Hardwood Floors August/September 2019

AUG/SEPT 2019

PRESERVING THE HEALTH OF YOUR WORKFORCE

MOISTURE TESTING ACCURACY INSTALLING ENGINEERED FLOORING OVER CONCRETE

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FEATURES

ON THE COVER 42

Preserving the Health of Your Workforce Dr. Ann Marie Dale Employers who truly value their employees and who recognize that healthy workers are most productive must take steps to help workers protect their own health.

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Create a Healthy Work/Life Balance by Standing Out from the Crowd By Joni Rocco

Moisture Testing (the 2 Percent/4 Percent Rule) By Brett Miller

Balance in life matters, and spending too much time and effort making money can harm health, family, and other unavoidable, inescapable conditions of our lives.

The importance of measuring the moisture content in wood flooring is critical due to the influence moisture has on so many of the physical properties of wood.

PUBLISHING PARTNERS

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CONTENTS

Industry Insights 16 Market Matters

Craig Dupra | Chairman Michael Martin | CEO Anita Howard | COO Brett Miller | VP, Education & Certification NWFA LEADERSHIP

Wood flooring sourcing – U.S. shipments versus imports. 18 Government Affairs Take to the halls of Capitol Hill at the Hardwood Federation Fall Fly-In. 20 Designer Insights Powering off digital allows creative inspiration to flourish.

By Stuart Hirschhorn

Stacy Brown | Publisher/Editor | stacy.brown@nwfa.org Brett Miller | Technical Editor | brett.miller@nwfa.org Laura Boyle | Creative Director | laura.boyle@nwfa.org Katie Schenk | Media Production | katie.schenk@nwfa.org PUBLICATION TEAM PUBLICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Julie Russell, Chair & Board Liaison | Glitsa, a division of Rudd Company Brandi Copeland | Peachey Hardwood Floors Jason Elquest | Blackhawk Floors Inc. Lenny Hall | Endurance Floor Company Inc. Robert McNamara | Basic Coatings. Kevin Mullany | Benchmark Wood Floors Inc. Jim Schumacher | 3M Mike Sundell

By Dana Lee Cole

By Emily Morrow Finkell

Business Best Practices

24 Legal

By Barbara Dunn O'Neal

Preventing and managing worksite accidents. 28 Management How can the industry work with educators to improve workforce development?

& Mariah Whitner

By Steve DeWitt

32 Sales Savvy How to manage a sales pipeline.

By Paul Reilly

34 Marketing Level up your video game. By Katrina Olson

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 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brian Beakler John Brown Dana Lee Cole Dr. Ann Marie Dale Steve DeWitt Michael Dittmer Craig Dupra Emily Morrow Finkell Lenny Hall Stuart Hirschhorn David Jackson Libby White Johnston Megan Lhamon Jason T. Lunn Michael Martin Brett Miller

At the Site 54 Installation

By John Brown & David Jackson

Glue gives the primary assist.

56 Installation Engineered flooring installation on concrete. 60 Acclimation Environmental effects on wood flooring.

By Tony Morgan

By Brian Beakler

Tony Morgan Kjell Nymark Barbara Dunn O'Neal Katrina Olson Paul Reilly Joni Rocco Rebecca L. Schumann Mariah Whitner

62 Tech Talk How do you ensure the long-term health By NWFA of you and your crew?

Regional Instructors

64 Sponsored Content

By Jason T. Lunn & Rebecca L. Schumann

A review of respiratory protection. 66 WFOY Winner Spotlight Best Restoration: Brookens Wood Floors.

By Stacy Brown

Product Focus 86 Essential Contractor Gear 88 Wood Flooring Manufacturing Equipment 92 Prefinished Wood Flooring

ADVERTISING SALES

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

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 © 2019 by the National Wood Flooring Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Also in this Issue

6 Chairman’s Cut 8 Wood Stock 70 NWFA Resources 102 New Products 103 Ad Index 104 Final Coat: CEO’s Message

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CHAIRMAN’S CUT

By Craig Dupra Chairman, NWFA

LIVE YOUR CAREER IN GOOD HEALTH

So I ask you, what are you doing to protect your health and the health of your team? The features in this issue examine multiple ways you can stay healthy while on the job. Also, the NWFA Online University offers multiple courses covering a variety of safety topics. Whether you need to brush up on the gear needed when sanding and finishing a wood floor, fire and electrical safety, or even the health and safety concerns associated with working with the materials we use every day, the Safety learning path available through the NWFA Online University addresses it all. When it comes to your health, as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Pay attention to what you're doing, wear the appropriate protective gear, and take care of yourself!

