Floor Covering Installer Jan-Feb 2011

JAN/FEB 2011

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L VE WWW.FCIMAG.COM

What is a Conventional Shower? p. 14 The Art of Installing Patterned Carpet p. 22 How Moisture and Humidity Affect Installation of Wood Flooring p. 28

The environment can count on us

Thanks to your support, MAPEI’s alliance with American Forests’ Global Releaf Program has resulted in the planting of more than 200,000 trees in 2010. While MAPEI’s commitment to the environment has been the standard of the construction industry for many years, this program “plants” our reputation firmly in the ground for years to come. Your purchases of MAPEI’s Ultrabond ECO urethane adhesives have aided reforestation efforts that help to fight climate change, keep drinking water clean, provide habitats for wildlife and provide a better, greener world.

All of MAPEI’s Ultrabond ECO ® urethane wood-flooring adhesives are now formulated with “rapidly renewable” raw materials.

Come visit us at SURFACES 2011 *ANUARY¬¬n¬¬s¬Booth # B7950 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV

CIRCLE 35

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Personna is proud to introduce a new line or 13 carpet tools made for the professional installer. With new handle designs, improved features and top-notch construction, these tools are built to last. And built to perform. So when your reputation depends on it, reach for Personna. CIRCLE 1

To find a Personna dealer near you, call 1-800

336-4061

Jan/Feb 2011 Q Volume 18, No. 1

F eatures On the cover: Photo courtesy of Pam Fastening Technology.

FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER Volume 18, Issue 1 (ISSN 1099-9647) is published 7 times annually, Jan/Feb, Mar/ Apr, May/Jun, Jul, Aug/Sep, Oct/Nov and Dec, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 22801 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364. Telephone: (818) 224-8035, Fax: (818) 224-8042. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $115.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $149.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $165.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2011, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER, P.O. Box 2149, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or KalbA@ bnpmedia.com.

All FCI “How-To” articles are written to provide insight into some of the key steps, tools and accessories required to professionally carry out the subject technique or installation. Be sure to obtain the product manufacturer’s installation/specification manuals and follow the company’s recommendations. More detailed and product-specific information is available through industry training schools, clinics, seminars and certification programs.

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14 22 28

What is a Conventional Shower?

38

Vinyl Tile Installation

Conventional shower stalls are the most common source of tile installation failures; however, modern waterproofing materials make it possible to avoid these types of costly mistakes. Dave Gobis explains how a conventional shower stall should be properly constructed.

The Art of Installing Patterned Carpet Compared to installation of other types of carpet, installation of patterned carpet will in most cases require additional time, cost and expertise. Robert Varden, president of CFI, offers an in-depth introduction to the basic concepts of patterned carpet installation.

How Moisture and Humidity Affect Installation of Wood Flooring Moisture problems in wood floors can be caused by many different factors, including the interaction between wood and air. Grete Heimerdinger, vice president of Lignomat USA, explains the complex relationship between moisture and wood flooring.

The terminology regarding vinyl tile is often confusing for those in flooring industry, particularly the marketing term “Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT),” which is not a separate category. Christopher Capobianco clears up this common misconception and offers tips on installation of vinyl tile.

D epartments 6 8 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 41 44 47 48 50

On

Editorial Comment NWFA Tip Sheet Surfaces New Product Showcase Industry News Installation Bulletin Green Matters Surfaces Products on Display Resilient Installation Corner CTEF Tile Tip Focus on Laminate Installation Training Clinics and Schools Advertiser Index/Classifieds Products Spotlight Distributor Marketplace

the Web

Pattern Matching Basics, Part 2 How much do you know about pattern matching? Find out with this Web-exclusive quiz.

Check out www.fcimag.com for this column, as well as the latest news and products.

January/February 2011

CIRCLE 41

®

Editorial

by JOHN MOORE

Editorial Staff

Phil Johnson ■ GROUP PUBLISHER [email protected] John Moore ■ EDITOR [email protected] Arpi Nalbandian ■ ASSOCIATE EDITOR [email protected] Rick Arvidson ■ SR. ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Allen ■ PRODUCTION MANAGER

Hard-hit Housing Market Showing Signs of Recovery

Columnists: Michael Hetts, Jon Namba, Mickey Moore, David Gobis, Christopher Capobianco and Ray Thompson.

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List Rental Postal contact: Rob Liska at 800-223-2194 x726 [email protected] Email contact: Shawn Kingston at 800-409-4443-828 [email protected]

AA

fter a three-year slump that has had devastating consequences for those in the floor covering industry, the U.S. housing market is finally showing some encouraging signs of making a recovery. Residential construction spending increased for the third month in a row in November, in all residential categories, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Notably, single-family construction has increased more than 8% from a year earlier. Improvements also increased for the third month in a row, and were up more than 4% from the previous year. While these increases may seem minor, after the drastic reduction seen in the market during the previous two-year period, they are a welcome indicator that the housing market is in the beginning stages of recovery. Looking forward, the NAHB forecasts single-family housing starts to increase significantly in the coming two years. While it will likely be some time before the commercial and multi-family segments of the market increase, any increase is most welcomed at this point in time. All factors considered, it is inevitable that the housing market will see a recovery in the coming years. When it does, there will be a tremendous need for skilled installers, as there is already a shortage in many areas. With unemployment levels hovering at record high levels, it may seem hard to believe that there is a shortage of skilled installers, but that is exactly the case. As older, more skilled installers have retired and left the workforce for other reasons

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such as injury and disability, there haven’t been enough young people training and entering the field to replace them. When the housing recovery comes, will you have the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in this rapidly changing field? If not, now is the time to prepare by learning the latest installation products and the techniques necessary to install them correctly. This issue marks an important time for our industry, as Surfaces, the largest flooring tradeshow in North America, will be held Jan. 25-27 in Las Vegas. In addition to featuring the latest flooring and installation-related products, the show also features numerous installation demonstrations for all types of flooring. For the first time ever, Floor Covering Installer will feature video coverage of the installation-related events at Surfaces, including the latest products, installation demonstrations and interviews with leading figures in the industry as well as some of your favorite FCI columnists. Be sure to visit our web site, www.fcimag.com, during and after the show to see these exclusive videos. We hope this information will help you to be better prepared to compete for the work that will be coming as the housing recovery gains FCI momentum.

John Moore Editor

HENRY® recognized as the #1 preferred adhesives brand by retail dealers for three years in a row! HENRY® has been chosen as the #1 preferred adhesives brand for the third year in a row in annual survey of retail dealers! HENRY® was also recognized in the last two biannual surveys of contract dealers ranking 1st and 2nd respectively. HENRY® has been a trusted dealer partner for over 70 years delivering reliable, high-performance products that reduce the time, cost and risk for all types of flooring installations. HENRY® provides innovative, environmentally friendly, premium products that deliver a distinct competitive advantage and are backed by unmatched customer service, expert technical support, in-depth training and an unwavering commitment to the success and profitability of our loyal customer’s businesses.

Thank you again to the independent retailers for this distinguished recognition! The W.W. Henry Company • 400 Ardex Park Dr. • Aliquippa, PA 15001 Tel: 724-203-8000 • Toll Free: 800-232-4832 • www.wwhenry.com *Surveys conducted by Floor Focus Magazine

CIRCLE 68

NWFA Tip Sheet

by MICKE Y MOORE

Wood Flooring Replacement

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ood flooring replacement assumes that a wood floor is already in place and there is some issue that initiates the option for replacement. What are some of the situations that begin the replacement discussion? • The consumer is not pleased with the look and wants a different floor. • The flooring is too thin for another sanding. • The flooring has buckled. • The flooring is loose and creaks and squeaks. • Extensive pet stains.

The consumer is not pleased with the look of the floor. If the flooring is new, replacement can be pretty straightforward if the wrong flooring was installed. As contractors we have to admit the mistake and replace the flooring with the correct floor. As an aside, we may try to negotiate acceptance of the original floor, but ultimately we are responsible for providing what the consumer ordered. The other

straightforward situation is if the customer wants a completely new floor of a different species or size or construction. Give the customer what they want. Some of the points to consider in this situation are to determine; if the chosen product can perform as intended and if the existing flooring product should be removed before replacement installation. For specialty products such as parquets and engineered wood, always check with the manufacturer for their recommendations for installing over an existing floor. For an existing solid wood floor that is sound, has no performance issues, and a height change is not an issue; a simple change of direction with the new flooring and

or plywood overlay can create a proper subfloor for the new installation. With a plywood overlay, install it on an angle to prevent gaping related to edge joints and fasten it well to the existing floor, generally on a 6-inch to 8-inch grid pattern. In the same category is a new floor with a performance problem. For instance, if there are mis-graded boards or a significant number of defective boards in the new floor; how many boards need replacement is the determining factor. If the replacement number is less than 5% of all the boards then it is likely cost effective to replace the individual boards. In my experience and after asking other professionals, if the number of boards is more than 7%

Right: The sanding process exposed not only the flooring nails, but the groove lip fractured in many areas. This floor is a candidate for replacement.

About the Author

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Mickey Moore is an independent wood flooring consultant. Previously he was the technical director of the Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA). He is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in wood working technology and biology.

January/February 2011

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Left: An excessive moisture condition, standing water in the crawl space, resulted in this buckled floor. Since this was a new floor, salvage was not an option and the flooring had to be replaced.

then an entire replacement is the most cost effective procedure. Between 5% and 7% is an individual call based on the particular situation. The tricky part is setting proper customer expectations to assure the customer the replacement will not be noticeable. For a site finished floor, refinishing is also part of the process to blend all the replacements, particularly if the age of the flooring has allowed a color change. For a factory finished floor, the color change will have to be discussed with the consumer, advising that over time the new boards will change to blend with the original boards. The flooring is too thin. The flooring is to be refinished and during the sanding process the nail heads are exposed by the sander, or the top lip of the groove edge breaks or splinters excessively. Sometimes with an old floor nailed with oval headed casing nails they can be set successfully below the sanded surface and refinishing can be completed. Since the nails have a large oval head they may be exposed before the groove edge of the flooring becomes too thin and begins to break or splinter. A 3/4” thick solid wood flooring product should last the life time of the structure with proper care, even when sanded and refinished 3, 4, even 5 or 6 times. However, during this life time a significant water event may occur and the flooring is over sanded as a repair. Also, a non-professional may have sanded the floor excessively. In any case the thickness of the top lip of the groove edge is the determining factor for too-thin flooring. For oak flooring, when the groove lip reaches about 1/8” thick (8/64”) it becomes fragile and begins to break. At this thickness the flooring is likely to be loose and movement and flexing along the groove edge will help cause the breakage. If the groove lip breaks the flooring should be removed and replaced. Groove lip breakage allows too much movement so the existing floor is not a good candidate for sound subflooring. The flooring has buckled. The definition of a buckled floor is when the flooring expands excessively and typically raises to a peak. In these buckled areas, the flooring is no longer properly attached to the subflooring. This is different from a cupped floor, which has the long edges of boards raised more than the center of the flooring

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boards. Also, if excessive moisture is the cause of the cupped flooring the eventual result may be a buckled floor. Since a buckled floor is no longer attached, replacement is the only way to properly reattach the flooring. As previous articles have mentioned, the source of the excessive moisture problems must be found and remedied. Then the existing moisture must be dried to a normal condition before the new flooring is installed. It is possible to salvage buckled flooring if the water was promptly removed and the flooring was not excessively damaged with broken tongues or grooves or does not have excessive staining and mold growth. Most surface staining can be sanded out. If salvage is attempted, the flooring should be sanded perpendicular to the installed direction to scratch the finish to allow better drying. Sanding across the flooring allows the sander to not remove the cupped edges and create a crowning potential. The easiest way to remove nailed solid wood flooring with minimal damage is to cut a run of flooring along the wall that was last installed, the tongue side wall. With a tongue edge exposed use curved claw hammers, not straight clawed ripping hammers, to slide under the nailed tongue edge and pry the flooring up. A hammer in each hand does the trick and goes surprisingly fast with minimal additional damage to the flooring. I have removed severely wetted flooring with a 15% to 20% damage rate. Clip off or drive the nails back out and stack in layers in alternating directions to allow drying. After drying, reinstallation can proceed. If you have to mix new and old flooring the best way is to use complete runs of old or new flooring and randomly mix them to create an overall blended look. As always it is critical to use a moisture meter all through the process to make sure proper drying has occurred. The flooring is loose and creaks and squeaks. As we reported in the article on refinishing, an old floor can be face nailed or screwed from below to fix these conditions without requiring replacement. Customer expectations are critical since a completely quiet floor is not possible in this case. First it is necessary to determine the cause of the noise. The cause can be any of the connections within the flooring. If it is the subfloor attachment to joist or from too wide joist spacing, or over span, replacing the flooring won’t solve the problem. New joists or supports should be installed and or the subflooring refastened before new flooring replacement. If the cause is the fastener holding ability of the subflooring, such as particle board, removing the particle board is required. If the fastener problem is related to a wetted or low fastener holding of OSB panels, reinstalling new flooring by nailing and gluing has proved adequate to stop the problem. Either a full trowel adhesive application or a squiggle bead along the tongue edge

CIRCLE 58

Left: This 1930s home was remodeled by the homeowner. During the remodel the roof tarp blew off during a storm and flooded the flooring. The flooring was swept clear of the water and taken up the next day. It was stored in a protected room and dried. About 25% was damaged beyond repair, so during reinstallation every fourth run was new replacement flooring. After sanding and finishing, the results looked like a new floor with the exception of a few dents and dings.

has proven sufficient to reduce the noise to an acceptable level. If the flooring configuration or loose match, flooring tongue and groove fit, is the problem;

be sure to reinstall with a properly fitting floor. Gluing and nailing flooring with a loose match can also remedy the problem. In this case the full trowel application is the best but a squiggle of adhesive along the groove edge will most often be sufficient. Remember, any subsequent repair or replacement of a floor that has been glued will result in significant damage to the subfloor.

