Floor Covering Installer articles from March 2005

Floor Covering Installer archives from March 2005

Pat Fell--1953-2005: the passing of an installation icon.(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... Pat Fell's death January 21 at the age of 52 touched people throughout the industry. He had fought cancer for nearly two years. The weekend before his death his fellow members of L. Fishman & Son brought the industry together for a dinner...

Stairwell from hell.(You Make the Call)
March 1, 2005... Many of the problems we have in the floor covering industry seem to repeat themselves over and over. One such area is the installation of vinyl and/or rubber stair treads over pan pored/formed concrete stairwells. These products are usually...

Fundamentals of good job practices.(BEST JOB PRACTICES)
March 1, 2005... A good floor covering installation results when the right installation products are used by the installer in combination with proper installation practices and a pre-installation visit of the job site. This visit can uncover conditions that did...

Linoleum: call it right, install it right.
March 1, 2005... Every time I hear an installer say he is going to do a "linoleum" job, I cringe. I feel the same way when he says he will install a new "subfloor" on the job, or when he says the job is being installed over "cement," Usually when an installer,...

Installing porcelain tile.(Tile Talk)
March 1, 2005... I want porcelain! Sometimes I wonder if a tile conversation with a potential purchaser starts any other way anymore. Well, the porcelain craze certainly has been great for the tile industry. No question porcelain tile is getting a continually...

Selling you.(A Carpet Installer's Notebook)
March 1, 2005... Yes that is a new picture. The other one was 10 years old. Installers are a tough crowd, you know, and I got tired of saying, "No, that is not a picture of my younger brother." So here I am in all my gray-haired glory. Is that going to stop you...

Set expectations when you set wood flooring.(NOFMA Tip Sheet)
March 1, 2005... Nobody wants dents and scratches in their wood flooring. It doesn't matter if you're the consumer, the contractor, the retailer or the distributor. But dents and scratches happen. When they happen, they've got to be addressed. ...

Installation topics get the spotlight at Surfaces 2005.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... Jim Walker, founding president of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), became the first installer to be inducted into the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame. He was lauded at a special...

WSFCA readies for sixth annual Installation Expo.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... The Washington State Floor Covering Association (WSFCA) will hold its sixth annual Installation Trades Expo and second annual Installation Contest, 1 to 6 p.m. May 18 at the Renton Community Center. Manufacturers will showcase their latest...

DriTac names two new regional sales managers.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... DriTac Adhesive Group has appointed Frank Lazzara and Randy Moore as regional sales managers. Lazzara is responsible for sales and service in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada region. He currently owns his own wood flooring sales agency,...

In memoriam: A.L "Bud" Greenbaum, Jr.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... Las Vegas pioneer distributor A.L. "Bud" Greenbaum, Jr. passed away after a long illness Jan 31. He was 76 years old. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Born Aug. 28, 1928, in Los Angeles, Greenbaum was the son of A.L. Greenbaum, a distributor of...

Hardwood flooring shipments reach nearly 637 million board feet in '04, says NOFMA.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... Hardwood flooring shipments reached nearly 673 million board feet in 2004, the highest level since 1966, according to NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association. The level reflects a steady upward trend in flooring shipments that has...

Tile industry Partners tile 24 homes with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... Members of the tile industry, working through Tile Partners for Humanity, donated tile, setting materials, tile tools, cleaners, sealers and installation labor and training for 24 Habitat for Humanity homes in Indianapolis in conjunction with...

Turbo offers full line of Heat Welding Tools.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Turbo Heat Welding Tools offers a full line of products, including the Turbo Caddy, an automatic welding machine. The caddy works with both Leister and Zinzer guns, and welds 13 to 16 feet per minute. When the operator is finished welding...

Roberts releases MultiBond Repositionable Double Faced Tape.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Roberts introduces the new MulitBond Repositionable Double Faced Tape, engineered to provide a superior bond even on rough or uneven surfaces. This specially formulated tape can be used on flooring, baseboards, hardwood, cove base, quarter...

EZ Pro Injector new from Hardwood Industry.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Hardwood Industry presents the EZ Pro Injector, a heavy-duty injection system designed for hardwood flooring. Glue is formulated to penetrate a 1/16-inch drilled hole, which fills the hollow and eliminates detection, according to the company....

HighPro debuts its AS-4090 pneumatic stapler.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... HighPro introduces the Model AS-4090 pneumatic, tongue-and-groove stapler, designed to staple down 5/16- to 5/8-inch thick engineered and solid flooring. The AS-4090 drives 1-, 1 1/4-, and 1 1/2-inch, 18 gauge quarter-inch narrow crown staples,...

Oneida Vac Systems introduces Floor Dust Containment System.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Oneida Vac System compact and portable 110V, 99.9 percent filtered Floor Dust Containment System easily attaches to your machine, the company says. The system uses up to 100 feet of hose, and operates as a sander and edger simultancously. All...

