FloorCoveringNews

C&R Flooring, New England’s premier wood specialists, is pleased to announce they recently moved their showroom and home office operations from Needham to 378 Washington Street, Westwood, Mass.

“We loved Needham, but it was time to purchase our own building and we wanted to stay on the Rte. 128 loop as well as have easy access to Boston,” stated Chris Zizza, president of C&R Flooring. “I was born and raised in Westwood and C&R’s started in Westwood. It feels great to be home again.”

Lexington, Ky. — The US National Safety Council recently presented Florida Tile with its Perfect Record Award. According to Darin Dillow, Florida Tile’s safety and environmental manager, meeting “the criteria of the award requires that a company, unit and/or facility or an individual must have continued without the occurrence of an occupational injury or job-related illness involving days away from work or death for a period of at least 12 consecutive months, and be accordance with the OSHA record keeping requirements.

Two Tuf Stuf collections will be manufactured by Shannon Specialty Floors.

Milwaukee — Shannon Specialty Floors a distributor of resilient flooring for commercial installations in healthcare, hospitality, retail and education, previewed its Tuf Stuf High Performance Flooring during NeoCon 2013. Tuf Stuf builds on the company’s strong portfolio of dependable, durable flooring products. The first two Tuf Stuf collections to be manufactured by Shannon Specialty Floors are Fancy Free and Classic Cut. The Fancy Free design is whimsical and lively, while Classic Cut offers a traditional linen-like look.

Floor plane becomes canvas for larger than life installation art

Spartanburg, S.C.— Milliken’s new floor covering collection, Art Media, is a library of patterns that reinterpret iconoclastic modern art techniques and media that include charcoal, chalk, graphite, action painting, drip painting, and the optical illusions of Op Art. A Best of NeoCon Gold award winner for modular carpet, it explores the boundaries of media art. In this new collection, the floor plane becomes a canvas for larger-than-life installation art or fine detail that feels like an intimate secret, through the use of advanced digital technology.

Lexington, Ky. — The Florida Tile brand has been added to the growing list of building supply manufacturers supporting the We Build American national initiative aimed at encouraging builders, remodelers and homebuyers to use American-made materials when building or remodeling a home.

We Build American is a new nationwide program first introduced to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) in January 2013 by the 84 Lumber Company, the nation’s leading privately held building materials and services supplier to professional contractors and build-it-yourselfers.

Tandus’ Narrative hybrid resilient flooring won an Innovation Award for Healthcare Flooring and a Gold Award for Hard Surface Flooring.

Chicago – Tandus won widespread recognition at NeoCon, winning four Best of NeoCon Awards and the Grand Prize for Flooring Solutions in Building magazine’s Innovations Awards. At Best of NeoCon, Narrative hybrid resilient flooring won an Innovation Award for Healthcare Flooring and a Gold Award for Hard Surface Flooring. The Grasscloth broadloom collection took Gold in Healthcare Flooring, and Presage was honored with Silver for Broadloom Carpet. In the Innovations Awards, two Tandus collections – Big City/Bright Lights and Restoration – won the Grand Prize in the Flooring Solutions category for a new yarn system that extends the modular carpets’ performance. 

The 19^th annual Floor Installation Association of North America (FIANA) Convention & Trade Show is scheduled for Sept. 12 through 14, 2013, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort Hotel in Nashville. The convention will offer association members opportunities for educational networking during the round table sessions. Subjects will include: “Three Routes to Increased Profitability in Your Branches” and “The 5 Trends that will Affect Your Business in 2014.”

Washington – Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes hit a significant milestone in June, surging eight points to a reading of 52 on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released on June 17. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good rather than poor.

“This is the first time the HMI has been above 50 since April 2006, and surpassing this important benchmark reflects the fact that builders are seeing better market conditions as demand for new homes increases,” said NAHB chairman Rick Judson, a home builder and developer from Charlotte, N.C. “With the low inventory of existing homes, an increasing number of buyers are gravitating toward new homes.”

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

Economy, creativity allows for category expansion

by Jenna Lippin

When discussing LVT, we have all heard the same phrase uttered: “It is the fastest growing category in the industry.” The alternative product has become a game changer, bringing both promise and innovation to the flooring world even during its darkest times.

But what really made LVT the success it is today is its profile as a multi-use product. Originally, LVT became popular as a water resistant, hard surface product that was ideal for mainly kitchens and sometimes spaces such as a laundry room. In the past, LVT would not be considered for bedrooms or other larger living spaces throughout the home. But in recent years this perception has changed.

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

By Ken Ryan

John Lewis is in a very enviable position these days as the Tuftex-Shaw sales rep for Venecia and Palladia, the hugely successful collections crafted from Stainmaster TruSoft nylon.

“I tell my wife when I get home at night, ‘This is our house-payment maker,’” said Lewis, who represents RC Willey in Salt Lake City.

Other flooring professionals have voiced similar laudatory remarks about Venecia and Palladia, which Tuftex-Shaw introduced about eight months ago along with four other collections. 