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Excessive pet stains. Most often excessive pet stains are discovered when removing wall-to-wall carpet with the intention of refinishing the flooring. Pet stains of this kind have affected the flooring for a long period of time and are not just surface stains but affect the flooring through the thickness. The only way to get rid of the blackened area is to replace the flooring that is affected. Most of the time the affected flooring is along a wall line away from the traffic areas. Where the affected runs cross the room parallel to the direction of the flooring, removing the runs wall to wall is rather straightforward. If the direction exposes a groove edge, then using a slip tongue and reinstalling is the best option. A more complicated situation is where the stains cross the ends of the flooring. In this case if the affected boards are more than 5% to 7% of the room, replacing the entire floor is the most cost-effective option. If the stains are confined to one area along the end wall, an area replacement can be

Rђѐќєћіѧђё Pђџѓќџњюћѐђ TќќљѠ ѓќџ: sufficient. The larger the area to be replaced, the more likely care must be taken to keep the runs oriented so the replacement boards fill the repair with a complete board. When repairing a larger area, use a marker board (a story board) that is marked with the precise distribution of the runs from the old flooring, that is not to be removed. This board is used to position each run as they are replaced. I use a utility knife to mark the location of the runs on the edge of my story board. Then when reinstalling make the board edge along every run fall on the marks. Most often spacing will be required to maintain the board distribution. However, in some cases you may have to use a block plane to shave each board. Of course refinishing

Floor Removal and Surface Preparation

...and Welding of Resilient Floor Coverings If the flooring is new, replacement can be pretty straightforward if the wrong flooring was installed. As contractors we have to admit the mistake and replace the flooring with the correct floor.

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www.sineqco.com [email protected] CIRCLE 3

the entire room will be required after the replacement repair. Remember, if more than 7% of flooring boards are affected, complete removal and replacement is the most cost effective option. Where 5% to 7% of boards are affected each situation is different and replacement or repair is an individual call. For 5% or less affected boards, individual replacement is the option of choice. And finally, where the solid wood flooring has less than 1/8” groove lip thickness, it is time for replacement. As always, set proper customer expectations and discuss the options. When repairing, the repair should not be noticeable from FCI the standing position. CIRCLE 4

January/February 2011

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What is a Conventional Shower? by Dave Gobis

W W

here does the highest rainfall occur anywhere in the entire country? Your shower! Some years back Don Halverson-a forensic tile consultant, and Cecil Hunt- a California Tile contractor - did a study on just how much water a shower received in a year’s time. Using a standard flow rate of 2.5 GPM with a 12 minute shower a 36”x36” shower stall used daily receives the equivalent of 1,935 inches per year of rain. That is nearly 20 times Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, which is the wettest area in the contiguous United States with an average annual rainfall of 105 inches. Roofs and windows get a lot more attention than showers which are seen as more of an ancillary item. Given what we expect them to do and how long we expect them to last managing that massive amount of moisture exposure should be much higher on the list of priorities. Sadly, relative to the amount of them constructed, there seems to be no installation that fails more often than the good old shower stall. Many of those built in days past were doomed to failure from the day they were constructed, being waterproofed primarily by copper and lead liners. That is the typical life of all metal-based shower pan liner given their

About the Author

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long-term chemical incompatibility with cement and water. Modern technology has given us new materials to work with that are resistant to the degradation of materials we used in days past. We now have various types of vinyl pan liners and liquid products that will last indefinitely. While applications of these products require a substantially less skill than working with molten lead or soldering

copper, they like their predecessors are very unforgiving of installer error. Some of the modern day products also have additional options like premade curb units, niches, shower seats, and even shower bases that make some of the most difficult problem prone areas of shower construction a simple task. We now have the ability to waterproof virtually any surface, even drywall, for a successful

Building a curb out of backer board is difficult and requires a substantial amount of work to avoid penetrating the waterproofing. You can find premade curbs that install in a fraction of the time and time is money. They are well worth the expense.

David M. Gobis, a third-generation tile setter, is an independent Technical Consultant. He has been in the trade for over 37 years and owned a successful contracting business for many years prior to his current position. Mr. Gobis is an Author of over 100 trade related articles and a frequent speaker at industry events. He is member of the Construction Specification Institute, International Code Council, American Concrete Institute, National Tile Contractors Technical Committee, voting member of The American National Standards for Ceramic Tile Installation and Setting Materials (ANSI A108/118), American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) C-21 Ceramic Whitewares, and Tile Council of America Installation Handbook committees. You can reach Dave via email, [email protected]

January/February 2011

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Weep holes plugged with mortar again. This shower had not been used in several weeks. It only took about an hour to fill with water where the tile was removed. Keep the weep holes open!

installation. New products available today make it possible for anyone who can read and follow instructions to construct a waterproof shower stall over nearly any surface. Rather than get into the easy way, for this issue let’s review the traditional shower. Often called the conventional shower, this type of shower is built either entirely of mortar, or more commonly the combination of a mortar floor and backerboard. It is still the most popular method of shower construction. One of the most often emitted steps to creating a long-lasting installation using this method is the pre-pitch of the floor under the waterproofing. Uniform Plumbing Code recommends a pre- pitch of ¼” or 2% slope per foot under the pan liner. This pitch can be achieved by many methods, the easiest being the purchase of one of the many premade foam units. You may also establish this pitch by installing 15# roofing felt or 4 Mil plastic, 2.5 metal lath stapled to the floor, and troweling in a layer of mortar. The mortar’s only function in this part of the application is to pitch the water to the drain. It doesn’t need to be pretty, just the ability to get the water in the shower pan liner over to the top of the drain collar to the weep holes in the collar securing the pan liner. One thing that mortar readily does is absorb water. It is a common misconception that mortar, tile, and grout make a surface waterproof. Grout will readily absorb and pass water through to the mortar shower base. That accumulated water must be able to drain and pass into weep holes in the bottom of the drain assembly. It will not drain properly if the membrane is lower than the weep holes in the drain or if the weep holes are blocked by mortar. There seems to be a never-ending argument that the water will escape one way or the other when

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January/February 2011

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out. The weep holes must always be kept open by some means be it pea gravel, a special protector, or broken bits of tile and not plugged with mortar. The shower floor is only part of the waterproofing (moisture management) requirements. The shower curb and jam are equally important. Most plumbing codes require the waterproofing be extended 3” above the curb all the way around the shower, including jambs. The shower curb should be completely Anytime a mortar bed is not bonded it wrapped with the membrane and should be wire reinforced. The bigger the fastened only on the outside face of shower the more critical it becomes. The the curb. One of the areas most prone wire needs to be placed in the center of to leaks is the joint where you must cut the mortar bed. the membrane to go over the curb next to the door jamb. Most manufacturers have premade corners available that make it an easy transition. Unfortunately they are rarely a it comes to weep holes. It won’t. Trickle stocking item. While all seams are some out maybe; allow the shower floor to important to the waterproof integrity drain, never. Anybody who has ever taken of a shower, the jamb and curb is a a shower apart can allude to the fact that particularly a critical area. Once the it may not have been used in months and FCITile_TLS1210.eps 12/6/10 9:41:05 AM liner is completed it should be filled the water is still there when they take it

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with water and tested. While 24 hours is preferred it must be overnight at a minimum. A few hours is not going to tell the story if there is a leak. When it comes to wall construction there are a lot of options. The simplest method, once learned, is mortar; however its use is limited by those who have a comfort level to do it. Backer board is the predominate choice. In showers, application of the backer board will vary by the type of product being used. True cement board is the only product that may be installed below the water line into the mortar bed. All others must be placed above the finished floor. Most backer boards require a vapor retarder be placed over the studs prior to application, there are exceptions. For any type of backer board product it is recommended that either the studs be furred out over the shower pan liner that is lapping up the wall or the studs be chiseled out to accommodate the pan liner thickness. Failure to do so will result in creating an out-of-plane condition which will be both an aesthetic issue and

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CIRCLE 72

require extra work to cut the tile on an angle to accommodate. Chiseling the stud was always my preference. Two or three whacks on a chisel for each stud and you are done. It’s a lot less work than fighting out-of-square conditions. Wet areas require specific types of fasteners. Backer board screws or hot dipped galvanized roofing nails should be used. Drywall screws are a problem for several reasons. First, they have no rust resistant coating. If you are installing a light colored tile and grout it is not unusual to hear a complaint of a rust colored spot behind the tile 6 months to a year after the installation. You can try and blame it on the water or impurities in the thinset or grout but I have never seen it in my lifetime. The other problem with drywall screws is they have a bugle type head which must penetrate the board to seat flush with the surface. Backer board screws have a corrosion resistant coating and a flat surface that holds the panel firmly in place. The reason for hot dipped galvanized roofing nails (increasingly

harder to find) is that electro-plated nails lose their plating when driven through the backer board and are then subject to rust. All backer board joints should be taped with an alkaline-resistant fiberglass tape and thinset mortar. Standard fiberglass drywall tape is not alkaline resistant. If you ever had a fiberglass tape disintegrate as you installed it you have discovered the reason why alkaline resistant tape is recommended. The adhesive that holds the strands of fiberglass together in drywall tape has a low pH resistance. Portland cement is highly alkaline and will cause the tape to fail. The joints should be bedded flush with thinset mortar, not drywall compound. This can be a challenge if the drywaller is installing the backer board, which is increasingly common. Also increasingly common are complaints about cracked or loose tile where the joint compound had delaminated from the backer board. Always use a suitable thinset mortar to install tiles on the wall as well as the floor. It would not be completely accurate to say

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mastic or premixed thinset will not work. In some if not many instances it will. But, industry methods call for thinset mortar in wet areas to avoid any chance of problems. It has always been my opinion that use of anything but cementbased setting materials in a wet area notes lack of training and professionalism on the part of the installer. There are many other options and caveats for showers, such as any shower can benefit from complete waterproofing, not just the floor; and all niches, shelves, and seats need to be waterproofed and pitched to the drain. But, space does not

Sadly, relative to the amount of them constructed, there seems to be no installation that fails more often than the good old shower stall.

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20

Gray LaFortune Executive Director [email protected]

Jeffrey Pompadur Hawaii and Pacific Dir. [email protected]

Dave Gobis Technical Consultant [email protected]

Ralph Williamson Southwest Dir. [email protected]

www.fcimag.com

January/February 2011

Paul Wilson Asst. Executive Director [email protected]

allow a more thorough discussion in this issue. While 2010 has been little slower in the inspection business, it has not been much different than 2009 in claims types. The leaders remain hundreds of leaky showers and, believe it or not, a similar amount of claims related to lack of movement accommodation in floors. One was every unit in a 21 story building. I would be very happy not to see any of you under such undesirable circumstances. But if by chance I do, please let me know you’re an FCI reader and maybe we can write a story about all the things that went wrong. Nobody ever calls me when things go right. FCI

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CIRCLE 29

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The Art of Installing Patterned Carpet by Robert Varden

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efore we get in to the “how-to” aspect, I feel that as an installer, I am compelled to make some important statements. I have installed patterned carpets for more than 30 years. I have traveled the country trouble-shooting, inspecting and teaching techniques for patterned-carpet installation. All patterned carpets are NOT created equal. The installation of patterned carpet will in most cases require additional time, cost and expertise. The installation of patterned carpet requires communication, preparation and the services of a “qualified installation professional” that is well experienced in the installation of patterned carpets. I would recommend that the services be utilized of well-trained, professional installation contractors whose reputations are that of “patterned carpet specialists,” proficient with the installation of patterned materials. In many cases “above-and-beyond” installation techniques and additional time are required to satisfy the end user’s expectations. ALL parties involved should understand that the installation contractor should not be the SOLE party carrying the burden of time, labor, expertise and cost.

first identify the construction of the material you will be working with, such as tufted, woven, attached cushion, etc. While many of the principles may be the same, the installation techniques can change slightly depending on the type of material you are going to install. Next, identify and measure the exact pattern match within the material. Do this both in length and in width. This will now allow you to create a cut sheet that will be used to prepare the material for the job. Remember to allow one

full repeat to every cut. You may at this time also want to identify the type of pattern with which you are going to be working. Set Match: A set match type pattern refers to a pattern in a carpet that continues straight across the breadth. It will only match directly across from itself and nothing in between. When connecting lines to each pattern repeat point; squares or rectangles would be visible. (Photo 1) Half-Drop Match: In a half-drop

Photo 6

Inspection of the Material As when starting any installation,

About the Author

22

www.fcimag.com

Robert Varden is the president of the International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI); CFI Master Installer #969; past chairman of the CFI Certification Team; winner of the WFCA’s “Best of the Best” Installation Contest at Surfaces 2003; well-known industry consultant; inspector and problem solver. Robert is also employed as the Technical Director for Seam Master, specializing in seam tapes and the Kool Glide installation system. Prior to his involvement in this segment of the industry, Robert owned large commercial installation workrooms in Texas and California.

