboo flooring: Bamboo is considered green
because it is highly renewable; it can be harvested
every five to six years. However, there is controversy
about the green aspect of bamboo because of the use
of formaldehyde in some bamboo products and the
carbon footprint of transporting the flooring from Asia.
When selecting bamboo for clients who want a green
floor, make sure that it is a high-quality product from a
reputable manufacturer and that it is free of any added
formaldehyde. Depending on your location, it may
require less energy to import bamboo rather than wood
from a domestic manufacturer. Bamboo flooring qualifies for LEED points because it fits the LEED definition
of “rapidly renewable.”
• Cork flooring: Because cork is harvested from
the bark of the cork tree without killing the tree—the
bark regenerates and can be harvested repeatedly—cork
flooring has an impeccable sustainability story.
2) Reduce Emissions
Reducing or eliminating VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in wood flooring adhesives and finishes is key
in turning your contracting business green. Additionally,
in many areas, there are increasingly tougher laws mandating lower VOC emissions. Many products claim to be
“VOC-free,” but they may contain other toxic chemicals
like cyanide. Carefully read the MSDS to see what is
in the product you’re buying. And be sure to properly
dispose of finishes and other chemicals you use; most
landfills have special days for chemical disposal. Here
are points to keep in mind for finishes and adhesives:
• Low- or no-VOC adhesives: Choose adhesives
that are low- or no-VOC and those that are formalde42 Hardwood Floors ■ August|September 2009
hyde free. Also, selecting an adhesive with a high spread
rate saves resources, and using the recommended trowel
ensures the product is applied as efficiently as possible.
• Low-VOC finishes: There are increasing numbers of
green finish options on the market. Water-based finishes
are the most prominent green option because of their low
VOC levels. If you have clients who prefer the look of
polyurethane, some manufacturers now offer water-based
products that mimic the look of polyurethane finishes and
are just as durable. Some other types of finishes, such as
some natural oils, are also considered green.
Many products
claim to be
“VOC-free,” but
they may contain
other toxic chemicals
like cyanide.
3) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Beyond choosing green products, adopting green job-site
practices can go a long way toward helping the environment. Before you fill the trashcan to the brim, think about
what your company can do to reduce waste. Here are a
few things commonly found on most job sites that often
end up in the landfill:
• Cardboard boxes: Flooring boxes and other cardboard boxes from job-site products often end up in the
landfill just because contractors don’t take the time to
recycle them.
• Stain Rags: Instead of using new disposable rags,
reuse old towels, washcloths or T-shirts (be sure they are
free of contaminants).
• Buckets: Clean out used buckets and reuse them for
storing or transporting materials.
• Wood scraps: Whether you have scraps of old or
new wood, you never know when you’ll need to match
existing flooring for a repair. Many contractors also create
their own custom medallions, borders and parquets from
wood scraps. You may be even able to find a fellow contractor on the Internet who needs the old flooring you’re
storing in your shop.
4) Be Efficient
Another green and money-saving job-site strategy involves
eliminating inefficiencies in your business. Here are three
examples of how to make your business more efficient:
• Drive less: Reducing your company’s time on the
road saves time and reduces vehicle emissions. Avoid
scheduling appointments during rush hour to prevent
sitting in traffic. One contractor in the busy Denver metro
area, for example, only schedules his appointments
between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or waits until the evening
to see clients who need to schedule around work hours.
Try to streamline appointments so salespeople and crews
cover a specific territory instead of driving all over town.
GPS units can also help in finding the most efficient route
to your destination and reduce the chances of getting lost
(and, as a bonus, the odds of having to ask for directions).
• Fuel-efficient vehicles: While it may not be practi-
cal to cram a big machine and a buffer into a subcompact
hybrid vehicle, there are fuel-efficient vehicles on the
market that can accommodate large equipment, and often
these cars come with incentives or tax credits. Your staff
who perform only sales or estimating duties may not need
a larger car, and your company logo on a hybrid vehicle is
a great form of green advertising.
• Go paperless: Running your business electronically
not only saves resources, it also creates a more professional image. What’s more, it looks more impressive to
send estimates and invoices via e-mail rather than creating
a barely legible hand-written statement.
As you put in place a few green practices, you’ll find
other ways to green your business and save money. Make
being green a company-wide policy and offer incentives
to employees who come up with green ideas of their
own. Going green isn’t just a tagline—it’s the new way of
doing business. ■
Sources for this article included Rob McNealy, Askafloorguy.com; Dan Harrington, EcoTimber; and Frank Potter,
Stauf-USA Adhesive LLC. Catherine Liewen is the former
managing editor of Hardwood Floors.
Beetle-infested ash trees have
become a dramatic backdrop for
the Traverwood Branch of the Ann
Arbor Library.
One for the Books
Dying ash trees find new life at library
DesignOptions
By Catherine Liewen
here are many compelling stories found within the books lining
the shelves of the Traverwood Branch of the Ann Arbor District
Library, but one of the most intriguing stories can be found within the structure itself. This approximately 16,500-square-foot marvel is testament to what a team of committed, talented designers
can create while reducing environmental impact. While the building boasts
several sustainable design features, the predominance of ash harvested from
emerald ash borer beetle-infested trees from the building’s site illustrates the
library’s connection to nature.
Two people integral in bringing the vision of the library to fruition were
Cory Lavigne, design director of Northville, Mich.-based inFORM Studio, and
John Yarema, president of Troy, Mich.-based John Yarema Floors Inc. The
two collaborated early in the design phase of the project and helped create
the spectacular woodwork that shapes the library’s interior. As luck would
have it, Yarema stopped by inFORM Studio to show his portfolio of work just
as Lavigne was discussing the project with inFORM Design Principal Mike
Guthrie. “We sat down and started talking about the craftsmanship and detail
in the projects he was showcasing, and we could really get a sense of the
passion he held for his art, which seems to be an extremely rare thing in a
contractor these days,” Lavigne says. The discussion turned to the Traverwood
Library and Yarema offered suggestions for harvesting and re-milling infested
ash trees from the library job site. Although this wasn’t a typical project for
Yarema, Lavigne convinced him to collaborate.
Early in the process, the architects had considered harvesting the ash trees
from the site, and Yarema’s expertise in woodworking helped them realize
new possibilities for the wood, which had been suffering the effects of the
emerald ash borer beetle for several years. Although the insect damages the
outer portion of the tree, the interior remains suitable for milling. Reusing
the ash would meet sustainability goals while also serving as a permanent
reminder of the devastating effects the emerald ash borer had on the area:
Since 2002, tens of millions of ash trees have been killed in southeastern
Michigan alone. “As the design progressed, the use of ash became more than
a symbolic gesture, as it was first considered. The utilization of the ash would
become a major component to the design of the library interior,” Lavigne explains. Additionally, several ash logs were to be used as structural columns.
With dramatic designs drawn up using ash as the focal point of the library’s
interior, the first step was removing the trees from the densely wooded build-
Photos: Jim Haefner
T
DesignOptions
Photos: Jim Haefner
“You’re trying to
take this curve and
deconstruct it into
this flat piece of
wood.”
