Floor Covering Installer articles from January 2007

Floor Covering Installer archives from January 2007

Howard Olansky: July 22, 1928-December 19, 2006: "We will greatly miss his profound wisdom, sharp wit, and loyal friendship.".(In Memoriam)
January 1, 2007... Our industry lost a giant in mid-December, and we lost a dear friend. Howard Olansky, a highly respected journalist and publisher who devoted his career to the flooring industry, passed away following a brief illness. He was 78. A forceful...

Details and what they entail II.(Resilient: You Make the Call)
January 1, 2007... Welcome one and all, to the big show! For those of you attending Surfaces you know your feet will complain and your wallets may be drained. But remember you are here to look, listening and learn about new products and proper applications. ...

Fine tuning wood flooring and radiant heating systems.(Wood: NOFMA Tip Sheet)
January 1, 2007... In a previous article (FCI March 2003), we gave some general guidelines about solid wood flooring and radiant heating systems. We talked of the expectation of additional seasonal gapping associated with the heating system, about the need to...

Don't let your profits go down the drain!(Ceramic: Ceramic Tile Education Foundation: Tile Talk)
January 1, 2007... New home construction has slowed down substantially in most parts of the United States. With it has gone some of the easy money many have enjoyed for years by just doing floor work. But, a good number of installers have continued to enjoy a...

Shopping for moisture control systems.
January 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Having spent the last five plus years immersed in the subject of moisture problems in concrete and how to best control them, I have had the privilege of learning from and sharing information with the most esteemed...

Floor leveling installation.
January 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In a previous article (October 2006), we discussed substrate preparation and material selection. We will continue this discussion with material installation. Self-Leveling Materials Flow Once the substrate...

More on the Blue Book.(Carpet: A Carpet Installer's Notebook)
January 1, 2007... I've talked to a few fellows who had read my last column about the Blue Book pricing guide, which by the way is not the same organization as Kelly Blue Book for cars, my mistake, sorry. Most thought it was a great idea, but... it will never...

NWFA conducts environmental impact study on solid hardwood flooring.(Industry News)
January 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As particular products have received increased attention in recent decades regarding their impacts on human health and the physical environment, the National Wood Flooring Association Industry Research Foundation...

INSTALL installs a new training facility.(Industry News)
January 1, 2007... For providing hands-on-training, new equipment and various job site mock-ups, floor covering professionals of the International Standards and Training Alliance (INSTALL) now have a training center in the Chicago region, called INSTALL Chicago....

BonaKemi consolidates headquarter offices, additional geographical changes follow.(Industry News)
January 1, 2007... In efforts to increase both efficiency and capacity, BonaKemi USA has recently transferred its Aurora, Colo.-based headquarter offices to a new Aurora location. According to the hardwood floor finishing company, the move is a direct response to...

Concrete and moisture creating a 'hot topic'.(Industry News)
January 1, 2007... In combating current moisture and concrete problems, more than a hundred fl ooring and concrete professionals gathered recently at the "Hot Topics" session during the American Concrete Institute (ACI) fall convention in Denver, Colo. The...

Tarkett and Kraus merge Midwest operations.(Industry News)
January 1, 2007... With an eye on merging their respective sales, customer service and logistics operations in the Midwest, Tarkett and Kraus Carpet Mills have begun a joint venture. The new carpet and fiber manufacturing company, Kraus, will be headquartered in...

INSTALL.(People)
January 1, 2007... John T. McGrath, Jr. has been appointed as the new director of INSTALL. McGrath replaces a retiring James P. Schmid, the company's first director. A 24-year veteran of the flooring industry, McGrath will be expanding INSTALL's alliance program...

Mynor Perez will serve on the floorcovering industry's International Labor-Management Committee, a group sponsored by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.(People)
January 1, 2007... Mynor Perez will serve on the floorcovering industry's International Labor-Management Committee, a group sponsored by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Perez, a business agent of UBC Local Union 2168, has worked as a commercial flooring...

Distributor appointments.(Industry News)
January 1, 2007... Flexco announces its newest full product-line distributor, Southland Flooring Supplies. Southland Flooring Supplies, with multiple locations in Illinois, will carry the full line of Flexco product offerings to its distribution network in and...