January/February 2011

SEAM MASTER SOLUTIONS

Challenges and Solutions For Today’s Carpet Installer

I

nstaller education is extremely important especially now due to all the changes occurring with floor covering materials. Many of these changes are driven by the Consumers demand for greener, more bio- based flooring materials. These new, Environmentally friendly materials often require different installation products and techniques. Many installers who use old conventional products and installation techniques can encounter problems. These problems can consist of warping material on each side of the seam, yarn discoloration or seams that simply will not stay together or tend to come apart over time. Many times installers use traditional products and installation methods to the best of their knowledge only to then be blamed for “imperfect installation” and have to go back to the job site and try to figure out just exactly what went wrong. Many installers have been blamed for installation failures that they feel were not their fault. When it comes down to it, how many installers have been properly trained on how to avoid installation pitfalls due to changes in the materials they install? For the past three years Seam Master Industries, has undertaken to provide new products and installation techniques that address to the challenges facing today’s installers. This Program is spearheaded by its Technical Director Robert Varden, with over 30 years experience as a carpet installer, trainer and trouble shooter. Robert

is a Master II Certified Installer and President of The International Cer tified Floor Covering Installers Association. Seam Master Solutions, a division of Seam Master Industries is dedicated to providing a full line of installation solutions for today’s installer through innovation, education and training. Seam Master has now developed a complete Seaming System around the Koolglide. Incorporating a Teflon seaming board and Seam Sealing technique that is more user friendly and addresses the issues discussed above. Improvements to the Koolglide tapes included an adhesive profile change for better penetration and development of a new more economical “Standard” version. Seam Master also re-formulated its entire Signature Series line of conventional tapes to be completely Universal, moderate melt point and scented to provide a more pleasant experience for the installer and customer. Both lines of tape are now manufactured with Bio-based materials that are compatible with the new carpets being produced. Recently, Seam Master has teamed up with CCA Global University to provide a Training and Technical support program. This program will help provide superior and greener installation for it’s members and their customers.

For additional information visit Seammaster.com or contact Robert Varden At [email protected], 800- 861-SEAM or visit our booth at Surfaces # S-1300 circle 14 advertisement

Photo 1

Through Tile Partners for Humanity, the tile industry’s charitable organization, you can make a difference in someone’s life. You can help low-income families build simple and durable homes, or other nonprofit organizations such as the Appalachian Youth Center in their construction projects. Your donations help TPFH to achieve their mission to strengthen communities and improve lives.

Photo 2

There are so many ways you can contribute. All of us can take time to promote Tile Partners for Humanity within our industry. Manufacturers and distributors can donate excess or obsolete tile and tile-setting materials as well as gift-in-kind donations (such as this ad, which was generously created by MAPEI). Even installers can make a contribution: By volunteering time and labor, you can make sure the installations are sound. You can also make financial donations to TPFH on your next eBay sale by selecting TPFH as your nonprofit organization, or by becoming a financial sponsor of TPFH. For more information, please visit our website at www.tpfh.com or contact Lynn.Labuda@ tpfh.com or (770) 416-0200.

More Ways to Stay Connected

!

L VE

Go to www.fcimag.com for more information 24

www.fcimag.com

January/February 2011

type repeat, every other repeat is dropped down one-half the repeated design length. Generally, this produces a larger scale effect often enhancing a diagonal pattern alignment across the width. (Photo 2) Quarter-Drop Match: In a quarter-drop type repeat, the pattern will typically consist of four units in every length repeat. Each length repeat drops down one unit or the quarter of a repeat. This will usually give a diagonal effect to pattern when all breadths are joined. Identify Any Pattern Deviation Skew: Skew or Bias – This condition exists when the carpet face yarn is set on secondary backing in such a way that the face yarn is not square with the backing nor with the selvage edge of the material. Distortion is noticeable when the pattern on one side is slightly ahead of the pattern on the opposite side. (Photo 3) To properly check for skew: • Utilize a laser square, carpenter’s square, “T” square or even the 3-4-5 rule along with a straight edge and dry line. This process is to ensure that you can achieve a 90-degree angle to the lineal edge of the material. • Position the square at selvage edge of carpet and align with pattern along the length. Lay straight edge on top of or beside

Photo 3

straight across the width as it is being manufactured. (Photo 4) To properly check for a width bow: • Begin by locating a pattern on the left side of the carpet. Next, locate the identical pattern line on the right side of the carpet. • Pull a dry line from the pattern on the left to the identical pattern on the right.

• From the dry line, measure any of the identical patterns that do not line up and note the greatest distance. • Example: The greatest distance from the dry line measures 1-inch. This would be communicated as a 1-inch bow in 12-feet Elongation: Pattern Elongation/ Pattern Run-off is due to a variation in pattern size from one breadth of carpet

Photo 4

square aligned across the width. • Using a dry line or laser extend this line 12-feet across the width of the carpet from one side to the other. Measure the pattern on the left side up to your dry line. Measure the exact same pattern point on the right side to the dry line. The variation between the two measurements is the skew. • Example: A variance of 1-inch from one side to the other is communicated as a 1-inch skew in 12 feet. Bow Width: A “Bow,” when viewed across the width is distortion that is visible as wavy or crooked lines. The lines occur in the width of either patterned or even plain carpet. This condition usually occurs when the carpet is not perfectly

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January/February 2011

www.fcimag.com

25

Photo 5

to the next. This is a condition that accounts for the pattern growing along a seam. This is usually caused by a lack of equal tension across the range during manufacturing or as the secondary backing is applied. (Photo 5)

To properly check for elongation prior to cutting the material you may want to perform a “pattern count.” To perform a pattern count, simply take a certain number of patterns that encompass anywhere from 6-to 12-feet. Note: Larger patterns have less counts and larger distance compared to the smaller patterns that have a much higher number of counts. Once the count number is determined, count that number of patterns on one side of the material. Measure the distance exactly of the number of patterns counted. Example: 20 patterns measure exactly 10-feet, 4 ½-inches. Next, measure 20 patterns exactly on the opposite side of the material Example: 20 patterns measure exactly 10-feet, 5 ½-inches. There is a pattern elongation variance of 1-inch in 10-feet, 5-inches present. Edge Deviation/Trueness of Edge: Edge deviation, sometimes referred to

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CIRCLE 8

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January/February 2011

as a “length bow,” appears when the pattern along the length does not run in a straight line. (Photo 6) To properly check for trueness of edge: Locate two common pattern points along the edge of the material, approximately 10-to-12 feet apart. Pull a dry line between the patterns points. Measure any deviation of common pattern points that deviates from the dry line. This is considered the amount of edge deviation. I recommend that you take photos of any deviation that is present so that you can easily present them to the manufacturer if requested. I usually recommend a minimum of at 2 to 3 pictures. One should be taken from a slight distance that shows that you understand the correct way to determine the deviation. The other is taken directly over the top of the tape measure that shows the exact amount of deviation. Most manufacturers of patterned carpets usually have a tolerance level for all of the above deviations. The manufacturing tolerances will vary between manufacturers and are subject to change from time to time by the manufacturer. During the writing of this article, I spoke with many of the manufacturers. The average tolerance that was quoted from several manufacturers was 1-1/2 inches across the board for all of the above deviations. I did find a few manufacturers that still had a bow tolerance of ¾-inch in 12feet and several others are somewhere in between. Tolerance levels may relate to the manner in which the manufacturer views their production ability in relation to the product being manufactured. Currently there are NO industry standards in place for pattern deviation. Even when the material is within manufacturing tolerances, ALL parties should always be aware that “standard” installation methods for patterned carpets will not always satisfy the expectations of today’s consumer. What I describe as those “above and beyond” measures that may be necessary, will be addressed in Part II of “The Art of Installing Patterned Carpets.” FCI

Bigger. Badder. Better. Rebuilt with more horsepower.

The APAC brand has been rebuilt from the ground up into a bigger, badder, better line of custom-built products for just about every flooring installation and subfloor preparation application you can imagine. sæNew products for carpet, vinyl and wood sæNew graphics for packaging and support materials sæNew Website To rev up the excitement on this new launch we’re introducing the APAC Classic Performance Sweepstakes where you can purchase selected APAC products and register to win a $40,000 custom chopper or one of many other great prizes. Visit your local distributor for details. The APAC brand represents an installer-proven line of floor-covering installation products customdesigned for almost any type of flooring and subfloor conditions. This new APAC-brand product offering brings you the same quality of products you’ve come to expect from APAC, but now with a revved-up new look as well as some exciting new products. CIRCLE 34

How Moisture and Humidity Affect Installation of Wood Floors by Grete Heimerdinger

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oisture problems in wood floors can be caused by many different factors. Interaction between wood and air is one of those factors. Wood is a hygroscopic material, which absorbs or looses moisture until equilibrium with the surrounding air has been reached. When the moisture content changes, shrinking, cupping or crowning can occur.

How relative humidity affects wood The relationship between wood moisture, air humidity and air temperature determines what wood will do; expand, shrink or keep its moisture. Wood is stable when no more changes occur; it has reached the equilibrium moisture content. Check the graph on the following page for the stable wood moisture for any given relative humidity and temperature. The graph can also tell you what the relative humidity should be to keep wood stable at a certain moisture content. Equilibrium moisture contents and the corresponding relative humidity and temperature values can also be found on the Internet at <EMC Calculator>. Since ambient conditions inside heated homes or offices usually range between 30 to 50% at a temperature of 60 to 80 degrees Farenheit;

About the Author

28

www.fcimag.com

the recommended wood moisture percentage for flooring is 6 to 9%. See the highlighted area in the graph on the next page. Within these recommended values, expansion and contraction are limited. For example: When a dry floor with the perfect moisture content of 6.2% is exposed for a long time to air with a relative humidity of 60%, the wood will absorb moisture and expand until 11% has been reached. Depending

on wood species, the 5% change in moisture content can be accompanied by a substantial amount of expansion. Floor installers have to deal with different relative humidity conditions depending on when and where the installation takes place. Average relative humidity differs between coastal areas and high desert and between summer and winter. This is the main reason why acclimation is an important step when installing hardwood floors.

Photo 1

Grete Heimerdinger, born in Stuttgart Germany, was a teacher before moving to the United States in 1975. She has been Vice-President of Lignomat USA for the past 30 years. She has been actively involved with the development of all new products and has been the author of Lignomat’s publications related to moisture issues. For more information, visit Lignomat’s new web site:www. moisture-problems.info.