The wood is bent and curved on the floor and
ceiling (above) and into a display of “raining
wood” near the ash structural beams (left).
ing site. In order to minimize the impact on the site’s ecosystem, no machinery was used in the harvesting process.
Yarema and his crew selected the most suitable trees, cut
them with custom-ordered Swedish Gransfors Bruks axes
and removed them with Percheron draft horses. Yarema’s
crew removed about 70 trees, ranging in diameter from
10 to 22 inches. “It took four days to get the trees out of
the woods with axes. The axes were like razor blades,”
Yarema recalls. Afterward, Yarema took the trees to his
shop and prepared them for milling.
The first step in the milling process was creating the
structural columns to help frame the library’s interior.
One of the original ideas that Yarema and Lavigne joined
forces on was the creation of large tree columns still
bearing natural boring marks left by the beetles. “They
would bring me ideas and ask, ‘Can you do it?’ And I
would say ‘yes’ and figure out how to do it,” Yarema says.
After consulting with the architects and structural engineers, Yarema fabricated the logs in his shop according to
their specifications. He used 15 trees along the 100-footlong structural wall.
Once the structural supports were in place, Yarema
began the process of manufacturing the approximately
12,000 square feet of ash that flows from the main entry
floor and walls into a ceiling that extends along the eastern edge of the building. In order to maximize the yield
from the harvested logs and to make the wood as dimensionally stable as possible, the boards were manufac46 Hardwood Floors ■ August|September 2009
tured into a three-ply engineered product. The next and
most challenging step was figuring out how to transform
the boards into works of art. To do this, Yarema says
he always asks himself, “How do we make this worldclass?” The elaborate design, which included a section of
“raining wood” from the ceiling into the reading room,
called for the ash to bend and curve in ways that posed
a challenge for even Yarema, who has a reputation for
pushing the envelope in wood design. But such a challenging project is what Yarema and his crew thrive on.
“Most people walk around looking at the problems,” he
continues. “You have to look at the glass as half full, or
you’ll never do anything.”
The process involved substantial trial and error using
CAD applications and sample templates. Much of the
challenge involved creating a three-dimensional design
from a flat piece of wood where the measurements
had to be spot-on. “You’re trying to take this curve and
deconstruct it into this flat piece of wood,” Yarema says.
In order to create the curved ceiling, Yarema constructed a plywood gusset system that spaced the wood
and locked it into place where seven angles converge.
“There was a lot of back and forth; cutting, then going
out there and fitting it because we could not make it in
the shop,” he says.
Of course, time and money constraints were job factors, as well. “The single largest challenge evolved around
completion of this unique, complex building on time and
versatile
(vûr’sԥ-tԥl, -tƯl’) adj.
1. Capable of doing many things competently.
2. Having varied uses or serving many functions.
Engineered Flooring
www.realwoodfloors.com
-,,"'(*"&-(&
JC;>C>H=:9EG:;>C>H=:9=6C9H8G6E:9L>G:"7GJH=:98DBB:G8>6AG:H>9:CI>6A;JB:986G7DC>O:9=:GG>C<7DC:
Photo: Jim Haefner
DesignOptions
Project Details
Architect: inFORM Studio
www.in-formstudio.com (Northville, Mich.)
Flooring Contractor: John Yarema Floors Inc.
www.johnyarema.com (Troy, Mich.)
Construction: O’Neal Construction
www.onealconstruction.com (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Wood Flooring Finish: Synteko Floor Finishes
www.synteko.com (Pontiac, Mich.)
The main entry to the library showcases the ash floors,
walls and curved ceiling.
on budget,” Lavigne says.
The complexity of the job meant that the subcontractors needed constant guidance. In addition, with several
trades trying to finish at once, it became difficult for
Yarema and his crew to have the space they needed
to work. “Toward the end, we had 18 guys working 16
hours. We would come in at 1 p.m. and work into the
morning,” Yarema says. Working on a publicly funded
project also meant there was no wiggle room in the budget. “Instead of working from ‘What’s the job worth?’ we
worked from ‘What’s the job costing us?’ and covered our
bases,” Yarema says.
A dwindling budget also caused the architects to improvise with exterior materials. Instead of using copper as
originally intended, they chose a more economical CorTen sheet cladding. “The Cor-Ten has a real natural feel
to it, helping the building blend in with the surrounding
site and vegetation,” Lavigne says. In addition, Yarema
secured local barn wood oak siding for portions of the
exterior. “There’s nothing more sustainable than something that’s already dead and that doesn’t have a future.
Local and sustainable, and we do the work,” Yarema says.
In all, Yarema dismantled three barns and re-sawed about
100 timbers to create the oak siding.
In addition to using the bore-infested ash and reclaimed barn timbers, the designers employed several
other sustainable building strategies. Maintaining the biodiversity of the site was a top priority. An underground
parking structure was built to reduce sprawl and surface
heat, while a subsurface storm water filtration system, a
multilevel rain garden and reduced impervious paving
help improve water quality, eliminate erosion and alleviate flooding.
Inside, natural lighting and ventilation systems reduce
energy consumption, and automatic daylight sensors
operate window shades according to light levels and time
of day. High and low operable windows work with the
temperature control system to naturally heat and cool the
building. Large expanses of glass provide natural lighting
and open the building to the preserved area of the site
where the dying ash trees once stood.
Despite all of the challenges that occurred during the
three-year design and construction process, the Traverwood Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library opened
on schedule with rave reviews from the client and the
library patrons. “Our largest reward is in knowing that
we’ve exceeded the expectations of our client and users,” Lavigne says. “It’s incredible to see people walking
around the library, touching and examining the details,
feeling the texture of certain materials and looking in
wonder, trying to figure out how a certain piece may
have been constructed or conceived.” ■
The DVD“Up From Ashes,” produced by Detriot Public
TV, chronicles the project from design to completion.Visit
www.dptv.org for more information.
ProductFocus
Reclaimed Wood Flooring
A
s the green movement gains traction, reclaimed
wood flooring becomes an even more significant
part of the industry. Turn the page for a look
at Hardwood Floors’ exclusive charts summarizing the
options in this important segment of the market. For more
information on the companies, see their Web sites listed
immediately after the company names. (Please note that
each company was limited to listing one line.)
Albany Woodworks
American Heart Pine
Authentic Pine Floors Inc.
Berg & Berg
Bingham Lumber Company
Birch Creek Millwork Inc.
Byrne Wood Floors
Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
Centre Mills Antique Floors
Century Wood Products Inc.
Chestnut Specialists Inc.
Cochran’s Lumber
Elmwood Reclaimed Timber
Fulford’s Flooring
Goodwin Heart Pine
Walnut
Ash
Hickory
Maple
Teak
Poplar
Douglas fir
Cypress
Chestnut
Beech
SPECIES
Oak
Parquet
Engineered
Solid
TYPE OF FLOORING
Heart pine
East Teak Fine Hardwood Floors
Hemlock
Creative At Home Inc.