Staying healthy at work should be a focus for every worker, in every industry.That being said, wood flooring professionals face a lot of unique challenges when it comes to both workplace safety and health. Wood flooring installation and refinishing are perhaps two of the most physically strenuous professions out there. Let’s start with the wear and tear on the body. Installers and sanders spend hours every day in awkward postures, kneeling and squatting. They also handle moving heavy loads, manipulating various tools and materials during installation, and completing tasks that involve repetitive motion. Over time this can wreak havoc. There’s also the potential for exposure to elements that are hazardous to the lungs such as wood dust and fumes from the finishes; the deafening noise from the equipment used; and the dangers of the saws and other tools used. The list goes on and on. years old and thought that I would never get old or tired. I could go all day, and as a point of pride, I tried to outwork and outlast all of my employees. I often say that my father taught me to work hard. I wish now that I had spent more time working smart. I remember back to my installation days when I was 23

When you are on a big install or sand and finish job you are pressing to get the work done, and things like hearing, eye, and dust protection take a backseat to “let’s get this thing done today.” Lots of days the dust mask got clogged with dust and sweat, the headphones gave me a rash around my ears, and the safety glasses slid down my nose. So I tore them off and pressed on. Now I’m 60 years old, and boy do I wish I had taken a more measured approach to my work. When you get to be 60, you will find that, like a professional athlete, the rigors of our profession take their toll. Be good enough and be smart enough to charge a rate that allows you to make a great living and still have the time to do the job right. Our profession is a marathon, not a sprint. You won’t be young forever. Our colleagues who work in the manufacturing plants, in the warehouse, on a delivery route, and even in the office also face job-specific health risks. Issues with health and safety often lead to losses of time and money for both the employer and the employee. Following best practices to look after the health of workers can have an enormous impact on profits for the company, as well as the well-being of the employee.

BigStockPhoto ©

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Wood Stock

Photos courtesy of Phoenician Wood Floors.

By Stacy Brown DYNAMIC DUO DOESN’T GET “STUMPED” BY INSTALLATION CHALLENGES

The husband-and-wife team of Joe and Staci Martinez have been installing and refinishing floors through their company, Phoenician Wood Floors, for close to four years. Joe grew up in the wood flooring industry, working with his dad at his company, Martinez and Sons Floors, out of Phoenix. “As a little kid, I remember sanding, scraping, and finishing gymnasiums. Then I moved on to doing houses after I got older. It's a family business,” he says. Staci initially started her career as a welder, and after spending time with Joe on a couple of jobsites, she fell in love with the craft. “Once we made the decision to start PhoenicianWood Floors, I chose to leave welding and join Joe. It's my full-time job; it's his full-time job. It has been almost four years, and I love it as much as he does,” she says.

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The duo started the process by laying out the stumps, a combination of elm and oak.

“In order to get into the lookout area, you have to climb a ladder. We had to break down the sanding machine to fit it through the trap door and reassemble it on the other side,” says Joe. “Then once we got everything up there, we didn't have a whole lot of space to work. We had to cut a hole through the door to feed the drum cord through so that we could put the door in place to sand the floor.” Since the flooring was all end-grain, the team had to go through the whole sequence, using every number of grit paper to get the floor flat and apply finish. The floor was finally finished with two coats of Osmo Polyx Oil in clear matte. “With the way we installed the stumps over the trap door, once it’s closed, you barely see it. When we cut the logs, we split them with the door. The homeowners were ecstatic with the results,” says Joe. “It was definitely a challenge, but it was also a fun learning experience. It's good to have customers that let you do these kinds of installations and give you the go-ahead to use your artistic abilities,” adds Staci. g

The team recently received a call to do an installation of some reclaimed maple flooring. The owners had an old gym floor in a storage unit that they wanted to use. Joe and Staci went to evaluate the material and when they were on-site made an exciting discovery. “While we were looking over the material making sure it was usable, we noticed they had a whole stack of tree stumps. I asked the owner what he was planning to do with the stumps, and he said, ‘Oh, nothing; those are just centerpieces from our wedding.’ I asked if they had ever thought of incorporating those pieces somewhere in the floor, and he said he would go home and talk to his wife. He gave us a call back later and told us they wanted to use the stumps in their lookout tower at their lake house,” says Staci. The lake house is located on Lake Herman inMadison, SouthDakota.The duo started the process by laying out the stumps, a combination of elm and oak. Next, they did a four-board border of the reclaimedmaple, which was used throughout the rest of the house.The spaces between the stumps were filled with epoxy.This created an interesting challenge because there are six air vents and a trap door within the floor. Once the epoxy dried, the teamhad to tackle the next hurdle as they started the sanding process.

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Wood

Wood Flooring Brings Toronto Coffee Shop to Life

CONTRACTOR CORNER

• Construction employment increased by 21,000 jobs in June and by 224,000, or 3.2 percent, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience fell, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. • Construction employment grew in 249 out of 358 metro areas between May 2018 and May 2019, declined in 57, and was unchanged in 52, according to an analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Photos courtesy of Relative Space.