Tramex's CRH moisture meter combines four testing modes.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Tramex's CRH moisture and relative humidity meter combines four testing modes: moisture content; internal relative humidity in concrete to ASTM F2170; surface relative humidity; and ambient relative humidity, temperature and dew point. The CRH...

MAPEI Planitop 25 is a flowable structural repair mortar.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... MAPEI has designed Planitop 25 as a flowable, cementitious, structural repair mortar. This shrinkage-compensated mortar is flowable and can be poured on slabs. The self-leveling characteristics make it excellent for treating concrete surface...

Seam Master's Koolglide System by Nexicor.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Seam Master Industries, in partnership with Nexicor, introduces the new Koolglide System for carpet seaming. A seam is made by running the iron on top of the carpet. The tape is heated and the seam is made utilizing Nexicor's patented induction...

Delmhorst Instrument Co. presents BD-2100 Flooring Package.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Delmhorst Instrument Co. introduces the BD-2100 Flooring Package, designed to meet the needs of the flooring professional. The package includes the BD-2100 moisture meter, 26-ES slide hammer and a rugged carrying case. [ILLUSTRATION...

SureSeal provides spray and go application.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... SureSeal Grout & Tile Sealer allows for spray and go application, according to the company. Advanced resins in the product are meant to seal damp grout within minutes. According to Sureseal, the Grout & Tile Sealer provides effective protection...

Dependable presents new line of hot-melt carpet seam tapes.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Dependable Chemical Co. presents a new line of hot-melt carpet seam tapes produced in 3- and 4- inch widths. These new tapes feature smoke-free and nearly odorless hot-melt technology, according to the company. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Powernail's Model 50P can use Powercleats nails.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Powernail Co. has released its Model 50P Mallet Actuated Pneumatic T&G Powernailer. It comes in either 125 or 200 nail capacities, operates between 80 to 100 PSI and weights 10.2 pounds with the longer nail channel. The Model 50P can also use...

DTI introduces its Diamond Laser 5000 Band Saw.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Diamond Tech International (DTI) presents its Diamond Laser 5000 Diamond-Bladed Wet Band Saw. According to the company, cuts made with this saw are comparable to those made with waterjet technology. Circle 348 on the Reader Inquiry Card. ...

SI Flooring Systems manufactures SoftBac Platinum backing.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... SI Flooring Systems manufactures SoftBac Platinum backing for residential carpet. According to the company, the double-built foundation SoftBac Platinum system is designed to make carpet look better and last longer. Circle 281 on the Reader...

Mark E. Industries introduces Stringa-Level.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Stringa-Level is a reusable ledger board system that combines rigid and flexible interlocking sections to produce a continuous, level support shelf on which to stack tile, cabinets and more. Built-in bubble levels to assure accuracy around...

Carpet Shims and Universal Side Shims available.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Carpet Shims manufactures Carpet Shims and Universal Side Shims, which are designed to eliminate height differences from carpeted floors to ceramic or hardwood. Carpet Shims and Universal Side Shims are available in a wide range of sizes....

Lenox Gold utility knife available in two versions.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... The Lenox Gold utility knife features a titanium-coated stainless steel nose. Available in retractable and fixed versions, Lenox's patented, one-piece fixture is engineered to eliminate spreading. Circle 346 on the Reader Inquiry Card. ...

National develops battery-operated binders.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... National Carpet Equipment now offers battery-operated binders. Battery operation allows for the machines to be portable without any cords getting in the way, according to National. The company's complete line of binding equipment will be...

Lignomat offers its Professional Package P-6.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Lignomat USA Ltd. now manufactures a Professional Package P-6 which includes a pinless meter for quick-scan of large areas, a pin meter to locate the source of the problem, two types of electrodes (to measure building materials and the...

Orcon rolls out its Tool Box with Wheels.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Orcon presents the Tool Box with Wheels, the company's newest addition to its carpet installation tool line. The 27-pound tool box is fitted with non-marring wheels a pull-handle for easy rolling, and features a built-in vented seam weight on...

Innovatech unveils Orbiter grinders and polishers.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Innovatech introduces its Orbiter line of planetary head floor grinders and polishers. The Orbiter line will complement Innovatech's existing single-and dual-head grinder lines. The Orbiter machines are available in three sizes and power...

Wagner's Rapid RH engineered for moisture testing.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... The Rapid RH is Wagner Electronic's newest moisture tester for concrete floors. The Rapid RH combines a moisture sensor, power supply and display in one small, disposable device which is inserted into the concrete floor slab. According to the...

Schluter shower tray now comes with removable center.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... The Schluter Kerdi-Shower-ST prefabricated. pre-sloped shower tray now features a detachable center section that can be placed below the bonding flange to dry fit the company's Kerdi-Drain to the appropriate height. This method is designed to...

AdvantEdge edger new from BonaKemi.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... BonaKemi's AdvantEdge edger is designed to offer smooth operation, efficiency and easy maintenance, according to the company. The AdvantEdge machine is meant to be used with BonaKemi's DCS system or bag. Circle 337 on the Reader Inquiry Card....