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Ackerson Stevens | www.asihardwood.com
Custom Plank
■
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Albany Woodworks Inc. | www.albanywoodworks.com
Anique Heart Pine Flooring
■
American Heart Pine Corp. | www.americanheartpine.com
Washington
■
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Authentic Pine Floors Inc. | www.authenticpinefloors.com
Antique Heart Pine
■
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Berg & Berg | www.bergandbergusa.com
Antique Reclaimed
■
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Bingham Lumber Company Inc. | www.binghamwideplank.com
Bingham Antique Flooring
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Birch Creek Millwork Inc. | www.texturewood.com
Texturewood
■
Byrne Wood Floors
Heritage Classics
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Carlisle Wide Plank Floors | www.wideplankflooring.com
Carlisle 100% Certified Antique Wood ■
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Castle Flooring | www.nationalhardwood.com
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Centre Mills Antique Floors | www.centremillsantiquefloors.com
Antique Plank Flooring
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Century Wood Products Inc. | www.centurywood.com
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Chestnut Specialists Inc. | www.chestnutspec.com
Antique Remilled
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Cochran’s Lumber and Millwork Inc. | www.cochranslumber.com
Shenandoah Plank
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Creative At Home Inc. | www.creativeathome.com
Antique Impressions Reclaimed Heart Pine
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East Teak Fine Hardwood Floors Inc. | www.certifiedhardwoods.com
East Teak FSC Reclaimed Teak
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Elmwood Reclaimed Timber | www.elmwoodreclaimedlumber.com
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Grizzly Forest Products
Hardwood Designs & Marketing
Henderson Corporation
DIMENSIONS
Heppner Hardwoods Inc.
Heritage Wide Plank Flooring
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Flooring
Thickness
(inches)
Widths
(inches)
any
any
⁄2, 3⁄4
varies
¾
3,4,5,6,8,10
¾
2-10
Three grades of antique heart pine flooring available: Tavern, Choice and Mixed Grade.
⁄16
75⁄8
True wide-plank reclaimed heart pine; prefinished; 25-year warranty.
⁄16-2
3-20
FSC-certified; several grades available.
¾
3-10
Available in a variety of textures.
⁄8, ¾
2¼-15
¾
5-14
varies
3-12
¾
random 3+
⁄8-1½
3½-11½
Reclaimed elm flooring also available.
⁄32
up to 16+
Remanufactured solid wide plank flooring.
⁄8, ¾
3-10+
¾
71⁄2, 81⁄2, 11
⁄8, ½, 3⁄4
3,4,5, custom
⁄2, 5⁄8, 3⁄4
up to 11
1
9
9
5
5
25
5
3
1
Custom sizes and grades available.
Widths up to 101⁄2” for 3⁄4”-thick; up to 6” for 1⁄2”-thick.
Reclaimed heart pine; 95-100% heartwood; also available in prefinished and in vertical grain.
Custom-made, hand-scraped and distressed; thicknesses: 1⁄2-3⁄4“ (solid), 2-4 mm (engineered).
Wire brushed; prefinished; long engineered lengths to 12 feet; natural or stained.
100% post-consumer recycled; carries FSC chain-of-custody certification.
Elm and cherry also available; custom thicknesses and widths; FSC-certified.
Old Florida Lumber Company
Pioneer Millworks
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Maple
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Hickory
Heart pine
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Ash
Pine
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Walnut
Douglas fir
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Teak
Cypress
Foster Wood Products Inc. | www.fosterwood.com
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Pine Mountain Brand
Chestnut
Beech
SPECIES
Oak
Parquet
Engineered
Solid
TYPE OF FLOORING
R.W. Rhine Inc.
Poplar
Mountain Lumber Company
Hemlock
Longleaf Lumber Inc.
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Fulford’s Flooring | www.fulfords.us
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Goodwin Heart Pine | www.heartpine.com
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River Recovered Antique
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Grizzly Forest Products | www.grizzlyforest.com
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Hardwood Designs & Marketing | www.hardwooddesigns.net
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HWD Antique Reclaimed
Henderson Corporation | www.hendersoncorporation.com
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Antique Patina
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Heppner Hardwoods Inc. | www.heppnerhardwoods.com
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Heritage Hardwood Floors | www.heritagewideplankflooring.com
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Heritage Wide Plank Flooring
Longleaf Lumber Inc. | www.longleaflumber.com
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Mountain Lumber Company | www.mountainlumber.com
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Granary Oak
Old American Lumber | www.oldamericanlumber.com
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Old Florida Lumber Company | www.oldfloridalumber.com
Dade County Pine & Antique Heart Pine ■
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Olde Wood Limited | www.oldewoodltd.com
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Pioneer Millworks | www.pioneermillworks.com
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R.W. Rhine Inc. | www.rwrhine.com
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Antique Reclaimed Douglas Fir
Renick Millworks | www.renickmillworks.com
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American Heirloom Chestnut
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Rooster Head Antique Heart Pine | www.antiqueheartpineflooring.com
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Reclaimed Heart Pine
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Renick Millworks
Rooster Head
DIMENSIONS
SouthFloor
Souithern Wood Floors
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Flooring
Thickness
(inches)
Widths
(inches)
⁄2, 3⁄4
2-18
⁄8, ¾, 1, 1¼
3-12
¾
2½-9
⁄2, ¾
21⁄8-107⁄8
⁄8, ¾
4-8
Custom manufacturer; available unfinished or hand-finished.
⁄2, 5⁄8, 3⁄4
2-14
Milled from recycled agrarian structures.
1-2
3-12
¾
up to 12
¾-1
2½-13
¾
3-9
Mix of red and white oak with textured and planed surfaces.
¾,1
3-8
Solid flooring up to 10”.
¾
2½-7½
Specializes in antique lumber; hand-milled for reuse.
⁄8, ½, 5⁄8, 3⁄4
3-12+
Reclaimed from old structures; wood beams and posts available.
⁄8
4-6
¾
3,4,6,8
⁄16, ¾
3-12
⁄4
2-9
1
5
1
5
1
3
5
11
3
Tallon Lumber Inc.
Available in clear, select, vertical, and character grades; lumber, stair parts and moldings available.
Special-order widths available.
Stair parts and dimensional stock also available.
FSC-certified; unfinished or prefinished.
Timeless Wood Floors Inc. (GA)
Trestlewood
Triton International Woods
Ua Wood Floors Inc.
