National Floor Trends articles from October 2007

National Floor Trends archives from October 2007

On the web.
October 1, 2007... Solutia names judges for Doc Award contest Solutia's Ultron carpet fibers business has announced the judges for its 2007 Doc Award Competition, aimed at honoring the best and brightest in contract interior and product design. The competition...

WFCA program proves it is what you know.(Editorial Comment)
October 1, 2007... Consumers shopping for flooring can be forgiven if they assume "CFS" is some new TV crime show spin-off coming this fall. Most likely, the typical shopper has no idea what this acronym really means. That's understandable. But if you are in the...

LEED-ing them home: as 'green' reshapes the residential market, the floor seems a good place to start.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It may not seem like it, but Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the ratings system used to gauge the environmental impact of a building, has been a fixture of the commercial design market for...

NFT's carpet & rug survey: soft surface stays firm: dealers say broadloom remains entrenched as a dominant segment of floor covering. They also say it is a good way to move into the commercial market.(Survey)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] For all the changes seen in the flooring business of late, nothing has altered the importance of carpet. How important? The product occupies at least half the merchandising space at a typical floor covering store....

When disaster strikes, are you prepared?(High-Impact Retailing)
October 1, 2007... When I opened my first retail flooring store in 1963, the furthest thing from my mind was a disaster that could cripple my business. Like most of us, I took the basic protective steps: fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, propane stored in a safe...

Hazy shades of green.(Designs in Style)
October 1, 2007... You've heard the term bandied about. Everyone seems to be buzzing about it. You've read the articles insisting that it is not a passing trend. You know a little about the subject but not nearly enough. You find yourself wondering what "Green"...

BR-111 gets close-up look at well-managed forests.(News: People/Places/Events)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Working closely with third-party monitoring organizations, exotic hardwood maker BR-111 said it is taking steps to ensure that the trees it uses for its Triangulo lines are harvested in a sustainable manner. This...

FLOR recalls Heartfelt carpet tiles.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, FLOR has recalled its Heartfelt carpet tiles. A division of Interface, the company discovered that pin-like needles may have become embedded in as many as 24,000 tiles sold from...

Recycling plant a focus of Mohawk Greenworks.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... Mohawk Industries has brought its environmental efforts together under one name: Greenworks. Projects including the SmartStrand fiber made using DuPont Sorona derived from corn to a wide-scale recycling project aimed at converting nearly 25...

Correction.(News: People/Places/Events)(Correction notice)
October 1, 2007... In the August issue of NFT, a news story misidentified the owner of B & L Flooring America in Prescott Valley, Ariz., as Doug Hussey. His name is Dan Hussey.

'It puts a human face on the product:' Shaw celebrates designers at annual events.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Shaw recently invited about 25 designers from around the country to its 5th annual Visions Designer Retreat at its headquarters in Dalton, Ga. The two-day event included workshops, discussion, and a presentation of...

Kraus Orders Inc.(People)(Appointments)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... C. Michael Smith, a 30-year veteran of the industry, recently retired as president of Kraus Orders Inc. He joined the company, then called Orders Distributing Co., in 1977 and through his management helped grow the company into a top...

Award Hardwood Floors.(People)
October 1, 2007... Mike Sweeney has joined Award Hardwood Floors as East Coast sales director. A 13-year veteran, Sweeney was previously at Alloc, where he served as Northeast regional sales manager in charge of distribution sales for the past six years.

Couristan.(People)(Couristan Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Couristan has elevated Steve Codella to senior vp sales for the Eastern United States. He has more than 24 years of experience in the industry, including four with Couristan. In a related announcement, the company said its residential sales...

Parterre Flooring Systems.(People)
October 1, 2007... Parterre Flooring Systems has named John Cornely vp sales for the Eastern United States. He comes to the position with over 20 years of experience in the commercial flooring market, most recently in management positions with Amtico and Centiva....

Mercier Wood Flooring.(People)
October 1, 2007... Mercier Wood Flooring has named Robert Pelletier technical and after sale service specialist. He will be responsible for fielding customer questions about installation, wood and finish properties and products as well as act as a technical...

Johsonite.(People)
October 1, 2007... Cyndie Poag-Hubbell and Elizabeth Turner have been named Johsonite's newest solution development consultants, serving New York and the Mid- Atlantic respectively. Both women will be responsible for educating architects, designers and key...

Allman offers one-on-one business coaching for dealers.(News: People/Places/Events)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Promising individual attention to retailers, NFT columnist and respected flooring consultant Sam Allman has launched a business coaching p rogram for flooring dealers. The program partners dealers with members of the highly experienced team of...

Kale's Reptile collection wins third design award.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Inspired by the scintillating scales of alligators and crocodiles, the Reptile Collection of ceramic tile from Kale Group recently received the 53rd Annual Design Review award. This honor was given by design...

