September-October 2019 Coverings

Coverings CANADA’S FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE

September/October 2019

Critical: Hop on board the

TRAINING TRAIN RECORDING SECRETLY IN THE WORKPLACE BUILDINGS SHOW PREVIEW PREVENT INSTALLATION ERRORS: COMMUNICATE

THEN-AND-NOW

Eastern Townships cottage is low tech, high style Page 30

Features 6 Training

Coverings CANADA’S FLOORCOVERING MAGAZINE

September/October 2019

Critical: Hop on board the

TRAINING TRAIN

4 Commentary

Where are the heroes? Leadership and discipline inspire new talent.

RECORDING SECRETLY IN THE WORKPLACE BUILDINGS SHOW PREVIEW PREVENT INSTALLATION ERRORS: COMMUNICATE

9 News

NFCA welcomes new Western Canada members; TTMAC offers online training; NWFA runs classes in Canada; ICA North America choses Canada first.

THEN-AND-NOW

Eastern Townships cottage is low tech, high style Page 30 Sep-Oct 2019 Coverings.indd 1

The training train never stops.

2019-08-14 7:20 PM

September/October 2019 Vol. 44, No. 5 www.coveringscanada.ca Kerry Knudsen Editor and Publisher

kknudsen@wimediainc.ca 647-274-0507

Steve King Associate Publisher sking@wimediainc.ca

416-802-1225

Mike Edwards Contributing Editor medwards@wimediainc.ca

Lee Ann Knudsen Art Director

lak@wimediainc.ca

nsGraphic Design Graphics nspence@wimediainc.ca

Omni Data Services Circulation circulation@wimediainc.ca www.omnidataservices.com Cover photo: James Brittain

ISSN 0848-8339 PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES 2012 AGREEMENT #41203050 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Coverings C/O 365 EVANS AVENUE, STE #L10 TORONTO, ON M8Z 1K2

14 Law

Secret recordings in the workplace a double-edged sword.

18 Design

Hand-me-down: Design solutions don’t come down from a shelf.

20 Installation

Communication: Setting expectations can help installation teams.

Associations 19 Canadian Flooring, Cleaning and Restoration Association Installers needed! State of the industry at a standstill.

22 National Floor Covering Association

The right thing: Promoting awareness, understanding and action.

Shows 23 The Buildings Show 2019

The construction world gathers in Toronto.

24 Products

Adhesion and repair; abstract pattern broadloom; order management software; pre-mixed grout; luxury vinyl planks and tiles; anti-fracture membrane.

28 Bullets 29 Events and Advertisers 30 Then-and-now 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 subscriptons for $55 Cdn. For subscription inquiries, e-mail subscriptions@wimediainc.ca or fax 1-866-698-9061 Published by W.I. Media Inc., Box 84 Cheltenham, Caledon, ON L7C 3L7 © 2019 by W.I. Media Inc. All rights reserved.

W. I. Media Inc. 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 W.I. Media Inc.

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

3

COMMENTARY Leadership and discipline inspire new talent

Where are the heroes?

I HAD A GREAT CALL last week from Gary Stark, an old-timer in the industry and a long-time design teacher in multiple schools.

Thanks, Gary, for the lovely compliments to Coverings and the team. As the conversation wandered, Stark said something really interesting. He said our design colleges have lost their courage and we have lost our heroes. He granted that there are still a few Canadian role models in the arts in the States, but we have walked away from our leadership role.

We hear a lot about heroes, mentors and role models in our professional-improvement seminars, but have we lost track of what that means?

It’s worth a thought.

Kerry Knudsen For example, is a mentor somebody that can get you a job — any job — by filling out the right forms and talking to the right person? If so, does that same definition make the mentor a hero? Not in my book. To me, a hero or a mentor or a role model should relate directly back to quality.

There is an old book laying around that delves deeply into quality and its meaning: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values, by Robert Persig. I think it’s a fantastic read, and I don’t even own a motorcycle.

They say when the teacher is ready, the student will appear. Assuming we have some heroes in the industry, some high-quality/high-value successes with a desire to pass on what they know, where should we look for the apprentices? I mean, is it really a fact that we have no heroes?

In this issue’s CFCRA column, Lee Senter takes a look at the vacant landscape of installer-applicants. Chris Maskell looks at training, as well, in his NFCA column, and Contributing Editor Mike Edwards cites them both in this issue’s training feature. It’s not as if people are not looking for applicants and workers. Edwards reports

4

September/October 2019 September/October 2019

one of his sources came by his skills in part by, “apprenticing to a pair of German master tile-installers.” When was the last time you heard of an applicant looking for a master? Cheque? Yup. Vacation? Yup. Flex hours? Yup. A hard drive to master a hard skill?

Not so much. The wisdom of the ages says that idle hands are Satan’s workshop. I wonder if the ancients waited for others to pay off their student loans.

I am fond of repeating a story of an applicant I had for a sales job here at W.I. Media. This young fellow assured me (by e-mail) that he was the be-all and end-all of sales, that he could rake in the orders with one hand tied behind his back. “The only condition,” he said, “is that I need a guarantee of $70k a year.”

“That is no problem,” I replied. Anybody that sells for W.I. Media should be able to make $70k easy. However, since you want a guarantee, it’s only fair that if I guarantee you $70k in salaries and bonuses, you should be able to guarantee me $500,000 in sales.”

Clearly, he did not see me as a hero. I never heard from him again.

Is there anything to be done? I think so, but it will take organization and action.

We have an opportunity. The pendulum of low-cost/low-quality dumping from Asia is starting to swing back. Too many people have been harmed too many ways, and the lowest-cost-wins formula has weakened. This provides a chance to affect change.

I think some of our kids’ heroes in the arts tell them the wrong stuff, and I think they should stop. Those of us working our way through society, business and the economy have had our expectations forged to comply with reality.

I think waiting for somebody else to meet our expectations before we go to work is the wrong thing. To get through my apprenticeship, I worked as a fence builder, a flooring installer, a shingler, a hide cutter in an abattoir, a welfare worker and who-knows-what-all. And I make more than $70k per year. But I didn’t start there and didn’t expect to. My mentors wouldn’t let me.

Comment at www.coveringscanada.ca

MAPEI’s Keraflex ™ polymer-enriched mortars with High-Transfer Technology™ provide outstanding transfer of mortar to tile backs – while retaining impressive non-sag/nonslump properties. The result is a high-bond adhesion strength perfect for large and heavy tiles.

Properties of this extra smooth mortar family include: • Ideal for edge-leveling clip applications • Water- and frost-resistant (Keraflex Super is highly resistant to freeze/thaw conditions) • Easy to trowel, requiring 70% less effort – which reduces application times Designed for interior/exterior use on floors and walls, over plywood and over a variety of membranes, this versatile mortar family has your tile back covered. For details on the Keraflex line, visit www.mapei.ca.

MAPEI Canada

TRAINING TRAIN NEVER Installers need constant education to do jobs right THE FIVE Ws HAVE NEVER SEEMED MORE URGENT when it comes to being trained on floor coverings.

Why do we train? Who gets training? When do we train?

Where do we train? What products should we train on?

There is so much to learn, but luckily there are still experts out there to teach you how to get the job done right, no matter what surfaces you’re applying.

Why we train is almost self-evident these days — flooring technologies are changing so quickly that old methods just don’t apply anymore. Lee Senter, president of the Canadian Flooring, Cleaning and Restoration Association (CFCRA) of Vaughn, Ont., has witnessed many changes to the mix of products available over the years.

“Flooring products change both in the materials that they are made from and in the manner in which they’re made,” says Senter. “As a result of that, you must stay up to date with the training to know how to properly install these products.”

Senter likens floors to cars, where a couple of generations ago a mechanical handyman could repair a car. “You can’t repair a car in the same way now with the same skills you had 40 years ago,” he says. “The problem that we have right now is that there has been so little modern-day training provided to installers.

“Some people are still installing wood and carpet

66

September/October 2019 September/October 2019

the same way that they did 30 or 40 years ago. Despite the fact that carpets aren’t made the same and the wood planks are not the same widths. You can’t do it, and those that do are doomed to failure.” Senter’s message is that at minimum you should be kept abreast of the latest changes.

