Hardwood Floors April May 2018

APR/MAY 2018

GEAR UP FOR

LESSONS FROM SHARK TANK AWAIT IN TAMPA

NWFA WOOD FLOORING EXPO PREVIEW EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE UNIQUE TECHNIQUES: BEST PRACTICES IN SANDING

trust the source

3M produces a full line of 3M ™ Floor Sanding Abrasives that takes you on the journey from start to finish. But it doesn’t stop there. With more than 100 years of heritage and innovation, you can trust 3M for all your floor sanding needs, from personal safety and adhesives to masking and abrasives. For performance that will make you and your customers proud, choose 3M.

For professional floor sanding results.

© 3M 2018. All rights reserved. 3M and Regalite are trademarks of 3M.

ADJUST WITH SPEED 2.4 HP motor 24 lbs total weight tool-free wheel adjustment built-in lights low decibel rating

Our tool-free wheel adjustment allows for the sanding pressure to be adjusted quickly to adapt to any floor.

Radiator Extension Available

booth number #933

120 Years Old & We ’ ve Never Looked Better.

Our NewLogo Is Just the Beginning. Building a legacy isn’t easy. We work hard to keep our promises and improve our performance, day after day, year after year. It’s not easy, but the rewards are there. After 120 years, we’re still growing, still committed to helping you build your business to a higher level of craftsmanship.

This new logo, designed to unify all DuraSeal products with a modern craftsman look, is just the first of many changes ahead. Watch for new products, new colors and new ideas. We can’t wait to show you!

Come see what else is new at NWFA Booth 1201

To request a product demo or contact a sales rep, visit us at: duraseal-wb.com | duraseal.com

Increase home comfort and ease neighbor tension WithAdhesive!

Nobodywants to be disturbed by their neighbors. Whether it’s the home theater system from your neighbors below, or the high heeled shoes of the neighbor above, acoustics play an essential role in the comfort of a home. Bostik offers several

products specificallydesigned to improve acoustics.

Vapor-Lock ™

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Ultra-Set ®

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62dB MVP4 ™ +

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5/8 " SuspendedGypsum 69dB

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5/8 " SuspendedGypsum 66dB

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Bostik installation systems are superior to most mats or underlaymentsusedunderfloatingfloors.Whenthere is an impact on a floating hardwood floor, the boards vibrate. Downward motion is absorbed, but the upward rebound is not. This results in a hollow sound in the flooring. Adhesives with sound abatement characteristics work to reduce the vibration of the boards in both directions resulting in a quieter floor, dramatically increasing the comfort of the space and virtually eliminating one of the most common complaints ofmulti-family living. * Testswere performed using 3/8" engineered hardwood bonded to 6" thick concrete ** Test performedwith 9/16" thick engineered hardwood and Bostik’s Best ®

Formore information, contact us at: 1-800-726-7845 I www.bostik.com/us

T3484_03.06.18

FEATURES

O N T H E C O V E R

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2018 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo Preview Plan to make the most of your Expo experience. Gain knowledge to improve your business, connections to expand your professional network, and inspiration to build your career.

86

Unique Techniques: Sanding Beyond Strip and Plank By Brett Miller The size, condition

Innovation in the Industry | By Stacy Brown The NWFA will be hosting its very own “Plank Tank” at the upcoming Wood Flooring Expo. Three brave finalists will have the chance to pitch industry-related business ideas to a team of wood flooring gurus onstage during the “Opening Splash” Session. 74

of the floor, installation

method, and the orientation of the room all make a difference in

the sanding method used. Learn more about unique sanding situations that go beyond the standard strip and plank installations.

PUBLISHING PARTNERS

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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CONTENTS

Chris Zizza | Chairman Michael Martin | CEO Anita Howard | COO Bree Urech-Boyle | CFO Brett Miller | VP, Education & Certification NWFA LEADERSHIP

Industry Insights:

Stacy Brown | Publisher/Editor | stacy.brown@nwfa.org Brett Miller | Technical Editor | brett.miller@nwfa.org Laura Boyle | Creative Director | laura.boyle@nwfa.org Megan Lhamon | Industry News Editor | megan.lhamon@nwfa.org Katie Schenk | Media Production | katie.schenk@nwfa.org Jodi O’Toole | Web Development | jodi.otoole@nwfa.org PUBLICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Julie Russell, Chair & Board Liaison | Glitsa, a division of Rudd Company Len Daubler | Shaw Industries Inc. Avi Hadad | Avi’s Hardwood Floors Inc. Lenny Hall | Endurance Floor Company Inc. Jessica Hickman | Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring Kevin Mullany | Benchmark Wood Floors Inc. Mike Sundell Jeremy Waldorf | Legacy Floors LLC PUBLICATION TEAM

24 Government Affairs The current state of U.S. national infrastructure.

By Dana Cole

28 Market Matters What is thermally modified lumber? By Hal Mitchell 34 Designer Insights Amazing trends that will reinspire your love for authentic wood.

By Emily Morrow Finkell

Business Best Practices:

42 Sales Savvy Seven signals the customer is ready to buy. 46 Management Think it’s impossible to recruit talent during a labor shortage? Think again.

