Coverings | CANADA’S FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE | January/February 2021

Coverings CANADA’S FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE

COVID-ERA WORKSITES

January/February 2021

THEN-AND-NOW

Split-level reimagined

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Navigating installation’s new safety challenge

PM 40063056

TISE PUTS VALUE INTO VIRTUAL SPACE PANDEMIC BRINGS EMPLOYERS NEW RESPONSIBILITIES CFCRA LOOKS BACK — AND AHEAD

Flow and go! with MAPEI’s Novoplan HFL ®

Novoplan HFL is MAPEI’s smoothest, high-flow, self-leveling underlayment available.

Designed for use on interior concrete and engineer-approved floors, Novoplan HFL allows contractors to pour the floor and leave; there is little to no need for finishing tools with this high-flow underlayment. Other properties include: • Can withstand moisture vapor up to 3.63 kg per 92.9 m2 (8 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.)

• VOC-free; passes both Rule #1168 of California’s SCAQMD and Section 01350 of California’s CDPH • Suitable for use under carpet, resilient, wood, and ceramic flooring • Suitable for use in interior, heavy commercial applications • Fast flow rate and smooth finish save time on installation Find out for yourself. To go with the flow, visit www.mapei.ca.

THE NEW

www.mapei.ca Product Calculators • Products & solutions • Video library • Architectural solutions • New app

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Coverings CANADA’S FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE

Coverings CANADA’S FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE

COVID-ERA WORKSITES

January/February 2021

THEN-AND-NOW

Feature Navigating the bubble

Safety protocols must now include pandemic measures.

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Commentary

Change is afoot as Coverings welcomes new publisher.

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News

Split-level reimagined

Page 28

Navigating installation’s new safety challenge

TISE PUTS VALUE INTO VIRTUAL SPACE

PM 40063056

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PANDEMIC BRINGS EMPLOYERS NEW RESPONSIBILITIES CFCRA LOOKS BACK — AND AHEAD

January/February 2021 Vol. 46, No. 1 www.coveringscanada.ca Kerry Knudsen Editor and Publisher kknudsen@wimediainc.ca 647-274-0507

Insights on Canadian apprenticeship; Husqvarna acquires Blastrac; TTMAC announces 2020 award winners; new skills programs launch in B.C.; Armstrong Flooring joins NFCA; report on pandemic’s affect on the construction industry.

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Law

Employers now have serious monitoring and tracking responsibilities, thanks to the virus.

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Canadian Flooring, Cleaning and Restoration Association

Mike Edwards Contributing Editor medwards@wimediainc.ca

Looking back with a bit of melancholy but forward with enthusiasm.

Lee Ann Knudsen Art Director lak@wimediainc.ca

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Shows

TISE serves its industry with both virtual and live platforms.

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Products

nsGraphic Design Graphics nspence@wimediainc.ca

Cover photo: Adrien Williams.

Ocean floor-inspired porcelain tile; cordless track saw; antimicrobial protection; WPC in long planks; waterproof engineered hardwood; vinyl deck membrane; luxury sheet vinyl; lattice-textured carpet collection; cut pile carpet; retail lead management software.

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Then-and-Now

A split-level burned, inspiring a totally different take on its 1950s theme.

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Copyright 2021 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40063056 ISSN 0834-3357 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Coverings 2001 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 500 Toronto, Ontario M2J 4Z8

Events

Coverings is published six times annually, Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr., May/June, July/Aug., Sept./Oct. and Nov./Dec., for Canada’s floorcovering industry. Subscriptions are free to qualified participants in Canada’s floorcovering industry.

Subscribe at www.coveringscanada.ca. Readers from outside Canada may purchase subscriptions for $55 Cdn. For subscription inquiries, e-mail circulation@mediaedge.ca Published by MediaEdge Communications, 2001 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M2J 4Z8 © 2021 by MediaEdge Communications. All rights reserved.

MediaEdge Communications and Coverings disclaim any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect to the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. The opinions of the columnists and writers are their own and are in no way influenced by or representative of the opinions of Coverings or MediaEdge Communications.

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COMMENTARY Coverings welcomes new publisher

Change is afoot

A NEW YEAR COMMONLY signifies a new beginning, and with the start of 2021 comes exciting changes for Coverings.

The team at MediaEdge Communications is delighted to take over as publisher of the long-established magazine and its digital properties to complement our 14 industry-leading titles, which includes Construction Business, Design Quarterly and Facility Management & Design.

First launched in 1972, Coverings is an iconic brand that has grown under various titles to become an invaluable resource for Canada’s floor covering retailers, installers, specifiers and suppliers. Kerry Knudson has acted as editor and publisher since 2007. Under his leadership, Coverings has provided a steady supply of engaging and meaningful editorial to a qualified circulation list of nearly 8,000. Those who design, sell and install floor covering products have come to count on the quality and authenticity of its content, published in six issues per year.

As Coverings enters the next stage of its evolution with MediaEdge, we’d like to thank Kerry and his team with the transition and helping put this issue together. We are committed to maintaining and enhancing the magazine’s original vision while realizing its potential for growth and innovation.

For more than 35 years, MediaEdge has launched, managed and produced market-leading, well-recognized print and digital publishing products within a variety of industry-specific sectors for the B2B industry, as well as in partnership with more than 70 Canadian associations. Our diversified media portfolio includes conferences and trade shows, with MediaEdge acting as event producers, and an award-winning website, the Real Estate Management Industry Network. The REMI Network has been consistently recognized for delivering excellence in news and information for a wide cross-section of the real estate and building industries.

We hope that Coverings will continue to be an essential part of your professional life — a reliable source of information on industry issues, trends, products, regulations and standards that you depend on to keep up with the rapidly evolving floor covering industry.

—Dan Gnocato, co-publisher

MEET THE MEDIAEDGE TEAM EDITOR

Clare Tattersall claret@mediaedge.ca PRESIDENT

Kevin Brown kevinb@mediaedge.ca

CO-PUBLISHER

Dan Gnocato dang@mediaedge.ca SENIOR DESIGNER

Annette Carlucci annettec@mediaedge.ca PRODUCTION MANAGER

Rachel Selbie rachels@mediaedge.ca EDITOR

Clare Tattersall

CIRCULATION circulation@mediaedge.ca

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January/February 2021

CO-PUBLISHER

Dan Gnocato

SENIOR DESIGNER

Annette Carlucci

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Rachel Selbie

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Worksite safety amid Covid-19: Distancing and beyond

NAVIGATING THE BUBBLE

By Erin Ruddy

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January/February 2021

RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION have always been central to the building industries. However, due to the increased restrictions and challenges associated with Covid-19, the additional processes and measures required to address worksite safety have hurled the sector into unprecedented territory.

Since March 2020, the pandemic has created a “new normal” for anyone involved in the building sectors—one that will, no doubt, continue long after the virus is eradicated in a post-vaccine world. According to policy experts, it is likely that fire safety, emergency preparedness, WHMIS training and hazard recognition, among other required learning, will all need to make room for infection control in the mandatory health and safety framework.

In the meantime, we spoke with Jordan Swail, project engineer with RJC Engineers about the critical steps building teams, contractors and building management should be implementing to mitigate the spread of infection during all types of repairs, installations and renovations.

With years of experience restoring existing large buildings, Swail is well aware of the challenges Covid-19 has added to an already complicated process. From restaurants and retail shops, dental offices and hair salons, dry cleaners and hotels, commercial buildings are a revolving door to customers of all types. Ensuring they—as well as contractors, workers and building staff—remain safe has always been the priority. But nothing compares to what’s happening in this new Covid normal. Physical distancing measures are essential, now more than ever.

“For properties undergoing intensive work, construction of temporary work enclosures can allow contractor staff to maintain physical distancing from others,” says Swail. “Modular hoarding products or sealed poly tarps can be installed quickly to provide safe and sealed airtight enclosures.”

Swail adds that designated access paths to and from the worksite further reduce touch-points and keep interactions with occupants at a minimum.

The optics of a physical barrier also provide peace of mind to those entering and leaving the building, while reducing the potential for encounters and access requests.

“Addressing the use and access of workers through shared spaces or common areas is an important part of reducing the risk of infection,” Swail says.

“By requesting workers to limit elevator use to specific blocks of time, placing them on service, and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting after, the likelihood of building occupants and workers encountering one another is significantly reduced.”

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On top of this, he adds, it’s safe to say that by this point in the pandemic, everyone is accustomed to seeing (and using) hand sanitizing stations, lining up outside when maximum allowable occupants have been reached, and wearing masks or other personal protective equipment (PPE) — all best practices that will further reduce transmission.

