National Floor Trends articles from June 2006

National Floor Trends archives from June 2006

Getting the word out about flooring.(Editorial Comment)
June 1, 2006... The big oil companies have them; so do drug makers, farmers and labor unions. It stands to reason that the flooring industry has advocates going to bat for those working at all levels of the business. Still it seems that few outside the...

Retailer tells mills: stop cherry picking our best workers.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Editor's Note: Senior editor Howard Olansky's column in our April issue, "Where have all the (good) sales reps gone?" touched on a major issue in the flooring business. Increasingly, retailers and other in the industry are having difficulty...

The greatest selling skill of all: attitude.(High-Impact Retailing)
June 1, 2006... Supposedly our greatest strength as full service flooring retailers is that unlike the "big boxes," we can sell. The boxes, after all, are really marketing machines able to draw thousands of customers through their doors each day. The busiest...

Commercial flooring looks on the bright side: the workplace lightens up with Viola, Deep Tang, Oceana and other new hues.
June 1, 2006... In the world of commercial interior design, plain vanilla flooring is fast becoming yesterday's news. Contract specification is coming to life as a result of an evolving palette of colors that embraces, encourages and, yes, demands...

Retailers and distributors weigh in on 2006: bright spots, low points ... and expectations.
June 1, 2006... A mixed bag best describes the answers we got from retailers and distributors to the question: "What are the most significant highlights of the first part of the year and what's ahead for the balance of 2006?" As usual, we set no boundaries;...

NFT market trends study: resilient still a solid option in hard surface.
June 1, 2006... Retailers love resilient. Apart from being a reliable money maker, they see the flooring category as a viable alternative to more costly hard surface options. It is also an area where sales people believe they can greatly influence customer...

LG Floors' new Tonalities tiles use through-color chip designs.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... LG Floors introduces Tonalities vinyl enhanced tile flooring for commercial use. Tonalities is offered in 3mm gauge, 18" by 18" tiles featuring 16 through-color chip designs. The product is durable, wear-resistant and antibacterial, according...

Flexco Health Design Vinyl Tile features antifungal properties.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Flexco presents Health Design Vinyl Tile for healthcare, education and retail environments. Incorporating antifungal and antimicrobial properties, Health Design is heat-weldable for a seamless, hygienic floor, Flexco says. The product is...

Mannington's Malpensa resilient carries Gotta Love-It Guarantee.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Mannington offers Malpensa, a rustic stone visual new to the Naturals with NatureForm Optix resilient line. Malpensa combines tumbled stone looks with etched decorative tiles in a checkerboard pattern. The Naturals collection carries a 20-year...

Forbo launches Comfort Program for extra comfort, sound reduction.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Forbo Flooring, makers of Marmoleum linoleum flooring, has launched the Comfort Program. Geared toward use in hospitals, assisted living facilities and classrooms, the Comfort Program includes Marmoleum Decibel, Eterna Wood Decibel and Quartz...

Karndean Hand-Crafted collection showcases wood looks in the home.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Karndean International has taken the wraps off of the Hand-Crafted Wood collection, a vinyl floor designed to emulate aged wood in look and feel. Available in Paprika, Peppercorn and Nutmeg colorations, Hand-Crafted Wood planks feature a unique...

Domco adds Horizon wood look to Influence FiberFloor range.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Domco has added the pattern Horizon to its Influence line of FiberFloor resilient flooring. Horizon is a hardwood look offered in four colors. Influence FiberFloor products carry a 20-year residential Extreme Performance warranty and 5-year...

Madison Leathers' leather tiles designed for use on walls, floors.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Madison Leathers introduces Wood-Backed Leather Tiles for walls and floors. Made using vegetable-dyed leather, the tiles are attached to 1.1 mm-thick wood pieces configured for easy tongue-and-groove installation, the company says. Madison...

Altro launches 2006 Product Portfolio: Vision, Versatile and Essential floors.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Altro has released the 2006 Altro Product Portfolio, offering detailed information on the company's safety and commercial flooring. The product guide covers all three of Altro's collections, Vision, Versatile and Essential Vision flooring is...

Natural Creations LVT expanded: Armstrong adds Earthcuts, Mystix.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Armstrong Commercial Flooring has rolled out two new collections in the Natural Creations luxury vinyl tile line: Earthcuts and Mystix. Earthcuts includes slate, limestone and granite visuals. Mystix comprises brightly colored designer patterns...

Wood and slate looks available in Congoleum Ultima flooring.(Resilient Gallery)
June 1, 2006... Congoleum has expanded its flagship Ultima resilient flooring line with Montego Slate and Laguna Maple. Montego Slate showcases a multicolor slate look in six visuals. Laguna Maple incorporates natural graining and tonal variations in four...