By Stacy Brown

Space's projects have a diverse client roster, with the company’s flooring now found in hotels, office towers, retail stores, and restaurants around the world, including Milky’s, a new coffee shop in Toronto. The Milky’s installation featured a modular wood system known as the Matita collection. The collection is an engineered product that was created by manufacturer Foglie d’Oro and is composed of three wood species, two marbles, and three specialty materials, all placed on a diamond-shaped board that can be installed in a variety of patterns. This installation utilized white oak. The product was installed on the floor, walls, and ceiling, and allowed the team the ability to create a strong graphic pattern that ties into Milky’s brand identity. The pattern wraps the entire space, and it was designed to align precisely with thin metal shelving that lines the perimeter.

Relative Space is a third-generation family business that began in Toronto in the 1970s as H&I Carpets, named by its founder, Howard, after himself and his wife, Idie. Howard and Idie’s son, Brian Greenberg, met his future wife, Joan Kritz, working at H&I, and in the 1990s the company evolved into Floorworks under the management of the second generation. In 1999, Floorworks launched the Fuse and Sumo brands of engineered wood premium flooring, inspired by the demands of Canada’s variable climate. Since 2001, the company has been called Relative Space and is now run by the grandchildren of its founders. The current generation has focused on sustainable flooring and grown the company, expanding the distribution network across the United States and Canada, and opening new flagship showrooms in Toronto’s King East Design District and New York’s SoHo neighborhood. Relative

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Stock

MANUFACTURER MEANDERINGS

• Loba-Wakol LLC announced the purchase of a new location inWadesboro, North Carolina.The facility will serve as the company's North American headquarters.The company also announced the appointments of James Toal, Joe Dahlgren, TomZagula, Jamie Gilles, and Chuck Phillips. • AHF Products announced that it will acquire LMFlooring, a global manufacturer and marketer of hardwood flooring products. • Encircle Products LLC has appointed Amy Tracey as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. • Valentus Specialty Chemicals announced that Dave Brunori has accepted his new position as President, Valentus Wood Coatings Group, and that Troy Murray has joined the group in a new role, Vice President/General Manager, PoloPlaz. • Sika completed the acquisition of Parex on May 23, 2019. • FrankMiller Lumber announced the start of a potential $3.4million investment at its headquarters inUnion City, Indiana.The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022. • Cali has hired Robert Peay as its new Chief Financial Officer. • Bona announced the appointment of Jeff Sheaves as Territory Manager on the East Coast with responsibility for Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. • Saroyan Hardwoods has acquired the key production assets of Heppner Hardwoods. • Indusparquet USA hired Jodie Doyle as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“We had to take the pattern and develop a starting point. We chose 42”, which is the counter height as well,” says Fraser Greenberg, Co-Owner of Relative Space. “Then, because there was an inch-and-a-half difference in height from one side to the other side of the floor, we had to cut those long boards on site to be slightly different heights to adjust for that irregularity in the height of the floor.” Once the walls were installed, the team then installed the ceiling, and finally the floors. “When you're dealing with older buildings, there are no 90-degree angles at all. Because it was a very geometric pattern, it was essential that every time we did a row, we had to have our laser level up to make sure that everything was lined up perfectly. We had to make all those minor adjustments that were required to get that perfect installation row by row by row,” says Greenberg. The wood on the walls and ceilings was installed using glue and nails, and the CNC-milled prefinished wood flooring was installed with a glue-down method. The installation took 10 days to complete. “It was a slow, meticulous process,” saysGreenberg. “It's important that things line up perfectly on projects like this, andwe needed to compensate for the geometric inadequacies of an old building. It's just part of the job of doing it right.” g

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Wood

DISTRIBUTOR DOINGS

A C E R TA I N “Je ne sais quoi” By Stacy Brown

• Gilford•Johnson Flooring announced an equity investment from Johnson PremiumHardwood Flooring. In addition, the company appointed flooring professional Bill Schollmeyer as President and Nik Burdett as Chief Commercial and Development Officer. Jonathan Blue remains Executive Chairman. • The BelknapWhite Group (BWG) recently hosted its Annual Spring Showcase Convention in Uncasville, Connecticut, at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort. • Indusparquet USA announced the appointment of Fuzion USA as its distribution partner for Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and western Tennessee. • Mercier Wood Flooring announced an expansion of its partnership with JJ Haines &Co. to ensure distribution of its residential and commercial product lines in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, andWest Virginia. • Horizon Forest Products appointed Joe Alvar to its Houston, Texas, branch as the newOperations Manager; Mike Spillman to its Charlotte inside sales team; and Josh Ammons to its Raleigh flooring branch as Operations Manager.

Photos courtesy of Traditional Hardwood Flooring Ltd.

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• Revel Woods has teamed up with Eddie Bauer to launch an exclusive collection of hardwood floors. RETAILER ROUNDUP

Traditional Hardwood Flooring Ltd. has been working on residential and commercial flooring projects across the Greater Toronto Area for close to two decades. Each installation is unique or, you could say in this case, has a certain je ne sais quoi .