By Paul Reilly

By Stacy Brown

56 Technology Why a mobile website is crucial for your business.

111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd. Chesterfield, Missouri 63005 P : 800.422.4556 Local : 636.519.9663 F: 636.519.9664 E: news@hardwoodfloorsmag.com W: hardwoodfloorsmag.com

By Jodi O’Toole

60 Finance Securing a loan in today’s lending environment.

By Bree Urech-Boyle

62 Marketing Build your brand with blogging.

By Katrina Olson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

70 Entrepreneurship

By Sabin Lomac & Jim Tselikis

Paul Reilly Scott Taylor Ben Totta Ron Treister Jim Tselikis Chris Zizza

Sabin Lomac Michael Martin Greg Mihaich Brett Miller Hal Mitchell Kjell Nymark Katrina Olson Jodi O’Toole

Bree Urech-Boyle Dana Cole Michael Dittmer Jason Elquest Emily Morrow Finkell

There’s no secret to being an entrepreneur.

At the Site:

Lenny Hall Mike Ledda Megan Lhamon

78 Sponsored Content What it takes to tackle dirt and dust. 82 Abrasives Picking the right abrasive for the job. 92 Equipment Maintenance Nine key focus areas for sanding equipment maintenance.

By Swiffer

ADVERTISING SALES

By Greg Mihaich

Libby White Johnston Media & Advertising Sales libby.johnston@nwfa.org | 337.794.9232

By Brett Miller

94 Tech Talk Challenges in the field due to equipment By NWFA that hadn’t been properly maintained.

Regional Instructors

Hardwood Floors (Print: ISSN 0897-022X and Online: ISSN 2475-5125) is published on a bi-monthly basis, plus the Annual Industry Guide, by the National Wood Flooring Association and distributed as a membership benefit to its member companies and without charge upon request to qualified individuals throughout the wood flooring industry. Single copy price is $8, annual Industry Guide is $50. Subscriptions: $40/ year (includes 6 issues and Industry Guide) in the U.S. and Canada. Publication office: 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd, Chesterfield, MO 63005. Phone: 800.422.4556. Printing office: Walsworth, 306 N. Kansas Ave., Marceline, MO 64658. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals Postage is paid at Chesterfield, MO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Hardwood Floors, P.O. Box 9147, Lowell, MA 01853. Copyright © 2018 by the National Wood Flooring Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

96 Sponsored Content Why more hardwood producers are using sliced wear layers.

By Tracy Rowlett

98 Dust Containment Four simple rules for containing sanding dust.

By Mike Ledda

102 Sponsored Content Protecting your hearing.

By Jason Lunn & Becky Schumann

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hardwood floors

Surface protection

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April 2018 Florida

Product Focus:

128 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo Exhibitor Showcase 146 Sanding Equipment/Abrasives

Also in this Issue:

8 Chairman’s Cut

By Chris Zizza

12 Wood Stock 104 NWFA Resources 150 New Products 151 Ad Index 152 Final Coat:

„The best choice for protecting your floor.“

CEO’s Message By Michael Martin

protects

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

Page 92

waterproof

Are you taking care of your flooring equipment? Properly maintaining your equipment will protect your investment, result in better performance, and consequently, provide better results for your customer. Proper maintenance will keep your equipment operating at peak efficiency and keep it operating longer.

anti-skid

breathable

Follow Us:

o a t

www.floorotex.com mail@floorotex.com

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the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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A Little Bit Goes a Long Way CHAIRMAN’S CUT By Chris Zizza Chairman, NWFA

One of NWFA’s national partnerships is with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF). GSF provides wounded veterans and their families with the resources necessary to overcome their new life challenges. NWFA has partnered with GSF to provide wood flooring and installation services for custom-build smart homes through the GSF R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program. To date, 53 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics, and installation services in locations throughout the U.S., with a total value of more than $3.52 million. To learn more about the program, and how you can get involved, email anita.howard@nwfa.org. The NWFA Education & Research Foundation (NERF) Scholarship Program is another. NERF provides scholarships to help educate future generations of wood flooring professionals. Thanks to the generosity of our members, NWFA awarded more than $6,250 in 2016 and $10,000 in 2017. At the upcoming NWFAWood Flooring Expo in Tampa, attendees can purchase a raffle ticket benefiting NERF and be entered into a drawing for a Lägler TRIO plus 10 Premium Sanding Technology (PST®) trainings, which were donated by Lägler. What a great way to help your industry and help your business! A third relationship, and one that is close to my heart, involves The Little Bit Foundation. About three years ago, I heard that the NWFA had been supporting Little Bit, a group that serves the needs of disadvantaged children in St. Louis area public schools. So I decided to learn more, did some research, and was so moved that I immediately donated 100 personal hygiene kits and blankets. I went online to Amazon and arranged the purchase, with the intention of visiting soon. In October 2017, I finally went to visit Little Bit and joined them as they distributed much-needed items to students in one of the 30 plus schools they serve. Little Bit and their team of volunteers provide school uniforms, school supplies, books, new coats, new shoes, new socks, new underwear, play clothes, toiletries, and food for these children and their families, at no cost. Why? Because no child should have to go without a toothbrush, or be forced to wear shoes that are worn through the soles or three sizes too small. I witnessed both of these situations, and was overwhelmed that these students were still smiling and eager to learn. You see, I believe no gesture to help others is too small. Every year, Little Bit distributes more than 30,000 pairs of socks to more than 7,000 underprivileged children in the St. Louis area. Socks are one of the foundation’s most-requested items, and we have the opportunity to help

