Florence, Ala.—This week marked the end date for entries into the Schönox Worst Subfloor in North America contest. Launched in May 2014, the contest was put together to shine a light on tough subfloor conditions, detail the best ways to renovate them, and provide some recognition and publicity for the companies who handle these challenging projects. “We’ve been really excited to see the strong participation by installers and contractors, and the overall interest by the flooring industry in the contest,” said Thomas Trissl, HPS Schönox principal. “We are eager to demonstrate the importance of subfloor preparation and to recognize flooring companies that excel in this area.”
The Schönox Worst Subfloor in North America contest is an opportunity for any company charged with making a damaged subfloor smooth and sound to show the tough subfloor conditions that it encountered, and how it renovated the subfloor using Schönox products. Now that the entry end date has passed, entries will be independently judged with first-, second- and third-place winners that will be awarded Schönox products based on the severity of the original subfloor’s condition, the skill and attention to detail taken in executing the project, and the quality of the finished subfloor. Contest winners will be announced at Surfaces on Thursday, January 22 at 11:00am in the Schönox booth.
The judges for the contest are John McGrath, director, INSTALL; Lew Migliore, president, LGM and Associates Technical Flooring Services; and Jim Walker, CEO, International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association. “Any event designed to showcase the expertise of professional flooring companies and the challenges they face in the field is of special significance for me,” McGrath said. With the contest entry phase complete, judges are being provided with details on the entries and project photos for their review. “Installation companies and contractors face a wide range of subfloor challenges on a daily basis in the field,” Migliore noted. “I’ve seen so many of those subfloor issues and see new ones each day; the Schönox contest has shown us even more.”
This was the first year for the contest, beginning with the fundamental question, “Is your company working on a project that has what might be the worst subfloor in North America?” Those who entered the contest were asked to submit photos of subfloor conditions before and after the renovation project, along with project details. “The contest has been a great success in amplifying the discussion about getting the very best flooring projects, regardless of the beginning subfloor conditions,” said Doug Young, HPS Schönox executive vice president. “There is no question that the contest will now be a recurring annual event.”