National Floor Trends articles from February 2001

National Floor Trends archives from February 2001

Vote, Scratch and Win with NFT's Supplier Service Awards.(National Floor Trends Supplier Service Awards 2001 )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Just as easy as counting 1-2-3, you can win valuable educational seminars, installation tools and other exclusive prizes from National Floor Trends and Floor Covering Installer magazines. Simply cast your ballot for the National Floor Trends...

Rules Rapidly Changing in the World of Floor Coverings.(overview of 2000)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
February 1, 2001... Few, if any, could have pinpointed the number of changes that took place in the floor covering industry last year. On the retail front, Flooring America filed for Chapter 11 and then the original owners of Carpet Exchange, which had sold...

CMG Releases its 2002 Consumer Color Palette Forecast.(Color Marketing Group)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Whether you sell floor coverings, home furnishings or just about any other consumer product, don't be surprised if someday soon a customer comes to you demanding goods in pearlescent and nature-inspired hues. A Horse of a 'Lighter, Softer,...

Magic Carpets and Splendid Pathways: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE DESERT PASSAGE AT THE ALADDIN.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Desert Passage located at the Aladdin Hotel lifts its ceilings up toward the Nevada sky as if it has always been a part of the Las Vegas strip and the desert landscape that surrounds it. Taking its theme from the tales of 1,001 Arabian...

Don't Disclaim, Proclaim! Putting Ceramic Tile Shade Variation Guidelines into Practice.
February 1, 2001... Disclaimers -- can't live with em, can't live without 'em. Even though there are perfectly valid times to use them -- to limit liability, for instance -- we shouldn't look to disclaimers as an opportunity to deny or apologize for the inherent...

Cevisama 2001: Trends in Spanish Ceramic Tile.(annual showcase for its ceramic tile industry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... Cevisama, Spain's annual showcase for its ceramic tile industry, will hold court in Valencia, Spain from Feb. 27 through March 3 at the Feria Valencia. The five-day event will feature more than 900 exhibitors, and record-breaking attendance is...

Prepping Concrete Slabs for Ceramic Tile Installation.
February 1, 2001... Last year, I penned an article about preparing on-grade slabs for flooring installations. For this article, I've decided to revisit the topic and expand upon it with the addition of new information pertaining to cement backerboards, coated...

The floor covering retailer.(customer service, selling additional products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The floor covering retailer of the latest century faces the same challenge as his counterpart in the last: How to attract consumers, then keep them coming back for more. And while better customer service, more pricing options, and a keener ear...

Open Houses can be Fun and Profitable.
February 1, 2001... Once your flooring store or showroom is ready -- and I do mean ready -- you will want to host an "open house" event to invite the trades and the public to see your wares. I would suggest that you divide the invitees into four general groups:...

CERAMICA SAN LORENZO OPENS CALIFORNIA OFFICE.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Ceramica San Lorenzo USA Inc. is the recently opened commercial and distribution office in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., for Ceramica San Lorenzo I.C.S.A., a floor and wall tile manufacturer based in Argentina. The facility, which will serve as the...

ARMSTRONG DISCUSSES ITS FUTURE UNDER CHAPTER 11 PROTECTION.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... Less than a week after the company filed for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, executive managers of Armstrong World Industries met with the press to clarify the reasons for its actions and discuss the...

Hoboken Floors takes on Johnson Hardwood line.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Johnson Premium Hardwood Floors has appointed Wayne, N.J.-based Hoboken Floors to distribute its product line throughout New England, New York, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Georgia, and Florida.

Forbo sells textile unit to focus on flooring, adhesives and belts.(to sell its coated textile business to closely held Ferrari Group of France )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Linoleum flooring manufacturer Forbo Holding AG has it agreed to sell its coated textile business to closely held Ferrari Group of France so that the company can better focus on its core products. The purchase price of the business unit was...

Armstrong, Berry Group team up on locking laminate floor.(distribution deal)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... Armstrong World Industries has stablished a long-term distribution agreement with Belgian flooring manufacturer The Berry Group to market locking laminate flooring in North America. The agreement allows Armstrong to sell and market specific...