The NWFA has established multiple relationships over the years with charitable organizations that represent long-term commitments to initiatives benefiting each organization. These collaborations provide NWFA and its members with opportunities to engage in service in their communities, helping those in need, while promoting the benefits and uses of wood flooring, and their businesses. Seeing the impact of these relationships firsthand makes me proud to be NWFA’s Chairman.

CPT Luis Avila with his family in their custom-built smart home provided by the Gary Sinise Foundation.

fulfill that need through our partnership. So as you pack your suitcase to head to Expo, I encourage you to bring a package or two of children’s socks and drop them off at the NWFA booth. Plus, you also can further help by donating your Expo hotel toiletries, a small gesture that can make a big impact. Bins will be available on site. Remember, a little bit goes a long way!

Every Little Bit Helps Bring a package of children’s socks to Expo to help The Little Bit Foundation meet the needs of St. Louis-area children.

Chris Zizza pictured with students served by The Little Bit Foundation.

hardwood floors

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All New!

Bona.com

the magazine of the nat ional wood f loor ing associat ion

laegler.com

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Wood

DISTRIBUTOR DOINGS

• Herregan Distributors Inc., in Eagan, Minnesota, has received the American OEMWood Floors 2017 American Spirit Award, which recognizes the company’s top selling distributor from the previous year. • Derr Flooring and Armstrong Flooring are celebrating a 100-year- old partnership in 2018. During that time, the team has partnered to bring Bruce hardwood products to retailers in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. • Haines announced that the company has added two new executive leaders: Brian Green, Senior Vice President – CMH Sales Division, and Greg Vale, Senior Vice President – Armstrong Division. • Horizon Forest Products announced that Brad Christian will be taking an outside sales position at the Norfolk branch. In this new role, Christian will be responsible for growing sales in the Williamsburg, Hampton Roads, and Northeastern North Carolina markets. • Sika Corporation announced its new business relationship with Lockwood Flooring. e six branches of Lockwood Flooring will now distribute the Sika Interior Finishing product range in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Arkansas. • Fishman Flooring Solutions has been named Distributor of the Year for 2017 by the Floor Covering Distributor Alliance (FCDA) and the Alliance’s Powerhold™ brand of ooring and ooring installation products.

FOCAL POINT The

By Megan Lhamon

Jason Elquest, owner and operator of Blackhawk Floors Inc., in Sco sdale, Arizona, is no stranger to custom jobs. When he arrived at a recent job site, he was excited to see the task at hand. e architect and designer of this new home had a dream for the foyer, and Elquest and his teammade it a reality. Using 5/8” white oak engineered oor by Provenza, Elquest installed it in the entryway so that it mirrored the unique ceiling above. Next came the stairs. “We did a huge radius nosing at just under 28’ and custom treads,” says Elquest. “We remilled and rebeveled the pre nished oor to match the stain that was used on the white

Photos courtesy of Jason Elquest

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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Stock

MANUFACTURER MEANDERINGS

• MAPEI Corporation closed out its 80th anniversary (1937-2017) celebrations by announcing the winners of its 80th Anniversary Giveaway contest. e contest invited contractors in all the industry segments the company serves to send in their purchase receipts and receive entries for prizes. • Quality Craft announced the appointment of Dave Bickel as its Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. • Bona US announced that it is moving its North and South American headquarters to the Denver Tech Center in Englewood, Colorado. e move is expected to take place late in 2018. • Stauf USA announced it will be moving to a new location in Cordova, Tennessee. is new location will house all of Stauf ’s North American operations. • American OEM has obtained renewed status of their CARB ULEF exemption on engineered wood ooring products. • Cali Bamboo has launched Cali Marketplace, an online store for building products and décor accessories for the sustainably designed home. SUBSCRIBE TO HFM E-NEWS The latest industry news delivered right to your inbox. Visit hardwoodfloorsmag.com for details.

oak in the entry and landing. It is always challenging using a pre nished product for a custom project.” Now to the hard part

– the landing. “Because the face of the exposed landing was pre-formed concrete, this became the template for the nosing. With no room for error, it was decided by the builder to use solid un nished wood to create the radius nosing, then nish to match the oor,” says Elquest. “We used wide boards and milled them in segments, then routed them together.” “ e boards for the landing were all tapered or wedge-shaped. e angles were found on the rst oor and then transferred to the second oor using lasers,” Elquest added. “The entry became the focal point of the home.” Altogether, this project was 2,000 square feet and took three weeks to complete with much of the milling done on-site. “ is project turned out fantastic and was so much fun,” says Elquest. “No detail was overlooked. e entry became the focal point of the home.”