“Elevators, storefronts and public corridors are highrisk areas where people may not follow physical distancing guidelines,” warns Swail. “Blocking off specific times of use for workers can help reduce the risk of infection.”

Workplace screening and monitoring can also go a long way toward mitigating risks of infection on the job.

Some individuals may have the virus but show little or no signs of illness (asymptomatic carriers), so it is important that employers and health officials know when they’ve worked and who they’ve been in contact with if they test positive for Covid-19. At the same time, it is equally important to keep track of any outside parties that enter the project site (for example, contractors, vendors, owners and building occupants).

EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE While staggered schedules and access measures will deter crowds and enforce physical distancing, one cannot forget about the importance of communication. For employers, this means staying on top of pandemic guidelines and restrictions as they evolve, and passing this information along to employees at every opportunity. It also means posting Covid-19 policies for all to see, so everyone on the team is on the same page when it comes to sanitation practices, illness reporting protocols, physical distancing measures, and scheduling strategies.

Ongoing communication is equally valuable in keeping building occupants safe around working teams.

For example, alerting tenants and building staff to all future construction work, whether large-scale or small, will help them prepare for the upcoming inconveniences and steer clear of the project area when it comes time to get to work. Moreover, posting Covid-19 safety guidelines and reminders near the work will help re-enforce best practices for anyone within the area.

ESTABLISHING SPECIFIC BLOCKS OF TIME FOR NOISY WORK Like pre-pandemic days, noisy work has a higher potential for causing conflict and disrupting services within the building. Setting a proactive noisy work schedule — for example, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening — will allow them to book meetings and plan accordingly, ensuring some degree of peace is maintained.

Here again, it is also important to communicate that schedule to building staff and tenants well in advance to avoid last minute confusion.

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“Limiting noisy work to pre-scheduled times, or phasing it across different portions of the building, can go a long way to reduce complaints,” he says. “The world has changed and so has how, when and where people work. Providing ample notice and communicating all known disruptions helps maintain a productive, safe worksite while keeping conflicts at bay.”

UPDATING CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS Most pre-existing construction contracts don’t address the current Covid-19 crisis, which has resulted in contractors relying on Ministry of Labour guidance and government regulations. To protect building occupants and owners, and to allow a higher standard of care, Swail advises that specific Covid-19 measures be worked into contracts if they haven’t been already.

“With Covid-19 impacts anticipated well into 2021, we highly recommend adapting new contracts to address additional scheduling, access and PPE requirements,” he says. “The ideal time to implement these changes is before the contract is signed.”

Even the best-laid plans are vulnerable to the pandemic. As such, it’s important that potential delays, added costs and emergency scenarios are acknowledged and addressed by all parties before any work begins.

PREPARING FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ The pandemic has turned an intense spotlight on workplace safety, particularly when it comes to recognizing and mitigating the risks for individuals who continue to work during a global health crisis. And while attentions may be focused on maintaining workforce safety today, it’s important for employers and all project stakeholders to learn from current challenges and plan ahead.

“Business continuity plans are not static documents,” says Janet Mannella, vice-president with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. “More than a few contractors learned this the hard way when they dusted off their plans at the start of the pandemic, but now the industry is acutely aware that business continuity planning needs to be a living, breathing exercise if they hope to be prepared for future, large-scale disruptions like this.”

With vaccines on the way, there is hope that the building industry may soon return to some semblance of normal. Nevertheless, the events of 2020 have emphasized the need for heightened health and safety practices, consistent communication and future plans informed by current pandemic lessons.

Erin Ruddy is executive editor at MediaEdge Communications.

NEWS

SASKATCHEWAN CONSTRUCTION CODES ACT ADDS ACCESSIBILITY The Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Don McMorris has introduced legislation to repeal and replace The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act (UBAS) with The Construction Codes Act (CCA). “The new CCA will support a better quality of life for Saskatchewan people by allowing our government to develop regulations specific to construction standards and building accessibility for persons with disabilities,” McMorris said in a statement.

The new act allows for independent judgments of construction codes where there are disagreements in interpretation, which supports Saskatchewan’s 20 Actions for 2020 to reduce government red tape for business. The CCA provides Saskatchewan the opportunity to fulfill its commitments under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement by harmonizing construction codes and Don McMorris allowing for the timely adoption of new editions of construction codes. The CCA also modernizes permitting and inspection programs for large industrial investments.

DISTRIKT BREAKS GROUND ON OAKVILLE RESIDENCES Distrikt and Fiera Real Estate of Toronto have broken ground on the Trailside and Trailside 2.0 developments in Oakville, Ont., beginning construction on a new master-planned community in the town. The community offers a range of offerings in two mid-rise condo buildings plus several blocks of two-storey townhomes, designed

by Toronto-based Kirkor Architect + Planners. The projects are more than 80 per cent pre-sold. Between both buildings, Distrikt Trailside offers a total of 700 residences and townhomes.

All units come with standard 9 to 10 ft. ceilings, and each building offers over 15,000 sq. ft. of indoor and

outdoor amenity space. Residents will have a fitness studio and private terraces equipped for outdoor cooking. On the ground floor, spaces for cafés, galleries and work-live studios will be integrated.

CLARIANT APPOINTS CONRAD KEIJZER AS CEO Specialty chemical company Clariant of Muttenz, Switzerland, has announced Conrad Keijzer has become its new CEO. Keijzer has a long and successful track record in the chemical industry, the company says, most notably his 24 years with leading global paints and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel. At AkzoNobel, he last held the position of CEO of the Conrad Keijzer performance coatings division and was a member of the executive committee.

Most recently, Keijzer was CEO at Imerys, the French supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions.

LATICRETE U ROLLS OUT FLOORING TUTORIALS Laticrete University, the online training branch of Bethany, Conn.-based Laticrete, has announced a series of tutorials and a webinar. Tutorial topics include Cold Weather Tile Installations, Grout Colours and Sound Control Ratings. The webinar topic is Design and Installation Considerations for Tile Applications in Swimming Pools. The programs are accessible at https://bit.ly/3qUx0vl.

NEW DUTY RATES SET FOR CHINESE FLOORING EXPORTERS The U.S. Department of Commerce has completed its review of 2017 Chinese countervailing duty rates for multilayered wood flooring. Offending companies are Baroque Timber, 14.09 per cent; Jiangsu Guyu, 122.92 per cent; and all other non-examined companies, 20.75 per cent, which will apply to most Chinese producers. The new rates will go into effect shortly and retroactively cover shipments during the 2017 review period. More than 150 Chinese companies are covered by the higher countervailing duty rate.

STUDY TACKLES APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING IN CANADA A new study, Factors associated with the completion of apprenticeship training in Canada, uses data from the Canadian government Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform to

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examine which factors are associated with the certification rates of registered apprentices in Canada, including the role played by employment conditions during their onthe-job training. While the data used in the current study were collected prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the results remain important as they highlight the many challenges faced by apprentices during their training.

Less than one-fifth of people who embark upon an apprenticeship program in Canada complete their training within the designated time period. Apprentices in higher paying apprenticeship positions are more likely to complete their program within a given period of time than those in lower paying positions, according to the study.

Over the last two decades, the number of new registrations in apprenticeship programs have outpaced certificates granted, suggesting that many apprentices did not complete their program. This has sparked the need to study certification rates of apprentices to better understand the factors associated with successful program completion and certification in the trades. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring the renewal of the skilled labour force in Canada, the study concludes. Download the study at https://bit.ly/3gP6K0w.

WFCA LAUNCHES MEMBER IMPACT CAMPAIGN The Dalton, Ga.-based World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) has launched a new campaign designed to highlight the importance of member support in its ability to continue to have a positive impact on the lives of floor covering professionals. The campaign theme, Because of You, positions the WFCA as vital to the industry and its members and reinforces the core

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message that support through its associate partners (manufacturers, suppliers and distributors) makes its mission come to life.

“The WFCA is not just about what we have for our members but what we do for them,” Freida Staten, WFCA vice-president, marketing and membership, said in a statement. “The goal of the campaign is to help our associate members understand that membership is a critical part of supporting the infrastructure of our industry, from advocacy to training and education, and what we accomplish would not be possible without their supFreida Staten port.” The WFCA is the official sponsor of the annual Surfaces trade show in Las Vegas, and is said to be the floor covering industry’s largest advocacy organization, representing floor covering retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America.

MANNINGTON ANNOUNCES JOHN B. CAMPBELL AWARD RECIPIENTS Salem, N.J.-based Mannington Mills has announced 14 associates from across its family of companies have been named recipients of the John B. Campbell Award. Recipients are selected from nominations submitted by Mannington associates, making this one of the highest honours someone can receive for their service. The award recognizes associates who exemplify the qualities that past CEO John B. Campbell valued and continue to be the guiding principles of the company today, including “Care” and “Do the Right Thing.”