Newly launched Parterre enters vinyl floor arena.(Parterre Vinyl Flooring Systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Wally Ruttgeizer, founder of Pinay Floors and principal of the former Wonder Works of America, has launched Parterre Vinyl Flooring Systems. Based in New York City, Parterre will retain many of the products and services previously handled by...

Berkshire Hathaway closes its purchase of Shaw.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... The acquisition of Shaw Industries Inc. by an investor group led by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is now effective. As a result of the acquisition, shareholders of Shaw Industries (other than the investor group) will receive $19 in cash for each...

PEOPLE.(brief industry personnel changes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Lou Ziebold has been named senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for all of SI Flooring System Corp.'s business units, and Hugh McClain has been promoted to general manger for SI Concrete Systems. Other personnel changes at SI Flooring...

CONGOLEUM COVERS THE FLOORS AT GEORGIA MILITARY BASE.(contract information)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Congoleum has taken on a major project to furnish Congoleum commercial tile in approximately 2,500 housing units on the Fort Stewart army base in Hinesville, Ga. The housing units, built on the 279,270-acre base over the past 30 years, range in...

Revamped USG website offers enhanced resources.(USG Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... USG Corp. has launched a new customer-focused website, www.usg.com, that enables building and design professionals to quickly and easily access detailed information on USG's full line of wall and ceiling construction products. The site is...

Buffett to buy building product maker Johns Manville.(Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Johns-Manville Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Building-products manufacturer Johns Manville, which recently called off a planned sale to an investment group, has agreed to be acquired for more than $1.9 billion by Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the investment holding company headed by...

NFT website to offer daily Surfaces updates.(National Floor Trends)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The National Floor Trends website will feature up-to-the-minute news of Surfaces 2001, updated as events dictate, as well as post-show coverage for anyone with access to the Internet. Visitors to the website, located at www.ntlfloortrends.com,...

WFCA designates April as National Floor Covering Month.(World Floor Covering Association )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... In April, the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) will celebrate the excitement of spring by kicking off the first annual National Floor Covering Month. The event is designed to educate consumers about the wide variety of fashionable floor...

DuPont completes its modernization program.(DuPont Flooring Systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... DuPont Flooring Systems has completed a five-year renewal program the company undertook to expand and modernize its capacity worldwide. Based on plans announced earlier, modernized capacity expansions for basic carpet fiber (BCF) at...

Surfaces Educational Lineup: Solutions and More for 2001.(flooring industry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... As the dates for Surfaces--the largest tradeshow in the floor covering business -- draw near, the annual anticipation that attendees feel is not based entirely on the prospect of enthusiastic wheeling and dealing across the more-than 470,000...

Milliken to introduce new Ansley label at Surfaces.(new carpet product introduction)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Milliken & Co. will unveil a new carpet label at the Surfaces 2001 show. The new Ansley label features patterned carpets that are designed with the Millitron diffusion dye process, the company says, to offer color and design variety at...

E-Z Cut showcases EC-1 Cut & Roll unit.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The new heavy-duty EC-1 Cut & Roll Machine from E-Z Cut is designed to be user friendly by allowing just one person to inspect, re-roll, measure, cut, and wrap all orders with speed, accuracy and cleanliness. This entry-level unit features low...

3M to debut new Scotchgard product.(Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Just months after launching a new Scotchgard protective material, 3M is set to roll out phase two of the revamped product line that was developed to replace its longstanding fluorochemical products. The second product in the series will be...

Shaw develops new R2X soil and stain treatment.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Shaw Industries has introduced a patented new system that combines soil resistance and stain repellency. It's name, R2X, was chosen to signify "twice the resistance" of earlier-generation treatments. According to Shaw, the one-step treatment...

Stainmaster unveils FiberLoc BCF nylon.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... DuPont Nylon Flooring has introduced DuPont FiberLoc BCF nylon, a new fiber technology developed for for DuPont Stainmaster carpet. Characterized as a departure from traditional fiber structure, FiberLoc has a unique shape that interlocks with...

Parabond now offers five hot-melt seaming tapes.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Parabond has expanded its line of hot-melt seaming tapes for commercial and residential carpet applications to five selections. Premium Extreme ST99 seaming tape, which is made with a reinforced scrim for extra strong hold, is designed for...