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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Wood Stock

ONE BOARD AT A TIME

By Megan Lhamon

Joshua Crossman, owner of PTL Hardwood Floors, in Yelm, Washington, has learned a lot about wood oors since opening his business in 2004. Dedicated to continuing his education, learning new techniques, and providing customers with quality oors, Crossman was an excellent choice for this tricky installation. Unfortunately, not uncommon to the trade, there was a time-consuming surprise waiting for Crossman and his teamwhen they arrived on the job site. What they thought was going to be an easy tear-out, turned into an entire day of removing carpet and the particle board underneath that was glued and nailed down to the sub oor. Once the sub oor was properly prepped and moisture testing took place to make sure the wood was acclimated, the teamwas ready to install the pre nished acacia. PROCESS DETAILS “We used a combination of the jigsaw, table saw, and angle grinder to make the curves,” says Crossman. “We scribed around the board and nished it o with the angle grinder.” Another element that made this installation tricky was the varying height of the tile. “To create a smooth transition between the tile and the wood, we had to shim up each board individually to match the height of the tile that coordinated with each board,” adds Crossman. FLOOR FEATURE “Something unique about this job was the spiral staircase,” says Crossman. “We had to go around the staircase very tightly with the boards. en we scribed them to match the hardware of the staircase to make it look as if it is coming out of the oor.”

Photos courtesy of Joshua Crossman

SHIMMING A shim was used to match the height of this

transition between wood and ti le. For more information on shimming, read “Flattening Wood Subf loors” in the February/March issue of Hardwood Floors at hardwoodfloorsmag.com.

Crossman used a scribe to cut an opening in the boards around the staircase rods.

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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1 0 HARDWOOD SPECI ES SOL ID ENGINEERED PREF INI SHED UNF INI SHED TEXTURED HERR INGBONE CHEVRON Sheoga’s Roots Hold True, Delivering the Best Quality Hardwood Flooring.

Visit Booth No #1108

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Wood Stock

THE FIRST RESPONDER

CONTRACTOR CORNER

By Megan Lhamon

• Despite labor shortages and rising material costs that continue to impact the construction sector, construction spending for nonresidential buildings is projected to increase 4 percent this year and continue at that pace of growth through 2019. • Chris Zizza, president of C&R Flooring in Westwood, Massachuse s,

When Ma Williams, owner of reVision Design and Renovation, in Hoschton, Georgia, saw a post on Facebook from a local reman about needing work done to the oors at their station, he knew it was meant for him. A er being in the construction and housing business for nearly 18 years, Williams decided to get more into the ooring business in 2005, and branched out on his own when he started reVision Design and Renovation in 2016 with his business partner Solomon Silva. “I have a huge passion for oors – I love them,” says Williams. Since starting his business, Williams has made it a priority to use his skills to give back to the community. He even o ers discounts to those who provide services to our communities and country. “Anything we can do for our rst-responders, military, teachers, etc., we do it. I don’t feel these individuals are recognized enough and this is an easy way for us to give back to them,” adds Williams. Williams is one of more than 80,000 members of a local Facebook group in Atlanta where people can seek recommendations for needs in the community. One day, he came across a post from a re ghter who was asking for quotes to re nish the oors in his department’s station. “People started

to step in and do the oors pro-bono as a thank you for all of the hard work our re ghters do,” says Williams. PROCESS DETAILS A er meeting with the re chief and discussing the job, Williams and his team decided to sand down the existing oor and give new life to the beautiful white oak that was installed in 1933. “ e oors were really in bad shape,” says Williams. “ ey hadn’t been touched in years, and the last time they were touched, someone used brown paint to paint over the top of them.” William’s team used a modi ed Shou Sugi Ban technique to give the oors a unique look. “What be er place to have the burnt oor look than in a re station,” he said. “We then grain popped the oor before we applied three coats of gloss polyurethane.” FINAL THOUGHTS “ is was a cool job to be part of,” adds Williams. “I love my ooring business, but I love being able to give back to my community more. It doesn’t ma er how much money we make; at the end of the day, it’s about the number of people we can help. is business has opened up so many new avenues to help others, and for that, I’m truly grateful.”

has launched e Make a Di erence Project, a social media campaign to promote charitable organizations and individuals doing good across the U.S.

RETAILER ROUNDUP • Atlanta-based Floor & Decor recently opened its new 1.4 million-square- foot distribution center in Savannah. • O awa’s Westboro

Flooring & Décor of O awa, Canada, and Floortrends of Peterborough, Ontario, were both recognized as an Armstrong Flooring Elite Retailer.

commenting, saying they would donate money here and there, so we decided

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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Photo courtesy of Matt Williams

CLEANEST SCRATCH PATTERN IN FLOOR SANDING

100% patented SG ceramic grain Cuts more aggressively for fast coatings and adhesive removal when prepping subfloors Produces the smoothest scratch pattern resulting in superior, scratch-free results