Chris Maskell, c.e.o. of Surrey, B.C.-based National Floor Covering Association (NFCA), agrees. “Back in the day it used to be petroleum based, tar-based mastics and blackout adhesives,” says Maskell. “They would stick to anything forever and give you a moisture barrier at the same time. Now, it is all water-based adhesives and they do not present a moisture barrier. If you don’t know that through training, you are going to spread adhesive like you used to do back in the old days. The result is going to be a disaster.”

WHY THEY SHOULD TRAIN is equally important to both tile and stone installers and sellers, according to Dacia Woodworth, architect and design community liaison of the Natural Stone Institute based in Oberlin, Ohio. “Training is absolutely necessary because stone is so diverse,” she says. “The properties are different between different types of stone — even within the same types of stone. For instance, the classification of marble is probably as diverse as the number of insects or the way somebody makes a cake. There is so much to learn about stone properties in order to be successful in the way you

Alberico Bartoccini

STOPS implement them, use them or apply them.”

Woodworth adds that there is so much diversity in the size, the shape and the thickness of stone in flooring applications, and asks: “How is it installed? What is the underlayment?

In cladding applications, is it tile, interior, is it a wet area, a dry area, is it exterior? Is it anchored or thin and adhered? In order for them to be successful, it is really important that retailers and designers, and that everyone understands how to use natural stone.”

AS TO WHO GETS TRAINING, why not everybody? However, the type of training should vary by professional classification.

After all, the installer and the interior designer apply their skills in different ways. Moreover, satisfying the client is the goal of every project, notes Ryan Fasan, creative director at Bellavita Tile in Delta, B.C., and a distribution veteran with service specification and inside and outside sales experience. Fasan also came by some of his training through apprenticing to a pair of German master tile installers, so has fused knowledge from the field with his sales familiarity.

“What I have found is that there is a huge disconnect between either homeowners or design professionals, the materials selection and the installer. In a lot of cases, the concepts weren’t applicable in a real-world environment. I just knew that often times my actual cost was a lot higher than my forecasted budget

and/or I would have to make compromises on site.”

Maskell echoes Fasan’s concerns. “Another aspect to training is training the general contractor to what is actually necessary for flooring to go down,” says Maskell, “and not become a disaster at the eleventh hour as it so often is. Because there is no training around process — what is actually required on site to have the floor covering installation continue as scheduled.”

Senter observes that training leads to learning faster and more efficient ways of doing things. “You want to learn those new things and there often is an element of sales with a lot of these things. People like to buy from knowledgeable people.

When you are trained and knowing the ins and outs of a product, it makes it much easier to sell.”

So, within your own business it is very important to know your product, according to Senter. “To know both the selling points and the technical points — so much is sold in style and colour.” But after establishing that a product is esthetically pleasing, it’s important for people to understand what products will work with each other and what won’t. “For example,” explains Senter, “you can’t have a laminate floor in a moist basement. It will fail no matter what you try to do.

“It is the same idea with vinyl plank. If you walk into a house that has ceiling-to-floor windows all around the sunroom and you want to put vinyl plank floor in there, it is doomed to fail. You should be trained to know that that product might be able to receive some sunlight, but all day and it’s just going to fail. I think the in-house training is very, very important for sales staff to know which one of your products is applicable for the right scenario.”

WHEN AND WHERE TO TRAIN is key for flooring businesses that want their employees to service customers, so they become repeat clients. “John the salesperson, or the dispatcher or manager needs to go once a year,” says Maskell. “But the company that he works for needs to send someone else on a regular basis. The company is constantly training others, so the individual staff member isn’t bogged down, and it becomes a corporate

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

7

cultural thing. John comes back and he’s got something to say and once a week at a board or sales meeting he shares the information. That is a good way to disseminate stuff.”

CERTAINLY, ONLINE TRAINING offers the greatest flexibility for professional development, something the Natural Stone

Institute (NSI) delivers through NSI University, in addition to its face-to-face training at trade shows and road tours.

“Retailers don’t often train their staff as well as they could,” says Woodworth. “That is why it is great for them that we have the resources such as online training and CEU (continuing education unit) programs. They can go online and take our Stone 101 class as part of their

MORE KID-PROOF MOMENTS ARE MADE ON MOHAWK PRODUCT FEATURED: CREST HAVEN COLOR: BRIARWOOD OAK

onboarding for a new employee.

“We are a great resource for designers and contractors and retailers, as well as employees of retailers.” In Canada, TTMAC (Terrazzo Tile and Marble Association of Canada) has also started to provide online training.

Installers, however, do require more hands-on training, something that the online world can’t deliver. And organizations such as the NSI, NFCA, CFCRA and TTMAC, in addition to many of the flooring suppliers, provide training opportunities across Canada in different venues throughout the year.

Maskell said the NFCA is engaged in the ongoing process of providing “training for the architect, the general contractor, even the building owner project manager (PM), the city PMs or the health authority PMs on what to expect.

What they need to do right is critical. So, it’s not just training within our trade.”

According to Senter, a lot of the training today is performed by distributors teaching how to install their products specifically. “When they do this product specific training,” he says, “there is an assumption that the basics of how to do things is a skill that the guys have. It has been my experience that these installers do not even have the most basic of skills for installing floor covering.”

Senter bemoans that many don’t have a knowledge of installation techniques, such as flat level substrates moisture testing. He points out that the CFCRA offers CFI (certified flooring installer) substrate preparation classes, among others.

“I have never had anyone take this class that did not come away going, ‘Wow! How have I been doing what I have been doing without knowing this?’”

There are also many free classes being offered by the manufacturers of flooring products that can also be taken advantage of, Senter adds.

Wood Without Compromise.

RevWood Plus and RevWood Select offer maximum scratch protection with a waterproof flooring system.

Contact your local Mohawk sales representative today.

1-877-ASK-MOHAWK (275-6642) mohawkflooring.com

88

September/October 2019 September/October 2019

For more information on available training, go here or ask your supplier: www.cfcra.ca www.nfca.ca www.naturalstoneinstitute.org www.ttmac.com

NEWS NFCA welcomes new Saskatchewan, Alberta members The National Floor Covering Association of Canada (NFCA), based in Surrey, B.C.,

ary pressures. Net income in the second quarter of 2019 was $14.7 million US, as compared to a net income of $10.5 million US, in the prior year quarter.

Forbo reports slight sales decline The Flooring Systems division of Forbo Group in Baar, Switzerland, reported a sales decline of 2.3 percent for the first half of 2019. Both internal and external factors impacted the sales result. On the one hand, it reports, sales growth was hampered by various operational challenges; on the other hand, a slowdown in the construction industry curbed business in a number of countries.

Darren and Joanne Illingworth of Floors by Design in Regina, Sask., at the FAv Foundation Gala in support of Fanconi Anemia Research earlier this year. has recently welcomed Floors

by Design of Regina, Sask., as a new member supporting quality assurance and best practices in Saskatchewan’s floor covering industry. Varty Floors of Saskatoon, Sask., has also joined the NFCA as a new member with same mandate in that province. In addition, the association has announced its first Calgary and Edmonton, Alta., members, KBM and Cutting Edge, respectively.

Armstrong sales decrease sharply Armstrong Flooring of Lancaster, Pa., has reported financial results for the 2Q ended June 30, 2019.

During this period, net sales decreased 11.7 percent to $177.7 million from $201.2 million US in the 2Q 2018. The decrease was primarily due to lower volumes and mix, marginally offset by modest price realization in response to tariff-related inflation-

TTMAC offers online installation training

NWFA announces training in Canada The Chesterfield, Mo.-based National Wood Flooring Association has announced training programs at different locations in Canada. Delta, B.C., will play host to a 3-day Basic Installation introductory level course September 10-12, as well as three-day introductory Basic Sand and Finish course November 5-7. Brampton, Ont., will host a two-day Subfloor Preparation Series — Concrete Prep and Moisture Testing combined with Wood Subfloor Prep and Moisture Testing on October 10-11. Toronto, Ont., will host Intermediate Sand & Finish + CP Testing (prerequisite required), a 3-day course from October 22-24.