Moisture-related problems: hardwood flooring "the natural survivor".(Wood or Wood Knot)
June 1, 2006... Not long ago, NFT published an extensive study on consumer complaints related to the floor covering industry. For retailers and installers, the bottom line was the emphasis on responding promptly and scheduling the recommended repairs. Whether...

"Our luck has changed!": Florida resident displaced by Charley wins Pergo contest.(News)
June 1, 2006... Port Charlotte, Fla., resident Michelle Albert recently got a helping hand from Pergo in remodeling her home, which was devastated by Hurricane Charley in 2004. As the winner of the laminate flooring maker's Create Your Own Dream Space...

Faus management buys the company; "positive impact for the U.S. market".(Faus Group)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Faus Group based in Valencia, Spain with a U.S. arm based in Calhoun, Ga., has been acquired by its current senior management team. Led by chairman and CEO Juan Negre, management secured the transaction with backing from a financial group and a...

Carpet One sets hire standards with new job board web tool.(News)
June 1, 2006... Carpet One has launched the Global Hiring System, designed to help Carpet One members locate and retain top-notch employees. The system combines job board functions with the ability to evaluate jobseekers' qualifications. Employers can...

Stone Mart visits the stone age.(Colfax Elementary School invited on Earth Day 2006)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Stone Mart, a North Hollywood, Calif., importer of natural stone products, invited students to its showroom on Earth Day 2006 to take a look at stone's historic fossil record. The company welcomed a class of second graders from Colfax...

FTC OKs temporary fiber designation for Mohawk, DuPont, PTT Poly Canada.(News)
June 1, 2006... The Federal Trade Commission has granted Mohawk Industries, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., and PTT Poly Canada a temporary fiber designation for a new generic fiber name and definition under the Rules and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber...

T & A Supply buys Inland Northwest Distributing.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Pacific Northwest floor covering distributor T & A Supply Co. of Kent, Wash. has purchased Inland Northwest Distributing Inc. The acquisition stands to give T&A new locations in Boise, Idaho, as well as the Washington cities Spokane and...

Shaw to reopen shuttered recycling plant; plans to process 300 million pounds a year.(News)
June 1, 2006... In a move aimed at increasing the company's overall recycling capacity. Shaw Industries announced it has signed an agreement with DSM Chemicals North America to purchase complete ownership of Evergreen Nylon Recycling LLC, a nylon recycling...

CCA gets 'Contract' thumbs up from Wilsonart.(Commercial Carpets of America gets certification)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Alexandria, Va.-based Commercial Carpets of America is the first commercial flooring contractor in North America to be certified to install Wilsonart's Contract line, according to the company. Eight CCA installers were put through the paces...

NWFA meeting: exposing wood's new options.
June 1, 2006... Steady advances in other hard surface areas have not dulled the luster of hardwood flooring. As evidenced by the upbeat mood among the 4,500 attendees and 342 exhibitors on hand in Baltimore for the National Wood Flooring Association's...

Surfaces 2007 slated for Feb. 7-9; deadline to reserve space June 2.(News)
June 1, 2006... Organizers of Surfaces have announced that the 2007 show is being planned for Feb. 7-9 at the traditional meeting place: the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas. A record attendance of 40,588 at Surfaces 2006 points toward the potential...

Columbia flooring.(People)
June 1, 2006... Columbia Flooring has expanded its sales and marketing staff with three appointments. Steven Abels has joined as sales manager, national accounts. He will be responsible for developing retail-cooperative and national account business. In...

Dave Stafford, Commercial Carpets of America.(People)
June 1, 2006... With the retirement of executive vp Dave Stafford, Commercial Carpets of America has promoted Michael Reinke to senior vp. In this new role, he will oversee both the commercial group and the government group. He was previously vp and manager of...

The Loxcreen Flooring Group.(People)
June 1, 2006... The Loxcreen Flooring Group has expanded its commercial products sales team. Steven LaGrou has joined as national sales manager--commercial products. He will be responsible for overseeing the company's U.S. commercial sales. Gerry Yates has...

Mirage.(People)
June 1, 2006... Mirage has hired Sylvie Landry as architect and design representative. Covering Quebec, Landry will be responsible for developing programs to educate flooring specifiers.

Faus Group Inc.(Distributor Appointments)
June 1, 2006... Faus Group Inc. has added Cerritos, Calif.-based The Roane Co. to its distributor network. The Roane Co. will serve Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona with the Fausfloor Masterpieces, Essentials and Classic Americana collections.

Mullican Flooring.(Distributor Appointments)
June 1, 2006... Mullican Flooring has reached an agreement with Southeast Hardwood to distribute Mullican's hardwood flooring throughout the Gulf South region. The deal with the Mandeville, La.-based distributor marks Mullican's entry into the area.