Mapei intros Pro/Float and Mapecem Premix.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Pro/Float by Mapei is a polyethylene grid system that is made to be fastened to the floor and then floated with Mapecem Premix high-strength mortar mix. The system -- which was designed to allow for same-day tile installation -- has no seams,...

Synthetic Surfaces unveils customizable Nordot adhesive.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Nordot Adhesive #113, from Synthetic Surfaces, is a solvent- and water-free, one-part urethane formulated to bond wood flooring to a variety of subsurfaces. The adhesive was developed to be "jobsite customized." Installers can introduce a range...

Bostik Findley debuts Hydroment membrane.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Bostik Findley Flooring Group has developed new Hydroment Black Top #90210, a liquid rubber-based, fabric-reinforced, flexible waterproofing/anti-fracture membrane for use on horizontal and vertical surfaces. Available in 1-gallon kits...

Hardie introduces new Hardibacker product.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... James Hardie Building Products will showcase Hardibacker 500, featuring the company's new patented G2 technology, at Surfaces 2001. Hardibacker 500, a 1/2-inch-thick cement backerboard for ceramic tile wall applications, was created in the wake...

Bruce to introduce new exotics at Surfaces.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... In response to consumer requests and the ever-growing popularity of hardwood and natural products for the home, Bruce Hardwood is now offering an exotic wood floor collection. The exotics collection is designed to allow for a broader range of...

Mannington's engineered collection gets rustic.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... American Rustics, the newest offering from Mannington Wood Floors, is designed to complement today's home furnishings with the classic appeal of historic flooring. The new American Rustics wood species, Chesapeake Hickory and Brandywine Oak,...

FineWood Ontario Tile new from PermaGrain.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Ontario Tile, part of PermaGrain's FineWood line of premium prefinished hardwood flooring, is available in parquet and one-directional styles. Ontario Tile is offered in Natural Northern Red Oak, Cherry, Maple and Ash, plus 12 additional oak...

Arcobel intros cork accessories package.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Cork floor manufacturer Arcobel has combined a set of installation tools, cleaning and maintenance materials, and accessories into a package designed to help customers obtain maximum performance from their Arcobel cork floors. The Arcobel...

Robbins expands Frontier, adds exotic line.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Robbins Hardwood Floors will formally introduce its new exotics collection and an expansion of its oak Frontier line at Surfaces 2001. The Urban Exotics collection, a five-ply 1/2-inch engineered line in pecan, cherry and walnut species,...

Hartco to showcase color and shine in Las Vegas.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... During Surfaces 2001, Hartco Flooring will introduce 13 additional colors to its signature Pattern Plus 5000 engineered wood floor line. The Pattern Plus 5000 Maple series will feature nine of the new colors, while the remaining four will be...

Faus to unveil new laminate technologies.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Faus Group Inc. is poised to unveil its new JointGuard and Embossed-In-Register technologies which, the company says, were developed with the retailer, consumer and installer in mind. JointGuard incorporates a slight eased-edge on the side...

Mannington enhances NatureForm laminate.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The new NatureForm Tile Collection from Mannington Laminate Floors was designed to offer laminate floors featuring highly realistic patterns. The key to the realism of the NatureForm Tile Collection of four slate and stone patterns is...

Bruce to debut new additions to Traffic Zone.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Bruce Laminate Floors will introduce new Traffic Zone planks, tiles and feature squares at Surfaces 2001. Among the new offerings is Bruce's first pecan plank, Southern Pecan, which features a long, two-strip pattern. Also debuting at the show...

Carey Brothers to guest at BHK Uniclic's booth.
February 1, 2001... A pair of home improvement luminaries will make a guest appearance at BHK of America's booth at Surfaces 2001. The Carey Brothers, authors of "Home Remodeling for Dummies," will sign copies of their book in the BHK Uniclic Booth #3668 at 10...

Witex develops two sound-control products.(flooring underlayment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Witex has unveiled Sound Protect and Silent Comfort, new underlayment products that were designed to minimize reflected and transmitted sound in laminate, hardwood and other floating floor systems. Sound Protect underlayment is a...

Alloc unveils new designs, extends warranties.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Alloc Inc. has added three new designs to its Alloc Flooring line, expanded its Alloc Home collection with four new designs and introduced its new Alloc Essentials accessories. Olive, Chesterfield and Pine have been added to the existing...