The NWFA has also announced that registration is open for the Wood Flooring Manufacturers’ Summit from October 2122 located in Nashville, Tenn.

Seneca College wins TTMAC Project of the Year The Concord, Ont.-based Terrazzo Tile & Marble Association of Canada has announced that Seneca College of

An online educational program introduced by the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) is designed for anyone interested in the technical aspects of tile installation and is based on the TTMAC Specification Guide 09 30 00 Tile Installation 2016-2017. The program is geared toward the Installer who is looking for TTMAC Certification, but the modules were designed so that anyone can gain valuable knowledge about any aspect of the installation process, the association says. For the specifier, contractor, installer and owner, the association says, there is information that will inform the individual, for a better understanding of a very complex subject that is often misunderstood or misinterpreted, which can lead to costly failures or wasted time. Go to www.ttmac.com to register.

Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto has won its 2019 Project of the Year competition prize. The decorative terrazzo installation was submitted by Chatham, Ont.-based Franklin Terrazzo and Domus Terrazzo Supply of Toronto. The project architect was Toronto-based Perkins & Will, with general contractor Ellis Don of London, Ont., designer/artist Joseph Sagaj of Spirit Art & Design in Toronto, trade contractor Franklin Terrazzo and supplier Domus Terrazzo Supply.

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

9

NEWS ICA North American subsidiary lands in Canada Civitanova Marche, Italy-based ICA, a supplier of coating solutions for applications such as wood flooring, continues its global expansion by establishing a North American subsidiary in West Lorne, Ont., through the takeover of its local distributor. ICA North America oversees the sales and distribution network in Canada, U.S. and Mexico until the U.S. office is operative. For ICA, this is the 6th office established in the past 10 years in its key markets: Spain, Germany, China, India, Poland and Canada. ICA has also a manufacturing facility in India.

Biyork appoints v.p. of sales for Canada Markham, Ont.-based Biyork has appointed Jon Kronemeyer as the company’s vice president of sales — Canada.

In this role, he will oversee sales and customer service operation in Canada.

Kronemeyer was most recently director of sales at flooring distributor Torlys, and has also held sales leadership roles at Centura and American Biltrite. Biyork is a China-based manufacturer of floor covering systems, with product lines

that include solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate flooring and resilient flooring, including LVT and SPC. Precast concrete certification program The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) of Ottawa encourages members to discover a “stringent” certification program for precast concrete. The Canadian Precast Concrete Quality Assurance (CPCQA) Certification Program is marketed as a value-added step to ensure as-designed becomes as-built, manage risk, and provide safety and quality assurance. As an independent certifying body, the program is intended to benefit architects, owners, contractors, precast concrete industry and the Canadian public.

CPCQA it is the only certification program in Canada with an official Quality Assurance Reporting Program and Quality Conflict Resolution Mechanism. An RAIC representative will sit on the CPCQA Quality Assurance Council.

Three students win RAIC Scholarships Ottawa, Ont.-based the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the RAIC Foundation have announced the

Inaugural NWFA award Finneas Luca, 11-year-old son of NWFA member Dinu Luca, owner of ADL Floors in Woodinville, Wash., has

three winners of the 2019 RAIC International Prize Scholarships. Each student has won a $5,000 scholarship for writing an essay describing the moment they decided to become an architect or knew their decision to become an architect was the right one. The Laure Nolte winners are: Laure Nolte, Dalhousie

Odudu Umoessien

Lucie Palombi

University; Lucie Palombi, University of Montreal; and, Odudu Umoessien, University of Manitoba. The RAIC International Prize Scholarships are

been named the first recipient of the NWFA Next Generation award from the St. Louis, Mo.-based National Wood Flooring Association. The award was created to recognize the growing impact young people are having on the wood flooring industry. Finneas is the youngest person to successfully complete all of the NWFA University courses in the Installation learning path and the Sand & Finish learning path. To accomplish this, he took 72 required courses, and passed each of the assessments, scoring 80 percent or higher for each. The award was presented to recognize Finneas’ accomplishment, and to encourage him and others to remain engaged with life-long learning. To learn more about the NWFA Finneas Luca (centre) accepts NWFA Next Generation Award from NWFA University, visit nwfa.org/nwfa-university.aspx president and c.e.o. Michael Martin (left) and chairman Chris Zizza.

10

September/October 2019

presented in conjunction with the $100,000 RAIC International Prize that will be announced at the RAIC International Prize Gala on October 25 in Toronto, Ont. The scholarship winners will receive their awards at the same event.

Road trip on processing technology

A group of 50 stone industry professionals from various countries were invited to Italy from May 5-10 for a Marmo+Mac 2019 show preview, a familiarization road trip focused on stone/marble processing technology. The trade show will take place September 25-28 in Verona, Italy. The Machines Italia delegates recruited from Canada were Granite Lacroix of Laval, Que., Matrix Marble and Stone of Duncan, B.C.,

Lumber Liquidators sales increase The net sales of Toano, Va. -based Lumber Liquidators for the second quarter of 2019 increased $5.1 million US, or 1.8 percent, to $289 million US as compared to the 2Q 2018. This increase was driven by new stores (open less than 13 months), the company says. Net sales in comparable stores were flat as compared to the 2Q 2018, as growth of installation services was offset by a slight decline in merchandise sales. The company is one of North America’s specialty retailers of hard-surface flooring.

Road trip on processing technology Eurostone Granite & Quartz of SaintLeonard, Que., and Stonix of Laval. The road trip included visits to quarries and processing plants across Italy, as well as business-to-business meeting sessions with technology providers. The purpose of this trip was to allow international marble and stone industry professionals to learn about the latest technology and innovations while seeing them at work.

The initiative was spearheaded by Confindustria Marmomacchine and Vero-

na Fiere, organizers of the Marmo+Mac trade show, which expects over 1,600 exhibitors and 68,000 visitors in 80,000 square meters of exhibition space.

Calgary office becomes apartments An old, unused office building in downtown Calgary, Alta., has been repurposed into the Cube residential rental project, according to Real Estate Exchange News.

Calgary-based Strategic Group redeveloped the seven-storey building, at a cost of $25 million, to contain 65 oneand two-bedroom apartments in the west end of Calgary’s city centre. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the company’s successful launch of the conversion could open the door to a “flood” of similar projects. In August, about 60 per cent of the apartment units are spoken for in the 51,733-square-foot building.

AHF boosts Cambodian manufacturing Mountville, Pa.-based AHF Products has completed the expansion of its Cambodian engineered wood flooring manufacturing capabilities to offset the impact of

CANADA NIGHT See you in Vegas!

Tuesday, January 28 at TISE For sponsorship info contact Stephen King, sking@wimediainc.ca Canada’s floorcovering magazine

11

NEWS

tariffs and duties on imports from China.

This expansion includes sliced and sawn face visuals. How tariffs and duties impact multilayered wood flooring (any flooring that has two or more plies of wood with a core) should be on high on every flooring retailer’s radar, according to AHF c.e.o. and president Brian Carson. The company notes that retailers can help protect their business — and margins — by getting up to speed on current tariffs and duties and carefully reviewing their product portfolio for wood flooring products likely to be impacted. For example, according to AHF general legal counsel Jennifer Zimmerman, the recently

12

September/October 2019

announced U.S. Antidumping Duty increased from zero to 42.57 percent. Since the rate for the past two years has been zero, this duty may be off most retailers’ radar. AHF Products estimates 55-65 percent of the U.S. engineered wood flooring market imported from China may be significantly impacted by this new duty rate.

Cannabis shop design goes to Toronto firm A Toronto, Ont.-based firm has created the design for a medical cannabis retail store in Tampa, Fla. According to Tyler Gilchrist, research and strategy consultant and former vice president of design research and strategy at Figure3 of Toronto, legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada has also opened a niche market for interior designers – one that is helping to change the conversation around the plant’s use. Prior to

Figure3 beginning work on Surterra, one of the first such retail stores in Tampa, Gilchrist conducted consumer research for the project, whose findings gave the firm ideas for designing a retail space that connected with consumers, especially females in Florida, and eventually received positive reports from clients, politicians and landlords.

Business increased among retail stores, Gilchrist reports, and state politicians became comfortable with the sale of medical cannabis and landlords felt less anxious leasing the space.