Southern Wood Floors | www.southernwoodfloors.com
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Antique Reclaimed Heart Pine
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SouthFloor | www.southfloor.com
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Antique Heart Pine
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Maple
Hickory
Ash
Walnut
Teak
Poplar
Heart pine
Hemlock
Douglas fir
Cypress
Chestnut
Beech
SPECIES
Oak
Parquet
Engineered
Solid
TYPE OF FLOORING
Pine
Timeless Wood Floors
Superior Hardwoods and Millwork | www.superior-hardwoods.com
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Tallon Lumber Inc. | www.tallonlumber.com
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Tallon Plank
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Timeless Wood Floors | www.timelesswoodfloors.net
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Octagon End Grain
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Timeless Wood Floors Inc. (GA) | www.timelesswoodfloors.com
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Green Existence
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Trestlewood | www.trestlewood.com
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Triton International Woods | www.tritonwoods.com
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Solid Plank Flooring
Trout River Lumber | www.troutriverlumber.com
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Martha Mills
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Ua Wood Floors Inc. | www.uafloors.com
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Olde Charleston Collection
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Verona Hardwood | www.veronahardwood.com
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Vintage Hardwoods | www.copperplank.com
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Revival
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Vintage Lumber Co. Inc. | www.vintagelumber.com
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Vintage Collection
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West Wind Hardwood | www.flooringbywestwindhardwood.com
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Enviro Collection
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Wide Plank Hardwood | www.wideplankhardwood.com
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The Woods Co. Inc. | www.thewoodscompany.com
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Antique Wood Flooring
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Verona Hardwood
Vintage Hardwoods
West Wind Hardwood
DIMENSIONS
Flooring
Thickness
(inches)
Widths
(inches)
⁄16, 3⁄4
3,4,5,6,8,10
9
9
Wide Plank Hardwood
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Solid, engineered, prefinished, unfinished; wide variety of grades.
⁄16, ¾
3-10
¾
4-14
¾
3-9
½-1
2-12
⁄8-2
2-20
¾
3-12
Additional reclaimed lines: Barnwood, Trailblazer, TWII Salty Fir, Picklewood, Greenhart.
½-1
2-12
Also available: oak and chestnut beams, posts or siding, cypress siding and beams.
¾
51⁄8-6¼
⁄2
43⁄4, 71⁄2
⁄8, 1⁄2, 5⁄8, 3⁄4
3-8
3
1
3
5
Prefinished engineered; unfinished solid; 95% heartwood.
Reclaimed oak, heart pine and chestnut are T&G and end-matched.
6- and 7-footers available in each carton.
⁄8
3-7¾
Prefinished in over 25 colors.
¾
2¼-20
Milled in a random-width format.
⁄8, 3⁄4
2¼-4½
FSC-recycled.
¾
4-12
½, ¾
2½-15
5
The Woods Co. Inc.
FSC-certified.
PHOENIX, NOVEMBER 11-13, 2009. REGISTER AT GREENBUILDEXPO.ORG
ProductFocus
Inlays, Borders and Vents
W
hen you’re ready to go beyond straight-lay floors, the following manufacturers are ready to take you there. Today’s wood flooring market offers innumerable choices for prefabricated borders, medallions, inlays and custom
vents in every species imaginable. For more information on the following companies, visit
their Web sites listed after their product descriptions.
Cape Cod
Air Grilles
All American Wood Register Co.
All American Wood Register Co. now offers its MaxFlo Optimum Airflow line of high-efficiency, bi-directional registers.
Comparable in efficiency to metal models, these wooden
flush- and surface-mount models are available in 20 stock
sizes and with or without
dampers. The registers are
made with the same care,
quality materials and sturdy
workmanship as other All
American products, the
company says.
www.allamericanwood.com
Atlanta Inlaid Floors by Laser Tech
Atlanta Inlaid
Inlai Floors’ newest medallion, Th
The Versailles, is available
in various
va
sizes from 24 to
48 inches and is manufa
factured from custommatched wenge, walnut
and maple. Customers
can also choose from
one of the company’s
many designs, or work
with the design team,
it says. All medallions
a borders come in
and
va
varying
standard thickness finishes and sizes.
nesses,
Cape Cod Air
Grilles’ solid wood
grills are designed
to fit any décor.
These durable
vents are manufactured in all wood species to blend into standard
floor and wall applications. Cape Cod’s custom
grills are available in any size and are unfinished.
www.ccairgrilles.com
Cherryhill
Manufacturing
Corp.
Cherryhill manufactures
laser-cut medallions,
borders and corners.
All inlays are hand-assembled using domestic
and exotic hardwoods.
Inlays come in various
sizes and can be customized.
www.cherryhillmfg.com
www.atlantainlaidfloors.com
www.atl
Product Focus | Inlays, Borders and Vents
Classic
Manufacturing
Classic Manufacturing specializes in hardwood flooring accessories, producing
solid wood grills, registers
and stair components. All
products are offered unfinished or prefinished in a
variety of wood species.
www.classicvents.com
Czar Floors
Czar Floors produces solid
wood inlays using CNC routers. Large medallions (up to 72
inches) are created as a single
piece. Borders and parquet
can be scaled to fit room layout. The company also offers
complete floor plan layout design services utilizing the
latest CAD and design software, it says.
www.czarfloors.com
Creative at Home Inc.
Decorative Flooring
The manufacturer of Antique
Impressions flooring, Creative
at Home sells matching prefinished self-rim and flush-mount
vents and cold-air returns.
Also, custom borders and medallions are offered, and unfinished options are available.
Decorative Flooring offers exotic hardwood plank
flooring and award-winning
borders and medallions
manufactured to installers’
requirements. Any design,
thickness or size is available,
the company notes.
www.creativeathome.com
www.decorativeflooring.com
Moisture
is an important issue
New Ligno-Scanner SDM:
z dual depth 1/4”, 3/4” deep
z different wood species
z bamboo horizontal, vertical, strand
z great for composite panels
z great for engineered floors
z concrete
z Call and
find out if
this versatile
do-it-all pinless
meter is for you.
Meter comes with
2 year warranty.
Lignomat
800-227-2105
PO Box 30145, Portland, OR 97294
www.lignomat.com
E-Mail: sales@lignomat .com
Distinctive
Hardwood Floors
Distinctive
Hardwood
Floors
specializes
in custom
design and
fabrication
of wood
floor accents and details. Its CNC
router produces inlays with greater
tolerances and none of the burned
edges that cause black outlines in
laser cut inlays, the company notes.
Also available are beveled and
distressed inlays and medallions to
match any finish.
www.distinctivehardwood.com
Finium/Fini UV
International Inc.
CHESS FLOORING
MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE...!
BRAZILIAN CHERRY • BRAZILIAN TEAK
BRAZILIAN WALNUT • S.MAHOGANY
ROSEWOOD • AND MANY MORE…
Finium manufactures prefinished and
unfinished vents. They are available
in more
than 30
species
and are
colormatch
guaranteed. All grills are UV-cured with an
aluminum oxide finish with the latest
nano technology, the company adds.
Products are individually shrinkwrapped for protection and backed
by a 25-year warranty.
www.finium.ca
SOLID PREFINISHED OR UNFINISHED
⁄ ” or 12⁄ ” x 3”- 4”- 5” x random length.
3
4
FREE SAMPLES AVAILABLE
Grill Works Inc.