Gorilla Guard from Better Tools, resistant to extreme conditions.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 314 Better Tools BETTER TOOLS' GORILLA GUARD [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Gorilla Guard from Better Tools is a lightweight, non-marking toe guard designed to protect the toe area from premature wearing of expensive work boots. The...

Carpet Shims: discover the underlying difference.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 354 Carpet Shims CARPET SHIMS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 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...

Dayton's new Sure Finish: exceptionally smooth results.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 358 Dayton Superior Corp. DAYTON SUPERIOR'S SURE FINISH [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sure Finish, new from Dayton Superior, is a polymer-modified feather finish packaged in 10- and 25-pound resealable pails. Sure Finish is designed to...

Multiple turnkey options available from The Master's Touch.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 352 The Master's Touch THE MASTER'S TOUCH [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Master's Touch has developed its line of tools and power units for tile and grout restoration. The company's restoration tools can help end-users achieve the...

Lam-Hammer introduces new installation tool.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 356 Lam-Hammer LAM-HAMMER [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lam-Hammer introduces an installation tool for laminate or engineered floors. Retailers-thwart problems before they occur while reducing installation time by 25%! Provide your...

Unfinished floors highlight Buchanan's Elite brand.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 350 Buchanan Hardwoods BUCHANAN HARDWOODS PLANT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Buchanan Hardwoods has taken the wraps off of the Elite brand of quality hardwood flooring. the company offers a wide range of flooring including 2 1/4", 3...

Taylor Tools offers multiple binding with Instabind.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 308 Taylor Tools TAYLOR TOOLS' NEW INSTABIND [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Taylor Tools has rolled out its latest product, Instabind. The product binds carpet on-site without machinery, according to the company. Instabind converts...

Adjustable Master Rac tool new from Racatac Products.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 342 Racatac Products Inc. RACATAC PRODUCTS' MASTER RAC [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Racatac Products Inc. presents the Master Rac, a rolling tool for installers that features three configurations. The Master Rac features double-padded,...

Four different blade sizes with Turbo's Master TURBO Groover.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 326 Leo Martinez Enterprises TURBO HEAT WELDING TOOLS' MASTER TURBO GROOVER [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TURBO Heat Welding Tools says that their Master TURBO Groover is the only groover in the world that can groove all the way to the...

Lignomat's mini-Ligno S/D loaded with features.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 334 Lignomat LIGNOMAT'S MINI-LIGNO S/D [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lignomat introduces the mini-Ligno S/D for wood and non-wood building materials such as drywall and gypsum. The meter features a digital read out, two wood species...

TURBO's Super Turbo Nozzle packed with pre-heating jets.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 324 Leo Martinez Enterprises TURBO HEAT WELDING TOOLS' SUPER TURBO NOZZLE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TURBO Heat Welding Tools' Super TURBO Nozzle welds approximately 10' per minute, three times faster than conventional speed tips, the...

Custom's RedGard creates continuous barrier.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 338 Custom Building Products CUSTOM'S APPLICATION OF REDGARD [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RedGard Waterproofing and Crack Prevention Membrane from Custom Building Products is a ready-to-use elastomeric waterproofing and crack prevention...

The Sinclair Automatic Welding Machine for multiple floor products.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 336 Sinclair Equip SINCLAIR EQUIP'S SINCLAIR AUTOMATIC WELDING MACHINE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new Sinclair Automatic Welding Machine by Sinclair Equip aims for precise, continuous and thermoplastic floor welding. According to...

MoistureBloc eliminates flooring failure due to moisture in concrete.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 302 Vexcon MOISTUREBLOC [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Reduce moisture vapor to 3 lbs. or less with a single coat of MoistureBloc One Step. This product is easy to apply, has minimal odor and a low per-square-foot-cost. MoistureBloc One...

Delmhorst's TotalCheck meter features three-in-one function.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 300 Delmhorst Instrument Co. DELMHORST'S TOTAL CHECK METER [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New for flooring installers, general contractors, home inspectors and IAQ specialists is TotalCheck, Delmhorst Instrument Co.'s latest moisture...