Wagner Electronics releases MMC/MMI moisture meters.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Wagner Electronics announces the release of their MMC/MMI Series moisture meters. This new line of handheld meters was designed for use by flooring professionals, wood product manufacturers, serious woodworkers and hobbyists, and anyone who...

Custom Building Products unveils its platinum notch trowel.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Custom Building Products has released its new platinum notch trowel, featuring a patent-pending notch pattern allowing for greater contact while requiring less pressure, according to the company. The notch pattern also provides a more...

Sinclair introduces new Stripper and blade.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Sinclair Equipment Co. introduces the Extro Stripper, a self-drive machine equipped with the company's new Pull-Back-System--designed to automatically disengage the wheels as soon as the handle is pulled back. A 1/4-inch thick, 14-inch heavy...

Shower base installation made easy.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Mark E. Industries designs "Goof Proof" products to speed the construction of shower floors and curbs. Quick Pitch is a float stick system that creates the 1/4-inch/per ft. slope needed for proper floor drainage quickly and easily. Reliable in...

Fluid Forms introduces Patella Pockets for kneepads.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Fluid Forms Inc. presents its Patella Pockets gel inserts, designed to give life to old kneepads. Patella Pockets are advanced inserts using patent-pending bubble gel to provide exceptional comfort, according to the company. Patella Pockets fit...

Premier's seam tapes use Exclusive hot melt technology.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... Premier's high-performance carpet seam tapes features Exclusive hot melt technology with extra-heavy beaded hot melt. The technology guarantees that Premier's tapes feature extremely low VOC's, low odor and next to no smoke, according to the...

Thermosoft offers its radiant floor heating mat to installers.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... 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 quick installation. Mats can be cut and turned to fit any space. The 1/2-inch...

James Hardie's Hardibacker designed to resist moisture.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... James Hardie's Hardibacker fiber-cement backerboard is designed to resist moisture and mold. Hardibacker board is easy to install, according to the company--just score and snap. Hardibacker backerboard is 1/4-inch thick. Circle 344 on the...

TAVY Enterprises introduces colored tile spacers.(Products, Tools & Accessories)
March 1, 2005... TAVY Enterprises, LLC, has added a line of colored top-set tile spacers available in 7 color coded sizes: 1/32-inch lemon yellow, 1/16-inch celery green, 3/32-inch plum purple, 1/8-inch snow white, 3/16-inch sky blue, 1/4-inch citrus orange and...

FCICA's quick guide to concrete moisture testing.(FCICA NEWS)
March 1, 2005... A common question that comes in to our FCICA "TechNet" help center is, "What method should I use to test for moisture?" Here are four of the most common methods. 1. The plastic sheet test was a very common test for a long time, but is now...

Carpet.(Installation Training Clinics & Schools)
March 1, 2005... Dupont and Mohawk are sponsoring CFI Certification seminars nationwide. For details, call (800) 248-8582, ext. 239. Lees Carpet Institute ensures that installers get personal training to receive Lees' highest level of certification....

Showcase.(Installation Training Clinics & Schools)
March 1, 2005... Bona USA Sand & Finish Training offers comprehensive class work and handson training in sanding and floor preparation, staining, sealing and finishing, troubleshooting problem floors, sales and customer relations, and also machine operation and...

Wood.(Installation Training Clinics & Schools)
March 1, 2005... AFS Advanced Flooring Specialists is a school that provides training for dealers, distributors, manufacturers and inspectors. For information, contact Fred Gamble at 530-888-1217 or at fggamble@pacbell.net. The National Wood Flooring...

Tile & stone.(Installation Training Clinics & Schools)
March 1, 2005... Aqua Mix has announced the 2003 schedule for the Independent Care & Maintenance Applicator program. The program will offer a wide range of training and techniques to its students. Upon completion of the course, the trained applicators will be...

Laminate/resilient.(Installation Training Clinics & Schools)
March 1, 2005... Amtico International conducts a Floor Installation Training School. Classes are limited to 14 people per session. For details, call (404) 267-1900. Domco provides a number of training methods to provide education on installation of all its...

Underlayment/subfloor.(Installation Training Clinics & Schools)
March 1, 2005... Ardex Training Programs have set a well-known standard, providing up-to-date technical information and installation techniques that are foremost in keeping flooring professionals competitive and profitable. Ardex training combines a...

Multiple subjects.(Installation Training Clinics & Schools)
March 1, 2005... Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI) presents two, two-day courses: an estimating and measuring course and an installation-for-the-inspector course. The first course is designed to provide entry-level training for those interested in...

Education and communication are your tools of success.(CFI REPORT)
March 1, 2005... The CARPET INSTALLATION CHECKLIST is your tool for being prepared when problems arise on the jobsite. Try as we will, they do happen. If the work was professionally performed, the installers who possess the ability to communicate because they...