The Largest North American Floorcovering, Stone & Tile Event

REGISTER

TISE for

EXHIBITS 28-30 January 2020 EDUCATION 27-30 January 2020 Mandalay Bay Convention Center I Las Vegas

intlsurfaceevent.com/coverings

LAW Proactive workplace policies make sense

Secret recordings The proliferation of mobile devices and related technologies has made it easier and more common for people to surreptitiously record private conversations. Even in the workplace, recording conversations is on the rise; people are frequently slipping their smartphones into their pocket and turning on their recording apps before the start of an important meeting. As such, it is worth reviewing the legal and practical implications of recording private conversations for employees and employers who decide to “wear a wire.”

Contrary to popular belief, recording a conversation that you are a part of, be it in person or over the Joe Figliomeni phone, is not a crime. This is so even if the other party to the conversation

has no knowledge that they are being recorded. So, secretly recording a conversation with your colleague to document your concerns with their inappropriate language in the workplace is not a criminal offence in Canada.

However, section 184 of the Criminal Code of Canada makes it illegal to record conversations in which you are not actually a participant. Placing a recording device in the lunchroom to eavesdrop on your coworkers would, therefore, be a criminal offence and could lead to harsh penalties, including imprisonment for up to five years in the most serious of cases.

When the relationship between employer and employee deteriorates and devolves into litigation such as a wrongful dismissal lawsuit or a human rights application, each side must exchange any relevant records (including electronic records) in their possession. In these circumstances, audio recordings of oral conversations can become crucial pieces of evidence. For instance, an employee who alleges that he or she was forced to

Up to 50%Faster on blind nailing the last rows of flooring Speed, Comfort and Precision with Primatech Tools.

Spend less time on your knees, create a neater job-site, reduce installation time and minimize future call backs. the EDGE is designed to nail up to 2’’to the wall with maximum holding power and efficiency. Combined with Edge nails this system is designed for most 1/2 to 3/4’’ solid and engineered boards with a hard core. the EDGE is the perfect tool for hallways, closets, end walls, railings, radius, cabinets, stair casings, jambs and trim, custom floors fixtures, appliances and much more.

USA / CAN 1(800) 363-1962 sales@primatech.ca

www.primatech.ca 14

September/October 2019

PNEUMATIC, 18GA the EDGE nailer

900A

Leading the Industry in R&D and Field Testing

quit because he or she was subjected to ongoing verbal abuse or harassment will have a much easier time proving their case if they have recordings that support their claims of mistreatment.

Likewise, an employer that terminated an employee for poor performance may be able to rely on a recording of the termination meeting in defence to the employee’s allegation that they were terminated for reasons prohibited by Human Rights legislation (i.e. age, citizenship, race, disability, family status, sexual orientation, etc.)

Notwithstanding the fact that secretly recorded audio may be legal, and that it may have great evidentiary value, recording workplace conversations can erode the trust that is necessary in any employment relationship. In most instances, covert recordings will infringe on privacy and confidentiality interests and, when discovered, create a hostile work environment which stifles the free flow exchange of ideas and communications. For these reasons, a Court or Tribunal may not look favourably upon employers or employees who decide to record their workplace conversations.

The 2017 case of Hart v. Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited is a perfect example of why employees should exercise great cau-

tion before secretly recording their conversations with management and co-workers. The Plaintiff, employee Mark Hart, was dismissed for cause following a series of four staff complaints related to his yelling at colleagues and bullying behaviour. After the third complaint, Mr. Hart began to secretly record his meetings with management by placing his company issued cell phone on table tops while in record mode. His intention was to use the recordings to undermine the company’s position that his conduct was worthy of reprimand. At no point did Mr. Hart inform others that he was recording conversations. The Judge found that Mr. Hart’s conduct in surreptitiously recording meetings between him and his managers violated his confidentiality and privacy obligations and strengthened the company’s decision to terminate Mr. Hart for cause.

Employers concerned about the implications of audio recordings in the workplace should address the issue proactively.

In particular, employers can include a clause in an employment contract or introduce a policy which prohibits employees from secretly recording any workplace conversations.

Joe Figliomeni is a commercial litigation lawyer at Lawrences Lawyers, Brampton, Ont.

The Lightweight Champion!

Don't fight your next Large Heavy Tile installation.

Put MULTIMAX™ Lite in your corner.

Maximum Non-sag n Contains No silica sand n

Exceeds ANSI A118.15 n 40 minute open time n

www.laticrete.com | 1.800.243.4788 A-8829-0819 ©2019 LATICRETE International, Inc. All trademarks shown are the intellectual properties of their respective owners.

HYDROMATIC CURE CHEMISTRY

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

15

USE FOR VERY NARROW JOINTS

USE FOR WIDE JOINTS

SAG-FREE PROPERTIES, SUPER SMOOTH CONSISTENCY

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN WET AND SUBMERGED AREAS

Grout provides the accent to every tile installation; ‘a touch of color’ that can create subtle or dramatic contrasts that help shape the mood of a room. When trying to achieve a desired look, choosing the right grout color to accompany a tile can be just as important as the tile itself. This is why PROMA has formulated a wide selection of the most fashionable grout colors available to help make your choice an easy one. Contact PROMA toll-free at 1-866-51-PROMA (77662) or visit www.proma.ca to order a Grout Color Card or Kit.

2-in-1 Performance, Maximum Results.

PRO GROUT™

PRO GROUT MAX is an advanced-technology grout formulated with special aggregate to produce 2-in-1 performance for grouting very narrow and wide joints (1/16" [1.5 mm] to 1" [25 mm]). w For grouting most types of ceramic and porcelain tiles, quarry tiles, pavers, natural and engineered dimension stones, granite, slate, glass tile and mosaics w Efflorescence-free w Provides unmatched color consistency w Rapid-curing for fast-track and time-sensitive projects w Extremely easy to apply and clean w Superior early and initial compressive strengths w For interior and exterior institutional, commercial and residential floor and wall tile grouting, even in the most extreme climates w Will not promote mold, mildew or bacteria growth w No VOC w Exceeds ANSI A118.6 and/or ANSI A118.7 requirements w Contributes to LEED® objectives and requirements

RANT

E

UA

RANT

E

20

G

E

YEARS

E

UA

15

G

YEARS

RAPID CURE

When mixed with PRO GROUT PLUS™ MAX

DESIGN Design solutions don’t come from a shelf

Hand-me-down “She’s long, she’s tall, she’s six feet from the ground, She’s tailor made, lord she ain’t no hand-me-down” … from Jimmie Rodgers Blue Yodel No. 4

We usually now use the term hand-me-down when we are referring to something that has been used and is now being recycled, like children’s clothing. What we mean is that it’s being handed-down, from one size of child to another, smaller one. It’s a good system, although it’s got a bit of an edge to it, an implication that rich people wouldn’t need to do this, and if you are, you obviously aren’t part of the 1 percent.

But hand-me-down had, at another time, quite a different meaning.

It was referring to the difference bePaul Epp tween something custom and something machine-made, to the products of industrialization as opposed to the triumphs of skill and patience. Before shopping centres, and maybe even before department stores, or even the dominance of urban culture, goods were purchased from stores with high ceilings and lots of shelves. If you wanted to buy a pair of new overalls, for instance, you might say to the store’s proprietor: “Say Bill, hand me down a pair of those overalls, size medium, the ones up on that shelf behind you”. Hand-me-downs, indeed. There was also an implication of economic status attached to the term then as well. The rich wore tailor-made.

Our relationship with the goods produced by industrialization has always been a bit conflicted. As the Industrial Revolution was gaining traction in the mid to late nineteenth century, a wider and wider variety of goods were becoming available at better and better prices. That’s the good news. There’s always a down-side and there were a number in this case: the hollowing out of rural communities as labour moved to the urban factories, the redundancy of traditional skills and its resultant unemployment, the standardization of sizes, to enable larger volumes, and environmental degradation, to name just some of them. There was an aesthetic objection, well documented through the his-

18

September/October 2019

tory of the Arts and Crafts movement, and also a social or status implication. The rich didn’t need the benefits of low price. They could have their goods tailor made, whether they were clothes or automobiles. They would be made to fit the individual, to reflect their status, their preferences and to differentiate them from the common man (or woman).