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT NWFA BOOTH #1101

www. nortonabrasives.com

© Saint-Gobain March 2018

Wood

By Ron Treister NEW VEGAS STEAKHOUSE OFFERS SIZZLING FLOOR

Photos courtesy of Bostik

It’s only natural that a ve-star restaurant would insist on having a ve-star wood oor installed in both its entryway and dining room. Bave e’s Steakhouse is a world-class dining a raction located in the newest hotel on Las Vegas’ world famous Strip: Park MGM. e decision was made that the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino required a total architectural and design transformation to capitalize on its outstanding Las Vegas Strip location. Under the combined leadership of MGMResorts International and Sydell Group, the 3,000-roomMonte Carlo is undergoing a two-year, $500 million “reimagine”

makeover, creating a new luxury brand for MGMResorts International and concurrently, bringing e NoMad hotel concept to e Strip from the Big Apple. e strategic design of Park MGM builds on the property’s history, incorporating European in uences while retaining a branding connection to e Park, an adjacent outdoor dining and entertainment venue, which MGM introduced in April of last year. e NoMad Las Vegas, an independently operated, upscale boutique hotel with 292 rooms and suites, will be located on the building’s top oors.

Chicago restaurant group Hogsalt Hospitality created the original Bave e’s, which under the direction of restaurant impresario Brendan Sodiko has earned the status of “delivering the best steak in Chicago.” e new edition of his upscale eatery opened at Monte Carlo in October. Sparking Creativity is past June, Bostik added another national event to its Signature Spaces Series of Design Competitions: “ e Art of Hardwood Flooring Design Contest.” It was open to architects, designers, and other wood ooring trade members.

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“Together with the National Wood Flooring Association, MGMResorts International, Oshkosh Designs, Eagle Bay Hardwood Flooring, and MasterCra Flooring, we openly invited those within the wood sector to create their very own masterpiece using wood ooring. A panel of judges, all with leading credentials in wood ooring, architectural design, or both, chose the winning design,” said Sco Banda, Bostik’s Director of Marketing and Business Development. is expert panel selected the work of Jennifer Sheets, an interior designer at Studio R Interiors, a Colorado-based rm specializing in hospitality design and procurement. Her winning design was installed in Bave e’s lobby. Additionally, she will receive a trip for two to Paris, France, courtesy of Bostik. “I’ve been fortunate to be in this industry for 10 years, with a wide range of various commercial and hospitality projects that I designed and/or managed from concept to completion. is is, by far, one of my most exciting achievements, at a soon-to-be globally recognized, upscale hospitality venue,” said Sheets.

Oshkosh Designs, a Wisconsin-based rm, which has built a reputation for fashioning exquisite hardwood medallions, wood oor borders, and designer parquet ooring, was selected to custom fabricate the winning design. Oshkosh transformed Sheet’s winning design into a ready-for- installation, 550-square-foot reality. “ e nal installation is a visual masterpiece that is in sync with the overall theme of the restaurant. We are so proud to be featuring our premium cra smanship for this ultra-high visibility hospitality space,” said Oshkosh Designs President/CEO, Brenda Kubasta. Joyen Vakil, Senior Vice President of Design and Development at MGM Resorts International, added, “ e winning design is just remarkable. It makes a powerful statement to our guests that no detail has been overlooked at the steakhouse and that their experience will be nothing

short of wonderful.” Eagle Bay Hardwood Flooring, the exclusive

brand produced by Delta Hardwood Flooring, of Boonville, New York, was selected to provide wood ooring material from its soon-to-be-launched Frank Lloyd Wright Collection for the remainder of the restaurant, speci ed to complement the lobby work of Oshkosh Designs. e commercial-grade product chosen met intricate speci cations set forth by the venue’s design rm, MBDS (Martin Brudnizki Design Studios) of London and New York. According to Randy Bowers, President/ Founder of Delta/Eagle Bay, “A er reaching a licensing

When asked about her vision for the winning design entry, she replied, “My concept was inspired by the Art Noir movement; interlocking geometric shapes and stylized symmetry, which were speci ed in the contest guidelines as a prerequisite of the project. e pa ern depicts an array of interchanging shapes that harmoniously t within a symmetrical

“Winning this high-profile design

competition for a client such as

MGM Resorts, the largest hospitality and entertainment corporation in the world, is one the proudest moments of my career.”

medallion. I created my ‘Array’ design to complement, as well as enhance, the herringbone featured oors throughout the main restaurant space.”

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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Wood Stock

New Vegas Steakhouse Offers Sizzling Floor (Continued)

contained Bostik’s proprietary Axios® Tri-linking Polymer Technology™ with ickness Control™ Spacers. Floor preparation was completed using Bostik SL-175™ Self- Leveling Underlayment &Wear Layer along with Universal Primer Pro™. MasterCra Floors, the commercial ooring rm, which has built a reputation for delivering complex and visually stimulating projects throughout Las Vegas, managed all phases regarding the restaurant’s intricate wood oor installation. “We were excited about working on this high- pro le project from day one. We work successfully with MGMResorts; we’re grateful they acknowledge the quality of our cra smanship. And, we were equally pleased that Bostik was so involved in this project, as with any wood ooring project opportunity, we prefer working with Bostik’s installation products and have done so for many years,” said Garre Ul g, West Coast Operations Manager of MasterCra Floors. Clearly, MasterCra had some challenges to address to ensure the installation. Initially, the project included repairing and a ening the existing concrete slab before installation of the Oshkosh and Eagle Bay materials. And, the clock was continually ticking, as deadlines were fast approaching. e entryway oor fromOshkosh was shipped in modular sections, which greatly reduced installation time. MasterCra installed Eagle Bay’s Frank Lloyd Wright Collection within the 5,000 square foot dining area in an exquisite, herringbone pa ern conceived by MBDS. “ is was very precise, intricate work,” added Ul g. “But we knew the grand opening was coming. e nal installation was the result of a true team e ort.” “I feel honored to be selected as a winner of the Bostik Signature Spaces contest. Bostik continues to excite and challenge designers with their creative products and imaginative vision. Winning this high-pro le design competition for a client such as MGMResorts, the largest hospitality and entertainment corporation in the world, is one the proudest moments of my career,” said Sheets.