Poliface to exhibit its wares at Surfaces.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Poliface, a division of Sonae Industria, will mark its participation in Surfaces 2001 by displaying its line of laminate floors. Poliface's laminate flooring features the Inloc Joint System that allows flooring contractors to install the...

Wilsonart touts laminate as a ceramic alternative.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Wilsonart Flooring is positioning its tile-format laminate floor as an alternative to ceramic tile floor coverings. Laminate, Wilsonart says, is kinder on the feet, easier to install and competitively priced compared to hardwood. In addition,...

ReaLife 2000 display new from Tarkett.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Tarkert's new compact display for its ReaLife laminate flooring products is designed to allow retailers to showcase each SKU in the line in its full-size. The new display format requires a limited amount of floor space and is designed to allow...

Armstrong to spotlight vinyl offerings at Surfaces.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Armstrong Residential Flooring will highlight the features and benefits of its entire vinyl product line during Surfaces 2001. The company adds that its ToughGuard product will be fully transitioned into the professionally installed retail...

Marley Flexco expands wall base line.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Marley Flexco's Base 2000 is a thermoplastic rubber wall base that is designed to provide many of the benefits of rubber at a lower price. This extruded base has good flexibility, dimensional stability, precise gauging, and uniform height, the...

Altro debuts Impressionist II Safety Flooring.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Altro has made dramatic color changes to its Impressionist Collection. Re-launched as Altro Impressionist II, this updated safety flooring was designed for applications that require high levels of slip resistance without compromising style. ...

Domco adds new twists to its Inlaidia Collection.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Domco's Inlaidia is a collection of resilient floors, available in a wide array of new designs and colors, that features the company's FlexBac backing. The color and design on most vinyl floors is printed on a backing the same way a picture is...

Flextile adds new styles to its VCT lines.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... During Surfaces 2001, Flextile Ltd. will showcase new styling images in its Naturals Collection, new additions to its standard-cost Architectural Collection, and the new Functional Solutions -- Safety Flex Series at its suite in the Venetian...

Parterre offers hands-on access to its products.(Parterre Vinyl Flooring Systems)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Parterre Vinyl Flooring Systems has debuted new architect folders and chain sets that complement its recently introduced product catalog. Together, these marketing tools give architects, designers and end-users hands-on access to Parterre's...

Mannington intros Luminesse with NatureForm Reflectives.(Mannington Resilient Floors)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Luminesse, the latest product release from Mannington Resilient Floors, is designed to capture and reflect light. This high-end Gold Series collection features seven patterns in 22 colors with pearlescent and reflective effects, copper patinas,...

Porcelanatto debuts its 2001 Collection.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Porcelanatto has unveiled its latest collections of wall and floor tiles for 2001. The collections are newly formulated with an updated color palette, and designed to closely resemble stone and earthtones, the company says.

Tau Ceramica's porcelain tiles offer the look of marble.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Tau Ceramica has created Yamini-Visnu-Sampati, a 16-inch-square porcelain tile designed to mirror the look of marble. According to Tau, soluble-salt porcelain possesses superior technical qualities to soft marble, and porcelain tiles feature...

Licari introduces Piedra liners.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Licari's Piedra liners, such as Petra Beige and Petra Gris, and Minos Cotto and Minos Cobre, feature raised textures and a range of earthtone colors. The company carries more than 33 varieties of the product. In addition, Licari's Integral...

Marazzi Tile presents new Colorado Stone.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Marazzi Tile has released Colorado Stone, a semi-matte glazed ceramic product featuring random depressions and the shadings of natural stone. Featuring a Class 4 durability rating, the 13-inch-square floor tile is designed for residential or...

Agreste Collection new from Eliane.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Eliane Ceramic Tiles recently introduced its Agreste Collection, a glazed porcelain floor tile designed to combine the characteristics of porcelain tile with an authentic stone look. The 16-inch-square rectified floor tiles are complemented by...

Alcalagres unveils its Islas Series.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Islas Series from Alcalagres America is designed to be a standout feature in any residential or commercial installation, the company says. The product is manufactured via the double loading process, which endows each tile with a unique,...