Design is a skill that is predicated on a certain amount of talent and a lot of dedicated time and effort. Like almost all other skills, you get better if you practice. The resultant skill is then quite broadly applicable. Although the design businesses are highly specialized, many designers jump fences. Graphic designers might design themselves a house, for instance, and textile designers might design some jewelry. Sometimes this polymorphism is the result of confidence and sometimes it’s a response to a challenge, or to deflect boredom. Often, designers respond to the opportunities that present themselves.

Designing is a lot like tailor-making, even when the intended user audience is very large and the intention is to produce goods that are hand-me-downs. The designer is challenged to provide the best fit, so to speak, for the problem being solved. The versatility and adaptability of the skill can apply to very small numbers as well as to large ones, which, as an example, Industrial Design is about. The resulting product may not be tailor made, but the process might be.

A lot of my career has been associated with furniture, in one way or another. Early on, I built a lot of custom furniture. Later on, I designed furniture for other companies to make. In either case, there were similarities to the process. The right steps must be taken to yield an acceptable outcome. In the latter case, a lot more time was spent on each step, as the consequences were much larger. And either way, it always felt a lot like tailor-making.

When I listen to Jimmie singing about his gal, I know which business I’ve been in. And it ain’t no hand-me-down.

Paul Epp is an emeritus professor at OCAD University, and former chair of its Industrial Design department.

CFCRA State of the industry remains the same

Installers needed!

I was on the phone with the president of the National Institute of Certified Floorcovering Inspectors (NICFI), Bob Blochinger, recently talking about the state of our industry. Bob is the head of a couple of other industry groups, including the consortium that is investigating the labour market and more specifically the shortage of flooring installers.

From what I understand, in North America, with the normal attrition in the industry we are still going to be short 20,000 installers each year.

How are we going to make up for this? Well one of the major ways will be do-it-yourself installations, and another will be products that are easier and faster to install such as Mohawk’s Air-O. But this will not solve the probLee Senter, lem of the shortage of installers. InCFCRA President dustry associations such as the International Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) have classes all over America and the CFCRA implements the program in Canada. But getting attendees is for these classes is very hard. I am really unsure what to do about it.

I am writing this column today for the purpose of saying — what is wrong with us? We know there is a lack of installers. We know the current group of installers is often lacking the basic skills to install floorcoverings. We are replacing floors for simple issues that should never have occurred.

Some retailers are often scared to get angry with installers because retailers just find it hard to find any installer, let alone a good one. We say we cannot afford to train our guys?

We say we cannot free up the time to let our installers go to class for two to eight days at a time? We are afraid that the installers we train will leave and we will not get a return on our investment?

Look! At this point we are in such a bad shape that the price of sending an installer to a two-day certification class at $25/hr. for two days is $500, plus tuition of $395. That’s under $900, and we are worried about investing this much into our industry? It’s the industry that matters. It’s the end result of what happens to the floor that you, your family, your friends, your clients and the whole dang world buys that matters. This investment is a pittance and until we get some basic skills out

there, the lack of skill will continue to spiral out of control.

The CFCRA is looking at multiple memoranda of understanding with other groups in an effort to be able to get the word out on training. One of the most interesting is the potential to work with ISSA Canada. ISSA is a huge international cleaning association with a lot of resources. They can help on the cleaning side (which is not much better than the installation side of the business) and they can help with administration. But it is the manufacturers and distributors that need to help the dealers and their installers. I do not believe productspecific training is enough.

It has been my experience that the installers only want to listen to other more experienced installers who can explain how to do the installation without taking a lot more time. I remember when we had a series of install classes at Rosedale in Mississauga and a few good-old-boys came up from Dalton, Ga., to show us how it was done. They pointed out that to properly powerstretch the carpet it would take an extra 20 minutes to install three rooms. Twenty minutes! Still there was a lot of grumbling, like doing things correctly was not worth it for 20 - 40 minutes extra per job.

I just wish we would turn this attitude around and say — we just have to do it correctly. We should treat every single job like it was your mother’s house. (Hopefully you love your mother.)

Now this is a big white elephant in this room so to speak. But you know how you eat a big elephant? A little bit at a time. The industry itself, all companies, need to make a bit of a budgetary adjustment this year and ensure that our installers’ skills are improved. It’s the least we can do. Because otherwise, what will the state of our industry be in, say, five years?

The CFCRA will be holding the CFI installation classes again in the New Year and we would love your thoughts on what would make it work best for you, so you can do your little bit in making our industry as a whole a bit better.

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

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

19

INSTALLATION Setting realistic expectations can help installation teams

Installation communication For all of my 41 years in this industry, there has been deep concern for the shortage of qualified installers, and the situation is more serious now than ever. Retailers are frustrated by slipshod installation jobs, or we have customers feeling the floor covering they purchased is not what was promised. One of the problems is false expectations generated by the people who sell flooring materials because they give out the wrong information, exclude information, or make promises the installers or the floor covering itself can’t possibly keep. This can be true of retail or wholesale salespeople, or architectural Christopher reps. It’s usually not intentional, but the Capobianco result of a need for training and communication throughout our industry.

I have seen this first-hand and also have had some examples shared with me from others in the industry.

Setting expectations Misunderstanding of the installation process can create real tension on the job site. For example, when the estimator or sales person is asked how long an installation will take, the answer is often given without consideration for the job site circumstances like moving furniture, removal of old floor coverings, building access and so on. If the job takes longer than the customer was expecting, that can make for an annoyed customer and it’s not the installer’s fault — it just wasn’t communicated properly. It’s better to “under promise and over deliver” and be realistic with the customer, rather than put the installation crew in a no-win situation with unrealistic deadlines.

There are many examples of how customers don’t always know what’s coming before a floor is done. “I didn’t know I would have a seam,”“You didn’t tell me I’d have to move my furniture,”“I didn’t know I would have to stay off the floor after it was installed,” and so on. Good communication is the key. Take the time in advance to explain some of the key details for the job, and things will go more smoothly for the installers.

20

September/October 2019

Shining light on seams The retail salesperson says, “This carpet won’t show a seam.”

The sales rep tells the architect “our welding rod is so close to the colour of the floor, you’ll never see the heat welded seam,” or somebody tells somebody “these tiles (carpet, vinyl, rubber) are cut so well that the floor will look seamless.”

In the real world, these claims put enormous pressure on the installer and on the product to deliver on these promises. Every carpet will show a seam to a certain degree. Even so-called camouflage heat weld rods are noticeable, and even if tile joints don’t show much on a brand-new floor, they almost always will as the floor ages. A more reasonable way of having this conversation would be to state that the floor covering will be properly installed so that “the seams are tight and will blend as well as they possibly can.” Remember, the only invisible seams are in invisible floor coverings. Even seams that are done perfectly by the installer can be visible depending on the light in the room. For example, an installation of a cut pile carpet in a corner room that had windows on two sides. The customer complained that the seams were visible, which was unavoidable. The interior designer that specified the material didn’t have this conversation with her client. The dealer explained it to the customer and demonstrated by closing the blinds, at which point none of them could find the seams.

Honesty about specifications On the commercial side, I have seen many cases where the written specifications are misused in order to make the sale, or where test methods are “modified” from their original intention. Nowhere is this more blatant than in the test ASTM F970, Static Load Limit. This test is intended to demonstrate a resilient floor covering’s ability to recover from a load such as a piece of furniture.

However, F970 is a product test, not a system test. It just tests a piece of flooring material on a steel plate, which does not replicate the impact of a load on the adhesive, the underlayment or the subfloor. The test has a precision for weights up to 250 psi (pounds per square inch) but many manufacturers are publishing much higher numbers or modifying the test to jack the numbers up. The test is done for 24 hours and the material rests for 24 hours and if the indentation is less than 0.13 mm, the product passes. How-

When the estimator or sales person is asked how long an installation will take, the answer is often given without consideration for the job site circumstances like moving furniture, removal of old floor coverings and building access.

A lot of times it’s the adhesive layer that indents (inset image), which can happen when there has not been enough drying time, or when too large a trowel is used so there is too much adhesive.

ever, that indentation may still be visible, especially on a smooth floor covering that’s polished to a high gloss.