agreement with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to produce a collection of high-end hardwood ooring, this project provided the perfect opportunity to launch this collection. It’s a great opportunity to introduce a company that’s been around for over 10 years with a highly focal project such as Bave e’s at Park MGM.” All the restaurant’s wood ooring space was installed with an installation system of Bostik materials. e adhesive selected for this concrete slab on grade installation

20 hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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Bona, the Environmental Media Association (EMA), and Green For All announced the donation of a rustic white oak hardwood oor to Time for Change Foundation’s local transitional facility, Sweet Dreams, based in San Bernardino, California. Originally, the oor graced the celebrity green room at the 2017 EMA Awards Gala in Los Angeles. e new oor was unveiled at a celebration in mid-January. “Connecting communities to organizations like Bona that are giving back is the heart of our e ectiveness. And bringing new life by recycling a hardwood oor to create a beautiful space for Sweet Dreams is a fantastic way to showcase lessening the impact on our environment,” said Debbie Levin, CEO, EMA. “Role modeling and sharing with our global community how easy it is to create this kind of recycling while bene ting a new facility is how our voices for sustainability can be heard.” Green For All connected Bona and EMA with Time for Change Foundation’s Sweet Dreams transitional facility, which is designed for homeless women and their children. e facility o ers hands-on support, parenting skill workshops, and daily activities to rebuild trust, develop self-su ciency, and provide a nurturing atmosphere for the children and their parents. Using a strength-based case management model, all clients work with case managers to create an individual self-su ciency plan. Recycled Hardwood Floor Benefits Time for Change Foundation’s Sweet Dreams Facility Green Floor from the GREEN ROOM

Photos courtesy of Bona.

“Everyone deserves a second chance when they come out of prison. at’s what the Time For Change Foundation provides the women enrolled at the Sweet Dreams Shelter,” said Van Jones, President of e Dream Corps. “I’m thrilled that the DreamCorps’ Green For All initiative was able to collaborate with Bona and the Environmental Media Association to repurpose ooring used at the EMA Awards to give back in this way.” Michelle Romero, Deputy Director of Green For All, said, “ e women at Sweet Dreams have worked so hard to turn their lives around. With the new oor installed – which Hollywood celebrities literally walked on at the EMA Awards – I hope the women who live here are reminded how far they’ve come and to always reach for the stars.” e repurposed hardwood oor is rustic white oak pre nished with Bona Natural from the Fiddleback Collection from Premier Finish and Coating. Bona Certi ed Cra sman, WCHardwood Floors in Corona, California, donated time to complete the oor installation. “It’s an honor for us at Bona to connect with our community

in an important and impactful way. Since 1919, giving back has been core to our business,” said Cate Vanegas, Director of Marketing, Bona US. “Unlike so many building materials, hardwood oors are

renewable and sustainable, in addition to highly functional and beautiful. Teaming up withWCHardwood Floors

made the entire process of repurposing the oor easy.”

“I hope the women who live here are reminded how far they’ve come and to always reach for the stars.”

22 hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

By Dana Cole

Photo courtesy of Matthew Hamilton

BigStockPhoto ©

U.S. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE RECEIVES A BARELY PASSING GRADE

BigStockPhoto ©

• Dams: e average age of the 90,580 dams in the U.S. is 56 years. e overall number of high-hazard potential dams is increasing, with the number climbing to nearly 15,500 in 2016. Due to the lack of investment, the number of de cient high- hazard potential dams has also climbed to an estimated 2,170 or more. • Drinking Water: Drinking water is delivered via one million miles of pipes across the country. Many of those pipes were laid in the early to mid-20th century with a life span of 75 to 100 years. e quality of drinking water in the U.S. remains high, but legacy and emerging contaminants continue to require close a ention. While water consumption is down, there are still an estimated 240,000 water main breaks per year in the U.S., wasting more than two trillion gallons of treated drinking water.

