National Floor Trends articles from March 2006

National Floor Trends archives from March 2006

Some things I learned at Surfaces.(Editorial Comment)
March 1, 2006... At last month's Surfaces in Las Vegas this much was clear: The industry is becoming stronger, faster and leaner--and everybody knows it. The show hit a homerun not because show organizers managed to outdraw all 16 previous shows or because...

Already broke your New Year's resolutions? Try some new ones for Spring!(Showroom Management)
March 1, 2006... Remember all those New Year's resolutions you made a few months back? When you think about it Spring is really the season of new beginnings. So let's consider a few Spring resolutions! The timing is good. I finally have some time to take a...

Innovation and laminate floors: manufacturers add to their lines with a little help from technology.
March 1, 2006... Manufacturers are fine-tuning their laminate flooring products for 2006, rather than reinventing the wheel. Unlike last year, when hand-scraped and exotic looks were first introduced seemingly en masse into the marketplace, this year presented...

Coverings '06 to explore fast-changing tile scene.
March 1, 2006... Those in the tile business say they have never seen better products or stiffer competition. In a bid to sort it all out, 32,000 attendees, including retailers, architects, tile distributors and installers, are gearing up for Coverings 2006,...

Adhesive priority: building a better bond.
March 1, 2006... While it is clear that virtually every area of floor covering has felt the sting of rising fuel prices over the past year, one area particularly hard hit is adhesives. Companies involved in this category note that petrochemicals are more than...

Starline Associates.(Products & Literature on display)
March 1, 2006... Starline Associates, Inc. delivers the best value for the money with Silent Blue[TM] Laminate Underlayment. Silent Blue combines closed cell construction, IIC 72, STC 73 ratings and waterproof technology eliminating the need for film and...

Carpet Shims.(Products & Literature on display)
March 1, 2006... Allow enough gap (check with flooring manufacturer for specifications) between the Carpet Shim and Tack Strip and the hard surface to tuck your carpet. Add a Universal Side Shim to the end of your installed Carpet Shim to eliminate the drop...

Stauf USA.(Products & Literature on display)
March 1, 2006... Stauf USA unveils PUK-445, a two-component polyurethane adhesive. Designed to reduce tension and offer a durable, elastic bond, PUK-445 is an ideal choice for wood installation professionals, Stauf says. The adhesive is also quick-setting, and...

SureSeal USA.(Products & Literature on display)
March 1, 2006... SureSeal Stone Sealer is a water-based, environmentally friendly sealer designed to provide superior protection to all types of stone, marble, granite and slate. SureSeal Stone Sealer can help prevent oil- and water-based stains, moss,...

Murphy Oil Soap.(Products & Literature on display)
March 1, 2006... For over 100 years, people have trusted the natural and gentle cleaning power of Murphy[R] Oil Soap. It is ideal for safely cleaning finished wood and other household surfaces without leaving a dulling residue. Love Your Wood[R] with...

Surfaces' 06: fast pace, record crowd; Bumper crop of new products sets off buying frenzy.
March 1, 2006... As evidenced by aisles teeming with showgoers and exhibits crammed with products promising a new approach to floor covering, the 2006 edition of Surfaces is likely to be recalled as a watershed event for the industry. Amid concern that rising...

Shaw to expand ad campaign in leading shelter magazines.(News)
March 1, 2006... Shaw Industries says it plans to increase the frequency of its national "I want a floor..." print ads for the spring and summer selling season. The flooring maker estimates the move will result in 270 million views of the ad in leading shelter...

Beaulieu Canada, Berry Floor sign agreement for new line.(News)
March 1, 2006... Beaulieu Canada announced that it plans to produce and market a new line of laminate and hardwood flooring. The flooring will feature the Valinge Innovation locking installation system, which is licensed through Berry Finance NV. In...

Tarkett Commercial honors top Azrock flooring distribs.(News)
March 1, 2006... Tarkett Commercial recently honored its top distributors with the Azrock by Tarkett 2005 Distributor Awards. The Distributor of the Year trophy went to distributor Michael Halebian Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Other awards included:...