The main themes of the 580-square- foot white oak and walnut floor are a reflection of the coffered walnut and cedar ceiling 26 feet above. The two are connected by a tapered floor to ceiling stone fireplace. Norbert Kabok, lead the team of six in the week-long installation, which required extensive fieldwork and thousands of cuts on site. The remainder of the home featured rift and quarter cut, 41/4" engineered white oak. All of the floors were finished with a penetrating natural oil, designed to bring out the rich colors and differences in the species. The adhesive as well as the finish used during the installation were low VOC, a priority for both the homeowner and Traditional Hardwood Flooring Ltd. “We don’t just work in the Greater Toronto area; we live here too. We are committed to keeping it clean, which is why we consider the environmental impact of all our processes,” says Keppel. “We take great pride in providing an eco-friendly service that protects our environment and keeps the area beautiful for future generations.” g

One of the team’s latest installations was an 18,000-square-foot French- style manor house located just north of Toronto.The client was looking for a unique floor that would unite elements of nature, visible both inside and outside the home. “A hardwood floor is a work of art that gives a space depth, personality, and class,” shares Balazs Keppel, Owner. “No matter what the client’s vision is, our team can make it happen.” To achieve this, the architect J.S. Barmi, who Traditional Hardwood Flooring worked with on their 2017 Wood Floor of the Year Award winning project in the Best Parquet/Inlay category, merged aspects of wood with natural stone for warmth and balance. The focal point of the project was the great roomfloor that can be viewed fromalmost every point in the home.The floor is visible fromthe gallery, which contains the client’s art collection, the upper hall, and the master bedroom.The room leads fromthe great entrance to the kitchen and is also visible fromthe library. “Floors are the first thing people see when in a space, and the first opportunity to wow,” says Keppel. “We work hard to ensure our clients have the right floor for their space and personality.”

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Wood Stock

Colour

Grayscale

Photos courtesy of Ambassador Floor Company.

By Megan Lhamon Combating the Skilled Labor Crisis

One Colour

unheard-of achievement in the flooring industry, and we’re extremely proud of our installation teams for achieving such a milestone.” Inaddition to safety training, Ambassador’s installation teams also attendregular “ProductKnowledgeMeetings” ledbymanufacturers as new offerings are added to the Ambassador showroom. ATTRACTINGNEWAPPRENTICES A recent effort Ambassador participated in to help educate and attract prospective apprentices took place when the Home BuildersAssociationof St. Louis approachedAmbassador about a presentationat SouthTechHighSchool inSunsetHills,Missouri. “Two of our installation professionals, Bryan Benke and Travis Rochman, joinedme to lead the presentation and share an overview of the various types of flooring and the particular skills and training needed to specialize in each,” says Lee. “The presentation was a great opportunity to connect with students and answer their questions about building a career in the flooring industry.” Ambassador Floor will soon participate in the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship ProgramCareer Day and talk with area high school students about opportunities and training options. “We’re always looking for opportunities to talk directlywith area students and young people, sharemore about the industrywe’re passionate about furthering, and support training opportunities to helpmore find their career path in flooring installation,” concludes Lee. g

Ambassador Floor Company is a second-generation, family- owned business in St. Louis, Missouri, with a strong focus on supporting its community and its people. One of the ways Ambassador does this is through helping to recruit and train young people into the flooring industry so it can encourage long-term careers and support families. “Not only is it important to support our community, but we also want to cultivate talent so we canmaintain and grow our reputation as a top-quality flooring company,” says Mike Lee, Vice President of Operations at Ambassador Floor Company. “We are extremely proud of the professionalism and expertise shown by our installation teams, and we want to do all we can to ensure our high standards with these craftspeople continue to be met.” Ambassador has a robust training and education program for their installation teams. “We currently have 17 flooring apprentices working for us, andwe have amentoring program to help guide and encourage our apprentices as theywork toward their goal of achieving journeyman status,” says Lee. “Our apprentices also takeweek-long intensive training sessions every quarter to ensure they’re furthering their training and progressing on their path to journeyman.” Training Ambassador’s installation teams in the best and safest methods has been a priority for President Kelly Taylor. To keep their installers up to date, Ambassador conducts regular “Toolbox Talks” that include in-depth safety training. “Our commitment to keeping our installers updated and trained is one of the big reasons why we’re more than 900 days injury-free,” adds Lee. “This is an almost