Grill Works offers vents made from
reclaimed wood for exact matches. Clients can provide raw material
themselves or use reclaimed material
stocked by the company. In addition to reclaimed vents, Grill Works
produces hand-scraped vents.
www.grillworksinc.com
Office and Warehouse
630 NW 113 Street
Miami, FL 33168
Tel: 305.757.9400 Fax: 305.751.1302
Free # 1.800.966.3352
WWW.CHESSFLOORING.COM
Lighthouse Arts
Higuera Hardwoods
Higuera Hardwoods stocks
full lines of bamboo flooring,
moldings, vents, inlays, stair
parts and bamboo/plywood
veneers. FSC-approved moso
bamboo is the main raw
material used to produce all
products.
Lighthouse Arts creates custom and
stock floor art using a combination of
marquetry, carvings and mixed media
for a three-dimensional appearance.
The company’s latest endeavor—multicolor relief carving for prefinished
flooring—can enhance any brand,
color or species, the company says.
www.lighthouselaserarts.com
www.higuerahardwoods.com
Louisville Wood Floors
Hudson River Inlay has 30 years’
experience creating designs
for hardwood floors that are
inspired by nature, the company
says. Its borders, corner resolves,
medallions and random inlays
are available in themes of autumn leaves, boating scenes and
tropical underwater vistas.
Louisville Wood Floors’ products feature custom accents.
The company’s made-to-order
inlays are available in any
custom thickness, scale, species and texture, unfinished or
prefinished. The company says
its inlays fit well in residential,
commercial or institutional accent areas, and that Louisville can include anything from a corporate logo to a
family coat of arms in a hardwood floor.
www.floorinlays.com
www.louisvillewoodfloors.com
Hudson River Inlay
extraordinary inlay collections • vintage reproduction • custom design
Oshkosh Designs
hardwood medallions, borders and parquet • stone medallions and borders
The Alhambra medallion mixes natural and man-made
elements, and
it pays tribute
to the skill
of Muslim
craftsmen
who created
the Alhambra castle
palace in
Granada, Spain.
Wenge couples
with aluminum to create this historic
design.
www.oshkoshdesigns.com
Rare Earth Hardwoods
America’s Premier Inlay Manufacturer • Accept Nothing Less
911 E. Main Street • Winneconne, WI 54986
877.582.9977 •www.oshkoshdesigns.com
Rare Earth Hardwoods offers a large
selection of hand-cut inlays manufactured using
Old World
marquetry
techniques.
The company
now offers
its Earth
Line Design
Collection of
inlays.
www.rare-earth-hardwoods.com
Renaissance Floor
In-Lays
Renaissance manufactures American
handmade medallions, borders, panels, custom inlays and large medallions. All are available prefinished or
unfinished.
www.hardwoodfloorandinlays.com
Ridgefield
Industries
Ridgefield Industries manufactures wood vents and
grills. The company offers
standard sizes and custom sizes for special applications.
A variety of species and prefinishing to customer specifications are available. All of the company’s standard wood
vents carry a lifetime warranty.
www.getwoodflooring.com
Sheoga Hardwood
Flooring and Paneling
Sheoga offers solid, hand-crafted
wood vents. The vents are available unfinished or prefinished
in domestic or imported species.
Available styles include: flushmount, flush-mount with frame,
self-rimming, three-dimensional and cubed. Standard
sizes and custom sizes are available.
www.sheogaflooring.com
SouthFloor
SouthFloor’s complete line
of vents, grills, grates and
diffusers is made from the
same new and reclaimed
heart pine as the company’s solid and engineered wood flooring. They are
available in a range of styles and sizes, with or without
dampers. Flush-mount or self-rimming drop-in style in
louvered, linear or egg-crate designs are offered.
www.southfloor.com
Universal Wood
Products
Universal Wood Products is a
Canadian manufacturer of inlays,
including AvantGarde Inlays. The
company also offers prefinished
and unfinished borders and medallions.
www.hardwoodflooringinlays.com
Wellmade Floor
Coverings
WoodShapes Inc.
Wellmade produces bamboo vents
in both natural blond and carbonized brown colors. The horizontal
and vertical structures are available with a cover, and flushmount styles come in dimensions
of 4-by-10, 4-by-12, 6-by-2 and
4-by-14 inches, and more.
www.bamboofloorings.com
Wood Craft LLC
Since 1990, WoodShapes
has been manufacturing
high-quality wood vents
and cold-air returns. The
company’s product line
includes self-rimming flushmount and flush-with-rabbeted-frame styles in louvered and grid-style configurations. Dampers and prefinishing are available.
www.woodvents.com
Yarema Marquetry
Wood Craft manufactures hand-crafted,
unfinished solid hardwood flush-mount vents
that are exceptional in
durability, consistent
quality and elegance,
the company says.
www.woodcraftllc.com
Yarema Marquetry offers a
diverse selection of hand-crafted medallions, borders and
parquets, as well as services to
assist clients in creating custom
designs to fulfill their unique
vision. The company says it is committed to customer satisfaction with its dedicated staff, detailed craftsmanship,
and premium wood selections.
www.yaremamarquetry.com
Let us Buy Your
Next Cuppa Joe
With this issue of Hardwood Floors, you have the opportunity to be
entered in a drawing to win a $25 Starbucks card.
All you have to do is access our Online Resource Center, located at
www.hwfmag.com/resourcecenter, and request information from our advertisers.
Hurry! The cutoff date is September 15, 2009.
*Prize will be furnished in form of a Starbucks gift certificate in the amount of $25.00 U.S. dollars. Only one entry will be
drawn by September 15, 2009, and only completed forms will be entered to win.
www.hwfmag.com/resourcecenter
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Going
Green
Going green isn’t just a fad anymore—
it’s good business. Learn how these
companies—all full-page advertisers in this
issue—are practicing being green and then
see what you can do within your business.
Bostik Inc.
Bostik says concern for the environmental impact of products is a fundamental part of its
philosophy, corporate commitment and responsibility. The company is proud to say that
most of its installation products can contribute to a project’s LEED points under EQ 4.1, for
low-emitting materials. Also, Bostik’s commitment to indoor air quality can be seen through
its Blockade Antimicrobial Technology, which, for the past four years, the company has been
building into its products to help inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew on an adhesive membrane’s surface.
www.greenmission.bostik-us.com
Dura Seal
Dura Seal offers a variety of water-based finishes—including its X-Terra, 2000 ZC-2 and polyurethane—as an alternative to its existing oil-modified finishes. These innovative formulas
allow contractors to maintain “green” job sites while retaining the traditional look of an oilbased finish without the need for a hardener. The finishes are applied in the same manner as
oil-modified finishes, but only warm water is required for cleanup, the company says. X-Terra
is recommended for commercial and high-traffic residential hardwood floors, while 2000
ZC-2 boasts a single unit containing both cross-linker and finish bottles. Dura Seal waterbased polyurethane guarantees excellent overall durability and remarkable stain resistance,
the company adds.
www.duraseal.com
Going
Green
Loba-Wakol LLC
Loba-Wakol LLC says it is “investing in the future through preservation of the global environment.” The company believes in early implementation of environmental regulations, permanent development of water-based or solvent-free systems, applying the very latest innovations
in environmental and industrial safety at its production facilities. It also researches emerging
green technologies and adjusts its new product development goals to them, it adds. Loba
Finishes and Wakol Adhesives work to achieve compliance with both EMICODE and LEED
standards, providing products that are easier on both the installer and the environment, the
company adds.
www.loba-usa.com
MAPEI Corp.