Faus Group, Inc.(Distributor Appointments)
March 1, 2006... Faus Group, Inc. said it has tapped Onthank Co., of Des Moines, and Houston-based T & L Distributing to handle the Fausfloor laminate flooring program which includes the Masterpieces Collection and Essentials Collection.

Dealers Supply Co.(Lauzon Hardwood Flooring)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Lauzon Hardwood Flooring said it is adding two distributors for the U.S. market. Dealers Supply Co. will cover the Carolinas and eastern Tennessee. Readers Wholesale is set to cover southern Texas and Louisiana. Lauzon, based in Quebec, also...

Shaw adds extra warranty to SoftBac Platinum carpets.(News)
March 1, 2006... Shaw Industries has introduced a new no run/no pull/no edge ravel warranty on all of its carpet backed with the company's SoftBac Platinum backing. The warranty is in addition to the existing No-Wrinkle Guarantee for all SoftBac products....

Upcoming industry events.(News)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... Revestir 2006 -- Sao Paulo, Brazil. 55 (11) 4613-2000, March 14-17. FCICA 24th Annual Convention -- San Antonio, Texas. (877) TO-FCICA, March 15-18. ITSS Miami 2006 -- Miami. (800) 564-5975, March 24-26. NeoCon West 2006/L.A....

Custom opens 112,000 sq. ft. plant in Las Vegas; 11th U.S. location.(Custom Building Products)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Custom Building Products has opened a new manufacturing plant in Las Vegas, located at 3115 E. Lone Mountain Road in the northern part of the city. Custom plans to manufacture many of its thin-set mortars, grouts and self-leveling underlayments...

In memoriam: Wayne "Smitty" Smith Founder of C & F Distributors.(News)(Obituary)
March 1, 2006... Wayne H. Smith, a WWII hero who later established the highly respected Midwestern flooring company C & F Distributors, died Feb. 11, in Tulsa, Okla., due to complications from a stroke. He was 75. A native of Paola, Kan., who was...

Basic Coatings.(People)
March 1, 2006... Hal Koller has been named the new national sales manager for Basic Coatings. Koller will be responsible for managing the Basic Coatings sales force, as well as developing and implementing sales strategy and programs. Koller holds many years of...

Dal-Tile.(People)
March 1, 2006... Dal-Tile has elevated Harold Turk to president. Turk was previously executive vp for the company's Dal-Tile Strategic Business Unit. In addition, the company has promoted Matthew Kahny as executive vp of sales and marketing, and John Turner,...

Faus Group.(People)
March 1, 2006... Faus Group has appointed Juan Negre, CEO, as chairman of the board of directors. He will also continue as CEO. The new position makes Negre the global chairman of the laminate flooring maker.

Flexco.(People)
March 1, 2006... Ron Tait has been named national sales manager for Flexco. Tait has more than 28 years of industry experience, most recently as a sales representative with Roppe, Flexco's sister company.

IVC US Inc.(Xavier Steyaert and Don Roberts appointed)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... IVC US Inc. has appointed Xavier Steyaert and Don Roberts to the roles of president and vp retail sales and marketing, respectively. Steyaert comes to IVC US from former parent company Balta Group in Belgium. Roberts was formerly president of...

Mohawk Industries Inc.(People)
March 1, 2006... William "Chris" Wellborn has joined Mohawk Industries Inc. as COO. Wellborn was previously the president of Dal-Tile Inc., a subsidiary of Mohawk. Wellborn will be responsible for developing and implementing efforts to expand Mohawk's business....

Mariann Gregory.(People)
March 1, 2006... Mariann Gregory has announced that she is retiring as executive director of the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors after 13 years. She will be succeeded by Maurice "Moe" Desmarais, who has 25 years of experience in association...

Tarkett Residential.(Bob Russell, Analie Roth and Darrell Tweed hired)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Tarkett Residential has announced several hires to the company's North American arm. Bob Russell, formerly vp sales and marketing for IVC US, joins Tarkett as vp of national accounts. Analie Roth, formerly vp of sales and marketing for Tarkett...

Specialty Construction Brands.(People)
March 1, 2006... Joe Renzetti has been named president and general manager of Specialty Construction Brands, which manufactures the TEC line of installation products. Renzetti was previously general manager of Adalis, a consulting firm that served several...

