Hardwood Floors E-News - 7/27/2009

NWFA Warns of Flooring Scam The U.S. State Department says e-mails requesting proposals and flooring materials for rebuilding efforts in Iraq are fraudulent, according to an NWFA press release. The e-mails are initiated by "Dr. Sayyed al-Amin" and instruct the recipient to contact Debora Wilkins with the Offshore Payment Centre in the United Kingdom. The instructions do not ask that any payment be made but do ask that copies of driver's licenses and passports be faxed for verification purposes. The State Department says the e-mails are part of an identity theft scam. If you have been a victim of the scam, visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.

Study: Demand for Hard Surface Flooring to Increase The Freedonia Group (Cleveland) says demand for hard surface flooring products in the United States is forecast to increase 4.6 percent annually from a weak 2008 base to 9.6 billion square feet in 2013, valued at $12 billion; above average gains will be posted by wood flooring, particularly engineered wood flooring, Freedonia says. The full report is available for $4,700. Freedonia has also released a study on wood protection coatings and preservatives; it reports that this market will increase 2.2 percent per year to $3 billion in 2013. The group attributes this growth to an eventual rebound in the United States' housing market. In general, wood protection products will achieve the best gains in interior wood applications, such as flooring and cabinets, the study says. The full report is available for $4,800. For more information, call 440/684-9600, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.freedoniagroup.com.

Manufacturer News EcoTimber's (Richmond, Calif.) Woven Honey bamboo flooring was named the top performing bamboo flooring product in an August Consumer Reports article. While the article tested 50 products, EcoTimber's ranked first because of its "impressive resistance to wear and dents."

Distributor News Interra Architectural Products (Renton, Wash.) is now representing Greyne Custom Wood Co.'s (Charlotte, N.C.) reclaimed flooring in Washington and Oregon. For more information, visit www.interra-materials.com or call 206/226-2311. Also, On The Surface (Dallas) will sell Greyne products in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas and Missouri. For more information, contact On The Surface's President John J. Kimmel at 972/971-7505 or visit www.onthesurface.org.

Glitsa American Inc. (Seattle) has named Trademark Flooring Consultants LLC's (North Carolina) Bryan Day its manufacturer representative in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Contact Day at 980/225-6125 or [email protected]. Also, Southern Hardwood & Floor Supply (Richmond, VA) is now a distributor for Glitsa. For more information, call 804/353-9663.

People News Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc. (Cleveland) has named Mark Ruch strategic account manager for paints, coatings and adhesives of its Performance Coatings product line; Ruch will oversee accounts in the Northeast.

Horizon Forest Products (Raleigh, N.C.) and Long Floor (Richmond, Va.) have added Bruce Gravely as an outside sales representative for the Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C., areas.

By the Numbers

Mark Your Calendar The NWFA will hold a Jigs and Staircase Workshop on September 22-25 in St. Louis. Stair and handrail installation, and jig construction will be covered; attendees must have at least three years' experience in the hardwood flooring industry and must have attended at least one previous NWFA school. The cost is $750 for members and $850 for non-members. For more information, visit www.nwfa.org, or call 800/422-4556 (U.S. and Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international). NWFACP is holding a Commercial Inspection School on Sept. 21-24 in St. Louis. For more information, visit www.nwfacp.org, call 866/418-5408 (U.S.) or 636/728-1922 (local and international), or e-mail [email protected].

Basic Coatings (Toledo, Ohio) and Lon Musolf Distributing Inc. (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) will host a TyKote/Recoat Hands-On School on Aug. 26 in St. Paul. Topics to be discussed include: recoating hand-scraped floors, Basic Coatings' TyKote system, deep cleaning wood, and successfully selling and marketing recoat opportunities. Class size is limited to 15 people and the cost is $50. Please contact Basic's Josh Neuberger at 262/308-9126 for more information.

Mohawk Industries (Dalton, Ga.) is holding several educational courses focusing on steps companies can take to become both greener and more profitable. Environmental Advantage: Business Growth Through Sustainability is a one-day seminar that costs $249 to attend; dates and locations include: Aug. 5, Boise, Idaho; Aug. 12, Boston; and Aug. 19 in both Salt Lake City and Jacksonville, Fla. For more information, visit www.mohawkuniversity.com.

Resource Book Update Deadline Has Passed If you are an NWFA member, you should have recently received notices asking you to update your membership information for the 2010 Hardwood Floors Resource Book & NWFA Networking Guide. If you haven't received a notice, please contact Pam Walker at [email protected] or call 800/722-8764, ext. 117, to make sure you are listed as accurately as possible in the printed Resource Book and the online version.

NWFA Member Services The NWFA now offers a variety of Contract Schools to manufacturer members; three schools currently are available. Product Knowledge is a one-day school with one instructor; the fee is $1,000 per day plus instructor and school expenses. Installation is a two-day school with two instructors; the fee is $1,500 per day plus instructors and school expenses. Installation, Sand and Finish is a three-day school with two instructors; the fee is $1,500 per day plus instructors and school expenses. For more information, visit www.nwfa.org, or call 800/422-4556 (U.S. and Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international).