FINAL LOGO: ACCE

S S

S L N J

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EPTABLE FORMATS FOR USAGE

OPTIONS AVAILABLE COLOUR SPECS

Superior Flooring Superior Flooring Logo Superior_Logo_FINAL.ai LOGO VARIATIONS N/A JUNE 2013

x x x x x x

PANTONE CMYK BLACK ANDWHITE

Gotham HTF Bold Gotham HTF Book Aristocrat

COLOUR BACKGROUND INVERTED OTHER OPTIONS

MARKET MATTERS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS SOURCING OF WOOD FLOORING SUPPLY: U.S. MANUFACTURERS TAKE SHARE IN A CHALLENGING MARKET ENVIRONMENT U.S. manufacturers are finally taking share from foreign- based producers. This follows a decade of significant inroads made by foreign-sourced products. Based on first-half 2019 data, imports could account for only one-third of total dollar wood flooring dollar and square foot sales (U.S. shipments minus exports plus imports) this year. This is down from an average share of 42 percent of total dollar sales and some 55 percent of total square foot sales from 2016 to 2018. Import penetration rates were only about 15 percent in dollars and square feet in 2007. U.S. manufacturers are regaining share during 2019 due to the sharp drop in import shipments. Based on U.S. Customs data, U.S. wood flooring imports could drop by one-third in dollars, and be cut in half in square feet during 2019. The decline in imports was led by the contraction of shipments from China. Demand for Chinese-made wood flooring already turned sluggish in 2017 and 2018 due to the imposition of antidumping duties and countervailing duties on Chinese engineered wood flooring by the U.S International Trade Commission (ITC). Additional tariffs were added to Chinese wood flooring imports by the Trump administration in the fall of 2018 and the spring of 2019. As a result, tariff charges could rise to more than 12 percent of the total value of U.S. Chinese wood flooring imports during 2019. This is up from only 3.7 percent in 2017. U.S. wood flooring imports are also being adversely affected by a weak market environment. Wood flooring sales have been hurt by soaring demand for luxury vinyl tile (LVT) sales. The successful introduction of rigid core LVT has resulted in consumers reducing their preference for wood

flooring and other hard surface flooring. Wood flooring sales have also been adversely affected by the decline in housing starts in the first half of 2019. Housing starts declined in response to the sharp run up in interest rates in 2018. The decline in housing starts dampens wood flooring demand since wood flooring manufacturers and marketers have the highest dependence on new residential construction than any other floor coverings sector. In addition, the decline in import shipments can be seen in solid wood flooring product lines. This indicates that the drop in imports could have more to do with the domestic market environment since Chinese imports of solid wood flooring products were not affected by the ITC actions.

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By Stuart Hirschhorn

by 4.3 percent during 2019, while square foot shipments could increase by 5.4 percent. U.S. shipments have been trending downward from 2015 to 2018 as foreign sourced wood flooring took a significant share of the U.S. market. Square foot shipments are estimated to increase due to a drop in average selling prices. Average wood flooring prices shipped from a domestic plant could decline by 9.2 percent during 2019. This decline, combined with a rise in average import prices, has made U.S. manufacturers more price- competitive. Foreign-sourced wood flooring prices increased sharply during 2019, primarily due to rising tariff charges on relatively low-cost Chinese-made products. As a result, U.S.-made wood flooring could capture 67 percent of total dollar and square foot sales during 2019. This is up from 58.6 percent of dollar sales and 45.8 percent of square foot sales in 2017. Meanwhile, Chinese-made wood flooring’s dollar share could decline to 17.0 percent of total U.S. sales during 2019, down from a 23.5 percent share in 2017. On a square foot basis, Chinese-made wood flooring could drop to 19 percent during 2019 down from 31.2 percent in 2017. Chinese manufacturers have lost share in both solid and engineered product lines. Domestic manufacturers could gain additional share in the second half of 2019 due to the sharp drop in hardwood lumber prices. This followed gains in 2017 and 2018. Over the first half of 2019, the Producer Price Index for hardwood lumber declined by 11.9 percent. The decline was even sharper in June, when prices dropped by 19.5 percent. The cut in material costs could make U.S.-made wood flooring even more price competitive with foreign-sourced products. However, U.S. manufacturers must increase their investment in new domestic production capacity after consolidating production facilities over the past decade as import penetration rates rose. Catalina Research tracks wood flooring industry trends, including an analysis of U.S. manufactured versus foreign- sourced products, customer demographics and distribution channels, factors driving demand, and the outlook for 2019 and beyond. This data and information is part of the Catalina Report on Wood Flooring released in July 2019. For more information, contact Stuart Hirschhorn, Director of Research at 561.988.0853 or shirschhorn@catalinareports.com. Stuart Hirschhorn is Director of Research for Catalina Research Inc. in Highland Beach, Florida. He can be reached at 561.988.0853 or shirschhorn@catalinareports.com.

