Hardwood Floors April May 2018

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