Back when I was a technical consultant, this was a common scenario. A sales rep quotes the so-called PSI ratings that were published by the manufacturer to sell a high-quality vinyl floor. After the installation, a floor is dented by the legs on a piece of furniture. The furniture doesn’t even weigh 700 pounds, but the floor literature says 700 PSI. This is misleading. A lot of times it’s the adhesive layer that indents, which can happen when there has not been enough drying time, or when too large a trowel is used so there is too much adhesive. I’ve also seen cases where adhesive is affected by concrete moisture vapor emissions and gets soft. Of course, when a smooth floor is used and maintained at a very high gloss, these conditions can be even worse!

In reality, different adhesives can be used to improve the indentation resistance of a finished floor, but the fact is that under a heavy load all flooring will indent to a certain degree. ASTM now states that “Testing at loads above 250 psi is outside the scope of this test method.” They added that language to try to stop this practice of unrealistic product claims.

When I am asked by architects and designers about psi ratings on a resilient floor covering,” I usually will answer with the manufacturer’s published result, and then ask questions

about whether there is an expectation that the floor will be exposed to heavy loads. From there I may recommend a different product or a different adhesive to give the floor covering the best chance of success.

I could go on with other examples of product claims like “stain resistant,” “no-wax,” waterproof, pet-proof and so on, but I think you get the idea. Sales people need to learn more about the installation process and the products they sell and be honest about what the customer can expect. There are a number of local, national and international organizations doing good work to improve the level of professionalism in our industry.

However, many of these organizations have the common complaint that attendance at educational events is never what it could be. The flooring trade needs to make training more of a priority so that our customers get the product and the installation they expect, and not just empty promises.

Christopher Capobianco has been in the floor covering industry since the 1970s in various roles including retail and commercial sales, technical support, consulting, journalism, education and volunteer work. He currently is part of the sales team for Spartan Surfaces in New York City. You can reach him via christopher@SpartanSurfaces.com.

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

21

NFCA Promoting awareness, understanding and action

NFCA: The right thing Since the revitalization of NFCA in 2015, we have been sharing our message with the industry via a multitude of channels — media, trade shows, architectural lunch-and-learns, seminars for flooring and general contractors, building owners and project managers.

The overall message underlines the importance of planning the floor covering portion of any project properly and how not doing so causes delays, conflict on site, holdbacks, unnecessary claims, brand damage and ongoing repairs.

For example, by offering the various construction groups support and correct flooring specifications that represent expected trade practice, we increase the likelihood that a properly inChris Maskell, stalled product will be delivered. Items NFCA c.e.o. such as testing requirements, subfloor flatness, floor preparation, indoor environmental conditions, product acclimation and floor protection can be clearly addressed, and responsibilities assigned correctly. This allows good installers to go to work without having to fight for ‘acceptable’ conditions.

As with any change of this type, especially in construction where old habits die hard, it takes time to create awareness and garner the attention and understanding necessary to change from the old ways of doing things.

NFCA is still at the awareness stage. While it’s never been easier to get a message out there — it’s never been more difficult to get that message heard. However, when the message does cut through the clutter, understanding kicks in … and action quickly follows. NFCA’s specification tools, the Floor Covering Reference Manual and the Quality Assurance Program, work best when everyone understands them and puts them to use together.

As a result, we are starting to see NFCA specs in projects across the country — Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. And there’s more exciting news to follow with lots of activity going on behind the scenes.

Common language, common goal Where’s the sweet spot? As I speak to individuals, companies, groups and trades around the country, it’s clear that there is frustration on all sides, but also an appetite 22

September/October 2019

for improvement. The solution lies in being able to work together effectively — something NFCA is helping to facilitate by raising the issues floor coverers have face every day for decades.

The construction industry’s challenge is that big bucks are at stake…. and no one wants to be blamed or back-charged for delays. The result can be a tendency for the parties involved to fumble the ball because the level of collaboration needed just isn’t there. When NFCA and the Quality Assurance Program are included on a project, the resulting transparency leads to working productively together, more likelihood of a successful install and a better experience for all involved.

Growth, conversations and great members Membership has been one our main missions — inviting good quality firms to align with and support the push for change. This requires a multi-faceted approach that includes attending trade shows, providing educational opportunities, traveling the country, visiting contractors, and talking to people face-to-face … as much as possible.

NFCA met with the Fuse Alliance people in Toronto in June to discuss the goals and specification tools I’ve mentioned. The response was very positive, and as a result, we welcomed our first Maritimes member, Commercial Flooring Group of Halifax, Nova Scotia (more member news on page 9).

By building membership, we’re creating a place where other construction parties can go to find firms who meet a list of criteria that among other things, recognize them for providing qualified installers and bonding for larger projects — something the notorious “one man in a van” cannot do.

Supporting excellence There is a smaller percentage of each industry that builds its brand based on doing the job once and doing it right. Call it the 80/20 rule. It’s this group that has a real warranty, trains staff, makes continuous improvement a priority, and values its reputation. It’s this group that would typically take the tough road of saying ‘no’ to their customer risking repercussions, rather than just installing and hoping for the best.

Over time, doing the right thing will get easier using the NFCA spec and understanding how it works. This is a start on a long road, and it’s good news for everyone.

The National Floor Covering Association (NFCA) promotes industry standards for resilient, carpet, hardwood, laminate, cork and bamboo floor covering installations. www.nfca.ca

SHOWS Construction pros gather in Toronto

The Buildings Show Get prepared to join the over 30,500 industry professionals in Toronto, Ont., at The Buildings Show, North America’s annual exposition, networking and educational event for design, architecture, construction and real estate on December 4-6. Construct Canada, HomeBuilder and Renovator Expo, PM Expo, Stonex Canada and World of Concrete Toronto Pavilion, are co-located to leave visitors with the tools they need to sharpen skills and continue their professional development.

Each building sector is supported by its dedicated associations. For example, Stonex Canada is supported by Terrazzo Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) and Natural Stone Institute (NSI) the two largest industry associations in North America.

The Buildings Show, said to be North America’s largest event for products, services, educational programming and professional networking in this sector, has been supporting the design, construction and property management communities for the past 30 years.

New in 2019, the show introduces Buildings Connect, a dynamic PropTech (IT for real estate) showcase directly impacting people, places, properties, portfolios, energy use and operational efficiencies.

With the focus on technology solutions for Smart design and construction, Smart buildings, Smart cities as well as Smart Real Estate operations and transactions, Buildings Connect builds bridges to connect, inspire, align and access the mindshare of technology developers, PropTech investors, building owners, real estate developers, architects, engineers, specifiers, property managers, facility managers, renovators, contractors, interior designers, brokers, tenants, policy makers and key media influencers who comprise Canada’s diverse and dynamic PropTech ecosystem.

The Buildings Show also offers a comprehensive educational program with skill building seminars, workshops and roundtable discussions that professionals need to compete in today’s evolving market.

The seminars will focus on a wide range of design, construction, property management, concrete and masonry, and hard surfaces related issues and best practices for new construction, retrofits, maintenance

and management of all types of buildings.

Topics will include: Building Envelope Solutions; Sustainable Design, Construction and Property Management Strategies; Smart Buildings and IoT (internet of things); New Technologies and Innovation; Project Planning, Delivery and Management; Legal, Regulatory and Risk Management; Optimizing Building Performance and Asset Value; Professional & Personal Skills Development; Interior Spaces and Trends; and, Technical Building Code Updates.

Held at the Metro Convention Centre in downtown Toronto, The Buildings Show dates are December 4-6, 2019. Exhibit hours are Wednesday and Thursday, December 4-5 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, December 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Seminars will be held 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday and Thursday.

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

23

ing, drainage systems or utilities beneath the finished patio floor. www.schluter.com

PRODUCTS

Pre-mixed grout reflects tile colours Synthetic flooring boasts acoustic properties

The Flotex Colour range from Forbo is said to combine the warmth, comfort and acoustic properties of textile flooring with the practical and hygienic considerations of a synthetic material. The flocked flooring range has ultra-low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions and zero phthalates, and also holds allergy approvals. The collection is available in five designs, with an overall colour scheme that takes its cues from smart cities, with each of the flooring designs combining the pared-back hues of buildings with bright pops of colour “inspired by city lights.� Designed to fit with any office interior, the collection is available in five different designs: Metro, Penang, Calgary, Savannah and Canyon.