Photo courtesy of Somerset

Negative market trends are also impacting imports from non-Chinese manufacturers. U.S. wood flooring imports for the next five leading supplying countries declined by about 15 percent in dollars in the first half of 2019. If sourcing was shifting from Chinese manufacturers to producers in other countries due to rising tariffs on Chinese-made wood flooring, then imports from other leading supplier countries would be rising. However, there has been some increase in shipments frommanufacturers located in Brazil, Canada, Malaysia, and Poland. U.S. manufacturer shipments remain sluggish despite the sharp drop in imports. Catalina estimates domestic wood flooring manufacturer shipments in dollars could decrease

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Photos courtesy of Dana Lee Cole.

Take to the Halls of Capitol Hill at the Hardwood Federation Fall Fly-In

The 2019 Fly-In will be held Sept. 17-19. We look forward to welcoming any and all hardwood industry members who are interested, whether new to the event, returning after a couple of years away, or our trusty perennial stalwarts. The Fly-In is a busy few days, but we make every effort to prepare and brief attendees. This year’s agenda includes the following: Welcome Reception (Sept. 17) Participants gather the night before to meet and network with colleagues old and new. Breakfast Briefing (Sept. 18) The Hardwood Federation provides a detailed briefing on issues to be covered during meetings on the Hill, navigating the congressional office buildings, and what to expect during your meetings. Capitol Hill Visits (Sept. 18) Prior to the Fly-In, Hardwood Federation staff will schedule meetings

The annual Fall Fly-In is theHardwood Federation's biggest, most anticipated, and most important event of the year. Giving the hardwood industry the opportunity to gather inWashingtonD.C. andmeet with the senators and congresspeople fromtheir states and to tell their stories rings louder than anything elsewe can do. Our goal is clearandconsistent:Togive industry leaders the opportunity to provide their personal andprofessionalperspectives about themost important issues affecting the industry and howbusinesses are being impacted, andwhat Congress can do about it. September 2018 sawthe largest turnout in theHardwoodFederation’s 15years of Fly-Inswitha greatmixof Fly-Inveterans andeager newcomers.Wedon’t intend to stop thatmomentumnow.Nopolitical experience is necessary to joinus inD.C., just awillingness to tell your story anda goodpair of shoes, because it is a longbut satisfyingday, covering theHill fromside to side.Our goal this year is to top last year’s 123office visits.

It is hard to believe that 2019 is only half over. It feels like this year has already been a full 12 months long with all that is happening – and not happening – in D.C. However, with the end of summer approaching comes the time to turn our attention to the annual Hardwood Federation Fall Fly-In. Trade, tariffs, and transportation will likely still be in the headlines when September rolls around, as well as a few new issues we cannot predict. The 2019 Fly-In will be another excellent opportunity for members of the hardwood industry to tell their stories and let their members of Congress know just how businesses and employees are affected by the decisions being made on Capitol Hill.

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By Dana Lee Cole

commitment that can have direct impacts on your bottom line. The Hardwood Federation staff is proud to represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and over the years we have built excellent relationships with key members of Congress who look to us for advice and counsel on issues impacting the hardwood industry. But when members hear from you, their constituents, employers in their district, and community leaders, the message takes on a special significance and impact. Our special rate at the host hotel expires Monday, Aug. 12, so be sure to make plans before it is too late. Please don't hesitate to contact the Hardwood Federation staff at 202.463.2705 or dana.cole@hardwoodfederation.com to register, if you have any questions, or if you would like more information. g Dana Lee 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 United States and acts as the industry’s advocacy voice on Capitol Hill. She can be reached at dana.cole@hardwoodfederation.com.

with your elected representatives or those you are interested in meeting. Participants attend meetings in small groups to demonstrate the depth and variety of the industry. Hardwood Federation Political Action Committee (HFPAC) Events (Sept. 18 & 19) Participants will gather for an evening reception with Republicanmembers of Congress on the 18th followed by a dinner on Capitol Hill.The next morning, we wind up the Fly-In with a morning breakfast reception withDemocrats. These are additional opportunities to speak directly with members and acknowledge their support with a donation from the HFPAC. We hope you will take the time to join us in Washington. Hardwood industry members are spread throughout the country, and their experience, insight, and ideas should be shared directly with those who write the laws and legislation impacting their businesses and employees. While it is a commitment of both resources and time, it is a

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the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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DESIGNER INSIGHTS INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Inspiration. It’s at the heartbeat of the flooring industry and what keeps us all in the cycle of evolution. What inspires you? How are you inspired? When are you inspired? Being a “creative” today is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that we are all constantly infiltrated with new perspectives, fresh ideas, more accessible travel, and, well, ideas. Within an instant, my newsfeed is taking me to an emerging high-rise project in Dubai; I’m in a train buzzing through wine country during harvest in an Instagram story; I'mwatching a blogger's design journey as she renovates a midcentury bungalow in San Francisco – while I am onWi-Fi and in the air from LaGuardia to Paris. Information – too much information – is at my fingertips at breakneck speed. UNPLUGGED Powering Off Digital Allows Creative Inspiration to Flourish

Market Watch recently revealed that the average American adult spends 11 hours per day consuming digital media, which is up from 9 hours and 32 minutes only four years ago. But I did not need a study to tell me this news. My newest iPhone XS Max reveals my screen time usage, and the daily notification is staggering, to say the least. It leaves us all wondering, “Did I really look at my phone that much today?” While we’re consuming all of this media, how is our brain processing it? Studies show that the overconsumption of digital makes us feel differently,

react differently, think differently, and sleep differently. According to a Mashable article from just a few years ago, some cognitive experts have found benefit in digital exposure and its effects on the human brain, whereas others worry that toomany distractions have left our brains uncreative and impatient.