Dalton – Mohawk Group is pleased to announce its Best of NeoCon silver award this year. The company’s DesignFLEX Visualizer tool was recognized in the software technology category for its innovation and design utility. DesignFLEX Visualizer, an accompanying tool for Mohawk Group’s leading modular products, gives architects and designers the freedom to explore—to combine the patterns and colors of these versatile modular collections into an entirely new, total floor aesthetic.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – NSF Sustainability, a division of global independent public health organization NSF International, has verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for J+J Flooring Group’s Kinetex flooring product and Invision brand modular styles that use eKo backing. EPDs are essential transparent product environmental attribute reports used by government purchasers, green builders, architects and interior designers to make more informed product decisions in selecting carpet and flooring products that meet their environmental purchasing goals.

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

By David Clarkson Vice president of marketing, DriTac Flooring Products

Flooring adhesives manufacturers regularly update and improve the testing and diagnostic procedures for both production and installation recommendations across a broad spectrum of products and procedures. Continual improvement of testing ensures success by further developing the technology to make installations not only more efficient, but also innovative, practical and sustainable.

Evaluating and enhancing existing technologies to accommodate new adhesives while ensuring quality installation and performance is one of the most important aspects of assesment. Developing new technologies for the latest requirements is another crucial component of the process. Furthermore, formulating the next generation of adhesives that will impact ease of installation, safety and/or gains for the installer, consumer and environment is always on the research and development bench.

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

by Rebecca Carson

Strand bamboo flooring became an instant hit in the U.S. more than a decade ago, but the product has not been without its issues, among them cracking and cupping, particularly in dry climates. Few suppliers have survived the gambit of scrutiny, “knock-offs” and product defects, but Anji Hefeng Bamboo and Wood Industries is one of the survivors.

The 18-year-old company has been marketing ECOfusion Flooring since January 2012. Many dealers became familiar with the product when it was sold through EcoTimber from 2006 through 2011. The company not only gained a loyal following during these years, but also earned the Best Prefinished Solid Flooring ranking three years in a row in a nationally recognized consumer rating guide.  

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

Chicago—A powerful lineup of speakers will headline the upcoming 2013 NAFCD + NBMDA annual convention, scheduled to take place here from Nov. 12 to 14. Providing tips and best practices that will enhance each attendee’s business and personal brand, these nationally recognized figures will share their expertise on economic trends, driving sales, relationship building, developments in the building product supply chain, corporate culture and leadership improvement.

Brian Beaulieu, one of the country’s most informed economists, has served as CEO of Institute for Trend Research (ITR) Economics since 1987. Beaulieu will give a presentation on economic trends and forecast.

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

One of the best stories coming out of NeoCon is from Interface, which combined environmental and social responsibility, sustainability and product design via a new modular carpet collection called Net Effect. The line is inspired both by the ocean’s beauty and its plight—marine life and habitats that are endangered by discarded fishing nets, acidification, over-fishing, pollution and climate change.

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

by Ken Ryan

We’ve previously experienced periods of progress in the area rugs market, often lasting a few weeks at a time, only to dwindle away as the sluggish economy turned ugly again.

But the fits and starts that marked the last five years in the U.S. flooring market have apparently been supplanted by brisker, more sustainable growth, according to industry manufacturers and retailers.

“There has definitely been an uptick in business in the first six months of 2013,” said Alex Peykar, principal of Nourison. “2013 has proven to be a much better year for the home furnishing industry as a whole, and floor coverings are benefiting from this trend.”

Peykar said sales have trended up every month on a consistent basis. “I would imagine the positive trend we are seeing is directly related to real estate home sales and overall residential improvements.”

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

by Lou Iannaco

Since laminate’s introduction into the U.S. marketplace in the mid ’90s, when many products resembled photographs of wood glued onto medium density fiberboard, the segment’s aesthetics have dramatically moved forward. Propelled by technology to mimic wood and ceramic, laminate now fools even the most experienced flooring veterans.

FCNews recently asked laminate manufacturers exactly how they create such realistic product, and what the thought processes are behind their newest designs.

Derek Welbourn, CEO of Inhaus, believes offering a realistic design is the most important element for creating a product that sells. A consumer will have to look at her floor long after its price was presented, removing cost as a longstanding issue.

Volume 26/number 28 June 10/17, 2013

by Ken Ryan

To Patricia Fanty and Amy Costello of Armstrong Commercial Flooring, it’s a slam dunk for customers: a VCT recycling program for building owners where Armstrong bears 100% of the cost of providing containers along with transporting the reclaimed material back to the recycling facilities.

“Why wouldn’t a building owner take advantage of this program?” said Fanty, marketing manager, commercial flooring. “It’s that simple.”

Armstrong is touting the many benefits of the program as the company markets to commercial customers in the U.S. and Canada. First piloted in 2009, Armstrong launched the commercial VCT recycling initiative in June 2012. It spent three years optimizing the entire program so it operates seamlessly and efficiently. “We do this on our customer programs,” Fanty said, “because there are a lot of aspects to this program.” 