More than 130 MAPEI products
comply with LEED requirements
in the four categories that involve
flooring installation. MAPEI introduced its environmentally friendly
Ultrabond ECO line of adhesives
for carpet, wood and resilient
floor coverings nearly 30 years
ago. Today, it is working with
post-consumer recycled materials
for a broad array of its adhesive
and repair solutions. Dust-Free
Technology, the company’s latest
innovation, provides for a cleaner
job site and better air quality for
installers and subsequent residents,
the company notes.
Mirage/Boa-Franc Inc.
This Canadian flooring manufacturer is
doing a number of things to help improve
the environment. They include: being in
full compliance with the Lacey Act; using
domestic species to imitate certain exotics to reduce its carbon footprint, as it
did with its Bali Coco flooring (pictured);
using 100 percent post-industrial recycled
fiber HDF for its Lock flooring, allowing it
to use six times less hardwood than conventional flooring; ensuring its Nanolinx
finishes release no VOCs or formaldehyde; and offering a variety of products
that can help contractors garner LEED credits, the company says. Also, Mirage’s
Lock flooring complies with Phase I of CARB (California Air Resources Board)
93120 certification, the company adds.
www.miragefloors.com
www.mapei.com
Mullican Flooring
Mullican Flooring has long been dedicated to proper forest management and
providing a sustainable, renewable supply
of forest products for future generations,
the company says. In addition to being
a manufacturer of domestic flooring that
is deemed “Verified Sustainable” by Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.,
Mullican also developed prefinished Green
Haven flooring, an FSC Pure product. This means the flooring is made entirely
of wood originating from FSC-certified forests. Green Haven’s 10 selections can
be used by builders to meet LEED requirements, which includes using a minimum of 50 percent FSC-certified wood-based materials and products.
www.mullicanflooring.com
Going
Green
Palo Duro Hardwoods Inc.
The Palo Duro Companies “strongly believe in the ‘greening’ of our future as we strive
to grow our business and industry partnerships,” the company says. Its facilities utilize a
closed ventilation system, so dust particulates are not released into the air during manufacturing. The company also collects its manufacturing by-products and turns them into
a variety of natural products, supplying the agricultural industry with compost, mulch
and landscaping materials. Palo Duro also has reduced its carbon footprint by printing
marketing material on recycled papers and by using low-VOC vegetable-oil-based inks.
www.palodurocollection.com
Real Wood Floors
Shamrock Plank Flooring
Real Wood Floors says it has expanded its reclaimed flooring line
in an effort to meet the increasing
demand for green materials. The
company has partnered with Stanton, Calif.-based Fontenay Woods
to manufacture its Vintage Barrel
Collection, a reclaimed engineered
line made from wine barrels. Real
Wood Floors has also added a line
of reclaimed heart pine taken from
old textile mills, as well as a line
of reclaimed nautical timbers that
were in use from 1944 to 1978. The
company is making engineered
flooring products out of each of
these materials and pressing them
on FSC Baltic Birch. Real Wood
Floors is CARB-certified and is pursuing full FSC certification for its
entire product line.
Shamrock Plank Flooring says its leadership in environmental stewardship dates back to the 1880s.
“We are exceptional to the wood flooring industry
in that we control our flooring production from
the tree to the home,” the company says. Every
Shamrock floor is made with the highest quality
and the ultimate adherence to sustainable forestry,
the result of an expertise that comes with 130
years of experience, it adds. The company’s plank
floors maximize usage of each tree and it reuses
100 percent of its wood by-products. Also, Shamrock is proud to introduce its Engineered Plank
floors, which allow the company to produce four times the flooring from the
same quantity of wood. All Shamrock floors are made in the United States, and
its products will soon be FSC-certified, the company adds.
www.realwoodfloors.com
As part of its ongoing environmental commitment, W.D. Flooring products are FSC-certified; being so is part of W.D.’s past, present
and future, the company says. The company
makes FSC Pure products available in Select
and Conservation Grades, and in unfinished
and prefinished wood. W.D. Flooring not
only produces northern hardwood but is also
a single-source mill, providing herringbone,
strip, plank, athletic systems and prefinished
products coast-to-coast.
www.shamrockplankflooring.com
W.D. Flooring
www.wdflooring.com
Going
Green
Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products
Woodwise says that from its beginning the company sought to develop environmentally friendly products sold in recyclable containers. It specifically
wanted to produce a non-toxic wood filler, with no harsh solvents, and no
discernible VOCs. Furthermore, its powdered wood filler was added to its
product line with the intent to provide a product that would use minimal
packaging, and the company does not produce any wastewater during manufacturing. Also, the company says it strives to make relationships with raw
materials suppliers who have the “same desire to conserve and protect our
environment” and who evolve to meet that goal.
www.woodwise.com
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IndustryNews
Notes
FSC Bamboo Now
LEED-Qualified
tributors (Avon, Mass.) was named a distributor for
Appalachian Flooring Ltd. (Cowansville, Quebec).
United Hardwood will service the northeastern United
States from its Avon and Albany, N.Y., locations.
he U.S. Green Building Council recently ruled that
FSC-certified bamboo flooring can count toward
projects seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification; the points will be assessed
under Credit MRc7: Certified Wood. For more information,
visit www.usgbc.org.
CDCLarue Industries Inc. (Tulsa, Okla.) has named
Arrow Tools (Van Nuys, Calif.) a distributor for Southern California.
T
Manufacturer News
Junckers Hardwood Inc. (New York) is now selling
directly to retailers in California, Arizona, Nevada and
Washington. For more information, call 800/878-9663.
Distributor News
Hockstein’s Wholesale Floorcovering (Capitol
Heights, Md.) is now a distributor for Cikel America
LLC (Miami) in Baltimore and the greater Richmond,
Va., area. For more information, call 301/336-6600.
Radio Distributing Co. (Taylor, Mich.) has been
named a distributor for Mercier Wood Flooring Inc.
(Montmagny, Quebec); Radio will service Michigan
and 11 counties in northwest Ohio. Contact Mercier at
866/448-1785 for more information.
FloorSelect (City of Industry, Calif.) is seeking nationwide distributors. The engineered flooring manufacturer
works with various imported and domestic species.
For more information, visit www.floorselectusa.com.
Interested parties should contact Robert Navarro at
626/581-9515 or [email protected].
Manchester & Associates Inc. (Dallas) has been
named a manufacturer representative for Sika Corporation (Lyndhurst, N.J.) in Texas and Oklahoma. For more
information, contact Steve Manchester at 214/850-9479
or [email protected].
Dealers Supply North Inc. (Columbus, Ohio) recently
was named a distributor for Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring (Papineauville, Québec); Dealers Supply will service Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana
and western Pennsylvania from its Ohio and Pennsylvania locations. For more information, call 450/786-8971.