At each site, one salaried associate and John B. Campbell one hourly associate are recognized. This year’s recipients are: Salem, N.J. — Joel Thomas, quality assurance manager and Howard Ridgway, electro mechanical technician; Calhoun, Ga. — Crystal Ellis, planner and Angel Tucker, yarn/tufting scheduler; Madison, Ga. — Darrell Boswell, letoff utility operator and Ron Cobb, shift manager; High Point, N.C. — Scott Williams, quality manager and Jeff DeHart, distribution centre material handler; Eustis, Fla. — Burke Industries’ Paul Knight, supervisor and Brandon Williams, operator; Dalton, Ga. — Phenix Flooring’s Amy Bradford, human resources manager and Janet Goley, shipping clerk; McAdenville, N.C. — Pharr Fibers and Yarns’ Jack Lainhart, production planner and Mario Perez, twisting technician.

NEWS

HAMILTON RESIDENTIAL HIGHRISE MARKET LOOKING UP A survey of residential construction in downtown Hamilton published last month reveals a very healthy market for highrises 20-storeys and up in the sector, according to Daily Construction News. Research by commercial real estate investment firm Forge and Foster determined there are six projects of that height currently under construction in and near the downtown, and 10 more either approved, in permitting or in pre-construction. The firm notes that with uncertainty over the future of the office and retail sectors, and immigration to the Greater Toronto Area down, amid other factors, the demand for high-density residences in downtown Toronto is trending to cool down, but not in Hamilton.

REPORT LOOKS AT PANDEMIC EFFECT ON CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY During September/October 2020, Procore of Carpinteria, Calif., conducted a survey to gain insights from general contractors, governments, subcontractors, owners and others in the Canadian construction industry. The company has offices in Vancouver and Toronto. There were 340 participants that gave responses to questions about how they have been affected by the pandemic so far, and how they’ve dealt with it. The report also gave insights into the changes they’ve implemented and are considering for how they build across Canada. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the results of the survey is that nearly half of respondents (44 per cent) were able to remain as productive as they had been before Covid-19 hit, the report says, while only 26 per cent saw their productivity drop during the months of the pandemic. This occurred in the face of a general drop in construction activity across the industry early in the pandemic. But what is truly interesting, according to Procore, is that 27 per cent were actually much or slightly more

productive, perhaps as a result of productivity-boosting measures put in place to deal with pressing needs brought on by the pandemic. The construction industry, in general, has not seen a significant dip in productivity over the course of the health crisis, the report concludes. The full report can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/37jXiz9.

TTMAC ANNOUNCES 2020 PROJECT OF THE YEAR The Terrazzo Tile Manufacturers Association of Canada (TTMAC) based in Concord, Ont., has announced its 2020 awards, including Project of the Year. The project winner is the Centura Quebec showroom, submitted in the Technical Product Application category that included architect Coarchitecture, general contractor Drolet Construction, owner Centura, trade contractor Les Ceramiques Lindo and supplier Rex Ceramiche Artistiche. The Award of Merit went to Duron Ontario in the Terrazzo category for the Toronto Union Station revitalization. All of the award winners can be viewed at www.ttmac.com.

SAIT TO LAUNCH HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOMES COURSE The continuing education department at SAIT in Calgary has announced its High Performance Residential Design and Construction program that introduces residential design and construction principles, methods and technologies for building high-performance homes. Participants are said to develop leading industry knowledge of building science principles, metrics for verifying performance and prevailing rating and verification systems, as well as gain hands-on experience in detailing methods and best practices for constructing high-performance homes. The program launches in February 2021, and is suitable for professionals in the residential construction industry, including architects, designers, engineers, site managers and trades. It was developed to build upon existing

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knowledge of home design and construction to meet current provincial and national building code energy requirements. To register, visit https://coned.sait.ca.

HUSQVARNA TO ACQUIRE SURFACE PREP FIRM BLASTRAC Husqvarna Group’s construction division has signed an agreement to acquire Blastrac, a provider of surface preparation technologies for the global construction and remediation industry. Blastrac’s product portfolio includes high-quality and efficient solutions for shot blasting, scarifying, scraping, grinding and polishing, and dust collection. Blastrac has 380 employees globally with manufacturing and sales offices in North America, Europe and Asia, and sales in more than 80 countries, Henric Andersson including its Canadian subsidiary Blastrac Diamatic in Mississauga, Ont. “The acquisition of Blastrac strengthens and complements our organic growth ambitions, as we are further expanding into complementary surface preparation solutions,” said Henric Andersson, president and CEO of Stockholm, Sweden-based Husqvarna Group.

B.C. SKILLS GRANT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE The Government of British Columbia has announced the Community Workforce Response Grant program (CWRG) that provides up to $10 million a year in funding for communities and sectors to support in-demand skills training leading to secure and sustainable employment for unemployed and precariously employed (part-time, seasonal or casual) residents. A key goal of the grant is to provide flexible and timely responses to emerging and urgent labour and skills needs in B.C.’s communities and sectors, the province says. It notes that the CWRG program is not intended to meet the same needs as the B.C. Employer Training Grant program (ETG). Please carefully review the objective and criteria of the CWRG program before applying, it adds. If you are an employer looking to train new or current employees, the ETG program may be the right program for you.

In addition, the Vancouver Island Construction Association‘s (VICA) Construct Your Future (CYF) program provides an opportunity for 17 to 29-year-olds to learn about the many career paths in construction, as well as the roles, responsibilities and safety requirements. The free program offers individuals to learn in a virtual classroom, on real job sites, independently and as a team. After eight weeks of training, VICA will help students find long-term, lucrative employment with a local construction company. Earn up to $1,400 per month during training in over

ENTRIES FOR COVERINGS 2021 AWARDS NOW ACCEPTED Tile and stone trade event Coverings 2021, taking place July 7-9, has announced its new deadline to submit projects for the 2021 Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards or to nominate a young emerging leader to the 2021 Coverings Rock Star program. The CID Awards recognize and award projects featuring tile and stone that are said to feature beautiful design and impeccable installation. As in the past, multiple entries are accepted and there is no cost to enter. Winners in each category will receive industry recognition and accolades, features in various media outlets and a complimentary one-night stay to attend Coverings 2021. Entries must be received by March 26 at https://bit.ly/2K4Mo7C. Young industry talent with a bright future in the tile and stone industry can be nominated as a Coverings Rock Star. They must be 35 years or younger and currently working in the industry. Selected Rock Stars will receive industry accolades, a complimentary one-night stay to attend Coverings 2021, and unique professional development opportunities. Nominations must be received by March 26 at https:// bit.ly/37lurKR.

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100 trades, VICA says, while it supplies boots, work pants and PPE, as well as financial supports to offset expenses such as the cost of food, Internet and transportation.

NFCA WELCOMES ARMSTRONG FLOORING AS NEW MEMBER The National Floor Covering Association (NFCA) of Canada based in Surrey, B.C., welcomes Armstrong Flooring as a new member supporting quality assurance and best practices in Canada’s floor covering industry. The NFCA promotes industry standards for resilient, carpet, hardwood, laminate, cork and bamboo floor covering installations.

FLOORING PRICE HIKES Several flooring companies plan to raise prices on select hardwood, resilient and soft surface flooring products. Mohawk of Calhoun, Ga., has announced plans to raise prices five to eight per cent, with a $0.05 US minimum increase per square foot on resilient plank products and a $0.15 US minimum increase per square yard on resilient sheet. In addition, Mohawk plans to increase freight rates on broadloom and carpet tile by a minimum of $0.03 US per square yard, while hard surface freight drop charges will increase by a minimum of $5 US. Mohawk attributes the increases to raw material and labour inflation, as well as higher international ocean and domestic land freight costs. The increases will be effective with orders and shipments on or after Jan. 11.

AHF Products of Mountville, Penn., has increased prices on hardwood products in the U.S. and Canada, effective Jan. 1.

The increase averages three to five per cent on the company’s Cambodia-produced engineered hardwood and five to seven per cent across domestically produced solid hardwood. It will impact products across its brands, including Bruce, Robbins, LM Flooring, Hartco and Capella.

Republic Floor of Commerce, Calif., is also raising prices on resilient goods, with expected increases ranging from five to nine per cent across its product offering. The company stated that raw materials have increased nearly 25 per cent, particularly vinyl and plastics, and that the cost of containers have increased transportation costs by more than 200 per cent. It further explained that the exchange rate between U.S. and Chinese currencies have increased costs another six per cent.