Photos courtesy of Emily Morrow Finkell.

20 hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

By Emily Morrow Finkell

The creative process is sitting on the ground surrounded in paint swatches, white oak slices, frayed pieces of fabric, and a team of experienced professionals with sawdust in their eyes. It comes from digging deep in the parts of our minds, our hearts, and our souls, which technology cannot power up or power on. Creativity is connectivity – with the human spirit, not a cable. My most recent and prevalent example of unplugging for authentic creativity to prevail was during an African safari this past summer with my family. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, the journey allowed us to soak in the majesty of nature in all its raw splendor. From the journey, one of my newest collections was born.

Digital has its place in the creative process; let’s be honest. After all, it’s 2019. Sites like Pinterest, Houzz, and the world of influencer marketing have made interior design and the floor shopping process engaging and attainable, and for that, the industry is grateful. But as “creative” professionals who are focused on pushing the design envelope ever forward on behalf of both the industry and our brands, how do we cut through the noise? Slide to power off. True creativity is not happening behind the screen. While the screen may reaffirm our ideas and give us a sense of belonging, the creative process does not begin or end on the screen. At the risk of sounding unapologetically cliché, the creative process is all around us in the most present and current sense.

Since we have introduced Stauf

WFR-930 in the US market, it has truly changed the landscape of adhering engineered flooring. This patented product spreads easily, and cleans wet or dry without etching the finish of the floor. It also meets all the standards for IAQ, even in the state of California. WFR-930 is an alcohol based adhesive that eliminates hollow spots, and its simplicity is unmatched. We have heard from installers over and over again, and the consensus is always the same: “Don’t EVER stop making this adhesive”. WFR-930 stands in a class all its own. We aren’t going anywhere and neither is the floor you just laid! Stick with what works.

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the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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UNPLUGGED (Continued)

Whether or not we unplug from digital, the world isn’t going to stop. But as the future of the flooring industry and as "creatives," it’s up to us to quiet the noise – so that we can create and continue to propel the industry forward. So, when you see me in the airport chatting up a stranger, sketching in my journal, or soaking in a beautiful moment, you’ll know it’s intentional. Let us power off and create.

Unplugging has become key to my creative process. And my wish is that it becomes key to yours as well. Keep that pen and notebook in your bag. Pull it out when an idea or inspiration strikes. Start up a conversation with the person in the plane seat next to you. Sit in a local coffee shop and people watch. Walk through a museum and read every exhibit marker. Laugh out loud with your chin up. It’s within all of this living and all of this connecting and the moments unplugged that creativity – true creativity – will flourish.

Where do you go from here? How do you power off more often? Here are some simple tips from Digital Detox to help you unplug:

Start your day right: Get up, relax, and eat a healthy breakfast instead of reaching for the phone. Go old school: Get an old-fashioned flip phone instead of a smartphone. Domore: Pack your day full of person-to-person meetings where you commit to not reaching for the phone. Bring a book: Pick up a good read. Download an app: Get some tech help in monitoring the time you spend on the phone. Go on a digital diet: Reduce your time online by 10 percent. Take a mini break: Leave your phone at home for a day. Streamline your work: Ask that people connect with you only through one medium.

Get active: Jog or bike to work, phone free. Leave your work behind: Consider a work phone and personal phone and utilize out of office. Involve your friends: Invite your friends to keep you accountable. Lock up: Ask a friend or partner to take your phone for a bit. Set a strict technology bedtime: Your technology needs a bedtime, too. Schedule some free time: Schedule tech time and then turn it off. Be more in the moment: Go for a walk and soak in your surroundings. Just switch it off: Enough said.

Emily Morrow Finkell is an interior designer and CEO of EF Floors & Design LLC in Dalton, Georgia, a provider of hardwood floors and home furnishings, and an NWFA design contributor. She can be reached at emily@emilymorrowhome.com.

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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We are committed to developing distinctive products that pay tribute to the magnificence of our forests and position us as leaders in the wood flooring industry. We are looking to the future with optimism and ambition, with the goal of maintaining our internationally recognized standards of high quality. for the past Ambassador of Canadianwood 30 years

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BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES LEGAL

By Barbara Dunn O'Neal and Mariah Whitner

A SAFE SPACE Steps for Contractors to Take to Prevent andManage aWorksite Accident

BigStockPhoto ©

Workers who are contracted towork on building or renovatingworksites, including flooring professionals, regularly face potentially hazardous work conditions.Theseworkers are exposed to amuch higher risk of being seriously injured or killed than employees in other lines of work. A contractor’s top priority should be providing a safe and healthywork environment for all employees. Contractors should ensure that employees understand and complywith all safety procedures to decrease the likelihood of an injury.