Southern Tile Distributors (Norfolk, Va.) has been
named a distributor for WE Cork Inc. (Exeter, N.H.) in
Virginia, as well as the eastern shore of Maryland, and
the northeast and Outer Banks areas of North Carolina.
Southern Tile operates from two Virginia-based warehouses. For more information, call 800/666-2675.
Belknap White Alcco dba United Hardwood Dis-
Erickson’s Flooring & Supply (Ferndale, Mich.) is
now a distributor for Torlys Inc.’s (Mississauga, Ontario) recycled leather flooring. For more information, call
800/225-9663, visit www.efs.bz, or e-mail [email protected].
ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings Inc. (Earth
City, Mo.) has re-opened two Southern California
showrooms under new ownership. The showrooms are
located at: 2342 East Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92831
and 12625 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, CA 91605.
Crown Wood Floors & Supplies Inc. (Green Island,
N.Y.) has opened a machine repair shop at 60 Cohoes
Ave., Green Island, NY 12183. Arnold Fancher, formerly with Basic Coatings and Hoboken Floors, runs the
shop in addition to assisting Crown with outside sales.
For more information, call Fancher at 518/274-5000, fax
518/274-5005 or e-mail [email protected].
CMH Flooring Products Inc. (Wadesboro, N.C.)
recently was named 2008 Distributor of the Year by
Anderson Hardwood Floors (Clinton, S.C.).
Merle B. Smith Co. Inc. (Burr Ridge, Ill.) held an
open house May 22 featuring Dura Seal, Powernail
Company Inc. and Norton Abrasives. More than
50 customers attended and participated in discussions
about VOC laws and tool repair.
National Wood Products Inc. (Salt Lake City) hosted
a hardwood flooring school May 19-20; 19 students attended. Instructors included: Brett Miller, Basic Coatings; Greg Mihaich and Chris Viscel, Norton Abrasives;
Bob Sweezey and Alex Rivera, Stauf-USA Adhesive LLC;
Bryan Fussell, Clarke American Sanders; Grant Hayes,
Mullican Flooring; and Sean Moore, Powernail Company.
Dealer/Contractor News
McKay Flooring Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland) has moved
to a new facility at: 123 Harmony Row Govan, Glasgow,
Scotland G51 3NB, United Kingdom. Contact the company by phone at 41-440-1586 or by fax at 41-425-1020.
Costen Floors Inc. (Richmond, Va.) was awarded the
Start! Fit-Friendly Companies award by the American
Heart Association (Dallas). The company’s grounds
now include a walking path and healthier snacks in the
vending machines; employees also have weekly opportunities to measure their wellness.
Industry News | Notes
People News
MAPEI S.p.A. (Milan, Italy) recently
named Luigi Di Geso president and
CEO of MAPEI Americas dba MAPEI
Corporation (Deerfield Beach, Fla.). Di
Geso joined MAPEI in 2000 as regional
sales manager for eastern Canada,
eventually being named general manager in 2004.
Luigi Di Geso
Hamberger Flooring GmbH & Co.
KG (Rosenheim, Germany) has named Holger Burkhardt head of marketing. Burkhardt previously was
head of marketing and communication at Weidmüller
Interface GmbH & Co. KG.
Artisan Wood Products (Nashville, Tenn.) has named
Ellen Mallernee marketing director and Darrell
Moore account manager. Mallernee came to Artisan after serving as editorial director at Gibson Guitar. Moore
has nearly 10 years’ industry experience and comes to
Artisan from Jeffco Flooring & Supply.
Howell Hardwood Flooring (Dothan, Ala.) has named
Mark Deener southwest regional manager to represent
Howell’s unfinished engineered flooring and madeto-order prefinished flooring in the Dallas-Fort Worth,
Texas, area. Deener can be reached at mark.deener@
howellflooring.com or 214/802-9980.
Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling Inc.
(Middlefield, Ohio) has named Kirk Francis of The
FlashPoint Agency (Denver) its Western manufacturer
representative. Francis may be contacted at 303/6609362 or [email protected].
Jason Wingo has been named southeastern sales manager for Robina Wood Inc. (Kennesaw, Ga.); Wingo
has 11 years’ experience in the floor covering industry.
Scott Floor to Ceiling (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) has named
Rhonda Baker its office manager and store supervisor.
Baker previously worked for Walnut Creek Carpet One;
she has 20 years’ experience in design and flooring.
Tradeshow News
Domotex Middle East was held May 17-19 in Dubai,
U.A.E., attracting 215 exhibitors from 27 countries and
an attendance of 5,149. NWFA’s Glen Miller attended
the event, along with Bill Secrest of Graf Brothers
Flooring Inc. and Jack Shannon III of Shamrock Plank
Flooring.
On the Web
Armstrong Hardwood Flooring (Lancaster, Pa.) has
launched a new residential flooring Web site at www.
armstrong.com/flooring/floors.html.
Industry News | Products
1 Mirage/Boa-Franc now offers Mirage Lock glueless engineered floors with an HDF core containing 100 percent postindustrial recycled materials. The wear layer uses six times less
hardwood than conventional ¾-inch solid flooring, and the finish does not contain any VOCs or formaldehyde. The flooring
is compliant with Phase I of CARB 93120 certification.
www.miragefloors.com
1
2 Basic Coatings’ Lock N’ Seal is a pre-catalyzed formulation with a blend of resins and solvents that lock out the
tannin pull problem, the company says. The sealer includes
a wet finish indicator, appearing milky when wet so that
missed spots can be seen.
www.basiccoatings.com
2
3 Mullican Flooring has launched its Green Haven line of
solid prefinished flooring. Its Red Oak Natural, White Oak
Natural, Hickory Natural and Maple Natural are available in
widths of 3 or 5 inches; Hickory Tuscan Brown and Maple
Copper are available in a hand-sculpted 5-inch width. The
line carries FSC Pure certification.
www.mullicanflooring.com
3
4 Loba introduces WS 2K Supra Extra Matte Floor Finish,
formulated to provide a sheen similar to an oiled or handrubbed finish, with a gloss level of less than 10 degrees. This
high-solids, 100 percent polyurethane finish reduces grain
raise and dries in one to two hours, the company says.
www.loba-wakol.com
4
5
Ideal Stair Parts introduces its Nustair system. This
wood overlay system can be used in the retrofit or remodel
of stairs both boxed and open. There are a variety of prefinished treads and risers to choose from. The system is offered
in lengths from 36 to 72 inches in 6-inch increments, and it
has one-piece nosing and scotia mold construction.
www.idealstairparts.com
5
6 Smith & Fong Co. has launched its first line of hardwood
flooring, available in maple, beech, birch, cherry and hackberry.