The Time Has Come to Address Installer Education and Compensation.
February 1, 2001... I am sick and tired of being sick and tired about two things: installers screaming for more money, and retailers saying there is an installation crisis. However, both camps are right in their assertions. As I see it, our industry's mission is...

Surfaces 2001: More than Just a Another Odyssey.
February 1, 2001... Fanning the anticipation of attendees for the greatest flooring show on earth remains the key marketing focal point for organizers of the annual Surfaces expo. The extent to which the show's name has become ingrained throughout the industry...

The Causes and Effects of Common Adhesive Problems.
February 1, 2001... Adhesive concerns surface in all types of situations. Often, we believe that the only role an adhesive plays is to hold down a piece of material. But frequently, extenuating circumstances arise to create problems. The following are several of...

Does Your Business Have a Personality?(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Does your company have a personality all its own -- an individual and unique nature that sets it apart from the competition? Don't say yes until you consider this question more carefully. According to my dictionary, "personality" is defined...

DECORATIVE BASALT.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... CAST BASALT FLOOR TILE Tile of the Future from the Center of the Earth * No Chemicals (All Natural) * DCBS * North American Distributor * Website: decorativebasalt.com

E & E CONSUMER PRODUCTS.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... SQUEAK-ENDER, THE TRUE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO SQUEAKY FLOORS For squeak free floors, offer your customers the finishing touch from the beginning of the job. Use on most sub-floors and floorboards supported by joists up to 2 x 10's. And,...

FPC CORPORATION.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... CORDLESS GLUE GUN Last up to 3 hours. Ideal for quick repairs. Ergonomic trigger, lightweight, uses regular butane. Flame free catalyst. Uses regular 7/16" diameter glue sticks.

ROPPE.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... NEW FIESTA TILE A FESTIVAL OF COLOR IN EVERY TILE! Add a little pizzazz with our new Fiesta Tile! All 6 colors are part of our MatchMates Color System, so you can mix and march it with our other rile. And, new for 2001 are marching Fiesta...

BOEN HARDWOOD FLOORS.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... 3/8" CLASSIC BY BOEN Boen will feature at Surfaces 2001 their new expanded line of 3/8" products. The BOEN Classic can be nailed or glued and is available in a variety of wood species. The product is totally squared edged and has 6 coats...

STAIN ERASER.(new product: R-Teem Tile Grout Eraser)(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... R-TEEZ[TM] TILE GROUT CLEANER is designed to remove surface stains directly from the tile grout with NO CHEMCIALS and cleans coffee, mildew, red clay, direct build-up, soap scum, algae and more from kitchen, floor, bathroom and pool tile grout....

NATIONAL APPLIED CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, INC.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... ECB Anti-Fracture Kit At Surfaces 2001, NAC will feature the ECB Kit, which provides everything installers need to protect tile floors from reflective cracking and delamination. Each kit contains a roll of ECB Anti-Fracture Membrane, pint of...

TAU CERAMICA.(new product from Taulell S.A.)(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Who says big wall tile does not sell? Four years after presenting our first 12x18 wall tiles in the U.S., the SABAS BEIGE (pictured) outsells any 8x10 wall tile we have. Show it right and it WILL sell!

WF TAYLOR.(new adhesive product)(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Taylor adhesives are made for a full spectrum of flooring products and backings. Through ongoing relationships with the flooring industry's leading manufacturers, contractors, and installers, Taylor has developed environmentally responsible...

WASA HARDWOOD.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... WASA HARDWOOD COMPANY'S 2001 EUROPEAN DESIGNER LINE with the installation options of: FLOATING, or GLUE-DOWN, or NAIL-DOWN. Engineered Wide Plank Flooring with new factory finishes in an exciting collection of colors.

COLONIAL MILLS.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... cmi (Colonial Mills, Inc.) continues to challenge the traditional perceptions of the braided texture rug category with the unveiling of six new standard styles at Surfaces 2001, including the galleria[TM] collection. Rectangular shapes,...

OSCODA PLASTICS.(new product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Protect-All[R] Specialty Flooring by Oscoda Plastics[R], Inc., is manufactured from 100% recycled vinyls. Slip resistant and durable, Protect-All[R] is ideal for gyms, temporary gym floor covers, ice arena flooring, commercial kitchens, and for...