January/February 2011

Relative Humidity Temp 15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

40

3.7

4.6

5.5

6.3

7.1

7.8

8.7

9.5

10.4

11.3

12.4

13.5

14.9

50

3.6

4.6

5.5

6.3

7.1

7.9

8.7

9.5

10.3

11.2

12.3

13.4

14.8

60

3.6

4.6

5.4

6.2

7.0

7.8

8.6

9.4

10.2

11.1

12.1

13.3

14.6

70

3.5

4.5

5.4

6.2

6.9

7.7

8.5

9.2

10.1

11.0

12.0

13.1

14.4

80

3.5

4.5

5.4

6.2

6.9

7.7

8.5

9.2

10.1

11.0

12.0

13.1

14.4

90

3.4

4.3

5.1

5.9

6.7

7.4

8.1

8.9

9.7

10.5

11.5

12.6

13.9

100

3.3

4.2

5.0

5.8

6.5

7.2

7.9

8.7

9.5

10.3

11.2

12.3

13.6

The Floor Installer’s Responsibility Floors don’t cup, crown or get out of alignment unless the wood moisture changes. It is the floor installer’s responsibility to make sure that upon completion of the installation the moisture of the wood floor is in equilibrium with the surrounding air. Step 1: Accepting the floor. Once the floor is delivered, the moisture content should be confirmed. The supplier should be contacted promptly if the moisture content is not within specifications. See Photo 1. Step 2: Acclimation to service conditions. Acclimation is recommended to allow the wood to adapt to the specific relative humidity conditions where the floor will be installed. This is only beneficial if the ambient condition during the acclimation period is the same as when the room is in use. Use a thermo-hygrometer to measure the ambient conditions, or better yet a relative humidity data logger, which can keep track of the relative humidity and temperature during acclimation. With the data logger you can actually see if the homeowner “accidentally” turned off the heat, while you are trying to acclimate the floor. The acclimation time varies for different wood species. However, all wood species will acclimate under the same relative humidity and temperature to the same moisture content. Step 3: Final moisture check after the installation is completed. The purpose of final moisture readings is to document the moisture condition of the floor at the time the new owner signs off on the completion of the job. Select moisture-critical places and obtain moisture readings. At this time a pinless meter is recommended, because it leaves no pin holes. Dual-depth, pin less meters have been developed to pin-point the moisture distribution within the floor planks more precisely. Note date, make of meter, wood species settings, measuring depth, location and moisture values. Take a photo for future reference. Photo 3 shows the moisture value, the wood species setting, the measuring depth and the location where the photo

was taken (corner by the window). In case you have to go back to check out a problem, you can easily take another series of readings in the same locations and compare to the original values. This allows for a better diagnosis of any problem. Step 4: Customer instructions and warranties. Customers should be made aware that the ambient conditions in their homes or offices affect the moisture in wood f loors. Unless

C I R C L E 11

January/February 2011

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Dual Depth Ligno-Scanners 3/4” and 1/4” deep

Photo 2

Ideal for the floor installer. Smart design, accurate and reliable.

Never before could you measure solid and engineered floors so easily and accurately without including the subfloor or concrete underneath. With one click you switch from measuring 1/4” deep to 3/4” deep.

Photo 3

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www .moistur ob lems .inf www.moistur .moisturee pr prob oblems lems.inf .infoo

8 43sShow 6 B rface Su

CIRCLE 9

Install a BL2 and record moisture conditions. At any time you can download the readings to your PC and see what happened while you were gone.

- Use the RH BluePeg sensor with the BL2 to record ambient conditions. - Use the new BL2 Tracker to get a full report: relative humidity nd temperature a r B ew plus 3 wood moisture N measurements. The BL2-Tracker is ideal to investigate some of those sneaky, slow developing moisture problems in wood floors.

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o www.lignomat.com B6a4cesShctory

rf u ls Su trod ecia I www .moistur ob lems .inf www.moistur .moisturee pr prob oblems lems.inf .infoo n Sp

800-227-2105

a HVAC is operated year round, the most unavoidable change in relative humidity comes from the climate outside. During dry winter months, small cracks may appear in a wood f loor, which disappear in the wetter summer months. Warranties for floors over extended periods of time should always be connected with keeping ambient conditions within a certain range. Since floors do not react to a swift breeze but to persistent high and low relative humidity conditions, data loggers can be used to easily keep track of ambient conditions during the warranty period. Why Record Keeping is Important In case of floor failure, the question

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always comes up, who is to blame and who pays for any necessary repairs. The problem may be very obvious but the cause for the problem is often hard to find. It could be: The contractor not checking whether the concrete slab is dry; the floor supplier delivering floor planks with a high moisture content; the floor installer not noticing the high moisture content and installing the floor anyway; the floor installer using a subfloor with too much moisture. And last, the home owner turning off the air condition. Keeping reliable records can help protect the installer from unwarranted claims. The interaction between moisture content and relative humidity can make the difference between a longlasting, beautiful floor or an unhappy customer with an expensive claim. FCI

Surfaces New Product Showcase

Custom Building Products Elva Santillan 13001 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite#200 Seal Beach CA 90740 Booth Number: #B8108 CEG-Lite™ Commercial Epoxy Grout, a lightweight 2-part 100% solids epoxy grout formulated with Custom’s exclusive CustomLite® Technology, represents a major breakthrough in epoxy technology delivering high stain and chemical resistance professionals expect, combined with handling characteristics and versatility that far surpasses other epoxy grouts.

EarthWerks® Don Evans 10850 Train Ct. Houston, TX 77041 Booth #S4232

Protecto Wrap Company Thom Archbold 1955 S. Cherokee St. Denver, CO 80223 Booth #B7018

LinkWerks™ (by EarthWerks® - Flooring Inspired by Nature) LinkWerks™ is a new line of floating LVT flooring designed by EarthWerks® to address the needs of the market where quality tile and plank meets unusual subfloor challenges. LinkWerks™ Rapid Clic is a faster to install 7” x 48” commercial grade Unilin Click floating vinyl plank available in 10 colors. LinkWerks™ Firm Loc is 6” x 36” planks and 12” x 24” tiles available in a variety of colors.

Introducing PEEL & HEAT COMPLETE InFloor Heating for Tile Floors that is Easy to Install! Made by Protecto Wrap. This newest innovation in our family of Flooring Underlayments offers a complete package of Radiant In-Floor Heating along with AntiFracture protection in an ultra thin profile (less than 1/8 thick) that installs in one quick easy step. • Easy to Install Peel & Stick Installation • Pre-Wired Panels for Ease of Connection • Ultra Thin Profile for Smooth Transitions • Anti Fracture Protection Reduces Call Backs • Works with Tile, Stone and Hardwoods • 10 Year Warranty • UL Listed

McNear Brick & Block Jeff McNear, President PO Box 151380 San Rafael, California 94915 Booth #B6242 Sandmold Series Thin Brick Our new Glaze thin brick is different from any other glazed product on the market due to its tumbled, sanded and uneven finish. The colors are modeled to allow for the introduction of other colors. The green value of this glazed thin brick is the highest in the market, 100% recycled clay. We produce many different sizes which allows for endless design possibilities.

Flexitions Drew Holland 401 Jones Street Dalton,GA 30720 Booth #S1908 Developed for use with wood and laminate floors, Flexitions is the solution when encountering a curved or arched installation. Available in five common profiles and three wood grains, Flexitions takes stain just like natural wood and can be finished to match floor coverings such as wood, laminate, tile and vinyl.

Wagner Electronics Heidi Coupland 326 Pine Grove Rd. Rogue River, OR 97537 Booth # B7376

Pregis Corporation Josephine Fish 1650 Lake Cook Rd., Ste. 400 Deerfield, IL 60015 Booth #B8567

Rapid RH® 4.0 The new Rapid RH® 4.0 from Wagner Electronics combines their patented Smart Sensor with a newly redesigned Easy Reader for fast, easy-to-use, accurate relative humidity testing so easy it seems virtually automatic. The new Easy Reader works quickly to help you save time and money with Wagner Rapid RH® 4.0.

Pregis’ patented Absolute™ EZ-Seam™ lip and tape flooring underlayment system features PE foam laminated to PE film. The “peel-and-stick” tape system allows installers to remove the release liner and mate the adhesive edge to the non-adhesive lip. The film, coupled with the aggressive adhesive, creates a moisture resistant seam.

January/February 2011

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31

II ndustry News ndustry News Mr. David’s presents check to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital

Mr. David’s Flooring International recently presented a check for more than $30,000 to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, which was the recipient of the funds raised during Mr. David’s Second Annual Bike Challenge. Pictured, L to R: Leonard Zmijewski, Kevin Isken, Steve Cameron, Michael Zmijewski, Mike Welch, and Peter Daniels (president of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital).

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r. David’s Flooring International, Ltd. gathered with customers, vendors and friends on Dec. 3 for the presentation of the 2nd Annual Mr. David’s Bike Challenge check to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation -- this year’s beneficiary. This year’s donations vastly exceeded Mr. David’s goal for this year’s challenge, totaling $38,140.60. Michael Zmijewski, Vice President of Mr. David’s, led the check presentation ceremony saying, “I am so proud to see how much this event has grown over the last year and I am looking forward to seeing what we are capable of doing in the years to come.” Zmijewski also took the opportunity to talk about Mr. David’s Annual Charity Bike Challenge during the event. The first annual race took place in Fall 2009,

with sponsorship and participation from MAPEI Corporation, Carpet Cushions and Supplies, EJ Welch Company and a number of other flooring distributors and contractors in the Chicago area. Mr. David’s established the biking event as a healthy and enjoyable way to raise funds for local charities. This year’s funds will be going specifically to the Oncology Department through the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation, while last year’s funds went to Central Du Page Health Foundation’s Child Life Program. “This event started as a friendly challenge between individuals in our marketplace, and it wound up as a concrete way we could have fun while helping out our neighbors in the community,” Zmijewski said.

INSTALL to present seminar at Surfaces

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NSTALL, an official sponsor of Surfaces 2011, has been selected to present a one-hour installation-focused education session on the exhibit floor’s live stage during the show. The INSTALL segment will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25. The topic will focus on certifications in 32

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installation. Officials of Surfaces have announced that, for the first time in the show’s history, education programs will be included with the cost of an exhibits admission, instead of it being a separate charge. Attendee registration is now open. Visit SURFACES at www. surfaces.com to register.

January/February 2011

NWFACP announces 2011 training schedule

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he NWFA Certified Professionals has announced its Inspector Certification School and testing schedule for 2011. Schools will be held at the NWFA’s international headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., and its new training facility in Las Vegas, Nev., as follows: March 21-24; Certified Wood Flooring Inspector School; Las Vegas, Nev. March 25; Certified Wood Flooring Inspector Test; Las Vegas, Nev. September 19-22; Certified Wood Flooring Inspector School; St. Louis, Mo. September 23; Certified Wood Flooring Inspector Test; St. Louis, Mo. The cost to attend the school is $1,495 for NWFA members, and $1,700 for nonmembers. The cost to take the test is $250 for both NWFA members and nonmembers. The NWFA Certified Professionals was developed to recognize and promote competence of wood flooring professionals throughout the industry. NWFACP certified status is the industry mark of excellence and professional credibility. For more information, call (800) 422-4556 (USA & Canada), (636) 519-9663 (local and international), or visit www.nwfa.org.

Calendar of Events Surfaces 2011 Las Vegas, NV, Jan. 24-27 www.surfaces.com FCICA 2011 Convention Albuquerque, NM, March 6-11 (248) 661-5015 www.fcica.com Coverings 2011 Las Vegas, NV, March 14-17 www.coverings.com

insta llation bulletin

RH Testing now the standard for lightweight concrete

Photo courtesy of Wagner Electronics.

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ecent changes to the ASTM F1869 standard for using calcium chloride have made the message clear: calcium chloride is not acceptable when it comes to testing moisture on all lightweight aggregate concrete. In spite of its history in the industry, moisture testing with calcium chloride for lightweight concrete and particularly in the application of resilient floor coverings was shown to provide inadequate results and ASTM has reflected the latest research in their 2010 industry standards, leaving RH testing as the preferred method. Calcium chloride testing was originally implemented over 50 years ago as a qualitative, rather than a quantitative, test for measuring moisture in concrete, and was used as a “go or no go” indicator of slab moisture conditions, according to Howard Kanare of CTLGroup. With unclear reasoning, however, it became

accepted as a quantitative standard and has stayed in use since the 1940s. The calcium chloride test also has some practical drawbacks. For example, because each test naturally “destroys” the salt mixture as it adsorbs moisture, when a new test is required, the old test kit must be discarded, and a complete new kit must be employed to obtain each additional measurement. What then is the alternative? For the flooring industry, the combination of calcium chloride’s uncertainty and new research has created a trend towards in situ Relative Humidity (RH) testing, begun largely on the foundation of research done by Göran Hedenblad of Sweden in the 1990s. Cutting edge companies are now consistently moving away from calcium chloride testing and towards the more globally-accepted industry method of in situ RH testing

as outlined by the ASTM F2170 standard and related standards outside the US. Not only are RH results more consistently reliable, RH testing has also been shown to be more cost efficient, user friendly and more appropriate to the resilient floor covering industry. RH testing provides an accurate method of testing moisture within a concrete slab to obtain reliable results and make properly informed decisions when applying flooring over lightweight concrete. Understanding the changes, and the science behind RH testing and ASTM F2170 will help manufacturers, installers, developers and contractors alike specify the testing method best suited to give reliable, actionable results for the resilient flooring industry. For more information, visit www.F1869.org, www.F2170.org or www.astm.org.