FEI GROUP MAKES CHANGES AT THE TOP Marietta, Ga.-based FEI Group has announced management changes within the organization. The board of directors named Andy Hogan its new CEO, with Graham Howerton assuming the role of president. Hogan, a co-founder of FEI, is said to be a trusted and well-respected member of the floor covering industry and has been with the organization since its Andy Hogan inception. Howerton has served the organization in varying capacities throughout his 16-year tenure, most recently as executive vice-president.

Both are intimately involved in the day-to-day operations at FEI Group, the company says.

CFI INTRODUCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS The International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI) of Forney, Tex., has named Dave Garden, president, Installation Services, chair of the board of directors, and Don Styka, director of field services, Tarkett, vice-chair. Outgoing board chair, Jay Zurn, Metroflor, will remain on the board as a director. He is joined by other board members, includDave Garden ing: Tony Buckhardt, Carpet Cushions & Supplies; Joe Cea, Congoleum; Alan Ellis, Alan’s Carpet & Floors; Bob Gillespie, Bob’s Carpet Installation Services; Andrew Smith, Mohawk Industries; John McHale, CFI; Roland Thompson, Thompson Installation & Consultant Services; Robert Varden, CFI; Rod Von Busch, CDI Floors; and Mike Welch, Tools 4 Flooring/E.J. Welch. CFI also announced the Don Styka newly elected co-vice-chairs of the certification team, Efran Llamas and Jonathan Varden, as well as the appointment of four committee chairs serving a three-year term: Efran Llamas (resilient committee); Jonathan Varden (carpet committee); Roy Lewis (ceramic committee); and Jeremy Key (wood committee).

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NTCA HONOURS SCHLUTER’S MARY YOCUM The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) of Flowood, Miss., has named Mary Yocum, architectural manager at Schluter Systems, the recipient of the Joe A. Tarver Service to the Industry Award for 2020. Yocum, who was honoured for her active participation and support of leading trade associations such as the NTCA and the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association — where she was a two-time president — is only the second Mary Yocum woman to receive the award. According to Bart Bettiga, NTCA executive director, “As both a distribution and manufacturing representative, she has worked closely with the tile contracting community and has helped communicate the need for hiring qualified and trained installers to the design, building, specification and architectural community.”

CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT NAFCD The Chicago, Ill.-based North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) recently announced a new slate of officers and directors for 2021, including Shane Richmond as the new NAFCD president. During his tenure at Fishman Flooring Solutions — a 100 per cent employee-owned company that recently celebrated 100 years as a Baltimore, Md.-based business — Richmond held positions of increasing responsibility, eventually taking on the role of Shane Richmond vice-president.

Other officers serving a one-year term include: Kyle Gorny of Blakely Products, president-elect; A.J. Warne of Abraham

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Linc, vice-president; Robert Marra of Abraham Linc, treasurer; and Dunn Rasbury of A&M Supply, immediate past president.

Distributor directors serving a three-year term include: Brian Green of Haines and Derek Brooks of Torlys. D.J. Lee of Professional Flooring Supply will serve a one-year term as distributor director at large, while Michael Eckhart of Next Floor will serve a three-year term as supplier director. Directors completing their terms this year include Steve McKenna of McKenna Distribution and Mark Johnson of Traxx Corp.

KÜBERIT USA JOINS FUSE ALLIANCE Küberit USA of Florence, Ala., a trim and moulding supplier, has joined the Parker, Colo.-based Fuse Alliance as a preferred supplier. Küberit’s broad line of trim, edge, transition, expansion, ramping, stair-nosing and wall protection profiles will be available to Fuse members through the new partnership. The company said it welcomes the opportunity to work with Fuse’s 120 commercial flooring contractor member owners in over 215 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

APPALACHIAN LUMBER JOINS WOOD FLOORING PROGRAM Appalachian Lumber Co. of Wilkesboro, N.C., is the latest company to earn NWFA/ NOFMA mill certification from the St. Louis, Mo.-based National Wood Flooring Association (integrating the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association). NWFA/NOFMA certification assures a manufacturer’s wood flooring meets or exceeds industry standards for grade, configuration, moisture content and average William Church board length. Certified mills must meet rigorous production standards and are inspected a minimum

www.cove

NEWS

of two times per year to ensure consistent grade standards are maintained. According to William Church, president of family-owned Appalachian Lumber, “The decision to join the NWFA/ NOFMA certified mill program is another tool to assure our customers that our products will meet or exceed their expectations.”

erate the company’s growth through deepened partnerships, exceptional client service and full scope project and rollout management.

AHF EXPANDS ENGINEERED WOOD FLOOR FACILITY Mountville, Penn.-based AHF Products announced plans to invest $2.5 million US and create 20 full-time jobs at its Somerset, Ky., facility early in 2021. Work on the expansion already has begun and is scheduled to be completed in February. AHF says it opted to expand its Somerset facilities in large part because of the highly skilled workforce and the company’s strong commitment to U.S. manufacturing and American craftsmanship.

AHF employs over 2,000 people across its seven manufacturing locations — six in the U.S. and one in Cambodia. The Somerset location has produced engineered hardwood flooring since opening in 1990.

Marmomac, an annual tile and stone trade show held in Verona, Italy, has renewed its sponsorship for the Oberlin, Ohiobased NatElena Amadini (left) of trade show site Veronafiere ural Stone Institute’s and Jim Hieb, Natural Stone Institute CEO. Grande Pinnacle Award for the next four years. Marmomac has sponsored the award since its inception in 2008. The Grande Pinnacle Award is presented to the best overall project entered in the Pinnacle Awards. The winner will receive a trip to Marmomac scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 2, including round trip economy airfare, four nights lodging and registration. One architect from the winning project will also receive this award. The Pinnacle Awards honour projects whose beauty, creativity and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone in residential and commercial applications. Last year’s Grande Pinnacle award recipient was honoured at TISE in January 2020, in Las Vegas, and at Marmomac ReStart, the first entirely virtual edition of Marmomac, which took place in September. Learn more about the Pinnacle Awards at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/awards.

MISTUDIOS EXPANDS NATIONAL SALES TEAM Commercial flooring company mistudios of New York City has hired Mark Grund as business development manager, strategic accounts. Grund comes to the company with over 35 years of strategic account management experience in interior finishes. Prior to joining mistudios, he led marketing, sales and project management teams with a focus on building both Mark Grund global and U.S.-based accounts, including a portfolio of Fortune 100 companies.

His decades of experience and knowledge in the carpet and flooring industry are said to uniquely position Grund to accel-

MARMOMAC RENEWS SUPPORT OF NSI GRANDE PINNACLE AWARD

eringscanada.ca Canada’s floorcovering magazine

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reduction of waste to help save you valuable time and money.

wProduct Selectors Choose from various conditions to see a list of suitable products that are ideal for a job's

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wCoverage Calculators Nearly every product has a convenient coverage calculator taking the guesswork out of knowing how much material is needed for any given job.

wProduct Quick Reference PROMA provides quick access to important product information and documentation, including warranties, videos, and technical and safety data.

heart of everything we do, from product development to customer service, and everything in between. When you

Contact PROMA at 1.866.51.PROMA (77662) or visit www.proma.ca for additional information.

The Ultimate Mobile Assistant.

LAW Employers face new, critical pandemic responsibilities

Protect your business THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has had an immense impact on individuals and business throughout the world. Not only have our daily lives changed, so have the ways in which we operate our businesses. The recent surge in the number of cases is concerning and has given rise to employer obligations and responsibilities.

On Sept. 25, 2020, the Ontario government introduced amendments O. Reg 364/20 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to Covid-19) Act, 2020. The amendments are in response to the rising number of cases. Under the amendments, businesses are required to comply with any advice, recommendations and Kiran Gill instructions issued by the Ministry of Health in relation to Covid-19 screening. This includes the use of a new screening tool for all employees and essential visitors. The screening tool is to be completed by all workers or essential visitors entering a business or work environment. This encompasses all staff, including students, contractors or volunteers that conduct business. “Essential visitors” includes all individuals providing a service in the establishment who are not employees or patrons of the establishment, for example, delivery, maintenance and contract workers. Patrons or customers are not required to complete the screening tool, although it would be prudent to have them do so where possible.

The screening tool asks the following questions: a) Do you have any new or worsening symptoms or signs of Covid-19? b) Have you travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days? c) Have you had close contact with a confirmed or probable case of Covid-19?

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These questions are the minimum required. Employers are encouraged to supplement with additional questions where necessary. Anyone who fails to pass the screening should be advised that they cannot enter the workplace or business and that they should self-isolate and contact their health provider.

The screening tool must be completed before or when a worker or visitor enters the workplace.