President Trump gave his rst State of the Union address January 29, laying out his agenda for 2018. (Note: O cially, his 2017 appearance in the U.S. House of Representatives was an “address to a joint session of Congress.” Coming so soon a er the inauguration, it is not referred to as a State of the Union speech.) A signi cant piece of that agenda was addressing the state of the national infrastructure, an issue in great need of a ention, but one that has bedeviled past administrations. Infrastructure as a category is a diverse one. It encompasses a wide range of ma ers including roads, bridges, waterways, railways, energy sources, aviation, and dams. ere is broad agreement that the U.S. system is in need of a ention and improvement. In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the U.S. a grade of D+ for its overall infrastructure quality. e study cited eye-opening statistics, including the following: • Roads: More than two out of every ve miles of America’s urban interstates are congested, and tra c delays cost the country $160 billion in wasted time and fuel in 2014. One out of every ve miles of highway pavement is in poor condition, and our roads have a signi cant and increasing backlog of rehabilitation needs. • Bridges: e U.S. has 614,387 bridges, almost four in 10 of which are 50 years or older. 56,007 – 9.1 percent – of the nation’s bridges were structurally de cient in 2016, and on average, there were 188 million trips across a structurally de cient bridge each day.

24 hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

U.S. National Infrastructure Receives a Barely Passing Grade (Continued)

Infrastructure is an issue widely believed to have the potential for bipartisan interest and agreement in Washington. It seems to be an agenda item for every President, regardless of party a liation, but the silver bullet for achievable reform has been elusive. Although speci c details of the Trump Administration’s $1.5 trillion plan were not revealed during the State of the Union, several broad principles could be identi ed:

While there does seem to be agreement about the importance of xing and improving U.S. infrastructure, the challenge will be to identify how to fund such a massive undertaking. Many on both sides of the aisle are hesitant to allocate new dollars without o se ing cuts or are opposed to potential cuts to existing programs. A empts to raise the gas tax to fund improvements have gone nowhere. ere are also questions about the availability of state and local funding in this time of tight budgets at all levels of government, as well as concerns about how private investment dollars will be raised. An issue that may surface in the infrastructure debate is truck weight e ciency. A new coalition has formed called SHIP – Safer Hauling and Infrastructure Protection – that is advocating for heavier trucks on our nation’s interstates with the addition of a sixth axle. So the rig is not wider or longer, but will accommodate more weight without any more tire pressure on the roadway given that extra axle. e coalition is being funded by pulp and paper manufacturers and brewers like Anheuser Busch that have long complained that trucks leaving their facilities are half empty because they weigh out before they cube out. A similar proposal was defeated during consideration of the last highway bill, but shippers are commi ed to ge ing something passed in this issue space.

• Incentives for cities and states to fund local projects through dedicated revenue streams

• Block grants for increased broadband access in rural areas

• Expansion of existing federal infrastructure loan programs

• Encouraging innovative transportation efforts

• Transportation workforce development programs

• Permitting reform to shorten government approval time for infrastructure projects

Photo courtesy of Alex Bagirov

90,580 THE U.S. HAS DAMS AVERAGE AGE IS 56 YEARS OLD

26 hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

with the SAME A 6TH AXLE would allow MORE weight tire pressure ON ROADWAYS

Infrastructure impacts us all, not only as businesses, but as everyday citizens living our lives. e Hardwood Federation will continue to follow the debate with interest and will engage as appropriate…not only to meet the needs of the

BigStockPhoto ©

hardwood business sector, but to meet the needs of the men and women who depend on that sector for their livelihood. Dana Cole is Executive Director at the Hardwood Federation, a Washington D.C.-based hardwood industry trade association that represents thousands of hardwood businesses in every state in the U.S. and acts as the industry’s advocacy voice on Capitol Hill. She can be reached at dana.cole@hardwoodfederation.com.

The Safer Hauling and Infrastructure Protection coalition is advocating for heavier trucks on our nation’s interstates with the addition of a sixth axle.

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the magazine of the national wood flooring association

27

MARKET MATTERS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

By Hal Mitchell

What is Thermally Modified Lumber?

Photos courtesy of Hal Mitchell

It’s not often that we see a revolutionary new process in the lumber industry. New developments in thermal modification may well be one of these processes.

North American species. Each species and thickness requires a unique treatment temperature and duration to achieve proper modi cation levels. Entry barriers, lengthy learning curves, and lack of production standardization have kept American production relatively low. ere are two basic treatment systems: open and closed. Open systems use atmospheric pressure or a vacuum during treatment, while closed systems operate under high pressure. Open systems require drying the wood to nearly zero percent moisture content during the treatment phase to reach temperatures above 212° F. Open systems comprise most of the worldwide production. Closed systems require high pressure o en above 100 psi. is allows for the material to retain moisture during treatment, which results in less shrinkage stress and lower degrade. Closed system cycle times are much faster, but the throughput is typically lower.

e idea is relatively simple: heat lumber to above 320° F in a low-oxygen atmosphere to produce

chemical and physical changes in the wood’s cellular structure. e heat treatment results

in improved durability and increased dimensional stability. e improved stability allows for a superior ooring performance where minimizing movement is important. ermally modi ed lumber (TML) has been widely accepted in Europe for decades and is nally making its way to North American industrial production. While the treatment concept is relatively simple, the technology is complex and costly. Also, there is li le history of treatment schedules (recipes) for most

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MARKET MATTERS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Thermally Modified Lumber (Continued)