January/February 2011

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sponsored by:

green matters Clear Path Recycling begins operations

Standing left to right: Gerald Embry, vp - administration, Shaw Industries Group Inc.; Turner Plunkett, Shaw group director - fibers; Hal Long, Shaw evp; Randy Merritt, Shaw president; Vance Bell, Shaw ceo; J. Keith Crisco, N.C. Secretary of Commerce; Armando Garza Sada, chairman of the board, Alfa S.A.B. de C.V.; José “Pepe” Valdez, Alpek president; Álvaro Fernández Garza, Alfa president; Hector Camberos, DAK Americas LLC president & ceo; Oscar Montemayor DAK Americas sr. vp corporate development; and Jon McNaull, DAK Americas fibers business director.

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lear Path Recycling, LLC (CPR), the PET recycling joint venture company established by Shaw Industries Group Inc. and DAK Americas LLC, announces that it has completed the first phase of their PET recycling facility in Fayetteville, N.C. Now operational, the plant produces Recycled PET (RPET) flake from post-consumer PET bottles. With the completion of Phase 1 the plant has the capability to recycle up to 160 million pounds of PET bottles per year, which will save over 550,000 cubic yards of landfill space yearly. CPR has created approximately 86 permanent jobs in Cumberland County. “The start-up of the facility is a milestone for CPR and its parent companies in their sustainability initiatives of reducing environmental impact while creating a viable product for use in their product offerings,” said Ron Salati, vp, administration and commercial sales CPR. The energy savings related to the Clear Path Recycling operation will save over 1.9 trillion BTUs of energy annually, which is equal to the amount of primary energy necessary to power over 20,000 U.S. homes

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per year, according to Energy Information Administration data. Shaw and DAK will be the primary users of the RPET Flake (recycled PET bottles) in their respective polyester based products including carpets, fibers and resins. The remaining product will be sold for merchant use. “The recycled PET produced by Clear Path will give us even greater ability to provide our customers with the attractive, durable, and environmentally responsible flooring they desire,” said Vance Bell, ceo of Shaw Industries Group Inc. “This venture is testimony to Shaw’s ongoing commitment to sustainability through innovation and will move us towards an even more sustainable future.” “Today’s celebration of the creation of Clear Path Recycling with our partners at Shaw continues DAK Americas commitment to the polyester value chain and our goal of being a Sustainable company,” added Hector Camberos, president & ceo of DAK Americas. “With Shaw, we are proud to be the owners of this state-of-the - art facility, as well as the fact that we are able to continue to grow the Cedar Creek site. For our business,

January/February 2011

Clear Path Recycling will provide us the recycled product and the foundation to incorporate the use of Recycled PET Flake into our PET Resins and Polyester Staple fiber offerings.” “The Clear Path facility represents a positive step forward in building a sustainable economy in North Carolina, creating jobs while at the same time helping us recover valuable recyclable materials from disposal,” noted Manly Wilder, chief deputy secretary for the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “We are pleased that our state was chosen as the location of this high-tech recycling facility, and I’m sure the people of North Carolina will do their part to feed the plant with recycled plastic bottles from across the state.” The formation of CPR was announced in April 2009. Construction began shortly thereafter. Future plans for the facility would increase the recycling rate to 280 million pounds or about 5 billion bottles per year. This will make the manufacturing plant the largest recycling facility in North America, according to CPR.

Surfaces Products on Display MP Global  MP Global’s UltraLayer membrane offers Peel & Stick installation

 Lignomat Lignomat introduces BL2 RH measuring system New from Lignomat, the BL2 can not only record the relative humidity in an area, but also the wood moisture content from 3 different places. A graph with all 4 measurements shows how the relative humidity affects the wood moisture and vice versa. Applications in the flooring industry for the BL2 range from measurements during acclimation to on-site recordings after the floor has been installed. Surfaces Booth # B6438 www.lignomat.com For details, circle 176 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

MP Global Products introduces UltraLayer Peel & Stick membranes for tile installation, featuring randomly air-laid recycled fibers to create a capillary effect that absorbs impact and airborne sound. Designed for apartments and condominiums, the product’s elasticity resists transferring concrete subfloor cracks through to the flooring. Surfaces Booth # B7127 mpglobalproducts.com For details, circle 178 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Sinclair Equipment Co.  Vario “Silent” Floor Stripper offers quiet performance Designed for use in noise-sensitive environments, the Vario “Silent” Floor Stripper offers a wide range of floor covering removal applications. It is self-propelled, variable speed, and features a unique “pull-back system” for maneuvering, and 3 different blades for optimum cutting performance, the company says. Surfaces Booth # S2525 www.sinclairequipment.com Circle 172 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

 RB Rubber

RB Silent Tread products combine sound reduction, crack suppression New from RB Rubber, RB Silent Tread and RB Silent Tread XL have been approved as acoustical underlayment and crack suppressant for installation under most popular flooring types, including hardwood, engineered glue down, floating laminate and ceramic tile. Surfaces Booth # S1032 www.rbrubber.com For details, circle 180 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

 Pearl Abrasives

 Turbo Heat Welding Tools TURBO Plane trims rod in one pass

Tuscan Leveling System simplifies tile installation The Tuscan Leveling System is an innovative product that will assist anyone during the installation of ceramic, porcelain, marble, granite and other stone tiles. It is a two-piece, cap & strap, installation system that is designed to eliminate lippage from floors and walls and save the installer time and money, the company says. Surfaces Booth # B6432 www.pearlabrasive.com For details, circle 174 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

The TURBO Plane’s exclusive design trims weld rod in one pass, according to the company. Simply push the TURBO Plane forward and it makes your first and final trim cuts at one time. Adjusting feature guarantees a perfectly smooth and flush finish every time. This tool is totally userfriendly, and it can be operated by a pro as well as an apprentice. To see this tool in action call for your free DVD II at (714) 5224290 www.turboheatweldingtools.com

January/February 2011

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Resilient Installation Corner

by RAY THOMPSON

Recess Scribed Seaming

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he recess scribed seam is the most demanding and widely used of all the resilient seaming techniques. Many installers have a difficult time with the entire recess scribing process for two reasons; setting of the recess scriber and the cutting process. In this article we will examine the techniques to accomplish both.

Setting the Recess Scriber Many installers use the trial and error method of setting a recess scriber but there are several methods used by other installers that aid in the setting of the recess scriber. The requirements of most manufacturers specify a net seam, unless the seam is to be heat welded and then the seam should be cut slightly open. Photo 1: For a net seam, take a scrap of material about 6-inches square and make a 2-inch knife cut in the material. The cut needs to run the machine direction (the direction of the roll curl) of the material. The knife cut needs to be as straight up and down as possible; any bevel in the knife cut will cause the setting to be off. Photo 2: Place the lower guide section of the recess scriber into the knife cut as illustrated; hook the ball on the guide section firmly on the lower cut edge of the material. Be sure to keep the recess scriber flat on the material. Then move

About the Author

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the needle of the pin vise down to about one quarter the thickness of the material. Be sure your scribe needle is sharp. Slide the pin vise up to the cut edge of the material to the point that the needle touches the edge of the material. Carefully and firmly lock the pin vise. When locking the pin vise, care must be taken not to move the needle out of position. Once tightened, double check the setting of the needle with the scrap of material to ensure the setting is correct. Recess Scribing the Seam Photo 3: Remove a minimum of ½” of selvage off the edge of the material. This can be done with a straight edge or an edge trimmer (as illustrated). Failure to remove the selvage edge will affect the

quality of the seam. The seam edges on both sides of a seam need to be freshly cut and square. Photo 4: Once the first width of material is prepared and placed into position, overlap the edge of the second width, over the first width, a minimum of ½”. Lap or tube the material and apply the adhesive to both sides of the seam. Place the material into the adhesive and roll the material with the recommended weight roller. Keep the roller about 6 inches from the seam. Insert the recess scribe around the second width of material, locking the guide ball on the prepared edge of the first width of material. Be sure the needle is set to allow the scriber to be moved into position without marking

Photo 1

Ray Thompson, Jr. is a renowned installation expert and president of the Ray Thompson Floorcovering Institute in Easton, WA. A veteran of the flooring industry for more than 42 years, Ray conducts resilient, hardwood and concrete moisture training programs for installers, retailers, distributors, and industry associations. He also serves as a consultant and operates his own inspection service. He can be reached at [email protected].

January/February 2011

Tile Tip Backerboard Roulette, Is It Really Worth It?

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the material. Hold the recess scribe at a right angle to the seam with guide ball held firmly against the prepared edge of the first width. Then with a gentle downward pressure pull the recess scriber toward you. Make a short scribe and cut the material too be sure the setting is correct. It is a great habit to get into checking the scribe every time you use it. It prevents costly mistakes. Care must be taken not to apply too much pressure on the needle. The needle is designed to mark the material. Excess pressure causes the needle to tear and rag the material’s surface; this is why it is imperative for the needle to be sharp and the pressure to be light. The recess scriber is a marking tool and not a cutting tool. The scribe mark should only serve as a guide for the tip of a sharp cutting tool. Photo 5: After the material is lightly scribed, place a scrap of material beneath the edge of the material to be cut. This prevents any damage to the material beneath. Use a freshly sharpened blade or a new blade holding the knife as straight up and down as possible; make a light pass with the knife. The objective is to change the scribe line to a cut line. A

light pass allows the knife point to follow the scribe mark. Excessive pressure causes you to lose control of the knife, allowing the blade to wander out of control. Photo 6: After the selvage is removed, take a damp white rag and wipe the cut edge and hand roll with a steel hand roller. The damp rag helps remove any debris and also helps lubricate the edges making them go together easier. The hand roller should be used with a moderate pressure, forcing the material down into the adhesive. Be sure to roll the material out to where the floor roller was used. Avoid using too much pressure as it tends to displace the adhesive and compromise the bond. Photo 7: Finally, after the seam is roller, the seam needs to be de-burred. Use a damp white rag to wipe the finished seam and start the de-burring process. This can be done with either; the back of a knife or with a scrap of material held face-down. When dry it is a good idea to apply a coat of polish to the seam to help keep the seam clean. A recess scribed seam can be a workof-art or a disaster. It all depends upon the technique you select and how much attention you pay to detail. FCI

hen someone goes to Las Vegas to play games of chance, there are lofty expectations of winning big bucks and a high probability of huge losses. Games of chance are exactly that. Sometimes you win and most times, you lose. When installing backerboard, the two parts of the games of chance played by many tile installers are no thinset mortar under the board and no tape on the seams. The timeworn excuse is, “We have done it this way for twenty years and never had a problem.” (That they knew about) This mentality only works as long as your games of chance luck holds out. Beyond that, you are on your own. Troweling thinset mortar under the backerboard is a requirement according to the TCA Handbook as follows: “Use dry-set or latex Portland cement mortar to establish the supporting plane of the backerboard per the manufacturer’s directions.” In the manufacturer’s instructions, the use of thinset under the board is required to fi ll the subfloor surface imperfections and provides uniform support for the board. This keeps the board from moving up and down over areas that have low spots which can lead to cracked tile. Embedding 2” wide high-strength alkali-resistant glass fiber tape (not drywall mesh tape) into the mortar and level with the surface of the board bonds the sheets together to create a single sheet of backerboard. This step keeps the individual sheets from moving independently which also can cause cracked tile as shown in the attached photograph. All manufacturers require the use of thinset under the board and mesh tape to reinforce the joints. Manufacturers provide these installation guidelines because they have been tested and they work. The most important reason to follow these instructions is because the manufacturers provide warranties that support the installer if a problem arises. The manufacturer can be your best ally when there is a complaint. However, when a suspect installation is inspected that reveals no mortar under the backerboard and no taped seams, the installer is all alone. With the cost of pennies per square foot to provide both the supporting thinset mortar and mesh tape, is it really worth playing this game of chance? Stop spinning the roulette wheel and hoping it will work. Failure is not an option; do it right the first time.