Vitromex.(People)
March 1, 2006... Vitromex has added Ken Davis to its sales team. Davis joins as regional sales manager for the Southeast region, covering Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia. Davis holds more than 17 years of experience in the industry, most...

Kronotex's parent company takes steps to protect retailers from infringement suits.(News)
March 1, 2006... KronoGroup Switzerland, the parent company of laminate flooring maker Kronotex USA, has struck licensing agreements with Unilin and Valinge, the holders of the major patents for glueless click installation systems used in laminate flooring....

National Floor Trends and its sister publication Floor Covering Installer recently hosted the 2005 WFCA Affiliate Association of the Year Awards.(News)
March 1, 2006... National Floor Trends and its sister publication Floor Covering Installer recently hosted the 2005 WFCA Affiliate Association of the Year Awards. The Chicago Floorcovering Association, Maryland/Northern Virginia Floor Covering Association and...

International Designer Transitions opens molding plant in Graham, N.C.(North Carolina)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... International Designer Transitions, a Washington State floor moldings maker, has opened a new plant in Graham, N.C., at 1201 Jay Lane. John Damrell, director of sales and marketing, says the company plans to manufacture a full line of hardwood,...

Contractor says Wilma no match for Laticrete installation products.(News)
March 1, 2006... Though buffeted by the high-speed winds of Hurricane Wilma, a 27-acre construction project in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., held strong. The tile installations across 12 buildings incorporating 65,000 square feet of wainscot walls, vertical facades...

A "highly regarded fabricator": Hunter Douglas acquires Elmar.(Elmar Window Fashions)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Window coverings maker Hunter Douglas has purchased Elmar Window Fashions, a fabricator and wholesaler of Hunter Douglas products. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Plans call for Elmar Window Fashions, based in Willow Grove,...

Buckwold buys Wanke Cascade, makes push into U.S. marketplace.(News)
March 1, 2006... Western Canadian distributor Buckwold Western has purchased Wanke Cascade, a well-established distributor in the Pacific Northwest. With the acquisition, Buckwold plans to operate six full-service centers in Canada and three in the U.S. ...

Pedross of Italy purchases Burkle: aims to develop new moldings, trim.(News)
March 1, 2006... Italian floor molding and trim maker Pedross announced that it has acquired Burkle, a solid molding manufacturer based in Germany. Under the Pedross name, the combined companies plan to develop and manufacture flooring accessories for all types...

Q & A: Flooring America[R] at 20; With you every step of the way.(Interview)
March 1, 2006... As it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, Flooring America bares little resemblance to the organization that started it all. Launched by a small collection of retailers in 1986 under the Carpet Max banner, the goal was to gain clout for...

Anderson's Cimarron line expands with two new looks.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Anderson has added two colors to the Cimarron line of hand-scraped 3/4" solid hardwood flooring: Beale Street and Sabino. Beale Street offers a medium-toned, golden-brown stain in Pine. Sabino incorporates a darker color in Brazilian Cherry...

New Stainmaster carpet fiber accents Invista's Tactesse nylon.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Invista's Stainmaster brand has launched a new, as yet unnamed carpet fiber that offers a silk-like accent. The new fiber is designed to give "a sleek yet subtle luster to our wool-like fiber, Tactesse nylon," the company said. Custom Weave,...

Centiva debuts Urban Loft in a large modular format.(Products)
March 1, 2006... New to Centiva's Event series of resilient flooring is Urban Loft. The floor is meant to evoke cityscapes and foggy skylines with its three unique design patterns. Available in a satin surface texture, Urban Loft is offered in a 12" by 36"...

Tarkett's ReUse program aims to recycle sample sets.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Tarkett has launched the ReUse Reclamation Program, designed to reduce the amount of waste sample materials sent to landfills. Through the program, architects, designers and dealers are encouraged to recycle Tarkett carry boards, chip boxes and...

Beaulieu launches Beau-Tech certification for carpet installers.(Products)
March 1, 2006... New from Beaulieu of America is Beau-Tech, a certification program that aims to provide education and training to carpet installers. At each Beau-Tech event, Beaulieu experts plan to train carpet professionals using Carpet & Rug Institute...