The amendments do not stipulate how long an employer or business operator must retain the Covid-19 screening records.

It is prudent to be mindful of privacy concerns and keep records confidential.

It is also important to note that a new bill was introduced in the provincial legislature that would provide workers, businesses and non-profit organizations with some limits on liability against Covid-19 exposure related lawsuits. Under the bill, if an “honest effort” was made to follow public health guidelines, liability would be limited. The new law would not protect those businesses or organizations who willfully endangered others or engaged in gross negligence.

It is important to employers and businesses to ensure that protocols and systems are established to ensure that screening is conducted adequately. A Covid-19 outbreak is detrimental to any business or organization from a health and safety perspective but also from an economic standpoint.

Kiran Gill is an estate and trust planner and litigator at Brampton, Ont.,-based Lawrences law firm.

CFCRA Looking back is just a touch melancholy

Ring in the new

IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD YET, our beloved publisher and editor has decided to go write his book in the mountains of Pennsylvania. I will miss Kerry Knudsen as he signs his e-mails (he was ahead of his time long ago!).

Kerry allowed me to write for the publication as a columnist and I had the opportunity to talk to him confidentially. I have always been impressed with his old newspaper reporter approach to writing and maintaining the integrity of the magazine. He has been true to himself for a long time.

Kerry, I want to wish you the best. My dad was a big city newspaper editor and he too retired to write a Lee Senter, book after the Kent Commission was CFCRA President in full motion investigating why his beloved Winnipeg Tribune was closed at the same time as the Ottawa Journal.

This new year also brings about a rejuvenation of the CFCRA. In 2020, we did not even send out renewals because of Covid. However, we did find some new, different revenue streams and will continue to work on other ways of producing revenue. Our allegiance with MediaEdge (the new publisher of Coverings) in trying to spread the good word of GBAC and GBAC Star seems to be taking root. CFCRA members are also busy forging alliances with flooring retailers by offering infection control, touch-point cleanings for stores and free spot removals for their clients. We need to work at keeping our doors open and our patrons safe.

The CFCRA also needs to offer content and this is what we have in store: • The continuation of the Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) program in Canada • The certification of Canadian instructors for these same CFI certifications • IICRC classes at a buy one, get one free deal for members • Free WHMIS training for our members • Free moisture testing classes for concrete and wood via the ASTM f2170 protocols

• Heavy discounts on moisture meters • Forging alliances with other industry associations • Measuring and Estimating classes • CRM training • Support of the GTTI with curriculum on installing floors • A golf tournament • A boat cruise But more important than anything else is to have our association work toward the establishment and advertising of industry standards to flooring retailers and installers so that they are kept up-to-date on what is happening and hopefully have them understand what the current installation standards of the day are.

This benefits everyone in the country.

Tying this all together, Kerry had a deep desire to see the industry unite and when it comes to industry associations, we unify and have a voice that is strong enough that the government and the media would come to us for guidance and advice.

I promise to do the best I can to have this happen. The CFCRA has decided as an association that we must forge alliances with NFCA and TTMAC and create one unified voice. Hopefully they feel the same way.

As for upcoming events being held by the CFCRA: Jan. 21-22: IICRC Commercial Carpet Maintenance certification class (2 days) Jan. 28: WHMIS free for members with WHMIS card granted at the end of class (3 hours) We have a lot more material to offer. Let’s see how our schedules shape up in the next few months.

Last but not least, I hope everyone takes the time to review the new ANSI IICRC S230 Standard for the Inspection of Hard Surface Flooring. It is a great document and has been reviewed and commented on by the other materially interested industry partners. We found a consensus on some sticking points and it is a standard that all the main flooring associations acknowledge and refer to.

The Canadian Flooring Cleaning and Restoration Association (CFCRA) was preceded by the Flooring Institute of Ontario (FIO), a not-for-profit organization which proudly served the needs of flooring industry professionals in Ontario since 1962. www.cfcra.ca

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SHOWS Offering floor covering pros the best of both worlds

TISE: Virtual plus live IT’S TIME TO PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS. Whatever stresses to your business Covid-19 has missed, the government is finding and it has become commonplace to see people wearing masks, alone in their cars. Entire sectors are idled, not by direct regulation but by entire employee pools paid-off to not work. Raw materials are either in gross abundance or absent without leave. The landscape is, in a word, bizarre.

Making, saving and investing money is difficult under any circumstances. In this mid-Covid environment, it is like clearing a minefield with a table knife.

You can make progress but you need to be careful.

Let’s be honest. The general attitude toward virtual trade shows has been skeptical to cynical. People

don’t want to step in where angels fear to tread. However, communication is the one human trait that is absolute in any attempt to move forward. In an industry — any industry — there are three: the media, the association and the trade show. Without at least one of these vital modes of communication, there is no industry — just a bunch of individuals across the country, each doing the same thing independently, making the same mistakes at the same time and reinventing the wheel. Two of three is better, and three is best.

What is the reality in a virtual show, you ask? Well, you need to go to basics. Clearly, you can’t walk the aisles, run into friends, kick tires and hammer deals in the same manner.

TISE CONVERGE EDUCATION SESSIONS January 26

January 27

11 a.m. CST Building Top Notch Teams | Panel Discussion Panelists: Don Roberts, Lauren Volt, Adam Nonn

11 a.m. CST Just 1% - Strategies for Mark-up and Profit Margins Speaker: Tom Shay

12 p.m. CST From Quarry to Installation | Panel Discussion 1 p.m. CST Refresh? Remodel? Reduce? Sprucing Up the Showroom | Panel Discussion 2 p.m. CST Intricate Cuts | Mixed Medium and Wild Patterns Speaker: Jon Namba

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January/February 2021

12 p.m. CST Starting a Stone Restoration Service in Your Shop 1 p.m. CST Off the Rack Apps for Out of this World Visuals 2 p.m. CST The Dirty Little Secret of SPC Speaker: Jon Namba

However, properly done, you have fewer inputs. For example, there are no travel expenses, and no per diem.

You save a bit of shoe leather and back strain. Cost savings are, of course, the blood of business. It does not matter how much money you make; what matters is what money you keep.

On the upside, there are more exhibitors. Everyone is waiting for you to take notice and, at the same time, anxious that you don’t click them off when you do. Virtual interaction is hard on suppliers.

The exhibitors, too, have less capital investment, and may be amenable to changing some of those savings into an attractive package for attendees, but you have to ask.

Nobody wants to show his cards to a competitor.

On your end, you certainly have to invest your time and attention, and that puts some of us off. Time is a scarce commodity.

However, you have already saved time and money on the trip, you have open lines of communication with your association, media and trade show, and everybody is weary of fear and ready to deal.

Think about it. Sign up.

The International Surfaces Event (TISE), typically held each year in January, is postponed in 2021, to June 16-18. A virtual event will be held Jan. 16-28. Registering for the virtual event will get you admission to both.

The world of virtual trade shows is evolving. Whatever it was a year ago has little bearing on what’s available now. It bears a look.

Register at www.intlsurfaceevent.com/virtual/register.html

January 28 11 A.M. CST New Revenue Streams for the Floor Covering Retailer Speaker: Lisbeth Calandrino 12 p.m. CST The New Installation Tools and Technology 1 p.m. CST Flex - Haven - Space | The New Ways We Inhabit Our Homes Speaker: Mark Woodman 2 p.m. CST Managing the Customer Experience Speaker: Tom Jennings

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

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PRODUCTS

RESIDENTIAL LUXURY SHEET VINYL DESIGNS Tarkett has announced 28 new design additions to its FiberFloor residential luxury vinyl sheet (LVS) flooring. The designs are available across its Fresh Start, Easy Living and Lifetime collections and include encaustics, woods, and marble and stone looks. LVS flooring is certified asthma and aller-

rials that incorporate Microban antimicrobial product protection. The antimicrobial technology is integrated at the stage of manufacture to provide protection from the growth of microbes, including bacteria, mould and mildew. The built-in technology will remain present and active

for the expected lifetime of a product, working at a cellular level to continually disrupt the growth and reproduction of any contaminating microorganisms.

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gy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, meaning it exceeds all air quality standards set for schools and hospitals. The entry-level Fresh Start collection is comprised of styles that are suitable for lower traffic areas and come with a 10year limited warranty. The Easy Living collection includes extra wear, tear and impact resistance and comes with a 15-year limited liability warranty. The Lifetime collection is suitable for both residential and light commercial installations. It offers a lifetime residential limited warranty and 10-year commercial limited warranty.