Named Sideways, the new line features ½-by-5-by-47½-inch
engineered, click-lock planks with a rotary-cut hardwood veneer
face. The line is urea formaldehyde-free and FSC-certified.
www.plyboo.com
7 DriTac Flooring Products LLC now offers a green urethane wood flooring adhesive, concrete moisture control
system, sound control system and crack suppressant in one
product: DriTac 1001 All-In-One. Available in a 4-gallon pail,
All-In-One contains no water and provides a permanent
bond. It contains no VOCs or solvents.
www.dritac.com
6
7
Industry News | Products
8
Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring has added
to its NextStep and Classics collections. Ash Reserva
(pictured) features a coloring process that allows full
color throughout the plank. White Oak Beachwood uses
a technique that stains natural wood white for a fresh
look. Red Oak Antique highlights the natural wood grain
and the look of a subtly aged floor.
www.lauzonflooring.com
8
9 Bona US’s Professional Series of floor care cleaning
products is now available in a commercial grade formula
and is safe for use on hardwood floors. It is non-toxic
and Greenguard-certified for indoor air quality.
www.bonakemi.com
9
10 Lignomat USA Ltd. offers its new system for RH
10
moisture measurement in concrete, designed to replace
the calcium chloride test. Lignomat’s RH BluePeg sensor
slips into a sleeve embedded in the concrete, where periodic readings can be taken until the concrete reaches its
final value. The sensor can then be removed and reused.
www.lignomat.com
11
Preverco has added its Wirescraped finish to its
Verywood line, available in red oak, hard maple and yellow birch. The flooring is offered in 2¼-, 3¼- and 4¼-inch
widths and four colors, including the new Grizzly, Kodiac
and Black Bear. The flooring has a 30-degree satin finish.
www.preverco.com
11
12 Saroyan Lumber Company introduces its FSC12
certified TreeSmart unfinished engineered flooring, which
offers a 3⁄16-inch wear layer identical to solid wood flooring. The line features lengths up to 12 feet and widths
from 2¼ to 10 inches. Custom capabilities are offered,
along with accessories.
www.treesmartflooring.com
13
MAPEI now offers Planiseal Easy fresh concrete
treatment and Planiseal EMB premium epoxy moisture
barrier. Planiseal Easy can treat concrete slabs (at least
14 days old) with moisture vapor emission rates up to
8 pounds per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours. Planiseal
EMB reduces MVER of up to 20 pounds down to 3
pounds per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours.
www.mapei.com
13
14 United Gilsonite Laboratories introduces its ZAR
14
Classic Polyurethane, with 350 g/L VOC. It contains true
high solids of 62 to 63 percent, making it ideal for hightraffic areas, the company says.
www.ugl.com
Industry News | Events
Australian Timber Flooring Association Expo
The 2010 International Builders’ Show
Sept. 3-5 « Brisbane, Australia
Jan. 19-22, 2010 « Las Vegas
The ATFA exposition is Australia’s only hardwood-flooring-exclusive event. For more information, call 61-2-97445252, e-mail Julie McGraw at [email protected],
or visit www.atfa.com.au.
For more information, call 800/368-5242, ext. 8111, or visit
www.buildersshow.com.
Surfaces 2010
Feb. 2-4, 2010 « Las Vegas
Remodeling Show & Education Conference
Oct. 27-30 « Indianapolis
Remodeling Show 2009 offers educational, networking
and trade events. For more information, call 800/681-6970
or visit www.theremodelingshow.com.
For more information, call 972/536-6358 or visit
www.surfaces.com.
Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor
March 23-25, 2010 « Shanghai, China
For more information, contact Melody Shen at 86-216247-7668, or visit www.domotexasiachinafloor.com.
Greenbuild 2009
Nov. 11-13 « Phoenix
For more information, call 312/541-0567 or visit www.
greenbuildexpo.org.
25th Annual NWFA Education Conference
and 2010 Wood Flooring Expo
March 22-25, 2010 « Washington, D.C.
Domotex Hannover
Jan. 16-19, 2010 « Hannover, Germany
This show attracted 38,000 attendees and 1,394 exhibitors
in 2009. For more information, call 562/901-9191 or visit
www.domotex.de.
This show offers educational sessions, industry-specific
exhibits and much more. For more information, call
800/422-4556 or visit www.nwfa.org.
For a list of NWFA technical schools, see page 14.
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Online Resource
Center www.hwfmag.com/resourcecenter
Quickly locate an advertiser in this issue using the list below:
3M............................................................................... 2
Mullican Flooring ....................................................... 3
Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring ............... 61
NWFA ....................................................................... 35
Allwoods Hardwood Flooring/Chess Floors .......... 60
NWFA ....................................................................... 59
Appalachian Lumber Co. Inc. ................................. 64
Oshkosh Designs ..................................................... 62
BLC Hardwood Flooring LLC .................................. 16
Palo Duro Hardwoods Inc. ....................................... 7
Bostik Inc. ................................................................ 75
Premiere Finishing & Coating LLC.......................... 34
Clarke American Sanders ........................................ 30
ProTeam Inc............................................................. 37
Dura Seal.................................................................... 4
Real Wood Floors .................................................... 47
Floor Style Products Inc. ......................................... 73
Ridgefield Industries................................................ 43
Franwood International Inc. ................................... 62
Shamrock Plank Flooring ........................................ 13
Glitsa American Inc. .................................................. 9
Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling Inc. ......... 28
Grill Works Inc. ....................................................... 58
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) ................... 56
Grizzly Forest Products ........................................... 38
U.S. Sander LLC ....................................................... 68
Lignomat USA Ltd. ................................................... 58
Urban Floor .............................................................. 41
LOBA-Wakol LLC ..................................................... 24
VerMeister ................................................................ 27
LOBA-Wakol LLC ..................................................... 25
W.D. Flooring .......................................................... 76
M.L. Condon Co. Inc. .............................................. 68
Weyerhaeuser Company .......................................... 63
Mannington Wood Floors........................................ 19
Wood Floors Unlimited Inc. .................................... 70
MAPEI Corporation.................................................. 21
WoodCareUSA LLC .................................................. 38
Mercer Abrasives, div. of Mercer Tool Corp. ......... 11
Woods Company Inc., The...................................... 60
Mirage/Boa-Franc .................................................... 15
Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products.................. 22
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TKO with zero VOC content is the
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“In these times
you have to have suppliers that not only have the best
products, but who know the meaning of a business
RELATIONSHIP)TSGIVEANDTAKE7s$&LOORINGCAME
to us in 1998 and they have been true blue everyday
since—steady and reliable. Not only in their products,
but in helping us drive them through the market place.”
Rick Coates
'OLDEN3TATE&LOORING—Customer Since ’98
Business is life. Operating from this philosophy your products and your
relationships take on a different meaning. You understand that it isn’t about
selfish needs or desires—it is about sustaining a long-term relationship. For
WsD it isn’t just about marketing and words—it’s about reputation, fulfilling
your promises while standing with your customers all the way down the
line. That’s what makes it real.
WsD is proud to be a FSC Smartwood program certified company.
It reflects our past, present and future.
© 2 0 0 8 W sD F L O O R I N G , L L C
W D FLO O R I N G.CO M

Woodpride Flooring

Transcription

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