Feb. 17/24 2014, Volume 27/number 21
Las Vegas—Following the successful launch of its warranty program last year—a free, value-added, third-party installation guarantee—INSTALL has doubled the standards of the warranty’s coverage to two years and $10,000, effective immediately.
“The program has taken off,” said John McGrath, INSTALL’s president, during a press conference at the organization’s training center here. “More installers are getting certified, more contractors are getting certified, and customers are noticing and considering the warranty benefit when awarding jobs.
“This is a clear message,” he explained, “that INSTALL-certified contractors provide quality work, security and peace of mind for flooring installations across the U.S. and Canada.”
Leonard Zmijewski, president of Mr. David’s Flooring International in Itasca, Ill., agreed with McGrath, saying that the warranty is a key addition to “not just our company’s bid proposals, but for the industry as a whole, because it forces the standards of installation to be increased. It also gives customers the knowledge that our work has been vetted and our crews are safe, reliable and professional.”
INSTALL helps companies like Mr. David’s succeed, he noted, because “it continually works with customers, specifiers and manufacturers to improve performance. As a result, our installers are excellent, and we can guarantee their work.”
Troubleshooting expert Lew Migliore of LGM Associates noted that the cost of replacement—including business interruption—can exceed 10 times the original investment, which doesn’t include the emotional toll on an end user, frustration for all parties and a loss of trust. “For years the first line of defense for the manufacturers’ claims departments has been to insinuate the installation was not according to their guidelines,” he explained. The INSTALL warranty removes the onus.
“Today the multitude of flooring materials employs dozens of installation technologies,” he explained. “INSTALL-certified mechanics is the only group that consistently maintains an open line of communication with manufacturers of all types of flooring materials, ensuring they are installed according to the mill’s specifications. With the INSTALL warranty, the flooring contractor can offer a complete package of great service, great product and now a worry-free installation.”
The program, which started at one year and $5,000, has been “flawless,” McGrath concluded. “We haven’t had any claims, so we’re exercising the capabilities that we have. We’ve doubled [the program], and we foresee that going forward we’re going to make it even bigger.”