In memoriam.(News: People/Places/Events)(Obituary)
October 1, 2007... Alan Greenberg, industry pioneer and co-founder and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners, died Aug. 28 after a long battle with cancer. He was 63. Greenberg remained active in the industry throughout his life. Among his many roles, he served as...

Armed with new tools, Karastan updates installer program.(News: People/Places/Events)(Fieldcrest Cannon Inc. Karastan Rug Mills Div.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Karastan has revamped its Certified Installer Program to include "the latest tools, techniques and carpet constructions in a comprehensive combination of training, DVDs and Resource Guides." The 11-year-old program is overseen by CFI's CEO Jim...

Laticrete sponsors cyclist Teper on grueling climb.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pictured is Ivan Teper, a cyclist suffering from leukemia and anemia, participating in the 45th annual Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hills Climb in Denver. Named after five-time winner Bob Cook, who died from cancer in...

World Floor Covering Association: flooring sales up slightly, builder business down.(News: People/Places/Events)(Financial report)
October 1, 2007... Residential and commercial sales are up slightly, while builder business continues to remain flat. These were the findings of a recent survey conducted by The Bowe Co. of more than 200 World Floor Covering Association members. The full second...

BNP Media buys food/beverage and Gaming magazines.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... National Floor Trends' parent company BNP Media has announced the acquisition of the Professional Services Division of Ascend Media. This includes magazines, conferences, web sites and events focused on two industries: Food, Beverage and...

Three manufacturers hike prices on vinyl lines.(News: People/Places/Events)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Citing increased raw material costs, Armstrong, Mannington Commercial and Tarkett Commercial Tile said they are raising the prices of selected vinyl flooring lines. Specifically, Armstrong said it will hike the price by 5 percent on its...

'Moving forward': Johnsonite nets two Styling awards for new system.(News: People/Places/Events)(Tarkett Inc. Johnsonite Div.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Johnsonite recently won two NFT Styling Excellence Awards for its Integrated High-Performance Flooring. Jeff Krejsa, Johnsonite's marketing director, said the recognition couldn't come at a better time for the...

Formica Flooring has added T&L Distributing to its network.(Distributor Appointments)
October 1, 2007... Formica Flooring has added T&L Distributing to its network. Headquartered in Houston, T&L will serve Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and parts of Arkansas. For more information, call (800) 888-0345.

Cronin Co. said it will start stocking UFloor Systems' Pallmann brand of finishes and adhesives serving three locations in Oregon and Washington.(Distributor Appointments)
October 1, 2007... Cronin Co. said it will start stocking UFloor Systems' Pallmann brand of finishes and adhesives serving three locations in Oregon and Washington. Additionally, the company said plans to stock the products at all seven of its Pacific Northwest...

All Tile has joined Mirage Flooring's distribution team.(Distributor Appointments)
October 1, 2007... All Tile has joined Mirage Flooring's distribution team. Based in Elk Grove, Ill., the company serves 11 states throughout the Midwest. "We are happy to be partnering with Mirage," said All Tile's president Bob Weiss. "The company shares our...

Haines buys Wheeler; Fla. distrib now a separate division.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... Looking to expand its presence in the Florida market, flooring distributor J.J. Haines & Co. has purchased distributor Wheeler Inc. of Orlando and made it a division of Haines. A leading company in the area, the 32-year-old Wheeler posts annual...

Upcoming industry events.(News: People/Places/Events)(Brief article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... NTCA Total Solutions 2007--St. Pete Beach, Fla., Oct. 11-13. (601) 939-2071. 2007 FIANA Convention--Dallas, Oct. 11-14. (817) 326-2615. NeoCon East/ASCTEX--Baltimore, Oct. 17-18. (800) 677-6278. StonExpo 2007--Las Vegas, Oct....

Shaw begins national sales for Kathy Ireland, Anso Nylon.(News: People/Places/Events)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shaw has launched its fifth annual Kathy Ireland "Fall Flooring Days" promotion exclusively for Shaw Flooring Alliance dealers as well as the sixth annual Anso Nylon National Carpet Sale, now through Nov. 30. ...

How will new media transform: your business in '08?
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Overwhelmed by information-overload and nonstop technology? Bombarded with options? As a customer-focused media company, BNP Media is committed to delivering information that will make your job not only easier, but...

Keep it quiet: understanding why floors squeak.(Focus on Resilient)
October 1, 2007... There are few problems that will destroy a customer's confidence in their newly installed floor faster than an annoying "squeak." When they hear that dreaded sound rising up from the floor, they know something is not right and they begin to...

