The NWFA recently confirmed its 2012 school schedule, which will see schools held both in Las Vegas and at NWFA's St. Louis headquarters. New for 2012, the association's prefinished flooring and subfloor preparation schools will be combined into one school dubbed "Subfloor Preparation/Solid and Prefinished Installation."
- Jan. 18-20: Installation, Sand and Finish (Las Vegas)
- Feb. 22-24: Advanced Installation School (St. Louis)
- March 13-16: Wood Flooring Basics (Las Vegas)
- March 28-30: Installation, Sand and Finish (St. Louis)
- April 25-27: Advanced Installation School (Las Vegas)
- May 16-18: Subfloor Preparation/Solid and Prefinished Installation (St. Louis)
- May 21-23: Jigs/Medallion Workshop (St. Louis)
- June 13-15: Installation, Sand and Finish (St. Louis)
- Sept. 11-14: Wood Flooring Basics (St. Louis)
- Sept. 26-28: Installation, Sand and Finish (Las Vegas)
- Oct. 9-13: Expert Installation (St. Louis)
- Oct. 15-17: Expert Sand and Finish (St. Louis)
- Nov. 7-9: Subfloor Preparation/Solid and Prefinished Installation (Las Vegas)
Wood Flooring BasicsThe four-day Wood Flooring Basics School is designed to provide a comprehensive entry-level overview of installation, sand and finish. This will include engineered, solid, parquet, prefinished and unfinished flooring. Other topics include water and wood, wood properties and job-site preparation. Demonstrations include safety, center layout, racking, nail guns and sanding and finish equipment. Students earn three NWFA Degree credits. $525/$625
Subfloor Preparation/Solid and Prefinished InstallationThe three-day Subfloor Preparation/Solid and Prefinished Installation School provides hands-on training for subfloor preparation on both concrete and wood, plus solid installation and prefinished installation over concrete and wood. Topics include self-levelers for concrete; moisture control systems for concrete and wood subfloors; moisture testing of concrete and wood subfloors; solid plank over concrete; prefinished installation over concrete and wood; adhesives; nail down options; and correcting wood subfloors. Students earn three NWFA Degree credits. $475/$575
Installation, Sand and FinishThe three-day Installation, Sand and Finish School is set up in a modular format, presenting different topics and hands-on training opportunities each day. On Wednesday, installation skills will be presented, including job site evaluation and preparation; installation techniques; safety; custom design procedures; and medallion installation. On Thursday, sanding and finishing will be presented, including hands-on training for custom floors. On Friday, finishing techniques will be presented, including repair and recoat of existing floors, board replacement, and hand-scraping. Attendees can participate in all three sessions or only those that best serve their needs. Students earn three NWFA Degree credits for the full session. $475/$575
Advanced InstallationThe three-day Advanced Installation School is designed to provide extensive hands-on training utilizing a variety of specialized tools, techniques and technologies. Prerequisites includes three years' experience and previous attendance at an NWFA school. Topics include borders, medallions and inlays, parquet, mixed media, metal inlays, slide jigs, custom job estimating, specialty tools, and sanding and finishing techniques. Students earn four NWFA Degree credits. $525/$625
Jigs and Medallion WorkshopThis three-day Jigs and Medallions Workshop provides hands-on training for students to produce a sliding table saw jig and circle jig that they can use to reproduce several medallions. Students will also learn how to install medallions. Prerequisites include three years' industry experience and previous attendance at an NWFA school. Students will take home with them one circle jig, one sliding table saw jig, two complete medallions and master pieces for two medallions. Students will leave with the ability to draw and reproduce most straight-line medallions. Students earn three NWFA Degree credits. $750/$850
Expert InstallationThe five-day Expert Installation School provides hands-on training for highly experienced wood flooring professionals. Students will design and install a custom wood floor. Prerequisites include previous attendance at an NWFA Advanced Installation School. Topics include building custom jigs, cutting taper boards, cutting parquet/medallions, bending wood, installing on a radius, free-hand routing, marquetry/inlays and job costing. Students earn 4 NWFA Degree credits. $1,200/$1,400*
Expert Sand and FinishThe three-day Expert Sand and Finish School provides hands-on training for highly experienced wood flooring professionals. Prerequisites include three years' industry experience and previous attendance at NWFA Installation, Sand and Finish School. Topics include sanding and finishing custom mixed media; hand-brushing, rubbing and rolling finish; faux painting; repairing damaged boards; custom stain mixing and blending; and hand-scraping. Students earn four NWFA Degree credits. $900/$1,200*
*For attending both the Expert Installation and Expert Sand and Finish schools, the total cost is $2,000/$2,500, respectively.
Also, the following schools remain for the 2011 school year:
- Oct. 4-8: Expert Installation (St. Louis)
- Oct. 10-12: Expert Sand and Finish (St. Louis)
- Oct. 26-28: Subfloor Preparation and Solid Glue Down (Las Vegas)
- Nov. 14-16: Installation, Sand and Finish (Calgary, Alberta)**
- Nov. 17-19: Advanced Installation (Calgary, Alberta)**