January/February 2011

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Let’s Talk Resilient

by CHRISTOPHER CAPOBIANCO

Vinyl Tile Installation: Confusing categories put pressure on installers

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or as long as I have been around the industry there has been vinyl tile in one form or another, and the category remains popular today, especially for commercial use. However, the terminology around “Vinyl Tile” has never been more confusing. The main culprit is the marketing term “Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT),” which is not a separate category at all but is getting thrown around all over the place these days – sometimes applied to residential VCT products and sometimes to commercial Solid Vinyl products. ASTM International writes the industry standards for resilient flooring and there are only two products in the category of “Vinyl Tile”; Vinyl Composition Floor Tile (VCT) and Solid Vinyl Floor Tile (SVT). The difference is that SVT has a minimum vinyl, or what is called “binder” content. High content (34% or higher) products are classified as SVT and products under that content are VCT. What makes it more confusing is that we have high vinyl content VCT products that are called “premium” VCT, “enhanced” vinyl tile, “vinyl tile” or even just “resilient” tile but still only meet the specification for VCT. ASTM F 1700, Standard Specification for Solid Vinyl Floor Tile* classifies SVT

About the Author

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in three categories – Class I Monolithic, which means through color tile with no backing; Class II Surface Decorated, which usually means an “inlaid” type tile with a backing, and Class III, Printed Film Vinyl Tile, which is a photographic print film with a clear vinyl wearlayer and a backing system. A minimum wearlayer thickness of

0.020” (20 mils) will classify the Class III product as “Commercial”. ASTM F 1066, Standard Specification for Vinyl Composition Floor Tile* also has three different classifications; Class 1 for solid tile, class 2 for through pattern tile and class 3 for surface pattern tile where the top layer is at least 0.01” thick. It is important to note that many

The term “Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)” is not actually a separate category of floor tile but is a marketing term. This wood look LVT is a Solid Vinyl Tile (SVT), while other similar looking products are actually Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT). Photo by Christopher Capobianco. Christopher Capobianco – “Let’s Talk Resilient” – is a fourth generation floor covering specialist whose background includes work as a retailer, architectural sales representative, technical support manager, consultant, writer, educator and activist. His company, Flooring Answers, provides technical support, troubleshooting, training, testing, and inspection services.

January/February 2011

The importance of adhesive selection: This vinyl plank product is gapped almost 1/4” because VCT adhesive was use on an SVT product. Photo by Christopher Capobianco.

products sold as “Luxury Vinyl” may or may not fit into one or the other of these categories. There is no definition for “LVT” despite the fact that dozens of manufacturers and journalists continue to use the term. Generally, what is called “LVT” is a patterned, decorative product such as wood look vinyl plank, stone, marble and granite looks that may meet F 1700 Class III, OR VCT – type products with a decorative top layer that don’t have a high enough vinyl content to be SVT and might be meet F 1066 Class 3, or may not if the top layer is thinner than 0.10. ” Confused? Imagine how people who are not in the floor covering industry feel. A designer or architect has a sample of “LVT” and would like to use it on a project but has no details on the product to see if it is rated for the intended use. That is why I originally titled this column “LVT? No such thing!” As long as the major resilient manufacturers and even some of my fellow journalists continue their obsession with the term “Luxury Vinyl,” this situation wont get any better. Enough about all that! Let’s talk installation. SVT installation is often different from VCT, and failure to understand that is the cause of many failures. Here are some examples: Adhesive selection: For trowel

applied adhesives, “Clear Thin Spread” is the most commonly used product for Commercial VCT and installers usually like working with this product because of its long working time - you can put adhesive down over large areas, and after waiting for it to turn clear and dry to the touch, there are several hours of working time to get the tile in place. This is also known as a “pressure sensitive” process. Although some SVT products are now also able to be installed with a pressure sensitive adhesive, it is not the same adhesive product, so don’t be tempted to use VCT adhesive on SVT. I’ve inspected several failures where that happened and the SVT curled and/ or shrunk in such cases. When the adhesive was tested and found to be the wrong one; the installer was responsible for the complete replacement of the job and it was a very expensive mistake. Most SVT adhesives are either a wet lay or a semi-wet lay installation and in some applications it may be a reactive adhesive like epoxy or polyurethane. Reactive adhesives should be used in very high traffic areas where there is a lot of foot or rolling traffic or floors that get wet a lot or are exposed to extremes of temperature. It also is important to pay attention to the porosity of the substrate – it may be necessary to apply more adhesive by stepping up the trowel notch. As we discussed in my December Column (Resilient Adhesive Update: FCI December 2010), spray adhesives are growing in popularity for a number of reasons and there are versions for SVT and VCT. Again, not the same adhesive for both products so be sure you use the right one. If you haven’t looked into spray adhesives, I’d recommend you do because they have good moisture resistance, keep you off your knees and allow the floor to be used immediately after installation. Trowel Notch:You should purchase new trowels with the appropriate notch size for the adhesive, the substrate and the tile you are installing. SVT adhesive will often be applied with a finer notch trowel than the standard VCT or carpet adhesive. So what’s the big deal? A little extra can’t hurt, right? Wrong! Too much adhesive can lead to failures such

as adhesive oozing, tiles shifting or indentations in the finished floor, so do not fail to pay attention to this detail. A good trowel costs no more than 2 cents per square foot and that is an important investment. Bottom line on adhesives is to match the adhesive and the trowel to the product; the substrate and the expected traffic load for the finished floor and quote the job accordingly. Site Conditions and Moisture Testing: A common assumption is that VCT is somehow more moisture tolerant than SVT or that it “breathes.” Neither of these assumptions is true, although we are seeing adhesives with moisture limits that are getting higher and higher. Regardless of what floor covering you are installing – resilient, carpet, wood, tile or stone - you need to be sure the slab is tested for moisture. ASTM F 710 Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring* says, “All concrete floors shall be tested for moisture regardless of age or grade level,” so don’t skip this part of preparation. The substrate needs to be dry, smooth, solid and dimensionally stable. Make sure you are installing in a building that is climate controlled. The product, the adhesive, the moisture testing and the surface preparation will not be at their best if they are used in very cold or very hot conditions. If you are installing over concrete, make sure that moisture testing has been done and that the slab meets the requirements of the adhesive and/or the flooring manufacturer. Acclimation: The product itself needs to be acclimated to job site conditions for at least two days before installation. The reason for this is the tendency of vinyl products to react to temperature changes, especially warm to cold. VCT may be less prone to this than SVT but vinyl products such as SVT, vinyl wall base and vinyl edgings may expand slightly or they can be inadvertently stretched during handling if they are warm, such as when they come in from a hot van. Vinyl has “memory” so if it is installed in this expanded state, it will go down with joints that are nice and snug but may show gaps later in when it goes back to its original size. For this reason, acclimating vinyl products to job site conditions is just as

January/February 2011

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important as it is with natural products such as wood, cork, and laminates Substrate Preparation: Resilient flooring will conform to any irregularities in the substrate, and Vinyl tile is no exception, so floor prep is key to success. Take extra care to be sure the substrate is smooth by installing the proper underlayment or patching compound to smooth the existing surface. This is especially true on smooth and/or dark color tile. This is a good example of knowing the product before you install it. Textured resilient flooring is more forgiving of slight irregularities in the substrate then smooth products are, so it may take a little extra time for surface prep with these smooth products. Adhesive Open Time: Before you start to spread adhesive, make sure you are comfortable with the required amount of open time so that you can lay out the job and spread the right amount of adhesive at a time. This is especially true on the wet lay or semi wet lay adhesives often used with SVT. Leaving too short an open time may cause poor bond and more chance of tile shifting or adhesive oozing up between the tiles. Allowing too long an open time may mean the tile might adhere initially but the long term bond strength will not be good. Open time can be affected by temperature and humidity so it should be checked on a job-by-job basis. In dry warm weather the open time may be shorter and in humid weather it may be longer. Adhesives with a shorter open time requite that the installer spread small areas of adhesive at a time. Spreading the adhesive and rolling: When installing VCT, you lay into “dry” adhesive, where large quantities are spread using a 1/16” square notch trowel, and allowed to “tack up” so they are dry to the touch and do not transfer to the back of the tile. Generally SVT needs a harder setting adhesive such as a “wet lay” acrylic or a reactive adhesive, which often are applied using a smaller trowel notch such as a 1/32” notch. “Wet lay” adhesives must be spread in small areas at a time, covered within the recommended open time (usually 15-20 minutes), and rolled with a 100-lb roller. There should be transfer of adhesive to the back of

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the tile and the trowel ridges should be flattened out. If the open time is too long these adhesives “skin over” and won’t transfer to the back of the tile. If this happens, the adhesive must be scraped off the floor. If they are not rolled, the tile sits on top of the adhesive but is not fully adhered. In both cases, there may be enough tack to hold the tile down but the bond will not be nearly as strong so the floor may develop gaps over time. If the floor fails on a wet lay installation, the cause can be diagnosed by lifting a tile. If trowel ridges are visible and/or there is no adhesive transfer to the back if the tile, it’s a good bet there was too much “open time” so the adhesive “skinned over,” or the floor wasn’t rolled. Another type of SVT adhesive is a “semi wet lay” or “tacky lay” type, where the adhesive is left open long enough that it develops some tack, is still wet, but is not open long enough to turn clear. The best way to tell if this type of adhesive is ready is to touch it lightly with a finger. If you get a “smudge” on your finger it is not ready. If you see lines from the trowel notching then it is ready. Set the tile and roll it with a 100-lb roller. After installation: Once all of the tile is laid, check for any loose or popping tiles and if there are any, weigh them down so the tile and adhesive will be in full contact with each other when the adhesive sets. This weight can usually be removed after 12 hours or so. Check the flooring and adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations for how long to protect the floor from traffic. When in doubt, prevent all foot traffic for the first 12 hours and allow light foot traffic from 12 to 24 hours. As far as rolling traffic and furniture, that may depend on the adhesive. Generally I would recommend preventing rolling traffic for 48-72 hours after the tile is set. Protection: If there will be construction on the floor after installation it should be protected from damage. Tools, ladders, carts and the like can make permanent indentations if they are allowed on the floor while the adhesive is still wet. Wait 24-48 hours for the adhesive to set up, then sweep the floor and cover with brown Kraft paper and ¼” or thicker panels of plywood or hard board. Don’t

January/February 2011

Top: The importance of trowel notch: Too much adhesive can cause oozing, or denting and not enough adhesive, such as in this photo, can create a weak bond and lead to gapping or curling vinyl tile. Photo by Christopher Capobianco. Above: Site conditions and moisture testing: Don’t assume VCT is more resistant to moisture so you don’t need to test the concrete. This VCT floor failed because of that assumption, causing indentations in the soft adhesive that were visible through the floor tile. Photo by Christopher Capobianco.

use colored paper because it can stain the floor if it gets wet and don’t use plastic because it may hinder adhesive drying. Also, don’t put the panels directly on the floor because they may scuff or scratch it. Put paper down first. As the categories get blurry it pays to take a little extra time before you work with VCT or SVT; check the adhesive and trowel notch recommendations and don’t assume if it looks like VCT and smells like VCT that you install it the same way. The term “LVT” has created some confusion in that regard so be sure you have the right procedure in place before you get started. FCI

Focus on Laminate

by ANTHONY PAL ANDRO

The Keys to Successful Job Site Evaluation

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aminate flooring is strong, durable and extremely forgiving, but it still has limitations and is not necessarily suitable for every home. Laminate features an organic core and, just like other materials in the home that fall in this class, it will and expand and contract as it reacts to changes in moisture content. Before beginning any job it is important to evaluate the job site to ensure it is suitable for a laminate flooring installation. I like to begin the evaluation outside. My biggest concern is rain water management. Whether the home is on a slab, a crawl space or over a basement, it is critical to keep as much water as possible away from the foundation. If the soil becomes saturated with water, it can penetrate the foundation walls or rise through the ground surface into the foundation or crawl space.

Outdoors The first place I look for water management is by looking up. 0.62 gallons of water are collected per square foot of roof per inch of precipitation For example, a 1,000-square-foot roof will collect 620 gallons of water for every inch of rain that falls on it. Properly installed, clean, working gutters, with down spouts and spill

About the Author

guards, will direct this water away from the foundation (Photo 1). The next place I look is the landscaping. On new construction, the final grade should be completed. On all homes the soil should be sloped away from the structure. A rule of thumb is ½” per foot for at least 6 feet. Look for things like raised flower beds, heavy shrubbery close to the foundation walls, and cracked or broken driveways. Is the

driveway slopped away from the house? Lawn sprinklers should be directed away from the foundation walls. Look for discoloration, mold or mildew on the foundation walls (Photo 2). Crawl spaces Wooden subfloors constructed over a crawl space MUST have adequate ventilation. Crawl space should be a minimum of 18” from the ground to

Photo 1 Anthony Palandro has been in the floor covering industry since 1972. He works as an installer, inspector, consultant and expert witness. He is currently the instructor for the NALFA Installer Certification School. Since 1998, Anthony has been working as an installation instructor for Bayard Sales, a local Philadelphia flooring distributor, as well as for Pergo and Kahrs Wood Floors.

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A Carpet Installer’s Notebook

Photo 2

Photo 3

Concrete slabs All concrete slabs must be tested for moisture. Unless you have a crystal ball there is no way to tell if the slab is properly constructed with a vapor retarder separating the concrete from the soil. Also, converted garages and rooms that were not originally intended to receive finished flooring will not have a vapor retarder beneath the slab.