Each of the flooring designs is available in planks, sheets or tiles, to allow for more flexibility and design freedom, and to work with raised access floors in offices. www.forbo.com Adhesion and repair solutions

Mapei has introduced Mapefloor I 900, a two-component epoxy resin, as well as Mapefloor EP 19 and Mapefloor EP 20, which are three-component epoxy binders. All three of these products are 24

September/October 2019

designed for use with industrial flooring.

Mapefloor I 900 is a low-viscosity epoxy resin that is used as a primer before the application of resinous flooring systems and is said to be effective at priming absorbent concrete substrates. Mapefloor EP 19 features chemical and mechanical resistance and is designed to enhance the adhesion of multilayer flooring systems.

Mapefloor EP 20 also provides chemical and mechanical resistance; similar to Mapefloor EP 19, it is designed to enhance the adhesion of multilayer flooring systems and is typically applied on concrete substrates that require re-profiling and can be applied on vertical substrates. www.mapei.com Exterior paver support system

Pro Grout One Luminance from Proma is a professional-grade, ready-to-use premixed grout with Smart Color Technology, which produces a translucent chameleon effect that blends with the colour of tile. The grout can also be used to install mosaic tile sheets up to 12 by 12 in. on floors and walls. Said to be extremely easy to use and clean, the product is 70 percent or more recycled content, ready-to-use and suitable for setting/grouting glass tiles with 1/16- to ½-inch joints. The grout will not stain tile or stones, does not require sealing, is durable and crack resistant, provides excellent stain resistance, offers better coverage with zero waste and is acid resistant, the company says. www.proma.ca Natural stone marble slabs

Troba-Level is a paver support system from Schluter designed specifically for use with thick porcelain tiles rated for exterior use. The paver support system, or pedestals, supports the tiles above the substrate with no bonding system required. This elevated system is said to have a number of advantages over traditional bonded tile methods including simple installation, natural drainage and ventilation. The system is available with several accessories designed to manage sloped substrates and different thicknesses of tile so that a level terrace or patio can be installed over an uneven substrate.

Through the use of different supports, shims and spacers, the installer can create a level patio with precise transitions and flush seams and corners. Because tiles are not bonded in place, the system allows for quick and easy access to waterproof-

In an expression of natural elegance drawn from quarries, Antolini has introduced its Noir Blanc marble stone.

The effect is like peering down on the gentle waves of a moonlit ocean, the company says, the white textures dance softly in the wind on the flowing marble.

The dark background forms the canvas with white lacerations drawn across the surface, it adds. www.antolini.com

Order management software

flammable solvents to clean tools or finished work, and is suitable for installing moisture-sensitive marble, mosaics, stone, resin-backed tile and agglomerate tile. The adhesive conforms to ANSI A118.3 and ISO 13007 with an R2 Classification. www.laticrete.com

Luxury vinyl tiles and planks

Rollable acrylic adhesive RollMaster Software has introduced multilingual documents to its flooring order management platform. The latest feature, a part of the Q3 2019 Release, allows translation of comment lines to another language on both customer-facing documents like quotes, sales agreements, receipts and invoices, as well as on work orders, including batch work orders.

The feature currently supports twelve languages including Spanish, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese. According to the company, future software updates will include more languages. RollMaster clients can request any language needed to accelerate the availability of that language in the future. Additional programming will allow for a language to be tied to a specific installer, and to allow multiple languages on a single work order. www.rmaster.com

Roll and Go from SchĂśnox is a rollable acrylic adhesive for luxury vinyl tiles.

Bonding on suitable substrates in interior areas, the adhesive coverage is approximately 540 sq. ft. per 1.06 gal. unit and approximately 1,380 sq. ft. per 2.77 gal. unit. The product is rated Emicode EC 1 for very low emission and LEED IEQ 4.1 Low-Emitting Materials-Adhesives and Sealants (1 point) and IEQ 4.3 Low-Emitting Materials-Flooring Systems-(1 point). Open time is approximately 2 hours, wait time 10 to 15 minutes, with a temperature resistance not below 51 F floor temperature. www.hpsubfloors.com

Bio-based materials in epoxy adhesive Broadloom features abstract patterns

Latapoxy Biogreen 300 adhesive from Laticrete is said to be a high-strength, chemical-resistant, epoxy adhesive that contains bio-based materials derived from renewable resources. Bio-based materials provide an alternative to conventional non-renewable materials such as petroleum derived products, contribute to a cleaner environment and may contribute to LEED V4 points. As a Greenguard-certified epoxy adhesive, the product is water cleanable, requires no

The Twilight collection of broadlooms from Nourison features abstract transitional patterns woven in New Zealand wool with Luxcelle highlights. The collection is offered as broadloom or in custom rug sizes. The soft look of the Axminster-woven products brings together lush textures and an array of linear patterns in richly shaded natural tones that are said to create a quiet impact. www.nourison.com

The Pacific Madrone Natural from the Tarkett ProGen luxury vinyl flooring collection comes in 7 x 60 in. planks with two micro bevel sides and 10 planks per box. The LVT flooring features Rigid Core technology that click into place, offering the creative patterning of looselay and glue-down tiles with or without grout.

Suitable for any room in a home, the company says, the low-maintenance floors are designed to stand up to scratches, scuffs, stains and even water. https://residential.tarkett.com Liquid waterproofing membrane

Redgard liquid waterproofing and crack prevention membrane from Custom Building Products is said to be ready to use so installers can just roll it on out of the drum. The quick-dry formula is engineered to be 30 percent faster to dry that its predecessor and meets ANSI A118.10, A118.12. The membrane is IAPMO-rated as a shower pan liner with no fabric, to create a continuous waterproof barrier that bonds directly to metal drains, PVC, stainless steel and ABS drain assemblies. The product isolates existing cracks to 1/8 in. and permits tile to be layed in 60 to 90 minutes. www.custombuildingproducts.com Engineered hardwood tongue and groove oak Hand-scraped tongue-and-groove engineered hardwood from Floors@ Work in oak is available in five-inch by 18

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

25

PRODUCTS mm random lengths. The engineered wood flooring is constructed to provide increased stability and moisture. The top

layer is a thin sheet of natural oak and the core is constructed of layered plywood.

Engineered wood floors were developed for use over concrete slabs but can be nailed down over a wood subfloor. The newest, thinnest engineered wood flooring use an advanced tongue-andgroove click system that locks them in place. These floors can be placed over an underlayment or directly over an older floor. This type of flooring can be used almost anywhere, on, above or below grade, the company says. www.floorsatwork.com Self-bonding anti-fracture membrane

The self-adhering Elastomeric Crack Bridging (ECB) anti-fracture membrane from NAC Products is a sheet applied elastomeric membrane is designed for use under floor surfaces that require protection from structural movement.

ECB consists of a base layer of polymer modified elastomers, permanently laminated to a unique “stress flex” fibre sheet. Together they form a single 1/16 in. thick, high strength self-bonding membrane that is said to be easily applied to materials such as hardwood, 26

September/October 2019

concrete, vinyl, terrazzo, tile and stone.