Tile stays hot, Coverings 2006 sets record.(trade show analysis)
June 1, 2006... A sharp increase in the number of distributors and contractors in attendance helped Coverings 2006 set an all-time attendance record of 33,649 for the four-day event. Attendees said the increased attendance figures reflected an industry that...

Interface sells Camborne Holdings, plans to shut Mass. carpet plant.(News)
June 1, 2006... In an effort to hold down costs and secure "greater financial flexibility," Interface Inc. said it has sold its European fabrics division, Camborne Holdings, for about $28 million. In addition, the Atlanta-based carpet maker plans to shutter a...

Designer Rashid brings his touch to Tarkett's NeoCon market booth.(Karim Rashid to exhibit at NeoCon)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... At Tarkett Commercial's NeoCon exhibit, fashion won't stop with the floors. Renowned interior designer Karim Rashid will be on hand at Booth #7-2122 to give out complimentary scarves and ties featuring his designs. Rashid, who designed this...

National Gypsum goes west, set to build plant in Arizona.(News)
June 1, 2006... With an eye toward significantly increasing its presence in the West, National Gypsum Co. is set to build a state-of-the-art wallboard plant just outside of Phoenix. Slated for completion by mid-2008, the new plant will be capable of producing...

Kraus purchases Orders Distributing; changes name to Kraus Orders.(Kraus Carpet Mills acquires Orders Distributing Company Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... In a move aimed at expanding its North American distributor network, Waterloo, Ontario-based Kraus Carpet Mills announced that it has purchased Orders Distributing Co. of Greenville, S.C. As part of the move, Orders will change its name to...

Upcoming industry events.(Calendar)
June 1, 2006... AIA 2006 National Convention--Los Angeles. (888) 242-1824, June 8-10. NeoCon 2006 - Chicago. (800) 677-6278, June 12-14. ITSS Rio de Janeiro 2006--Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (800) 564-5975, June 15-17. Atlanta International Area Rug...

American Florim's Truvian Stone offered in four earthen stone looks.(Products)
June 1, 2006... New from American Florim is Truvian Stone, a glazed porcelain tile line offering a detailed natural stone look. Available in 6" by 6", 12" by 12" and 18" by 18", Truvian Stone is featured in four earthen colors with moderate shade variations...

Capel launches Country Living rugs; includes wool, indoor/outdoor styles.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Capel Rugs has launched the Country Living line, featuring two collections inspired by traditional American designs. The Antique Florals collection features seven wool products designed to evoke the craftsmanship of 19th-century American hooked...

Bengard hammers out new finish for 1 7/8" by 12' drop stair nosing.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Bengard offers a new hammered dark bronze finish on its 1 7/8" by 12' carpet metals stair nosing (serial number CM2193 HDB 12). The drop stair nosing is designed to protect stair edges and can be use in either residential or light commercial...

Armstrong's Exotics, Rustics laminates feature filled-face finishes, wider widths.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Armstrong introduces Exotics and Rustics laminate flooring. Exotics features five planks in a filled-face high-gloss finish and 5" widths: Santos Mahogany, Noce Milan, Black Italian and Yorkshire Walnuts, and Afzelia. The Rustic range includes...

Potlach's EnStron underlayment provides smooth surface for vinyl.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Potlach Corp. presents EnStron, a particleboard flooring underlayment made from 100 percent recycled wood fiber. The company says the new product offers builders an economical, solid-core panel that will not delaminate and is ideal for use...

Mannington debuts three carpets for corporate, retail environments.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Mannington Commercial has taken the wraps off of three made-to-measure carpets for corporate and retail use: Tailor-Made, Classic Fit and Everywear. Tailor-Made features a plaid design. Classic Fit uses a geometric pattern. Everywear offers a...

Customers can create custom rugs using Bentley Prince Street website.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Bentley Prince Street is showcasing a range of custom designer rugs for commercial and residential use on its website at www.bentleyprincestreet.com. Through a quick and easy online process, customers can mix and match among seven styles in six...

Jack Nicklaus: New rugs, colorways augment popular Shaw Living range.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Shaw Living has added five rugs, each showcasing a new colorway, to the Jack Nicklaus collection. Made using Shaw Evertouch nylon, the new designs join the existing collection of 24 machine-woven New Zealand wool rugs, incorporating...

Dow Chemical develops Enhancer carpet backing for hospitality use.(Products)
June 1, 2006... The Dow Chemical Co. has taken the wraps off of Enhancer, a high-density polyurethane cushioned carpet backing designed to add comfort underfoot while reducing sound transmission. Carpet backings using Enhancer Technology are aimed for use in...

Nycore's Nybacker backerboard aims to simplify tile installation.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Nycore has rolled out Nybacker, the first LEED-certified thermal plastic tile backerboard on the market, according to the company. This new system eliminates the need for installing waterproofing and crack isolation membranes, the company says....