Lincoln Stone, a new marble in the Exclusive Collection, has been introduced at Antolini. The marble is described as a delicate, elegant and timeless natural stone, distinguished by a sophisticated yet striking surface that appears as a precious work of art. The new stone joins the almost 80 other materials in the collection.

https://residential.tarkett.com

www.antonlini.com

ANTIMICROBIAL PROTECTION FOR TILE AND STONE Laticrete offers a wide array of tile and stone installation mate-

CERAMIC TILES INSPIRED BY PEARLS Inspired by the most precious pearls in the world, the Akoya ceramic tile collection from Stone Tile is said to capture their beauty and richness. The effect is

January/February 2021

MARBLE STONE ADDED TO BROAD COLLECTION

also multiplied by similarities to alabaster and onyx, the company says, expanding the perception of space and filling any environment with light. Sizes include 30 x 60, 60 x 120 cm and polished-only 90 x 180 cm, with matching mosaic and decor pieces available. Finishes can be either natural or polished and the tiles are suitable for interior floor and wall installations.

https://stone-tile.com COLLECTION ENCOMPASSES PORCELAIN, CERAMICS AND MOSAICS American Olean has launched its new Mythique Marble collection. The porcelain floor, ceramic wall and mosaic tile collection offers four marble designs. The products feature Microban technology to provide antimicrobial product

protection. Altissimo is a more traditional marble look with refined movement in the veining and is based on classic Carerra marble. Calacatta Venecia is a take on the classic look of Italian Calacatta white marble with grey undertones yet features gold veining that brings warm tones into

PRODUCTS

the space. Bottichino is a linear marble design that brings the warmth of a modern beige colour to marble visuals.

Lastly, Majestic is said to be a bold, intriguing marble design with beautiful veining throughout each piece and includes touches of grey, beige and brown.

that can withstand extreme indentation up to 2,500 psi. As the company’s first SPC product featuring tongue and groove, the collection is said to allow for a faster installation period as no acclimation time is needed. The rigid core construction also reduces floor preparation

www.americanolean.com WATERPROOF VINYL DECK MEMBRANES

Duradek waterproof vinyl deck membranes offer the advantage of cooler surfaces for roof decks, sundecks and balconies. The Cool-Dek line consists of five colours and are up to 16 per cent cooler than the warmest colour (Legacy Barnwood) and 18 per cent cooler than concrete, the company says. The lighter base colours are said to offer reflective qualities and cleverly designed patterns add depth and style. In comparison, one study found that in direct sunlight, composite decks can reach temperatures from 1° to 24.4°C hotter than the surrounding air. On a 26.5°C day, that could mean a deck surface temperature of more than 65.5°C. The company’s cool deck surface claims are substantiated by a combination of internal heat testing and Atlas Material Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) testing. The SRI is used to determine the effect of the reflectance and emittance on the surface temperature.

www.duradek.com

CERAMIC TILE TREADS AND PAVERS Daltile has introduced its Quetread and Paver Quarry tile collection, said to be durable enough for interior and exterior use and suitable for commercial applications.

The 6 x 6 in. ceramic tiles are offered in a portfolio of four on-trend, neutral colours that are available in either a smooth paver surface or a linear textured tread surface.

The smooth and textured 6 x 6 in. tiles are available in beige, grey, a light charcoal and a muted red. The raised linear tread pattern adds both visual appeal to a space as well as prevents grease and water from building up underfoot in commercial and industrial settings, the company says. The collection is waterproof, stain-proof, dent-proof, scratch-resistant, slip-resistant, fire-resistant, durable and easy to clean, it adds. In addition, the product will not damage from commercial cleaning services.

www.daltile.com WATER-TIGHT TONGUE AND GROOVE SPC Commercial flooring specialist Patcraft has introduced its latest resilient collection, Local Reserve. Available in 7 x 48 in. planks and 18 colourways, the collection ranges from traditional wood grain to modern visuals and includes a wide variety of species such as oak, pine, maple, weathered and straight grain looks. The collection features a high density core

as well as telegraphing. The collection offers an excellent moisture barrier with a watertight seal protecting against top-down liquid. An ExoGuard+ finish provides enhanced scratch and stain resistance, the company says. The matte finish is polish and buff optional for hassle-free maintenance, it adds.

www.patcraft.com PORCELAIN TILE MIMICS MARBLE Les Origines de Rex from Florim is a 6 mm thick coloured body porcelain stoneware said to explore the harmonious beauty of white marble in four sophisticated varieties. Thin but notable vein patterns and new shapes are exalted by the nuances of old gold, ivory, pearl grey and graphite, embellishing its fine surfaces, the company says. The product provides resistance to staining, low concentrations of acids

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PRODUCTS

to clean and can stand up to the harshest industrial cleaning products, the company says, including bleach and alcohol-based solvents, without discolouration. The product is suitable for high-traffic spaces, like hotel lobbies, restaurants, waiting rooms, medical facilities or workplaces. Inherent scratch and stain resistance help them maintain a fresh and finished look for years.

https://tedlarwallcoverings.dupont.com

brushless EC-TEC motor and 5.2 Ah lithium-ion battery pack. Safe handling is said to be thanks to a cutting depth adjustment with plunge cut function, remote control of the suspended cover, guide wedge and angle adjustment from zero to 50 degrees.

www.festoolcanada.com HIGH-GLOSS HEXAGONS HIGHLIGHT WALLS

CORDLESS TRACK SAW SUITABLE FOR JOB SITES

and alkali, and to domestic chemicals and additives for swimming pools, as well as provides glaze crazing resistance.

www.florim.com WALLCOVERINGS PROVIDE CUSTOM COLOUR AND EMBOSSING

DuPont has introduced its Tedlar Wallcoverings Colour Theory Collection.

The “Chromatic I” series allows designers to combine six new embossing patterns with a spectrum of 70 colour choices.

Warm hues, cool tones or any shade in-between, the stain resistance, ease of cleaning and broad chemical compatibility of the series is said to ensure style that will endure. Designers can utilize the sample tool on the collection’s website to visualize every combination of embossing and colour choices in over 400 customizable options. The wallcoverings are easy

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January/February 2021

Track saw HKC 55 Li EBI-Plus from Festool is designed to make exact and repeated cuts quickly and accurately without taking materials to a miter saw or sacrificing accuracy with a standard circular saw.

Suitable for use on the job site and coupled with FSK Guide Rails with integrated angle stops, HK saws are said to bring a higher degree of efficiency, repeatability, accuracy and quality of cut unlike any circular saw before. Also compatible with all existing FS Guide Rails, maximum cutting performance is up to 2.16 in. and durability is provided due to the combination of

The Ege Seramik wall tile collection, Fabia, comes with on-trend geometric shapes and rich colours, the company says. The 10 x 11 in. pressed hexagon porcelain tiles have a high-gloss finish and are offered in white, taupe, grey and black, each being highlighted with a smooth, flowing texture.

www.egeseramik.com INTERACTIVE HARDWOOD FLOORING PRODUCT CATALOGUE Pallmann has announced its new hardwood flooring interactive product catalogue. It features a mobile-friendly flip style interface that allows readers to easily access product videos, data sheets or recorded webinars. Professionals can access the catalogue content via their smartphone, laptop or tabletop on a job site at any time. The

PRODUCTS

digital tool is designed to complement the daily field support provided by the company’s local territory managers.

https://us. pallmann.net LONG PLANK LAMINATE FLOORING

unobtrusively, the company says, the floor gives a neutral background to furnishings and decorations of any genre.

The surface virtually never wears out, it adds. The core of the floor is said to be a 40 per cent denser SPC floor than what is made elsewhere.

lustres, this medium-scale pattern is available in 18 shades of neutral, red or deep black. The product is made from 100

www.republicfloor.com WATERPROOF ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING Shaw Floors has introduced the floorté brand Exquisite engineered hardwood floor collection. The hardwoods are available in 22 colours and species that per cent Anso Bcf Nylon, is 12 ft. wide, has a face weight of 43.90 oz. and a Softbac platinum backing.

Andersontuftex.com The Exposition Max water-resistant series premium laminate flooring from Opus Floors Canada has been introduced. The 9-3⁄8 in. wide x 7 ft. 3 in. long planks are designed, engineered and manufactured to the company’s environmentally friendly specifications. The new colours are said to provide a more realistic wood and modern look. The water, kid and pet-resistant laminate has registered embossing, an anti-scratch wear layer, 5G Click System and is CARB II Compliant and phthalate-free.

www.opusfloors.ca

WPC COLLECTIONS DAMPENS SOUND TO 30 PER CENT The Mannington AduraMax portfolio is a WPC floor with an attached pad that dampens sounds up to 30 per cent and include oak, walnut, hickory and pine.

