Kjell Nymark (left) and Rob Zehnder (right) pose with David Watson, the first citizen of the United Kingdom to receive an NWFACP certification.
David Watson’s colleagues in his home country, the United Kingdom, thought he was crazy to go to the United States for National Wood Flooring Association training schools. But Watson doesn’t see it that way.
“On a basic install or sand and finish level, we have schools in the UK that teach the same principles,” he said in an email. “But on a more advanced level, if you want to learn... you have to go the States.”
After a number of training schools, he sought and achieved NWFA Certified Professional status to validate his work. He passed the NWFACP Install and Sand and Finish tests last week at an event in Portland, Ore. He is the first from the U.K. to receive the distinction.
Watson has been installing floors for 14 years. He founded Grand Parkett in Liverpool after he grew tired of installing the same straight plank floors over and over again, he said, and sought NWFA training to advance his skills,
The training programs put on by NWFA have been worth it, he said.
“They have cost me a small fortune over the years,” Watson said last week while he was attending Certified Installer and Sand and Finish training sessions in Portland, Ore. “But they have been worth every penny and time spent, there is no way I could do the floors I do if it wasn't for what I have learned at the NWFA.”
The certification training and testing event was held at the Cronin Company from June 22–26. Attendees had the opportunity to learn Concrete Preparation and achieve certification in Installation and Sand and Finish.
The event was led by NWFA Regional Instructor Kjell Nymark of Precision Hardwood Floor Services Inc. of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
The other instructors were Zeb Blau, Pallman USA; Mike Croes, Sika Corporation; John Esteve, Ardex; Josh Goin, Lignomat USA Ltd.; Doug Lindemann, Bostik Inc.; Jack Salasbury, Highpro Tools; Jason Spangler, Wagner Meters; and Rob Zehnder, Basic Coatings.
The students were Ovidiu Ragalie, Treadline Construction; Watson; Eric Brungardt, Pacific Floor Covering; Joshua Crossman, PTL Hardwoods; Dan Schenfield, Sam Wright, Nick Maggi, Nic Hawken, Cody Rogers, Tony Porterfield, and Samantha Johnson, Cronin Company; Rodney Norton and Richard Thornton, New Dimension Hardwood; and Shaun Marsh, Floors Unlimited Inc.
Premium Partners were 3M, Advantech, Bona US, Bostik, MAPEI, Somerset Wood Products, and Weyerhaeuser.
Participating Partners were Ardex, Basic Coatings, Buchanan Hardwood, Chickasaw Brand Hardwood, Cronin Company, Highpro Tools, Lignomat, Pallman, Precision Hardwood, Shamrock Plank Flooring, Sika, and Wagner Meters.