Karastan's Johansen carpet made using New Zealand wool.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Johansen broadloom carpet is new from Karastan. Johansen incorporates a climbing vine motif against a striped field to produce a damask effect. The woven loop, tip-sheared carpet is made using New Zealand wool. Johansen carpet includes 10...

Appalachian unveils The Profitmaker: small display designed for big profits.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Appalachian presents The Profitmaker, a full-line display for Appalachian hardwood products. The display measures 5' wide by 7'6" high by 36" deep, and is designed to fit into small spaces, according to the company. Products are shown in large...

Lights, camera, Glitsa!: new DVD offers finish application tips, tricks.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Swedish finish maker Glitsa American Inc. has rolled out its first instructional DVD, titled "Swedish Finish Application Techniques." The DVD offers detailed instructions on four of the most common application methods: Brushing, Rolling, Lambs'...

Mercier launches distressed looks in Heritage hardwood collection.(Products)
June 1, 2006... The Heritage collection is new from Mercier Wood Flooring. Heritage planks are finished with an uneven patina for an authentic distressed look that showcases the grain. The product is topped with the Mercier Generations wearlayer, designed to...

Better Tools' newest scraper blade designed to cut down stroke time.(Products)
June 1, 2006... The Ultimate Scraper Blade from Better Tools features a patented skirted design which aims to prevent flooring material from becoming wedged within the blade clamp. Made from premium grade stainless steel, the blade is engineered for longer...

Healthcare floors: the next generation: more colors, better designs and increased comfort lead to healthy sales.
June 1, 2006... Here's the challenge: Come up with flooring that can stand up to the heaviest traffic, be subjected to the worst kind of spills, prevent slips, cushion falls and offer a compelling yet soothing aesthetic. The commercial grade flooring should...

Carpet Shims.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... Many shims available from Carpet Shims Carpet Shims are available in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" x 8" x 32", and 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2"x 12" x 48". Add a Universal Side Shim to each end of the installed Carpet Shim to eliminate the drop off, which...

Starline.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... Starline Associates, Inc. delivers the best value for the money with SILENT BLUE[TM] Laminate Underlayment. SILENT BLUE[TM] combines closed cell construction, IIC 72, STC 73 Ratings and Waterproof Technology, eliminating the need for film and...

PRO-SLOPE[TM].(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... Creating a slope under a shower pan made easy with PRO-SLOPE[TM] The Uniform Plumbing Code [UPC] requires a slope to the weep holes in a clamping ring drain under the waterproofing membrane in a shower receptor. Creating the slope is important....

Amorim Floors N.A,/Wicanders.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... Wicanders Exotic Cork Oak Floors. Natural warmth, peaceful silence, health and environmental sustainability. Behold the beautiful benefits of Cork. Offered in a fresh breadth of colors and cuts. View our stunning exotic collections of WicCork &...

Bengard Mfg.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... EB450 Heavy gauge rubber base. Smooth satin finish and intrinsic flexibility helps hide substrate irregularities. Available in continuous rolls. Available in white. Deep grooves and several uniquely-shaped surfaces simulate milled wood...

Zimair Display systems.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... Newly introduced to Zimair Display's inventory, is the ADJUSTABLE-12 Swing Wing Display. This stock frame adjusts to accommodate most sizes and styles of wing. Zimair Display also inventories 4-board wings for their 22" x 26" stock sample...

Stauf USA.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... Stauf USA unveils SMP-940 Superior. Superior is a polymer based adhesive that contains no isocyanates, water or solvents. It has a high shear strength and it is a moisture cured adhesive. It is the newest technology in the hardwood flooring...

Custom Building Products.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... StoneSpecific Sealers Formulated for Different Stones Different stones have different densities and porosities, and therefore need different sealers. StoneSpecific[TM], a new line of premium products from Custom[R] Building Products, is...

MAPEI.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... MAPEI Offers Specialty Adhesive for Rubber and Vinyl Floor Coverings Ultrabond[R] G21 is a solvent-free, high-performance, two-part polyurethane adhesive designed for high-traffic areas and where rolling loads from wheeled-cart traffic is...

DuraSeal.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... DuraSeal[R] Introduces System for Pre-Finished Floors DuraSeal[R] now offers its Pre-Treat System--the quick and easy solution for refinishing pre-finished floors. This new product is designed to optimize adhesion to prefinished flooring and...

Dodge Regupol.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... The Regupol QT line of products for impact sound insulation are engineered to provide better performance than any other sound control product available. Made from 100% resilient recycled rubber and backed by over 90 independent and laboratory...

Laser Products.(Products & Literature on display)
June 1, 2006... 1/2 the starting cost, 10 times less operating cost. The LT-55 sets a new standard in digital templating. Its laser measuring in real time. In 5 minutes you'll have a 50-point field-measurement in .dxf format with multi-color and multi-plane...