Lenexa, Kan.—With all of its certification courses filling to capacity throughout The International Surfaces Event (TISE), Robert Varden, vice president, CFI division of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), declared another successful year for Certified Floorcovering Installer Association. In addition to its training programs CFI offered live demonstrations on-site in the TISE Installation Showcase. The presentations included the installation of luxury vinyl tile and patterned carpet installs, common issues with floating floors and how to address challenges with laminate.
“We had one of our most successful years to date at TISE this year,” Varden said. “Our booth was jam packed throughout the show and there was a lot of very positive buzz about the surplus of installation work available in our industry. Though still in a very early phase, our efforts to reach people and start chipping away at the installation issue appear to be paying off nicely. We have a very steady stream of training programs and certifications lined up this year and I am very excited about the progress we are making every day.”
Bob Gillespie, a certified CFI trainer from Kansas City, Mo, conducted the CFI hardwood and laminate installation training classes at the show with the assistance of certified installers from across the U.S. including David Garden (Michigan), Efren Llamas (California, Kelly Huddleston (Colorado), Roland Thompson (Maryland), Scott Terryberry (Colorado), Dick Schmidt (Ohio), Jen Zurn (Wisconsin) and Jay Zurn (Wisconsin). During the two-day training, installers learned key installation techniques for installing various types of laminate and hardwood including expansion requirements and plank replacement procedures.
The CFI carpet installation course training was conducted by Jonathan Varden from Dallas. Varden was assisted by CFI certified professionals who came to teach from across the country including Tom Cartmell (Indiana), Leon Harrison (Arizona), Dwayne Pruitt (Kansas), George Johnson, III (Maryland), Chris Sessum (Washington) and Gary Goessl (Wisconsin). Participants learned proper seam sealing, other seaming practices, and power stretching techniques. Other topics such as stair installation, pattern identification and corrective measures, carpet construction, and different backing materials were also discussed and reviewed during the course.
“We would especially like to thank our supportive partners that made the CFI training events at TISE possible including: Mohawk, Mohawk University, Armorlock, Personna, Traxx, Wagner Meters, Lowe’s, Masland, SawStop, Armstrong, Tarkett, Atlas, and the World Floor Covering Association,” Varden said. “Our partners supply all of the products and materials needed as well as product knowledge and tool demonstrations to the installers throughout the show. We thank them for their continued support.”
CFI installation training and certification is offered throughout the year at the new CFI state-of-the-art training school in Forney, Texas, as well as in roving locations across the U.S. For more information about the school visit . To view an upcoming calendar of classes or to schedule one at your location, visit .