Vienna coffee-colored stain added to several Mirage lines.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Mirage has rolled out Vienna, a new coffee-colored stain for its prefinished hardwood flooring. Vienna is offered on Red Oak and Maple in the Classic Collection in 2 1/4" and 3 1/4" planks. The stain is also available in the Engineered...

Preverco engineered flooring an 'Engenius' introduction.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Preverco presents Engenius, a new line of engineered hardwood flooring. Engenius features a 1/8" sawn wear layer and a 3/8", 7-ply construction for greater dimensional stability. Engenius can be glued, nailed, stapled or floated, Preverco says,...

Tarkett's Square resilient tile features loose-lay installation.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Tarkett Commercial introduces Square, a loose-lay resilient tile designed to ensure easy installations, rotations and removals. Square tiles are recyclable, and may be installed over residual adhesives and most types of subfloor, Tarkett says....

Roppe's Pinnacle Plus wall base showcases five sculpted profiles.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Roppe debuts Pinnacle Plus, a sculpted profile rubber wall base which offers the look of sculpted wood and vinyl wall bases, according to the company. Made using 1/8" thick Type TS rubber, Pinnacle Plus base offers five 4" profiles. These...

Mullican adds to engineered with expanded exotic species.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Mullican Flooring has expanded three of its engineered hardwood lines. The 5/16" prefinished Foothills line includes five new exotic species in 3" and 5" widths. Ridgecrest, a 1/2" prefinished floor, is now offered in four new exotic species in...

Prestige Mills' Missoni carpet includes Mikonos square pattern.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Prestige Mills introduces the Missoni line of broadloom carpet. The collection showcases a mix of colors, textures and weaves integrated into 16 graphic patterns. The Missoni range includes the style Mikonos, which features large, multi-colored...

Weyerhaeuser engineered features rubberwood core.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Weyerhaeuser offers 24 decorative options in engineered flooring, including nine strip, nine plank and six distressed floors. Weyerhaeuser engineered flooring is made using Brazilian Lyptus or domestic species such as maple, ash or oak. The...

To repel oil and grease, Johnsonite floor 'Defiant'.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Johnsonite has unveiled Defiant, an oil- and grease-resistant rubber tile flooring. Defiant repels oil, grease, dirt and grime, owing to the floor's unique material formulation, the company says. The high-performance floor also reduces slips...

Seamer Down aims to offer faster power stretching.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Seamer Down is a new invention and process that allows carpet installers to power stretch within 20 seconds by instantly extracting the heat from the carpet seam. It extracts moisture, solving blooming problems, and also solves dimpling...

Anti-slip FlexTerior Treads new to Flexco's tread range.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Flexco presents FlexTerior Treads. These stair treads are engineered for slip resistance, and are made using exterior-grade aluminum inlaid with an anti-slip epoxy and abrasive grit blend. FlexTerior Treads are offered in 36" and 48" lengths,...

Lauzon NextStep flooring goes wide with new planks.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Lauzon has added a wide, 5 3/16" plank to its NextStep line of engineered hardwood flooring. The wide planks showcase the look of a solid sawn hardwood surface, and feature precision milling technology, Lauzon says. The NextStep wide plank is...

Mohawk Select brings out Fandango and Jazz rugs.(Products)
March 1, 2006... Mohawk Select has taken the wraps off two new rug styles for the Decorator's Choice collection: Fandango and Jazz. Fandango incorporates stripes, squares and swirls in a distinctive pattern. Jazz offers color fields of tan or black, set inside...

High-end houses mean high-end floors, and that is good for wood.(Wood Business)
March 1, 2006... For many of us, the New Year traditionally is a time for setting goals for the coming year. The wood flooring industry is no exception, but to set realistic goals, we also need to have a clear understanding of our accomplishments for the past...

Installers, keep that resilient floor on the level.(Standing on Resilient)
March 1, 2006... There is a fallacy in the commercial resilient flooring industry that floor levelness or flatness is only important in how it affects the installation of tile products. The reality is floor levelness truly impacts the performance of all...

More than floors: adding up the value of add-on products.
March 1, 2006... When he talks about his company's line of floor care products, Steve Naylor's does not stress the high profit margins they typically return. Instead, Naylon, the vp of sales and marketing for Namac Industries, has a sales pitch that he feels is...