Photo 4

Before beginning any job it is important to evaluate the job site to ensure it is suitable for a laminate flooring installation. I like to begin the evaluation outside. My biggest concern is rain water management.

the bottom of the joist. 18” of clearance beneath duct work is also desirable (Photo 3). The ground should be covered 100% by a vapor retarder of black polyethylene (minimum 6 mil). The seams should overlap at least 8 inches; and the film run up the wall at least 6 inches. In cases where a thin concrete slab is covering the ground a vapor retarder should still be installed. The crawl should have perimeter venting equal to 1.5% of crawl space square footage. In other words, 1,000 sq ft of space would have 15 sq. ft. of venting. You are looking for good cross ventilation with no dead air space. In some areas of the country a closed crawl space is preferred. To function properly a supply

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and return air should be included in the space. Always follow local building codes. You have to actually look in. Is there standing water? Excess moisture in the crawl space can penetrate subfloors through a process known as diffusion - the transport of water molecules through a surface due to a difference in vapor pressure – and have an adverse affect on the flooring.

January/February 2011

The maximum acceptable moisture measurements for concrete subfloors must not exceed the manufacturer’s recommendation. Some manufacturers accept meter readings (Photo 4) and some require a Calcium Chloride test (Photo 5). Be sure to record the measurements for future reference. New concrete must cure for at least 60 days and then be tested. Cover all concrete slabs, regardless of grade level or age with a non-recycled resin 6-mil polyethylene film as a vapor retarder. Indoors Basement floors and walls should be dry. Look for signs of mold or mildew. Check items lying on the floor. Sometimes just opening the basement door you’ll be greeted by that musty smell. Is an HVAC in place and working? The ventilation system should be operating for at least 2 weeks prior to installation. It is best to install the floor in an environment that’s as close to normal living conditions as possible, 60° to 85° F and 35%

Photo 5

Photo 6

to 75% RH. Record the temperature and relative humidity. Hygrometers are inexpensive and invaluable. Again, record your test results. Check for floor flatness. Typically a measurement of 3/16” in 10 ft. is required although each manufacturer’s numbers may vary a little. Always check the instructions for the floor you are installing. Flatness can be check with a straight edge, laser level, or string line. I usually just click 3 laminate planks together and use them as a straight edge (Photo 6). Measure and record the subfloor moisture content. Own a moisture meter and know how to use it. Check in several locations and average the results. Numbers may vary by geographic region, but in most areas of the U.S. you’re looking for less than 12% MC. Documentation Always document all of your observations and test. Digital cameras are wonderful. Most everyone has one in their phone. Take notes and pictures; temperature and RH; subfloor, wood or OSB; Joist direction and spacing; dimensional lumber or TGI. Some things may not seem very important, but it only takes a second to look and it’s good to get in the habit of writing everything down. Good notes are very valuable when a problem pops up. FCI

hesive? d a r o o fl d o o w r fo g Lookin

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Trade Directory & Buying Guide • Search by Product Category or Company Name • Downloadable Product Spec Sheets • Alpha Company Listings • Live Web & Email Links • Product Photos

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II nstallation Training Clinics & Schools nstallation Training Clinics & Schools 2011 Locations & Dates

Basic Carpet Installation (2 Days) $499 You will learn the history and construction of carpet; the Standards of Installation (CRI 104 and 105); site analysis and preparation: how to plan, measure, and estimate a residential installation (seam placement); how to interact professionally with customers in their homes; power stretching; glue-down installation; stair installation and pattern matching; and much, much more! Qualified installers will also receive a 1 year CFI Certification (R1) upon completing certification process. (Carpet mill tour included for Dalton, GA class only)

Basic Ceramic Tile Installation $499 You will learn about the construction of ceramic tile flooring; how to measure and lay out a residential installation; how to determine installation material required; floor and wall installation methods; corrective action for problem substrates; and TCNA and ANSI standards. (Ceramic mill tour included for Dallas, TX class only.)

Basic Wood and Laminate Installation $499 You will learn about the construction of wood and laminate flooring; how to measure and lay out a residential installation; how to do site analysis and moisture tests; how to prepare and look for problems in the sub-floor; how to interact professionally with the customer in their home; how to install above and below grade; about glue-down or floating; and how to install wood or laminate on stairs. (A tour of the wood and laminate manufacturing facilities is included in this course for the Danville, VA seminar only.)

Carpet International Certified Floor Covering Installers Association (CFI) and the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) educational programs include certification for carpet installation professionals, and installation

Editor’s Note:

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Lees Carpet Institute ensures that installers get personal training. Lees requires students to have five years of experience before being accepted into the program. Training adheres to CRI standards. For details, call (800) 443-2241. National Carpet Equipment conducts a variety of custom training courses to fit the student’s needs. Hands-on training covers all phases: rug design, carpet carving, sculpting, bas-relief, binding, hand tufting, fiber optic and more. For details, call 245-535-8206.

Laminate/Resilient Amtico International conducts a Floor Installation Training School. Classes are limited to 14 people per session. For details, call (404) 267-1900.

Upcoming Installation Classes Basic Carpet Installation/CFI Certification March 15-16; Dalton, GA April 12-13; Fontana, CA May 17-18; Mendota Heights, MN June 14-15; Teterboro, NJ July 12-13; Coppell, TX August 9-10; Denver, CO September 13-14; Waukesha, WI October 4-5; St. Louis, MO October 25-26; Dalton, GA

Wood and Laminate Installation April 13-14; St. Louis, MO May 10-11; Dalton, GA June 28-29; Fontana, CA July 26-27; Waukesha, WI August 23-24; Teterboro, NJ September 27-28; Coppell, TX October 11-12; Dalton, GA

®

For more information, visit www.mohawkuniversity.com or call (800) 664-2958

training for dealers, inspectors, in-house staff, and train-the-trainer programs. Certification is offered in residential, commercial (levels I and II), and Master levels. For more information, visit the CFI website at www.CFIinstallers.com, or call (816) 231-4646.

Domco provides a number of training methods to provide education on installation of all its resilient product offerings. For details, call (800) 227-4662. Forbo Installation Training includes an Associate and a Master Mechanic curriculum. For further details or to obtain an application, go to www.forboLinoleumNA.com or contact Forbo Technical Services at (800) 342-0604. The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA), the only trade association dedicated solely to the laminate flooring industry, offers a two-day Installer Certification Class available throughout the year. The comprehensive training curriculum covers all aspects of a quality laminate installation and will give the attendees the skills necessary to perform installations to high standards and craftsmanship in the field. To register or for more information, please call (202) 785-9500, visit www.nalfa.com. nora systems, Inc. offers a 2 1/2-day training seminar at its U.S. headquarters in Lawrence, MA. The nora Technical Academy provides training in the most recent industry developments. Attendees learn about the latest installation techniques, industry standards - including new moisture testing methods, equipment and subfloor preparation, and participate in extensive hands-on training. Contact your local nora representative at 800-332-NORA to register for an upcoming class. Northern Industries offers a three-day seamless flooring and waterproofing installation course. Course fee of $175 includes hands-on training and certification. For details, call (401) 821-2121. Pergo, Inc.’s Endorsed 2-Day Training Program includes installation topics and techniques, and Pergo provides the training facility, all tools and materials. Classes are limited to six students and are fi lled on a fi rstcome, fi rst-served basis. Call (800) 249-0042 or [email protected].

These training clinics and schools cover a wide variety of floor covering installation subjects. Phone numbers are provided for you to get more information on schools in which you are interested. Also, be sure to check with your distributors for upcoming schools/clinics. Do you have a training program or clinic that you would like to include in this section? If so, please e-mail [email protected] or call (818) 224-8035 ext. 2208.

January/February 2011

Tarkett Commercial offers a range of installation training opportunities ranging from job start-ups, local area contractor seminars to comprehensive training courses conducted at its training facility in Houston, TX, or at approved field locations. Additional training seminars are available for Inspectors, Specifiers and Estimators. Call (800) 366-2689, ext. 2709, or e-mail [email protected]. TOLI International offers a daylong class, titled “Everything You Need to Know About installing TOLI.” For more information, call (888) TRY TOLI (1-888-879-8654).

Multiple Subjects Crain Cutter Co. conducts complete floor covering installation clinics at distributor locations. For details, contact the distributor listed in your area or Crain Cutter at (408) 946-6100. Flooring Consultants and Inspection Training Services (FCITS) offers certification classes for Carpet and Hard Surface flooring inspectors. IICRC CEU’s are also available. For information visit www.fcits.org or call (800) 462-2151. The Floor Covering Institute offers training on resilient and wood f looring installation, f loor preparation and moisture testing. Current course offerings include a basic five-day resilient installation school, five-day commercial and advanced classes, as well as classes on f loor preparation and wood f looring installation. There will also be oneday seminars covering moisture in concrete and moisture testing. For more information, contact Ray Thompson, rthompson@ cablespeed.com, or call (509) 674-1565. F.I.T.S. (Flooring Inspection Training Services) classes cover manufacturing, installation, maintenance, specifications, claimshandling report writing, communication skills, marketing and more. More information is available online at: www.fits4.org or call Tandy Reeves (888) 440-0699. All classes are accredited for continuing education. Flooring Technology Institute (FTI) presents a one-day course on field moisture testing and investigations of concrete and other substrate/subfloors. The Moisture Testing and Investigation course is $300. For more information, contact: Claudia@inspectionstoo. com, or www.inspectionstoo.com; (281) 2865197 (cell) or (281) 286-5197 (office); fax (281) 286-5198; 133 N. Friendswood Dr., Suite 158, Friendswood, TX 77546. INSTALL (International Standards and Training Alliance) is an alliance of mills, manufacturers, contractors and the floor covering arm of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Content includes, but is not limited to, classroom and on-the-job instruction in the theory and practice of proper floor preparation, installation and finishing procedures in all types of floor covering. For more information, visit www.installfloors.org or contact John McGrath, Director, at (215) 582-4108. The MAPEI Technical Institute offers courses in three different disciplines: Tile & Stone InstallationSystems (TSIS); Concrete Restoration

Systems (CRS); and Floor Covering Installation Systems (FCIS). Participants pay $300 to attend the courses, and then receive a $400 rebate coupon toward the purchase of MAPEI products. MAPEI provides free lodging and meals during the seminar. For more information on the MTI schedule or other details, please contact Sophia D’Amico at 954-246-8555. The Painters and Allied Trades (LMCI) is an industry resource for leadership education, knowledge exchange, and networking to improve the capabilities of the unionized finishing industry’s workforce. For details, visit www. LMCIonline.org or call 1-888-934-6474. Tile & Stone Aqua Mix offers the Independent Care & Maintenance Applicator program. The program will offer a wide range of training and techniques to its students. For more information, call (800) 366-6877, ext. 3056, or e-mail [email protected]. The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) currently has over 30 educational and training courses available covering all facets of tile and the installation process. All methods comply with nationally recognized installation guidelines and will be presented in non-proprietary fashion. Both introductory and advanced courses are available. For more information, visit www. tileschool.org or call (864) 222-2131. The NTCA Training and Education program is administered by Justin Woelfel, Jr., NTCA Director of training and education. The threeday course, called Workshop+, costs $295. Customized courses can be designed for interested parties. The intent is to provide hands-on training opportunities for tile contractors. For details, call Justin Woelfel Jr. at (601) 939-2071. The National Training Center for Stone & Masonry Trades provides training in all aspects of the stone and tile industry, from design and installation to fabrication and restoration and maintenance. For details, call (404) 834-4800.