Nominal overall thickness is 5/16 in. and nominal width is 7.5 in. The product has a waterproof finish and gloss level of seven per cent, with a smooth surface texture and beveled edges and ends. Using a floating installation method, the hardwoods can be installed above, on or below grade.

SPC COLLECTION HAS WOOD LOOKS

www.shawfloors.com

The Pure SPC Max Blackwater Canyon line from Republic is said to have the quiet, classic look of wood floors. Blending in

LATTICE-TEXTURED CARPET COLLECTION The Yin Collection Artifact textured carpet from Anderson Tuftex finds its influence in traditional Chinese lattice, the company says, that informs its geometric design.

Featuring combinations of contrasting

a Hydroloc core that protects subfloors from moisture. The expanded polymer core floor portfolio is said to stand up to the most active households and offers the industry’s best wear, scratch and stain resistance. It can be installed over existing hard surface floors, including those with grout lines like ceramic tile, and features

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PRODUCTS

indoor floors, walls and countertops, as well as exterior floor applications. It is available in three large format sizes, 12 x 24, 24 x 24 and 24 x 48 in., plus the mesh-mounted mosaic. Waterproof, stain-proof, dent-proof, scratch-resistant and fire-resistant, the product contains zero VOCs, zero PVCs, zero formaldehyde and no allergens. www.marazzitile.com

ScratchResist, a scratch-resistant surface protector. The product is available in both planks and tiles, is FloorScore certified to meet stringent indoor air quality standards and qualifies for low VOCs.

www.mannington.com CUT PILE CARPET RESISTS STAINING DW Select carpet from Engineered Floors is made with PureColor technology, infused with colour, instead of dyed in it. The carpet is said to fade less, resist stains more and looks better longer than any other carpet. The

are random up to 74.8 in. with a 9/16 in. thickness.

www.provenzafloors.com OCEAN FLOOR-INSPIRED PORCELAIN TILE COLLECTION

Marazzi has launched Sabbia Marmo, a porcelain tile collection inspired by the oceanic sand floors. The soft curved, linear pattern flowing layers vary slightly in colour tone. The collection offers four matte colours: black, white, medium grey and dark grey. To

cut pile carpet is provided with a lifetime stain warranty and 25-year manufacturer defects warranty. The yarn is 100 per cent PureColor TwistX Solution Dyed Polyester BCF and has a 50 oz. weight. Installation pattern repeat, where one exists, is 24 in. wide x 19 in. long.

www.engineeredfloors.com LIGHT WIRE BRUSHED HARDWOODS The Lugano Collection of engineered hardwoods from Provenza Floors features a light wire brushed surface with a multi-layered stain in a variety of colours.

The European oak has a polyurethane finish, light to heavy character grade and can be installed with glue, staples or float.

Widths are 7.48 in., while lengths

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January/February 2021

finish off the collection, the company has added a 12 x 24 in. linear mosaic in all colours. The tiles incorporate the company’s StepWise Technology, which is said to provide 50 per cent more slip resistance than ordinary tile.

The collection is appropriate for both residential and commercial use as

COLLECTION OFFERS LONG WPC PLANKS

COREtec has introduced 82 in. long planks to its Grande WPC collection.

Each WPC plank is 100 per cent waterproof, kid-proof and pet-proof, the company says, with a new 30 mil

wear layer. The planks are said to look and feel like real hardwood — simulating engineered wood flooring in all its attributes — through thick WPC construction. From greys to browns to blonds, the new planks are said to add nuance and depth of style through clear and crisp visuals. An easy-to-install angle-tap system allows for floating installations measured in hours instead of days, the company says. After installation, the products are said to be warmer underfoot thanks to a cork underlay-

PRODUCTS

ment that is also naturally resistant to odour-causing mould and mildew. www.coretecfloors.com

WATERPROOF STRAND BAMBOO ELIMINATES REPEAT PATTERNS

SOFTWARE TRACKS RETAIL FLOORING LEADS

Retail Lead Management has introduced software it says is the easiest, most cost-effective way to track retail flooring leads, as well as turn leads into customers. Anyone can learn to use it in minutes, the company says, while enabling users to track and manage leads from a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Fields, columns, pipelines or stages can be reconfigured to suit individual store needs. Users experience close rates as high as 70 per cent and up to a 40 per cent increase in sales, it adds.

The software interface reveals which store and salesperson is responsible for each lead, with every lead assigned to a specific store, division and salesperson. Users can assign or reassign leads to the appropriate salesperson, the company says, so salespeople can assign themselves to leads that they bring in or assign leads on a rotating basis, as well as assign leads according to each team member’s strengths, geography or schedule. The software also tracks what has and hasn’t been done with each lead. https://retailleadmanagement.com/

MULTIPURPOSE SELF-LEVELLING COMPOUND SYSTEM

To address sound dampening, insulation and fire resistance requirements in residential housing, Schönox has engineered the Renotex 3D System to not only meet but exceed these demands. The versatile and custom-designed system combines Renotex 3D, a sound and insulation sheet, Schönox RS 50 foam tape and Schönox AP Rapid Plus. The combination is said to provide a fast and cost-effective subfloor renovation system that reduces labour expenses as well as excessive time and material waste. Once the system is in place, the installation is said to have a smooth, level and long-lasting surface ready for installation of a variety of floor coverings. Each Schönox synthetic compound is dust-reduced, offers low VOCs and contributes credits to LEED projects, the company says. www.hpsubfloors.com

HDPC waterproof strand bamboo from Wellmade Floors is said to be guaranteed to outperform traditional engineered hardwood and couple the performance virtues of rigid core flooring with the unique “character” of real strand bamboo. The technology seals out moisture and eliminates annoying “repeat” patterns, the company says. The product is available in the company’s branded programs or “private label” collections. Features include superior dent and scratch resistance, along with a hardness that is three times that of solid oak hardwood flooring, it adds.

The company’s Hardmax finish protects against spills and stains, allowing for damp mop cleaning. The product is suitable for all living areas, including those with higher risk of spills or increased humidity like kitchen, bath, basements and three-season rooms. Specifications include: a urethane/aluminum oxide finish; Uniclic locking system; lifetime residential and 10-year light commercial warranty; dimensions of the Traditional Plank are 7.7 mm x 5.13 in. x 36 in.; and dimensions of the Premium Plank are 8.3 mm x 7.48 in. x 72 in. Complementary mouldings and trim are available. www.wellmadefloors.com

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THEN-AND-NOW Split-level shines after challenging build

Rising from the ashes THE KING EDWARD RESIDENCE is located in the town of Côte Saint-Luc, Que., on the island of Montreal. The home is seated on King-Edward Street where “split-level” typology abounds, typical of 1950s houses when the street was developed.

It is one such residence that stood on this site before a fire ravaged it. Its owners, a young couple, had chosen it among several others because it met their programmatic needs and their preferred layout.

Mandated to replace it, Atelier Schwimmer, a Montreal-based design and architectural firm, proposed a new form rooted both in a reinterpretation of the split-level typology while reconsidering the house insertion to the lot.

Design principal Felix Schwimmer, along with Atelier Schwimmer associates Georgia Cardosi and Francesca Fiaschi, tackled the challenge of a property that was so destroyed, even the foundation was compromised. “Because the fire was in the basement, the structural engineer decided it was better to just start from scratch. In the 1950s, not every contractor prepared good concrete,” says Schwimmer.

The back split orientation has the ground floor as you enter the home for the grown-up spaces and the baseFront and rear views of Atelier Schwimmer’s 21st century split-level show box components. ment for the children, according to Schwimmer. “In the back we have the half level down, which goes to the family room for kids, and then we have a half level up, which is the family room for the adults.”

The concrete slab floors were handled by an expert who has developed a technique that creates “a really nice polish,” says Schwimmer. The process involves smoothing the surface twice when it is wet and three times when dry 28

January/February 2021

Keyhole view to the backyard: Atelier Schwimmer and the homeowners wanted to demarcate areas of the house into “adult” and “child.” Here, cherry floors provide the pathway from the grown-ups’ main floor to the kids’ zone downstairs.

to provide a matte finish. The concrete floors are also insulated and heated for consistent comfort across the two levels.

Upstairs living quarters are wall-to-wall cherry wood chosen be Atelier Schwimmer to provide a warm contrast to all of the concrete. The homeowners chose their own bathroom tiles.

The new house is made of rectangular boxes stacked in a way to create a large accommodating backyard, in opposition to the previous house — a cube in the middle of the lot that hindered the side courts and resulted in a small backyard. Viewed from above, those new boxes make a U-shape house shielding from the southern neighbour, a 10-storey “brutalist” style building.