Additionally, closed systems may not require as much heat to provide sufficient modification levels. The treatment process uses only heat and steam, so it is completely “green” with no introduced chemicals. During treatment, the wood undergoes both physical and chemical changes. Some sugars are “burned” away (decomposed), leading to a reduction in food source for decay fungi. Wood color is changed through its cross-section to a darker color resembling walnut or tropical imports. The energy input also develops a much more stable product. Bond sites on cell walls provide for dimensional movement in wood as they attract and release water molecules with environmental changes. One theory on the increased dimensional stability of thermally modified woods is that during the thermal modification process, enough energy is introduced to crosslink these sites and limit the woods ability to absorb water. Thermal treatment significantly reduces the available bond sites for water molecules, so dimensional stability is improved. Research indicates that dimensional movements due to moisture uptake can be reduced 50-90 percent ( Jamsa and Viitaniemi, 2001). Thermal modification reduces many of the mechanical properties of wood. Increased brittleness and decreased

strength occur with bending strength reductions of 30 percent or more depending on treatment intensity (Kubojima et al., 2000). Hardness decrease is relatively limited at approximately 3 percent, but can vary tremendously by treatment levels. A “burnt” odor is produced during the process and can remain present in the wood. The unpleasant smell results largely from furfural production and can be limited if a vacuum is pulled during the final production phase. The odor will dissipate over time and can be negated once sealed. The stability enhancement can allow wood products to be used in new and improved applications including flooring. Treatment will limit the dimensional change of wide plank flooring. This idea is often used by European plank flooring manufacturers when decay is not an issue as the dimensional stability can be greatly enhanced without reaching full modification and color change. Where stability is extremely important, such as basement or porch flooring, thermal modification will provide significant performance improvement. Of course, no wood product is 100 percent stable, so often micro-beveled edges are used in areas subject to large humidity changes. Moisture content is lowered in treated wood. Typically, thermally modified wood is dried to 4.5-6 percent. Lower moisture content is a good attribute when lightweight installation is needed such as garage doors and shutters. Current markets,

particularly in Europe, consist heavily of three products: cladding, decking, and flooring. Softwoods comprise the majority of the worldwide production, but hardwoods are gaining popularity. Historically, untreated American hardwoods could not be used

During a thermally modified treatment, the wood undergoes both physical and chemical changes. Some sugars are “burned” away (decomposed), leading to a reduction in food source for decay fungi.

30 hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

MARKET MATTERS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Thermally Modified Lumber (Continued)

and not overstating the performance properties, there will need to be a collaborative e ort to provide user standards. Mechanical and durability tests will need to be performed on the North American species; some of this work is currently

in cladding or decking, but with the thermal treatment process, they perform well.

TML characteristics are similar to the untreated species characteristics. A er treatment, nish quality o en improves, grain pa erns remain the same, and the sapwood and heartwood o en become di cult to distinguish. Increased bri leness requires sharp tooling and o en eased or beveled edges are preferred due to chipping. e material glues well with non-water based adhesives. Stainless steel fasteners are o en necessary for installation. Flooring installation requires extra caution with the degree of bri leness. Bri leness is dependent on treatment level and species, tongue breakage is a concern. Finishing typically requires oil-based products, but there are specially formulated water-based products that are becoming popular as well. e wood oxidizes (grays) quickly to a silver patina unless treated with a UV inhibitor. While the nish life is improved due to

underway by the University of Minnesota Duluth at the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI). Product quality can vary due to initial lumber quality, treatment recipes, and kiln types. It will be imperative that speci ers, installers, and consumers are educated on proper installation techniques and performance expectations to prevent market failure and “overselling” of performance capabilities. We have a unique opportunity to create new and improved uses for North American lumber through the thermal modi cation process. is opportunity is rare in our industry, and we must be diligent to ensure manufacturers and customers have realistic expectations of the TML. Hal Mitchell is President of Atlanta Hardwood Corporation based in Mableton, Georgia. He has been with the AHC Hardwood Group since 1999 and has a Master of Science Degree in Forest Products

“We have a unique opportunity to create new and improved uses for North American lumber through the thermal modification process. This opportunity is rare in our industry, and we must be diligent to ensure manufacturers and customers have realistic expectations of the TML.”

Marketing and Management from Virginia Tech.AHC operates a closed-system thermal modification plant in Cleveland, Georgia. He can be reached at 404.792.2290 or hmitchell@hardwoodweb.com. To learn more about Atlanta Hardwoods, visit hardwoodweb.com. Citations: Jamsa, S., Viitaniemi P., 2001. Heat Treatment of Wood Better Durability Without Chemicals. In: Rapp, A.O., Review On Heat Treatments of Wood. Cost Action E22. Proceedings of Special Seminar, Antibes, France, pp. 17-21. Kubojima, Y., Okano, T., Ohta, M., 2000. Bending Strength and Toughness of Heat-Treated Wood. Journal of Wood Science 46, pp. 8-15.

increased wood stability, the UV inhibitors will typically need to be reapplied annually in areas with direct UV contact. North America currently lacks the support of a thermally modi ed wood industry association to promote increased production and utilization of thermally modi ed wood; however, the AmericanWood Production Association (AWPA) is working to provide standardization. To ensure that TML manufacturers are properly treating their material

32 hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com