An assortment of Daltile products was recently featured in three back-to-back episodes of HGTV’s hit shows, “Elbow Room” and “Property Brothers.”

On the first episode of  ”Elbow Room,” host Chip Wade built an industrial inspired kitchen using concrete, metal and glass. Daltile’s Glass Reflections Glass, Metal & Decorative Accents helped transform the space. In the second episode, Daltile’s Metallica Glass, Metal & Decorative Accents helped breathe life into an old storage room turned resort-like oasis for entertaining.

Bamboo Hardwoods recently announced it has entered into a distribution agreement with R. A. Siegel Company as a new bamboo flooring distributor partner.  R.A. Siegel is a wholesale distributor of fine flooring products to both the residential and commercial markets, servicing Georgia, Florida and Alabama since 1950.  This agreement further expands Bamboo Hardwoods’ existing distribution network, and offers a trusted name brand of bamboo flooring and coordinating accessories to R.A. Siegel’s respective network of flooring dealers.

From left: INSTALL director John McGrath; Michel Vermette, SVP, International & Commercial, Mohawk Industries, and Leonard Zmijewski, president, Mr. David’s International Flooring.

The new Install Warranty & Certified Contractor program was launched at a news conference held last week at the annual NeoCon expo in Chicago.

Mohawk Industries’ Michel Vermette, senior vice president of International & Commercial, and Leonard Zmijewski, president of Mr. David’s International Flooring, joined John McGrath, Install director, and members of the Instsall Labor-Management Committee to formally announce the program.

Effective immediately, Install guarantees the work of its Certified Contractors. The warranty covers commercial and residential installations of carpet, resilient and hardwood. Industries served include healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, residential, and many more.

Volume 26/Number 28; June 10/17, 2013

Changes in supply and demand affecting lumber market

Hicksville, N.Y.—Citing the rising cost of lumber as the main cause, several of the industry’s major hardwood producers have recently announced price increases on their solid and engineered products. These mills include Armstrong, Mohawk, Mannington and Mullican.

Armstrong announced on May 29 that it will initiate a 5% to 7% increase in the U.S. and Canada on all solid hardwood and on select engineered hardwood products effective with shipments made July 15.

On May 29, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations that can potentially limit how much formaldehyde may be emitted from hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard and finished goods—including engineered wood flooring. The rules would apply to products that are sold, supplied, offered for sale, manufactured or imported in the United States.

According to an article on the Environment News Service website, “formaldehyde is used in adhesives that make up composite building materials…[t]he emitted formaldehyde can be left over from the resin or composite wood making process or be released when the resin degrades in the presence of heat and humidity. The highest potential exposure occurs when workers breathe contaminated workplace air.”

Boca Raton, Fla. – Q.E.P. has unveiled a new brand identity for its QEP-branded products. This event marks the first time the brand logo has been modified since its inception in 1979.

QEP the corporation unveiled a new identity in 2009. The QEP corporate logo represents QEP the company and all the brands and subsidiaries that operate under the large corporate structure, including the new QEP-branded products.

“As all great brands undergo transformation throughout their lifetime, it is now time to give a facelift to one of our most treasured assets,” said Jamie Clingan, senior vice president, marketing. After careful research and many months of work, a decision was made to retain the legacy of QEP by keeping the yellow and blue that has become synonymous with the QEP brand. The diamond shape has been modified and the overall look has been brought into the current time frame while enhancing the readability of the QEP brand.

Arboritec USA recently announced the start of an exclusive distribution agreement with Colorado-based Palo Duro Hardwoods for Arboritec’s line of Ceramic Fortified waterborne finishes. Palo Duro will assume service responsibility for all Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming-based customers.

“We are very pleased to be able to provide our customers with Arboritec’s innovative line of waterborne finishes,” said Jeff Fairbanks, vice president of Palo Duro. “We believe our customers will be particularly excited about Arboritec’s new site applied UV-cured finish product UVElite. This is a revolutionary product that completely changes the value proposition of the commercial and residential sand and refinish business.”

by Steven Feldman

Chicago–If anyone needed more proof of the upswing in the commercial contract market, all he or she had to do was stroll the halls of NeoCon 2013. Not only was walking space at a premium, but talk to just about any exhibitor, particularly someone who leased permanent spaces, and he will rave about the traffic.

The resounding theme at the country’s premier contract furnishings event, now in its 45th year, was innovation across a multitude of platforms. In many cases, the use of color—bright and bold—took center stage. The consensus was that this color trend is indicative of the positive sentiment driven by a greater number of active projects than in recent years, coupled with the proliferation of neutral palettes to be simply bland.

As part of its iSelect floor shopping experience, Tarkett is introducing the new Specifi collection. iSelect is a customer-focused system that empowers consumers to select flooring that meets all their needs, from design to performance to budget and even health.

To create the Specifi system, Tarkett identified 17 of its most popular FiberFloor designs and produced each in four different constructions and warranty levels. Specifi is about having the flooring design you want in the performance and budget level you need.