Floor Covering Installer articles from September 2001

Floor Covering Installer archives from September 2001

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
September 1, 2001... RE: 2000 Installation Excellence Awards Grand Prize Winner I thought I should drop you a line or two and let you know that my wife Robyn and I had a great trip. Everyone involved in setting the cruise up for us was wonderful. Dear FCI:...

A Question of Excellence.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... "Pool excellence is not about excellent pool. It's about becoming somebody." -- "Fast Eddie" Felson. Excellence can be described as a level of attainment. Excellence is an end-point on which value is placed by the individual, his peers and...

Take a Tour of the Commercial Arena.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... While all professional installers possess skills that apply to both commercial and residential installations, each segment has areas that require a certain expertise. The general rule is that commercial products will be heavier, denser, thicker...

Stair Stretchers and Risers on the Loose.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Stair stretchers are an important part of the installation process. In planning this article I was reminded of the problem of weak risers. As one of the stair stretchers examined here works like a power stretcher and braces off the riser like a...

Marble Moments.(Marble installations are discussed.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Marble installations, when done correctly, are a source of pride and beauty. Marble is a long-lasting finishing product; however, it requires proper maintenance to retain its good looks. As marble continues to grow in popularity, it is very...

Know When to Step Lightly.(Advice for managing customer complaints is given.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Mrs. Crackle phones her retailer 18 months after her vinyl floor was installed. She says her perimeter-bonded vinyl floor covering has cracks, gouges, cuts and wrinkles "all over the place." After inspecting the problem, the retailer calls...

Adding Removal to the Installation Equation.
September 1, 2001... Floor covering removal is a necessary step in a majority of installations; both residential and commercial. FCI convened a round-table of manufacturers to explore the latest advances and look at what is available to installation professionals...

THE INDUSTRY TAKES UNIFIED STANCE ON CONCRETE MOISTURE VAPOR TESTING.(new position statement on Moisture Emission Testing)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The June 2000 issue of National Floor Trends magazine, FCI's sister publication, took a hard-nosed position in a column in which I asked why flooring installers, contractors and dealers were still being held responsible/accountable for...

Large Format Tile Installation.
September 1, 2001... Porcelain tiles have always been prized because they are stain-proof, impervious to moisture, freeze/thaw stable and highly resistant to wear. One drawback, however, is that most porcelain tiles are traditionally rather small. One-inch square...

The Trials and Tribulations of a Laminate Border and Inset Installation.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The "Looking at Laminate" article in the July/August issue of FCI introduced some tools and features that have evolved in the laminate industry to make installation faster, easier and more accurate. I recently had a revelation that writing...

CFI Unveils the Installation Assurance Program.(International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... CFI is proud to announce a program designed to achieve a "hassle-free" flooring experience: the Installation Assurance Program (IAP), including the new Installer Friendly Seal. The IAP is the consumer-product evaluation division of CFI. It...

How to Minimize Complaints.(floor covering installation business )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... These days, it seems that the main topic of discussion when two or more people involved in the floor covering installation business have a conversation is always "How can we reduce or minimize complaints?" I'd like to report that I have...

"Installers Needed".(floor coverings)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Have you ever seen this ad in your local paper? You should, because there are obviously not enough installers to go around. The shortage has existed for more than the 45 years that I have been in the industry. When I refer to installers, I...

Opportunities for Learning.(Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Moving forward into the first year of the new millennium, the Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association is proud to be part of what seems to be one of the holdout groups of a declining "boom economy" Many of us have recently completed...

SPACE OPENS NEW BRANCH.(Space Flooring Supplies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Space Flooring Supplies of Atlanta recently opened the company's 14th branch in Savannah, Ga. Space Flooring will stock its full line of installation supplies and carpet padding in the 9,000-square-foot facility. The company's product stock...

DRITAC APPOINTS NEW SALES MANAGERS.(Wade R. Verble, Derrick Cooper)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... DriTac Adhesive Group recently made two additions to its sales staff. The company named Wade R. Verble national sales manager; of DriTac brand wood flooring adhesives. In his new position, Verble will be responsible for sales and marketing of...

TAYLOR TOOLS NAMES TECHNICAL SERVICES MANAGER.(Andrew Smith)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Andrew Smith recently joined Taylor Tools as the company's technical services manager southeast. Smith will be responsible for providing sales and marketing services to Taylor Tools distributors in the South and Southeastern regions of the...

JERNIGAN JOINS ALL PURPOSE.(Sharon Jernigan, All Purpose Adhesive Company)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... All Purpose Adhesive Company (APAC) of Dalton, Ga. recently appointed Sharon Jernigan marketing manager for APAC and Premier Tape Products. Jernigan will be responsible for marketing and advertising for the company's adhesive and seam products....

WHEELABRATOR OFFERS TRAINING PROGRAMS.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Wheelabrator recently began offering operations and maintenance training. The regional training sessions teach participants the relationship between surface preparation equipment components, preventative maintenance practices and tips on...

PERMA-TECH PROMOTES KENWORTHY.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Perm-Tech has named Tim Kenworthy to vice president of sales. He is responsible for overseeing a sales force that recruits new contractors for Perma-Tech's expanding Industrial Coatings Division, as well as assisting existing PermaTech...