Carpet Shims.(Products & Literature on display)
October 1, 2007... Discover The Underlying Difference! 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)
October 1, 2007... Starline Associates, Inc. delivers the best value for the money with SILENT BLUETM Laminate Underlayment. SILENT BLUETM combines closed cell construction, IIC 72, STC 73 Ratings and Waterproof Technology, eliminating the need for film and...

Accu-Cut/Brockie Int'l.(Products & Literature on display)
October 1, 2007... "The Q-7, Q-9, and X-33 Accu-Cut models are now integratable with RFMS software. This will allow the machine user to bar-code scan rolls of material to make sure the correct roll is on the machine as well as update inventory as cuts are made...

Dodge-Regupol.(Products & Literature on display)
October 1, 2007... QT Impact Sound Insulation is formulated from resilient recycled rubber and installs directly underneath a variety of floor surfaces including ceramic tile, hardwood and stone to greatly reduce impact sound. QT is engineered to provide the...

Flor.(Products & Literature on display)
October 1, 2007... Inspired Modular Floorcovering We invite you to join FLOR's Trade Only Program. Get exclusive discounts on over 250 designs. Access to our full-size tile Loaner Library. Friendly Design Team Associates. Publicity of your work in the press....

Bengard Mfg.(Products & Literature on display)
October 1, 2007... Loxcreen Flooring Group's Bengard Manufacturing has announced its MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) Laminate Floor Mouldings. For residential installations, the company's program consists of four profiles: Stair Nosing, Reducer, T-Moulding and...

Rubber flooring gallery.
October 1, 2007... Editor's note: Rubber is dependable, versatile material that offers superior slip resistance, sound absorption and bounce. Increasingly, flooring manufacturers are using it to create floors that are safer to walk on and more comfortable...

1 Pergo's Vintage Home uses sound underlayment.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Pergo has expanded its Vintage Home line of laminate flooring with five new looks. Additionally, the flooring includes premium attached sound underlayment as well as AccuWood texturing. New patterns in the line include Berkshire Oak, Hudson...

2 TEC offers SturdiLight, a mortar with microspheres.(Products)
October 1, 2007... New from TEC is Sturdlight, a mortar designed to offer the advantages of a lightweight product in a pro-grade formulation. The product features smooth-surface microspheres in the mortar designed to make spreading easier and less tiring....

3 Amtico's Spacia: champagne flooring on a beer budget.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Amtico International presents Spacia, a lower price-point collection of resilient flooring featuring wood and stone looks. Spacia is offered in 30 designs. Wood looks are available in 4" by 36" planks, while "jumbo woods" are offered in 7 1/4"...

4 Inspired by gardens, Capel's Monticello rugs.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Capel has added Monticello to its Capel Braids--American Originals collection. The braided rug is offered in four styles and is designed to complement the company's Medley and Solo rugs. The multicolored rugs take inspiration from the colors...

Augusta Lumber offers extra-wide 6" hardwood.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Augusta Lumber has rolled out a new line of 6" wide 3/4" solid prefinished hardwood. Available in Oak, Walnut, Cherry and Ash the flooring features "beautiful natural color and expert craftsmanship." The company also offers prefinished flooring...

5 Ocean Stone coastal tile new from Champion.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Champion Building Materials presents Ocean Stone. The minimalist tile line takes inspiration from the coast. Featuring proprietary Chamption V-Technology and Lappato techniques, Ocean Stone is designed for use as external wall cladding and in...

6 Americana laminate from Shaw features sustainable benefits.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Shaw's Americana collection of laminate is offered in five distinctive wood species from Figured Teak to Georgia Pecan. Available in 5 7/16" wide planks, the collection also features microbeveled edges and the company's VersaLock AG with...

7 Basic's Power Dragon unit offers flexible power options.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Basic Coatings unveils the Power Dragon 26 Dust Containment Vacuum. The unit uses three powerful two-stage motors so that multiple sanders and floor machines can run at the same time. These motors run independently of each other, which allows...

8 Packaging from Mirage gets a bit greener.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Mirage hardwood flooring from Boa-Franc is now packaged in cartons made using 100 percent recycled cardboard. The sustainable packaging "boasts the same density and durability as our previous boxes," the company notes. In another nod to the...

Nafco LVT installation offers 'Quik-Stik' ease.(Products)
October 1, 2007... Nafco luxury vinyl tile is available with Quik-Stik. These tiles feature a factory-applied adhesive designed to provide easy and fast installation for do-it-yourselfers. Nafco tiles are available at three price points: Good Living, Better...

Ceramic tile tips for retailers.(Tile & Stone)
October 1, 2007... Today more than ever, the world's ceramic tile community rightly insists that its products be considered as an installed system. They fully recognize that tile doesn't serve its purpose or demonstrate its capabilities until it's not only...