Proknee presents Model 07.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 328 Proknee PROKNEE'S NEW MODEL 07 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Proknee' s new Model 07 kneepad includes an anti-twist molded in cuff that wraps around 9" of the lower leg. Foam inserts are available in 1" and 5/8" thickness throughout...

Tramex's CMExpert suited for pre- and post-installation.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 332 Tramex TRAMEX'S CMEXPERT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tramex's has taken the wraps off its new multi-purpose moisture meter, CMExpert. The product combines nondestructive moisture and humidity measurement for concrete, gypsum and...

Chemrex/BASF The Chemical Company introduces LevelPrep finishing underlayment.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 304 Chemrex/BASF CHEMREX/BASF LEVELPREP UNDERLAYMENT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chemrex/BASF The Chemical Company recently launched ChemRex/BASF LevelPrep, a polymer-modified, Portland cement-based finishing underlayment designed with...

Gripper Edge makes carpet tack strip for the professional carpet installer.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 322 Southern Cross SOUTHERN CROSS' GRIPPER EDGE TACK STRIP [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company thoroughly tests and controls the quality of the product. Having invested thousands of dollars in the tack strip machines, Gripper Edge...

Thermosoft offers its radiant floor heating mat to installers.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 316 Thermosoft THERMOLE[TM] FROM THERMOSOFT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The system has zero EMF and offers a lifetime warranty. Thermosoft's 1/8-inch, contractor-grade heating mats are designed to minimize floor height and lay flat for...

Mer-Krete's new Thin-Set self-cures without evaporation.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 320 Mer-Krete MER-KRETE'S NEW THIN-SET 801 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mer-Krete Systems, a subsidiary of Mer-Kote Products, Inc., has introduced its new self-curing Thin-Set 801. According to the company, Thin-Set 801 does not require...

Carpet Shims' Extend-A-Shims provide hard-to-sub-floor taper.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 312 Carpet Shims CARPET SHIMS' EXTEND-A-SHIMS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carpet Shims' new Extend-A-Shims is available in 5/8" by 6" by 48", 1/2" by 6" by 48" and 3/8" by 6" by 48". According to the company, Extend-A-Shims meets ADA...

MDF Laminate Floor Mouldings by Loxcreen's Bengard.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 318 Loxcreen Flooring Group LOXCREEN/BENGARD'S MDF LAMINATE FLOOR MOULDINGS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Loxcreen Flooring Group's Bengard Manufacturing has announced its MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) Laminate Floor Mouldings. For...

Single Disc Grind and Scrape presented by National Carpet.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
January 1, 2007... 310 NCE NCE SINGLE DISC GRIND AND SCRAPE [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] National Carpet Equipment, Inc.'s Single Disc Grind and Scrape removes mastics, thin coatings, epoxies, urethanes, thinset, high spots and textures slippery floor...

Step lightly: questions to ask and tips for installing resilient stair treads.(Resilient: Let's Talk Resilient)
January 1, 2007... If you have never installed resilient stair treads before, there are a few questions to ask before even pricing out the job and a number of things to know about stair treads before you start the job. Like any product that is new to you, it may...

Trammel points.(Resilient: Namba's World)
January 1, 2007... So what are they and how do they help installers? Trammel points are two sliding points with a beam. The beam is generally a straight section of wood cut to fit the trammel points (Photo 1). The length of the beam can vary depending on the size...

Inside corner installation: flat pattern template method.(Resilient: Resilient Installation Corner)
January 1, 2007... Photo 1--This photo shows the inside corner with the cove stick and metal cap strip installed. Note the miter of the inside corner is done precisely. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Photo 2--Illustrates the dimensions for the "T" template....

Embracing the technological edge.(GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS)
January 1, 2007... As a contractor, I was always looking for an edge over my competition. Often that included expanding my services to meet an end-user's needs or being more competitive than the other bidders. In order to be competitive, you typically have to be...

The harsh brilliance of hindsight.(On the Floor)
January 1, 2007... Undoubtedly, all of us who have chosen to make our living as installation mechanics have our stories to tell about the various challenges we have run across in the course of doing what we do. Some involve material. Some involve people. Most...