TCA RECOGNIZES KLEINHANS AS TILE MAN OF THE YEAR.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Tile Council of America (TCA) presented Robert Kleinhans with the Tile Man of the Year award at the opening ceremony for Coverings 2001 in New Orleans. Kleinhans began his career at TCA as a lab technician and was later promoted to...

Custom Building launches power saw line.(Custom Building Products' SuperiorBilt line of power saws)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Custom Building Products has introduced its new SuperiorBilt line of power saws. The company's line can be used for cutting ceramic and porcelain tile, marble, granite and stone. SuperiorBilt power saws include 10-inch wet cutting table saws,...

Protimeter MMS Moisture Meter features data logging.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Protimeter North America recently developed a data logging function for its MMS Moisture Measurement System. Data from the system can be uploaded to a Windows-based PC. The MMS Moisture Measurement System is a hand-held instrument that detects...

Armstrong formulates linoleum adhesive.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Armstrong recently added S-760 Linoleum Adhesive to its line of flooring adhesives. The adhesive can be used with Armstrong's commercial linoleum sheet flooring and Linoplan, the company's line of dimensionally stable linoleum tile. When used...

E-Z Cut improves Slitter.(E-Z Slitter Jr, automatic carpet-base cutting machine)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... E-Z Cut recently made changes to the E-Z Slitter Jr., an automatic carpet-base cutting machine with a counter attachment. The E-Z Slitter Jr. now measures how much carpet base is being cut. The product features four adjustable stainless steel...

N.A.C. gives product new took.(National Applied Construction Products' new packaging for ECB Crack Suppression Membrane)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... National Applied Construction Products recently changed the packaging for the company's ECB Crack Suppression Membrane. With the new packaging, the company clearly differentiates boxes of 36-inch rolls and of 12-inch rolls. The company also...

PNI offers new nailer.(Model 462 16-Gauge Finish Nailer)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... PNI's Model 462 16-Gauge Finish Nailer features a quick-release nose for clearing jammed nails and a fastener range of 1 to 2.5 inches, and 16-guage galvanized. The nailer's adjustable depth of drive allows for flush drive or precision...

Moisture in Concrete Slabs Methods of Moisture Testing for Concrete Video.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Designed to prevent costly floor covering failures by understanding the causes of moisture in concrete slabs, PCA's video uses real-world examples to review available test methods - including an in-depth look at the new ASTM standard on calcium...

Valtech offers Shredder.(tool for removing laminate planks)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Valtech currently offers the Shredder, a tool used to remove a laminate plank. When using the Shredder, before reinstalling the plank, the installer must remove the dry glue, the company says.

Dependable Chemical Co. offers Vaporseal.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Dependable Chemical Co. offers Vaporseal, a two component, moisture tolerant, epoxy-based product that Dependable says blocks liquids and alkalinity while retarding the transmission of moisture, odor and other elements through concrete slabs....

Southland adds ceramic mastic.(Southland Flooring Supplies' Southland 2170 Multi Purpose Ceramic Tile Mastic)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Southland Flooring Supplies recently added Southland 2170 Multi Purpose Ceramic Tile Mastic to their product line. The new ceramic tile mastic is nonflammable, nonstaining and, according to Southland, easy to clean up. Southland 2170 is...

Powernail releases replacement kits.(Powernailer Replacement Parts Kits)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Powernail Co. Inc. recently released its new line of Powernailer Replacement Parts Kits. Each kit is nailer-and task-specific. The company created 10 tune-up kits, 12 overhaul kits and four miscellaneous kits for all current Powernailers and...

TEC unveils self-leveling underlayment.(TEC Specialty Products Inc.'s new product is discussed.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... TEC Specialty Products Inc. recently introduced Smooth Start, a cement-based underlayment that dries to a walkable surface in four hours or less. According to the company, Smooth Start is designed to level from featheredge to 1-inch deep in a...

TLC offers layout tool.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... TLC Installations now offers the Universal Layout Bar, an installation tool that, according to the company, makes it easier to lay tile in small areas. The tool is made of steel and features two spacers in 3/16-inch and 1/4-inch sizes. The...

Chapco prints new catalog.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Chapco recently published the company's Adhesives & Installation Supply Products catalog. The 18-page catalog provides information about Chapco's floor covering adhesives, seaming rapes and floor preparation products. The catalog also includes...

Premier Tape launches new line.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Premier Tape Products recently launched a new line of hot melt carpet seam tapes. The line includes tape made for various carpet installations from light residential to extra heavy commercial traffic. The seam tape in the new line is available...

Fluidmaster releases Wax-Free Bowl Gasket.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Fluidmaster has developed the Wax-Free Bowl Gasket that, according to the company, fits on any surface in any temperature and can be readjusted during installation. The bowl gasket also fits all drain pipes and has a ten-year warranty. The...

Dependable introduces mixer, pump.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Dependable Chemical Co. recently released a self-contained dual mixer/pump for the company's self-leveling underlayment products. With two mixing pots, the unit can simultaneously prepare one batch while pumping another batch. Hoses, mixing...