April 29/May 6, 2019: Volume 34, Issue 24 By Jason Spangler When installing finished flooring materials over concrete, general contractors on a tight construction schedule often face a catch-22 situation. They know a concrete slab needs to be sufficiently dry before installation, but they also realize the drying process can be a slow-moving affair. Due to schedule pressures, finished floor surfaces are sometimes installed when concrete is too wet—often resulting in flooring failures, costly...
Read MoreApril 1/8, 2019: Volume 34, Issue 22 By Jerry Lee Commercial-grade vinyl sheet goods were once one of the most popular commercial flooring options on the market. These goods have been regarded for decades as functional, durable, decorative and relatively easy for contractors to install. These flooring products have been used in a wide variety of commercial applications in which the color, pattern and size could be customized to fit specific project needs. However, over...
Read MoreFebruary 18/25, 2019: Volume 34, Issue 19 By Paul Stuart One of the most important questions we can ask in our industry is what drives quality installers? What really makes them tick? Not what makes them quality or great installers—that’s easy. Great installation, on schedule, dependable, on time, highly trained to work with and has all the products and tools necessary for a beautiful project. These are the symptoms of being a quality installer,...
Read MoreJanuary 21/28, 2019: Volume 34, Issue 17 By Christopher Capobianco Some of my friends call me “the cork dork of New York” because of my passion for this flooring material that’s been around about 100 years. I’ve been involved with cork flooring for a long time. I’ve seen cork forests and factories in Europe, watched bottle stoppers get drilled out of tree bark and saw the waste become tile. I’ve worked on some cork tile...
Read MoreOctober 29/November 5, 2018: Volume 34, Issue 10 By Graham Capobianco If you’re anything like me, the concept of installing a resilient floor tile or plank without adhesive likely made you scoff the first time you heard it. However, when installed correctly, loose-lay LVT can be a problem solver for many projects, especially in commercial environments. Loose-lay LVT has many of the same attributes of traditional glue-down or click-and-lock LVT. It has a durable...
Read MoreSeptember 17/24, 2018: Volume 34, Issue 7 By Marlene Morin It’s a given that a high content of moisture in a concrete slab will damage a floor. But where does the moisture come from? How can it be tested and measured? More importantly, how do you solve a moisture issue? Following are a few answers to these critical questions. Where does moisture come from? Concrete is made of five elements: cement, sand, aggregate, air and...
Read MoreAugust 6/13, 2018: Volume 34, Issue 4 By Jeff Johnson Wood and bamboo flooring are natural products and, as such, are probably the most moisture-sensitive flooring products we deal with in this industry. Moisture problems can literally destroy a perfect wood floor by causing it to cup, buckle and warp, leaving no other solution than to remove and replace it. Following are some dos and don’ts that can help save time and money on wood...
Read MoreMay 14/21, 2018: Volume 33, Issue 24 By David Stowell When it comes to a challenging subfloor, you don’t just need the right team for the job; you also need the right materials and tools. Incorporating the right tools and equipment can make a monumental difference in job productivity, application ease and, ultimately, subfloor quality. Choosing the best tools can be tricky. Luckily, there are some tried-and-true recommendations from flooring industry experts. Stainless steel smoother....
Read MoreBy Paul Pleshek “We are sending an inspector,” are not always the most comforting words an installer or retailer hears. Some are concerned the inspector has a bias for the manufacturer, others don’t have high regard for certain inspectors in their area. Whatever the concern, how can a materially invested party know the inspector will handle the claim in a fair, thorough and neutral way? A commonly expressed concern about inspectors is whether they...
Read MoreNovember 20/27, 2017: Volume 32, Issue 12 By Elliot Gordon Contractors are under pressure to complete projects on ever-shorter schedules with ever-tighter budgets. The imperative to get the job done quickly and efficiently may overshadow the need to fully test concrete slabs to determine whether moisture remediation is required. However, if moisture testing is not conducted and moisture content sneaks up on you in the middle of a project, it can be extremely disruptive...
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