Underlayment/Subfloor Ardex Engineered Cements and the W.W. Henry Company offer installation training for installers, architects, construction managers and other professionals at The Ardex Technical Center in Aliquippa, PA. The comprehensive two-day training seminars combine classroom and hands-on training. To register for a seminar, you must be sponsored by an ARDEX employee. Registration forms, as well as additional course details are available on our website, www.ardex. com. If you have any questions, e-mail info@ ardex.com or call (888) 512-7339. Dependable Floor Products offers twoday training seminars on sub-floor preparation and Dependable products. Training includes classroom instruction and hands-on training with trowelable, moisture treatment, and self-leveling products. For details, call (800) 227-3434. LATICRETE International offers several seminars designed specifically for distributors, dealers, and others directly involved in the ceramic tile and stone industry. Attendees qualify for AIA/ CES Learning Units. For details, call (800) 2434788, or visit www.LATICRETE.com

Wood Armstrong Installation School offers a three-day installation workshop designed for beginning or intermediate installers. For details, call (800) 356-9301, ext. 5376, or visit www. floorexpert.com/installertraining. Basic Coatings offers the most comprehensive training program in the industry. With subjects ranging from basic product knowledge to advanced finishing, sanding, and installation techniques, Basic training programs are an essential asset for both the novice and the advanced flooring professional alike. Call Kellie Smithson at (800) 247-5471 ext. 3798 for more information about trainings offered at Basic’s 7,500 sq. ft. training facility and other trainings across the country. BonaKemi USA Training Team presents a four-day sanding and finishing schools for professional hardwood flooring contractors, floor covering dealers and salespeople. For more information, contact Betty Jo Hargrave at (303) 923-6632, or [email protected]. Clarke American Sanders Sales Institute (CSI) is a detailed 3.5 day course that focuses on product knowledge of the Clarke American Sanders equipment. This is a special class, opened to qualified Clarke American Sanders distributor sales individuals. For more information, call (479) 750-8433 or visit www.americansanders.com. Decorative Flooring offers three curriculums: Basic, Specify/Marketing, Custom Installations. Led by industry veterans, and sponsored by Bostik, Pro-Coat, Powernail Co., and Festool, the courses range from one- to 2-1/2 days. For more information and to reserve your space, call Jim Garth at (877) 229-7720, or visit www. decorativeflooring.com. NWFA and the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA) jointly sponsor a five-day Wood Flooring School. The course covers installation of both unfinished and factory finished solid strip, engineered, and parquet flooring; sanding and finishing of these products; repair and refinishing; trouble shooting; and other related subjects. For details, call NWFA at (800) 422-4556 or visit www.nwfa.org Schluter Systems offers an Innovation Workshop in Anaheim, CA, at the World Floor Covering Association. This 2-1/2 day course includes classroom discussions and valuable hands-on workshops that will provide attendees with innovative ceramic and stone tile installation systems and methods. For more information and to receive a list of dates and locations, call (800) 472-4588 (USA); (800) 667-8746 (Canada); or visit www.schluter.com.

Editor’s Note: These training clinics and schools cover a wide variety of floor covering installation subjects. Phone numbers are provided for you to get more information on schools in which you are interested. Also, be sure to check with your distributors for upcoming schools/clinics. Do you have a training program or clinic that you would like to include in this section? If so, please e-mail [email protected] or call (818) 224-8035 ext. 2208.

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A d Index Use the Reader Inquiry Card on opposite page to receive free information about products and/or services mentioned in Floor Covering Installer. Find the Reader Inquiry Number at the bottom of the ad or editorial item and circle the corresponding number on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Company Name

Pg No. RS No.

American Safety Razor .................................. 3 1 (888) 254-2126 • www.asrco.com APAC ............................................................ 27 34 (800) 747-2722 • www.apacadhesives.com Ardex Engineered Cements .......................... 19 72 (888) 512-7319 • www.ardexamericas.com Bostik ........................................................... 21 29 (800) 7BOSTIK (726-7845) • www.bostik-us.com CTEF ........................................................37,50 (864) 222-2131 • www.tilecareer.com CTIOA ......................................................... 20 (310) 574-7800 • www.ctioa.org Custom Building Products ..................... 16-17 (800) 272-8786 www.custombuildingproducts.com Lignomat USA .............................................. 29 9,10 (800) 227-2105 • www.lignomat.com MAPEI Corp. ................................................. 2 35 (954) 246-8888 • www.mapei.com MP Global Products .................................... 11 58 (888) 379-9695 • www.quietwalk.com National Flooring Equipment ...................... 12 2 (800) 245-0267 • www.nationalequipment.com Nissan North America.................................... 5 41 www.nissancommercialvehicles.com Pam Fastening Technology .......................... 25 7 (800) 699-2674 • www.pamfast.com

Company Name

Pg No. RS No.

Pearl Abrasive Co. ........................................ 18 (800) 969-5561 • www.pearlabrasive.com RB Rubber Products .................................... 26 (800) 525-5530 • www.rbrubber.com Seam Master Industries ............................... 23 (800) 861-SEAM • www.seammaster.com Sinclair Equipment ...................................... 13 (800) 624-2408 • www.sineqco.com Stauf USA ..................................................... 52 (866) GLUEUSA • www.staufusa.com Tramex, Ltd.................................................. 30 (303) 972-7926 • www.tramexltd.com Turbo Heat Welding Tools ........................... 51 (714) 522-4290 www.turboheatweldingtools.com W.F. Taylor ..................................................... 9 (951) 360-6677 • www.wftaylor.com W.W. Henry Company ................................... 7 (800) 232-4832 • www.wwhenry.com Wagner Electronic Products ........................ 13 (800) 207-2486 • www.RapidRH.com Wedi Corp. ................................................... 15 (877) 933-9334 • www.wedicorp.com

Editor’s Note:

6 8 14 3 64 11

28 68 4 5

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P roducts SPOTLIGHT Bostik

Custom Building Products

Ultra-Set® SingleStep™ is a one-part, waterless, easy-totrowel, urethane adhesive. Once cured, it forms a Moisture Protection and Sound Reduction Membrane in one SingleStep reducing labor costs. Its patent pending Thickness-Control™ Technology ensures proper film thickness eliminating installer error. Contains Bostik’s Blockade™ antimicrobial protection. zero VOC (SCAQMD 1168); IIC 52 over 6” slab (no ceiling), 71 with ceiling. 6IIC23; All hardwood flooring: solids, bamboo, engineered, parquet; On-, below-, above-grade applications. www.bostik-us. com Surfaces Booth #B8138 Circle 120 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Tools 4 Flooring®

Custom Building Products introduces new 100% Silicone Caulk

New from Custom Building Products, 100% Silicone Caulk is designed for use in coves, corners, changes in plane and expansion joints associated with exterior and interior applications of tile and stone. It conforms to ASTM C-920 and C-794 properties, and can be used in pools and other wet area applications. www. custombuildingproducts.com Surfaces Booth # B8108

Wedi It’s time to go PREMIUM! Introducing wedi® Building Panel Premium

The Professional’s Choice – Worldwide Largest Selection of Flooring Tools, Installation Products and Accessories • Most orders ship within 24 hours • Free shipping available • All major credit cards accepted • Secure on-line ordering • Lease-To-Own financing available Check out our Exclusive POWER BUYS! Call us toll-free 866.634.1189 www.tools4flooring.com Circle 118 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

DuoFast

wedi’s new Building Panel Premium has a new tapered edge and smooth cement base finish – making it the faster, better, smoother solution for installing walls that are insulated, mold and waterproof, lightweight and durable. Old-fashioned drywall/ cement boards are time consuming and messy. The wedi® Building Panel Premium is quick, simple and efficient. www. wedicorp.com Circle 121 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Wagner

Duo-Fast Jet-Tac Tack Strip Epoxy saves installers time & money Duo-Fast® Floor Fastening Systems introduces Jet-Tac™ Tack Strip Epoxy, a quick-set epoxy that is ideal for tack strip installation on concrete or wood. Jet-Tac™ is the first twopart epoxy that comes in a uniquely designed 10 oz. (250 ml) cartridge with nozzle that can be used in a standard caulk gun. The specially designed nozzle allows the two-part epoxy to be fully mixed by the time it reaches the end of the nozzle; thus, no mixing by hand, and no special tools are needed. Unlike hot-melt glues, Jet-Tac™ sets up in 5 to 7 minutes, allowing enough time for the installer to apply the adhesive and position in place full strips for additional savings. www. duo-fast.com Surfaces Booth #B7128 Circle 122 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

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January/February 2011

The Rapid RH® 4.0 from Wagner Electronics combines their patented Smart Sensor and redesigned Easy Reader with Touch-n-Sense™ technology for accurate, “virtually automatic” relative humidity testing in concrete slabs. www.rapidrh.com Surfaces Booth #B7376 Circle 123 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Turbo Heat Welding Tools

Mapei

Four different blade sizes with TURBO’s Master TURBO Groover

MAPEI Introduces New Isocyanate-free Wood Flooring Adhesive

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 wall, groove circles and curves, and it comes in four different blade sizes. This Groover has been awarded 20 patents around the world. To see this tool in action, call for your free DVD II (714) 522-4290. www.turboheatweldingtools.com Surfaces Booth #B6538

Ultrabond ECO® 985 is MAPEI’s premium single component, hybrid-polymerbased wood flooring adhesive that is 100% solids, isocyante free and easy to clean up. Ultrabond ECO 985 provides a strong bond and excellent sound reduction properties while it protects wood flooring from moisture vapor emissions coming through concrete slabs. For more information, visit www.mapei.com Surfaces Booth #B7950 Circle 124 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

APAC

LATICRETE APAC 440 - A Classic Carpet Adhesive

APAC 440 supreme carpet adhesive is a high-performance, high-solids, floor-covering adhesive specifically designed for hard-to-bond carpet backings as well as most feltbacked resilient floor coverings. APAC 440 is a very tacky adhesive that develops rapid early legs, grabs quickly and provides an exceptionally strong permanent bond. APAC 440 is part of APAC’s Classic line of adhesives, indicating a small solvent addition to the formulation for faster performance and enhanced bonding characteristics. For more information on APAC adhesives, visit www.apac-adhesives.com Surfaces Booth #B7064 Circle 125 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

WW Henry HENRY® Adhesives Receive RCFI FloorScore® Certification, HENRY® 430 ClearPro™ and HENRY™ 640 VinylLock™ Receive Designations

LATICRETE set to launch six grout, sealant colors LATICRETE will release six new grout and sealant colors in January. The colors include Tawny, Desert Khaki, Hot Cocoa, Terra Cotta, Espresso and Dusty Gray, offered in SpectraLock Pro Grout, SpectraLock 2000 IG and PermaColor Grout. The company will also offer a coordinating Premium Acrylic Caulk to complement each new grout color. www.laticrete.com Surfaces Booth #B7926 Circle 121 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Stauf Stauf’s PUM-950 will not etch finish

The W.W. Henry Company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of premium flooring and specialty adhesives has received the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RCFI) FloorScore® Certification for HENRY® 430 ClearPro™ Clear VCT (Vinyl Composition Tile) Adhesive and HENRY® 640 VinylLock™ Pressure Sensitive Vinyl Flooring Adhesive. The RFCI FloorScore Certification includes independent testing of products for indoor air quality standards based on the California Section 01350 Program. www.wwhenry.com Circle 124 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

Stauf ’s PUM-950 PowerMastic urethane adhesive for wood floors is engineered so it will not etch the finish of the floor. PUM-950 is also designed to be durable, easy to clean and completely green, the company added. www.staufusa.com Booth #S5311. Circle 124 on the Reader Inquiry Card.

January/February 2011

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WE KNOW HEAT WELDING

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NTRODUCING THE NEW TURBO HEAT WELD REPAIR TOOLS (photo 1) “Split seams” and poor welds are very common in commercial sheet applications. Repairs have always been difficult and inconsistent. TURBO now has a line of specialized tools to make repairs easy and with precision. With 6.5mm welding rod, jobs can now be repaired and saved rather than full replacements. Simply “re-groove” and “re-weld.”

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The new TURBO repair tools consist of: • 6.5 mm TURBO repair groover • 6.5 mm pull groover (small jobs and touch up) • 6.5 mm Speed welding tip • 6.5 mm Super TURBO nozzle • 6.5 mm TURBO precision nozzle (for heat sensitive material) • Both Super TURBO nozzle and TURBO precision nozzle can be used with our TURBO roller guide and TURBO caddy (Auto welder).

L WELDING

SPORTS TURBO GROOVER

TURBO REPAIR GROOVER See these tools at Surfaces booth #B6538 www.turboheatweldingtools.com

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TURBO REPAIR GROOVER Pulling out an existing heat weld has never been easier. With the new TURBO repair groover simply push over the old seam (using front forks as a visual guide) and take out existing weld rod to create a fresh 6.5mm groove for new weld. No straight edge or guide is needed. INTRODUCING L WELDING (photo 2) In the heat welding trade the most difficult areas to weld are without a doubt: flash cove, toe kicks and welding under a suspended cabinet from the floor by about 5 inches. With our new (L pencil tip) and detail nozzle it is now easy to weld such areas. It works by simply turning your wrist instead of the conventional way, which is: having the big and bulky welding gun in front of you obstructing the view while the welding is taking place, thus, making it a difficult process.

INTRODUCING THE SPORTS TURBO GROOVER (photo 3) Grooving materials with a cushion backing has been a real problem for all installers up to now. Our new sports turbo groover brings a much needed solution to this problem. The new specialized sports turbo groover will groove these sports flooring materials easily. The installer can apply a lot of weight or very little D weight on the groover and the sports V D Free 2-4290 turbo groover will still make the 2 (714) 5 same uniform cut every time.

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URETHANE. PERFECTED.

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Patent Pending

Introducing a totally new and improved type of urethane wood flooring adhesive, Stauf’s one-of-a-kind PUM-950. No special solvents

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required for clean-up and no problem cleaning up after it’s cured. No etching and wasted time dealing with call-backs. No isocyanates to harm the planet, making it safer for installers too. And nobody else has it. No wonder so many installers stick with Stauf. CIRCLE 64

www.staufusa.com

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866.GLUEUSA