Kjell Nymark
Kjell Nymark
Precision Hardwood Floor Services, Coquitlam, B.C.
Plan out how your installation is going to finish before you get started. I find it really disappointing when I see installers finish off with three boards in a doorway, or start with a full-width board and end with a narrow ripping. If you take a little extra time at the beginning to plan how the installation is going to finish, you can eliminate surprises later. It actually speeds up the installation because you increase efficiency. The easiest way to plan the layout is by snapping a line in the center and using that line as a reference point to achieve a balanced layout. From there, you can treat the difficult areas, like doorways, first so they don’t become a problem later.
Jon Namba
Jon Namba
Jon Namba Services Inc., Salt Lake City
Do you take pride in your workmanship and business? Is word- of-mouth a big part of your success? Do you have employees? If so, my one tip is: Lead by example. Your employees must share the same vision as you do with your work ethics and your overall business model. If they do, workmanship and professionalism will naturally fall in place. Good or bad, your employees are a reflection of you. Sure, you’ll have those days when things don’t go as smoothly as you would like, but remember the big picture and work out a solution, even though it may cost you more time and money than you anticipated.
Mike Dittmer
Mike Dittmer
Michael Dittmer Wood Floors, Putnam, Ill.
As you’re working on a job, always think about mitigating your risk. If you’re in a situation where it might help to use some glue, use the glue, use a good glue and use plenty of it. If you think there might be a moisture issue, spend the money and take the time to protect the floor. For example, we recently installed 5-inch plank in a lake home with a damp basement, so we added a three-in-one moisture retarder/adhesive to the job. Above all, always follow the NWFA Guidelines. If someone says you did a poor-quality job, you can prove you provided an above-and-beyond quality installation that exceeds the standards used in an inspection.
Roy Reichow
Roy Reichow
National Wood Floor Consultants Inc., East Bethel, Minn.
Read the directions for the products you are using. Most manufacturers have proprietary instructions that are necessary for determining liability in case something goes wrong. If you have an issue with a glue-down job, the first thing an inspector will do is see if you followed the directions from the adhesive manufacturer and the wood flooring manufacturer. Most of the time you can find the directions available online, so you can access them on your smartphone or tablet while you’re on a job. You’ll find guidelines for things like moisture testing, subfloor flatness, proper environmental control and more.