The black metal cladded garage box is recessed from the front facade, creating a loggia entrance; it sits perpendicular to the

Above: Pouring the concrete slab. The original foundation was found too unstable for re-use after a devastating fire.

Below: Wooden stair treads (left) warm up the transition to the second level sleeping quarters, while heated concrete floors (right) raise the temperature during cold winter nights.

street. The day room box is thinner than the second floor, parallel to the street and open to the backyard. Above the night box overhangs the lower floor and holds the bedrooms. These principal boxes are cladded with ash berry velour brick, forming a “T” shape front facade. Finally, inside the vertical black steel cladded box, a den and a family room sit on split-levels.

Inside, steel cladded walls accentuate threshold spaces, which are the entrance and vertical connection in-between floors. As you enter the house, you’re greeted by views toward the backyard; a few steps in the house lets the day room appear, as if the warm orange steel wall protects access. This transition is repeated where the staircase climbs into a vertical void capped by a skylight. Both the structure

of the staircase and the wall are made of steel — these central elements endow the residence a grand space with its 30 feet interior wall and void.

Schwimmer noted that the owners had very bad luck with contractors during the 18-month construction project, including with the foundation, HVAC and exterior. “It was one thing on top of another,” he said. “They re-did the front brick three times, including once after an acid burned the surface of the brick.”

The topper was that six months after moving in, the couple divorced. “Everything was perfectly done in the end,” says Schwimmer. “Sometimes life is unlucky.”

The finished Then-and-Now project is featured on this issue’s cover.

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BULLETS Current business highlights

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Municipalities in Canada issued building permits worth $8.2 billion in October, down 14.6 per cent from the previous month but only down 3.3 per cent from the same period last year. September’s peak was the second highest value on record, with October’s results more in line with recent months.

—Statistics Canada T otal investment in building construction rose 1.1 per cent to $15.2 billion in October, over the same period in 2019. In addition, investment in residential construction edged up 0.7 per cent in October, a sixth consecutive monthly gain.

—Statistics Canada T he October Interior Design Billings Index moved up three index points to 55.4, and the inquiry index rose nearly five index points to 57.5 over September’s scores. (Any score above 50 represents expansion and below 50 represents contraction.) —ASID .S. ceramic tile consumption through Q3 2020 was 2.04 U billion sq. ft., an 11.6 per cent decline versus Q3 2019 yearto-date.

—Tile Council of North America T he Architectural Billings Index (ABI) score of U.S. architectural firms rose 0.5 from September to 47.5 in October, indicating that the share of firms seeing their billings decline shrank further. (An ABI score below 50 indicates a billings decline.) In addition, 60 per cent of firms have seen higher prices/more limited availability of construction materials in the last six to 12 months. —AIA research survey shows that 77 per cent of adults in the U.S. A think the climate is changing, with human activity solely or partly responsible. The research also found 42 per cent of adults in the U.S. believe we can avoid the worst effects of climate change but only by making radical changes to how we live our lives. The survey found 50 per cent of respondents said that other generations will be the first to experience real noticeable change to their day-to-day life because of climate change, while 24 per cent said the effects would be felt in their generation.

—Institution of Engineering and Technology In a report that highlights the most (and least) competitive real estate markets across Ontario outside the Greater Toronto Area, Guelph was found to be the most competitive with an average home price of $741,746 in October, up 17 per cent from the same month last year. —Zoocasa

January/February 2021

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By the end of September, gross merchandise sales of masks sold on online crafts marketplace Etsy amounted to more than $600 million US, contributing more than 10 per cent of total gross merchandise sales (GMS) in both the second and third quarter of 2020. Not counting mask sales, the GMS would still have doubled between April and September, when compared to the same period of 2019. —Etsy In 2019, new registrations in Canada’s apprenticeship programs were down by 2.9 per cent and certifications in the trades fell 3.9 per cent from 2018, as losses in Alberta offset gains in Ontario and Quebec. —Statistics Canada Imports of assembled flooring into Japan year-on-year in September were up eight per cent, and there was an 11 per cent increase over the value of August imports.

—Japan Ministry of Finance U.S. imports of hardwood flooring rose seven per cent in September, the fourth monthly gain. Yet the gains are still not enough to catch last year’s imports as the monthly total was still more than 20 per cent less than that of the previous September, and year-to-date totals remain down nearly 30 per cent. —Foreign Trade Statistics EU27 tropical flooring imports posted a slight recovery of two per cent in the first eight months of this year after a long and persistent period of decline. —Eurostat A new study, The Crude Tall Oil Value Chain: Global Availability and the Influence of Regional Energy Policies, forecasts an eight per cent deficit of crude tall oil (CTO) global availability for all applications by 2030. According to the study, this deficit is due to the high demand of CTO for transportation-related biofuels. —The Journal of Cleaner Production According to its Canada 2021 Salary Guide, 71 per cent of employers are optimistic about the future Canadian employment outlook, while 40 per cent of employers are intending to integrate remote work as part of their normal practices.

—Hays Nearly half of Canadian equipment manufacturing companies that responded to a survey indicated it will take one year or longer to get back to pre-pandemic business levels, and 50 per cent say they have used or intend to use the federal Covid-19 assistance program to help their businesses.

—Association of Equipment Manufacturers

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According to Emerging Trends in Real Estate Surveys: Real Estate Business Prospects 2021 versus 2020, real estate builders and developers in Canada rate 2021 prospects at 3.55 out of 5 compared to 3.31 in 2020. On the scale, one is considered abysmal and five is excellent. —PwC T he total number of new condominium apartment sales in the Greater Toronto Area increased 30 per cent year-over-year in Q3 to 6,370 units, reaching a record high for third-quarter activity. —Urbanation T he number of Canadian enterprises that exported goods rose for the fourth consecutive month — up 1.3 per cent from July, to 19,204 in August — but was 5.9 per cent below pre-pandemic levels in February. —Statistics Canada Q3 2020 sales for condo apartments in Toronto were up 10.5 per cent year-over-year, though new listings were up 84.6 per cent. The rental market, on the other hand, saw growth of 30.2 per cent over Q3 2019.

— Toronto Regional Real Estate Board

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T he trend in housing starts in Canada was 214,647 units in September 2020, up from 212,609 units in August 2020.

—Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation T he Canada Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index registered 55.5 in October, down slightly from 56 in September, indicative of another strong improvement in overall business conditions. —IHS Markit T he total of $1.4 billion US construction activity for September 2020 in the U.S. was 0.3 per cent above August 2020.

—U.S. Census Bureau

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T otal employment in Canada rose by 246,000 (1.4 per cent) in August, following an increase of 419,000 (2.4 per cent) in July and 953,000 (5.8 per cent) in June. —Statistics Canada T he 2020 Q1 Architectural, Engineering and Related Services Price Index for Canada indicates a quarter-overquarter change of 0.8 per cent and year-over-year change of 1.9 per cent. —Statistics Canada An analysis has projected that the total cost of the 2020 U.S. election will be just under $11 billion US. When adjusted for inflation, the 2020 election is set to be 50 per cent more expensive than in 2016. —The Center For Responsive Politics T he U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index is at 55.5 in October, a 20-month high. —IHS Markit In the 2020 Kitchen & Bath Market Outlook September Update, U.S. respondents were asked about their level of comfort within their homes during the pandemic. Although eight per cent were not at all comfortable to the point where they wanted to move, the predominant answer, cited by 71 per cent of homeowners, was that they were generally satisfied with where they were living. However, nearly one in four who planned to remain at home expressed a need to remodel — and soon — with changes designed to increase their level of comfort during the Covid-19 era and beyond. —NKBA T otal U.S. retail sales, including expenditures at restaurants and bars, rose by 1.9 per cent in September, reaching $549 billion US for the month. This marks the fifth consecutive month of increases, with total sales recovering to near pre-pandemic levels. For perspective, during the initial pandemic shutdown in March and April, retail sales had dropped by 20 per cent versus pre-Covid. —U.S. Census Bureau

EVENTS Jan. 26 – 28 TISE: The International Surface Event Online www.intlsurfaceevent.com

Apr. 28 – 30 NWFA Expo Baltimore www.nwfaexpo.org/NWFA2021/Public/ Enter.aspx

June 15 – 18 TISE: The International Surface Event Las Vegas www.intlsurfaceevent.com

Feb. 9 – 11 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show Online www.kbis.com

May 13 – 16 Interior Design Show Toronto www.interiordesignshow.com

July 7 – 9 Coverings Orlando www.coverings.com

Apr. 28 – 29 Architect@Work Canada Toronto www.architectatwork.ca

May 20 – 22 Domotex Hanover, Germany www.domotex.de/en/

Oct. 4 – 6 Neocon Chicago www.neocon.com

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