Hardwood Floors April/May 2017

Wood

CONTRACTOR CORNER

GROWN, MILLED AND CRAFTED IN TROPICAL PARADISE Jason Johnson, owner of Floor Coverings Hawaii in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, has been in the flooring business for 24 years. Seven years ago, he decided to branch out and start his own company, and he joined NWFA in 2016. Running his business in Hawaii, Johnson likes to push installations where he can use materials that are sourced from the islands. Roughly a dozen times a year, he has the opportunity to make this happen. Recently Johnson was hired for a fun, out-of-the-ordinary job using locally grown and milled flooring. The material for the floors came from local spots in Kailua-Kona and was milled at Big IslandWood Products, owned by Clark Allred. “There was a connection with everyone on this one. The homeowner is the attorney for the owner of the ranch where some of the flooring came from,” says Johnson. “Clark Allred, who milled the flooring, used to mill on-site at the ranch where they have an old-school mill. It’s really unique how all these people came together to make this job happen.” FLOOR FOCUS By Megan Lhamon

• The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards Board voted against lowering the permissible wood dust exposure limit. Learn more at hardwoodfloorsmag.com. • Norbord’s Builder Insights released a podcast, featuring Brett Miller, NWFA VP of Education and Certification, regarding the importance of acclimating hardwood before installation. Listen to the podcast here: apple.co/2lj7Dnt. • MAPEI is highlighting its 80-year anniversary with a contest for contractors who use its products. For every $100 of products purchased, contractors can submit documentation for one entry. Six winners will be chosen during the drawing that will be held Jan. 4, 2018. Learn more here: giveaway80.mapei.com. • The final NWFACP Certified Sales Advisor learning path in NWFA University has been launched. More information about NWFA University can be found online at nwfa.org/nwfa- university.aspx. • Kemp’s Flooring was recently named an Elite Dealer by Armstrong Flooring, Inc. Elite flooring showrooms are hand-selected retailers that display the broadest selection of Armstrong flooring in every product category. RETAILER ROUNDUP

Four different species were used during this installation: Ohia, Pride of India, Norfolk Island Pine, and Monterey Cypress. “All of the end grain was milled like an engineered floor. The wear layer was a 1/4 inch with a plywood backing,” says Johnson. “The other species were milled into unfinished, engineered flooring.” The master bedroom,

hallway, and living area floors are Ohia (Metrosideros Polymorpha) engineered. Ohia is a very dense and

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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