Unfortunately, despite best efforts, accidents will happen. This article will outline steps that contractors should take to help prevent accidents as well as necessary actions if an accident occurs. Contractors should understand that careless or willful disregard of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards can result in substantial OSHA fines, or even jail time in the case of a fatality that is caused by a willful citation. STEP 1: Prepare a Safety Plan Contractors should be prepared for accidents well before they occur. A general contractor is responsible for everyone’s safety at the worksite. OSHA has cited general contractors for violations of subcontractors, even where the general contractor’s employees are not exposed to the hazard. The general contractor is considered the “controlling employer” who has general supervisory authority over the worksite, including the power to correct safety and health violations.

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A Safe Space (Continued)

the future. The information gathered during this investigation may point to an employee misconduct issue, mechanical failure, or a completely unforeseen safety issue that will

The controlling employermust exercise reasonable care to prevent and detect violations on the site. Akey component to proving reasonable care is the preparation and administration of a safety plan.The contractor and his or her safety personnel will be the ones to ensure that the safety plan is being followed. Each worksite is different, and as a result, there is no standard plan that applies in all situations, but the following are elements of a good health and safety programthat contractors should bear inmind: 1 Management Commitment and Employee Involvement: Contractors should lead their employees by setting up a safety policy, assigning responsibilities to appropriate individuals, and involving all employees in maintaining a safe work environment. 2 Worksite Analysis: The worksite is continually analyzed to identify all existing and potential hazards. 3 Hazard Prevention and Control: Methods to prevent or control existing or potential hazards are administered and maintained. 4 Training for Employees, Supervisors, and Managers: All employees who will be on the worksite are properly trained to understand and deal with worksite hazards. Once the work begins, the contractor must include safety matters as a key element during his or her daily meetings and inspections of the worksite. While walking through the worksite, he or she must keep an eye out for all potential sources of harm to workers or unsafe conditions that could result in injury to his or her employees. Being prepared for accidents at the worksite will help to prevent accidents and minimize the damage from those that do occur. STEP 2: Act Diligently The second step is to act diligently once an accident has happened. All injuries should be dealt with directly and efficiently. If there is a medical emergency, qualified on- site personnel should administer first aid and call 9-1-1 immediately. Once the medical issues have been addressed, and the injured person is being provided with proper medical care, contractors should focus on collecting and preserving information regarding the accident. Information to be collected should include, but not be limited to, the names of all parties involved, witness statements, and any photographic or video evidence of the accident that can be collected. This information will be useful when trying to reconstruct the sequence of events for insurance claims or determining liability, as well as to learn how to prevent similar accidents in

require employee retraining in the future. STEP 3: Report Appropriately

Contractors must report the incident to the appropriate governing administrative agency. Depending on the location of the accident, it may be federal OSHA or an OSHA- approved state agency. OSHA is an agency of the United States Department of Labor whose mission is to “assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.” OSHA requires all employers to notify the agency within eight hours of a workplace fatality. All employers are also required to notify OSHA within 24 hours of any work-related overnight hospitalizations, amputations (with or without bone loss) and/or losses of an eye. To make an OSHA report, contractors should call the nearest OSHA office, the 24-hour hotline at 800.321.6742, or report online at osha.gov/pls/ser/ serform.html. Failing to report in a timely fashion can be the basis of an OSHA citation on its own. If an employer is required to make a report to OSHA, preparation for a potential follow up on-site inspection is key. Especially with a fatality report, employers should expect an on-site inspection within 24 to 48 hours of reporting. An on-site inspection is a possibility with any of the mandatory reporting situations, so employers need to conduct an immediate post-accident inspection to determine the cause of the accident and to prepare for a possible OSHA inspection. If there is an inspection, the OSHA inspector will request copies of relevant OSHA safety policies, training records, injury and illness logs as well as in- person interviews with witnesses and managers. Following these steps will help employers reduce on-site accidents and be prepared for possible OSHA inspections following a reporting situation. g Barbara Dunn O’Neal is a Partner with the Associations and Foundations Practice Group at Barnes & Thornburg, where she concentrates her practice in association law and meetings, travel, and hospitality law. She can be reached at 312.214.4837 or barbara. dunnoneal@btlaw.com. Mariah Whitner is currently a third-year law student at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois. At DePaul, she serves as the Managing Editor of Notes and Comments for the DePaul Law Review Vol. 69 and Vice President of the Student Bar Association. She can be reached at mariah.whitner@btlaw.com.

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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