Howard Brickman

Howard Brickman

Howard Brickman is president at Norwell, Mass.-based Brickman Consulting and director of training and inspections for the International Wood Flooring Association.

Certified or Certifiable?

Kevin Mullany has apparently touched a nerve with his recent article "Inspections Are Supposed to Help Our Industry, Not Hurt It." It is a compelling, multi-faceted topic. So here goes a toboggan run down a slippery slope. Full speed ahead.

May 29, 2013

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: Wood Flooring in Japan

It has been a whirlwind of a summer season for me since early in May. This always happens whenever I mix some actual work into my schedule.

August 8, 2012

Thoughts as I Travel Home from the Expo in Orlando

I am on my way back home from the 2012 NWFA convention in Orlando and wanted to get some thoughts online before the distraction of being back home starts. It was a lot of fun to be able to say hello to fellow bloggers Scott Avery, Wayne Lee, and Elizabeth Baldwin. But the real news is …

April 12, 2012

World Class Networking On the Cheap

It is less than four weeks till the start of this year's NWFA annual convention. It looks like it will be an improved effort. Truth be told, in spite of all of the whistling past the graveyard from the economists, there is still plenty of room for improvement in the construction business. But here are some things to think about...

March 16, 2012

The Good Old Days

In 1978 there was no industry-sponsored training or conventions; in fact, there was barely a wood flooring industry. I had just started working at NOFMA in Memphis. Two of us inspected all of the oak flooring mills in the U.S. and did the complaint inspections for those manufacturers. There was a total of 14 manufacturers operating and 12 were full-dues-paying NOFMA members. Hardwood flooring shipments had plummeted from 1.2 billion board feet in 1955 to 75 million in 1982. Here's a chart from a Hardwood Floors history article (click on the chart for the article with the bigger version) showing the decline:

February 14, 2012

Nofma Wood Flooring Historical Shipments

Board Cuts, Moisture Changes & Cupping

This blog will explore simple moisture content changes of individual S4S RO boards and how that would be related to changes in shape and how that could be related to cupping. But first…

December 28, 2011

Wood Handbook Figure 4 3

What Causes Cupping? Experiment 1 Explained

We are going to start deconstructing some of the variables related to cupping and what many people believe are the causes of cupping.

December 19, 2011

What Causes Cupping in Wood Floors?

The official topic of this blog will be an excruciating discussion of the term "cupping" for your consideration. But first…

December 11, 2011

Do You Need An Alibi? Protect Yourself on Every Job

Only a guilty man needs to have an alibi prepared. Well, you are all guilty of being wood floor guys, so let's get those alibis ready for prime time. And maybe the process of getting those alibis prepped will also provide a framework for preventing the need for an alibi.

October 4, 2011

Carolina(s) On My Mind

I hope that my loyal fans will forgive the temporary lapse in blogging. Hurricane Irene blew through town, taking with her our electricity for almost a week. On the plus side, I got to break out my "Survivorman" skills and lived to tell the tale. Wood has many other uses besides wood flooring. With my handy new Rocket Stove I was able to cut up the fallen branches and heat water for coffee and tea and also cook some one-pot meals.

September 19, 2011

Howard Brickman Survivor Man

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Bespoke Floors owner Lygia Lindari.

Striving for Excellence: See the Winners of the 2024 WFB Outstanding Retailer Awards

WFB Outstanding Retailer Award winners of 2024 have displayed excellence in their retail businesses through stunning showrooms, exceptional customer service and clever digital tactics.

Photos courtesy of wood flooring pros James Kramer, Alejandre Israel, Darin Grimes, Gregory Brown, Erick Pilier, Ken Ballin, Kent Rogerson, Jorge Perez, Benny Powell, Ed Sheridan, Pat Goodman, Lenny Hall and Mike Somodean.

Wood Flooring Health 101: An OT’s Advice to Reduce Injuries and Prevent Pain

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Jumping Into the Unknown to Pull Off a Water-Effect Floor

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Recognizing Wood Floor Contractors: Enter the 2024 Ultimate Wood Floor Guy/Gal Contest

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The Winners' Circle: See the Winning Vehicles in the 2024 WFB Truck & Van Contest