The elastomeric base functions as a buffer, absorbing the thermal and lateral structural movement of the sub-floor (up to 3/8 in.), while the “stress flex” fibre sheet creates a new flooring surface that will accommodate most ANSI A118.4 mortars, organic adhesives and epoxy setting materials. The membrane is designed to adhere permanently to the substrate, remains flexible and will last the life of the flooring surface, the company says. www.nacproducts.com Luxury vinyl planks

repeatedly eases off the tension in the user’s arm and back, thus increasing speed and precision and providing a substantial gain in time and floorboards installed. Second, the cam operated base plate adjuster maintains a consistent angle of penetration to deliver the fastener snugly into the nail pocket of the board with controlled penetration and increased accuracy. Third, the rotating ergonomic extension handle allows to operate the nailers at a higher or lower position. It can be easily set and locked at any position, thus providing a better comfort and tool control, the company says. www.primatech.ca Pre-mixed, multipurpose primer

The Variations collection of luxury vinyl planks with Solidtech technology from Mohawk are said to be easy to clean and dent resistant. The collection includes Steelgate, Silver Shadows, Silhouette and Shadow Wood. Steelgate (shown), for example, features four available colours, a 6.5 mm thickness, UniClic installation method, has a wood look and medium shade. The company says to select from 2 to 3 cartons at a time to even out colour variation and ensure a random appearance. Mohawk warrants SolidTech Flooring for defects in material and/or workmanship which relate to joint integrity, manufacturing defects, staining, all pet stains, waterproofing, and wear. www.mohawkflooring.com Pneumatic nailer for large surfaces The 550ALG pneumatic 18ga L type nailer from Primatech is said to be the most advanced tool designed for large surfaces such as gymnasium floors. The 550 ALG Gym version provides the installer with 3 distinctive advantages. First, the PrimSurfer bearing assembled roller base features a two-way side shift. Not having to lift the tool

Ardex P 4 primer from Ardex Americas is a pre-mixed, single-component, rapid-drying, multi-purpose product for interior and exterior use. The consistency of the primer has been formulated to virtually eliminate dripping and splashes, the company says.

Recommended use is prior to the installation of the company’s tile and stone mortars, as well as self-leveling underlayments. The primer produces a textured surface and can be used on smooth surfaces to create a bond. It is suitable for use in areas that may become damp or wet, such as kitchens, bathrooms and porches. Key features include: suitable for tile over tile installation; dries in as little as 30 minutes; for use over most common substrates; textured surface for tenacious bond; drip and splash-free consistency; and, white colour to clearly identify primed areas. www.ardexamericas.com

BULLETS Current business highlights Municipalities in Canada issued $25.8 billion worth of permits in the second quarter, up 5.8 percent from the previous quarter and up 4.1 percent compared with the same quarter in 2018. —Statistics Canada

According to latest Eurostat figures, European building construction contracted by 0.2 percent in May over April 2019, while civil engineering output was down 0.5 percent.

—Fordaq

Canada’s private sector job vacancies rate maintained its record high of 3.2 per cent for the fourth quarter in a row in Q2 2019, according to CFIB’s latest Help Wanted report. In total, 429,000 jobs went unfilled for at least four months. —Canadian Federation of Independent Business

For June 2019, New Zealand reports an 18 percent increase in its log exports compared to the same month last year to $330.1 million NZ. The lion’s share of exports from New Zealand went to China with 80 percent.

—Fordaq

Small businesses in Canada in June experienced confidence levels going up nearly two index points to 61.5 on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s Business Barometer, the highest level since August 2018.

—CFIB After five years of growth culminating in the record results achieved in 2017, the total revenues generated by the Italian manufacturers of machinery and equipment for ceramic and heavy clay suffered a 3.5 percent decline in 2018 to a total value of €2.158 billion. —Acimac

Despite seeing growth during Q1 2018, the Uber ride service net losses in Q2 2019 amounted to $5.2 billion US for the three months ending June 30. Chief among the reasons for the big red figure on the books is the $3.9 billion US in stock-based compensation associated with its IPO in May this year. —Statista

The U.S. labour market unemployment rate dropped to a 50-year low of 3.6 percent in April, with higher wages and total non-farm employment reaching a historical high of 151.1 million. —U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Unemployment across the world’s 10 largest economies (no India data available) is down sharply in 2019 compared to 2014, with the exception of Brazil where it has risen to 11.4 percent. Japan currently sits number one at 2.4 percent, followed

by Germany (3.4) and China (3.8).

Canada sits at seventh place with 5.9 percent unemployment overall in 2019. —Statista The Government of Manitoba announced that effective July 1st the retail sales tax was lowered from 8 percent to 7 percent.

—Statistics Canada

A recent U.S. study covering the $28 billion US window and door market identifies smart glass as an opportunity for window manufacturers.

The overall commercial and residential market, including both new and replacements, is expected to have a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 4 percent during the 20182023 period. —Freedonia Group According to a recent Green (Vegetative) Roofing study, the area of green roofing systems in the U.S. will grow to a total of 5.3 million square feet in 2023. —Freedonia Group

Canada’s floorcovering magazine

27

Canadians had the second highest purchase volume at $8 billion US while buyers from India came third with $6.9 billion US. —National Association of Realtors

BULLETS The average price for lumber imported to U.S. fell 25.1 percent year-over-year in Q2 2019 to $162 US per m3, while import volume stayed about the same (-0.7 percent to 9.86 million m3), according to USDA data. The average price for lumber supplied from Canada declined 30.2 percent to $137 US per m3, with volume down 1.48 percent to 8.85 million m3. —Lesprom New home prices in Hamilton, Ont., were up 0.7 percent in June, the largest monthly increase in this CMA (census metropolitan area) since July 2017. The increase occurred against the backdrop of favourable market conditions and more affordable housing prices in Hamilton relative to Toronto, Ont. —Statistics Canada For the seventh year in succession, Chinese buyers pumped the most money into the U.S. residential property market and the dollar value of their purchases added up to $13.4 billion US between April 2018 and March 2019. However, this represents a 56 percent decline on the previous 12-month period when purchases totaled $30.4 billion US.

The ABI score of 49.1 for the month of June from the American Institute of Architects indicates that more firms reported that billings declined than increased from the previous month. However, firms are still reporting strong backlogs of work in the pipeline, six and a half months on average, which continues to be the most robust that backlogs have been since the institute began collecting this data on a quarterly basis in 2010. —AIA While U.S. imports of goods climbed to a historical high of $1.27 trillion in the first half of 2019, imports from China dropped by more than $30 billion. Vietnam saw the largest increase in demand from the U.S., both in absolute and in relative terms. With an increase of $7.6 billion US or 33 percent, Vietnam jumped over Ireland, France, India and Italy to become the 8th largest import partner for the U.S. Canada is the third largest U.S. partner, after China and Mexico.

—U.S. Census Bureau Revenue in the Floor Covering segment in Europe is forecast to reach $39,849 million US in 2019. The market is expected to grow by 1.7 percent CAGR through 2023.

—Statista The textile flooring market size in Canada in 2015 reached approximately $382 million US and is projected to increase to around $391 million US by 2020. —Statista

With Super SAM 125 your neighbors aren’t that LOUD. ®

Sound Abatement Membrane Super SAM® 125 is a premium sound deadening sheet membrane for use on surfaces that require impact and airborne sound reduction.

6” concrete substrate with a tile finished floor: IIC: 51 STC:54 ΔIIC: 22 6” concrete substrate with engineered hardwood finished floor: IIC: 51 STC: 52 ΔIIC: 23 Wood joist substrate with tile finished floor: IIC: 56 STC: 61

U.S. ceramic tile consumption through 1Q 2019 was 717.2 million sq. ft., down 5.0 percent compared to 1Q 2018.

—TCNA With a current 4.3 per cent office vacancy rate in Winnipeg, Man., the rate is forecast to rise to the 7 per cent range by the end of 2019. However, this still places Winnipeg among the lowest office vacancy rates in Canada.

—Cushman & Wakefield Sales of new condominiums jumped to a near-record in the Toronto region in the second quarter with sales surging 77 percent to 8,902 units from the same period last year. That is the second-highest level on record for the quarter, following the market peak of 11,413 pre-sales in the second quarter of 2017. —Urbanation Inc.

Super SAM® 125 provides up to 3/8” of crack isolation protection.

The perfect solution for apartments, condominiums, hotels, classrooms, high-rise office buildings and any other area needing sound reduction.

Membrane Systems That Protect Your Flooring Investment

1(800)633-4622 www.nacproducts.com 28

September/October 2019

House prices in Charlottetown, P.E.I., rose 38.5 per cent over the last three years, faster than Victoria (33.3), Vancouver (10.93), Toronto (25.3) and Montreal (17.7) during the same period. In Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon, house prices fell. The average house price in Charlottetown rose from $200,000 to $277,000.

—Canadian Real Estate Association

EVENTS September 23–27 Cersaie Bologna, Italy www.cersaie.it/en/ Oct. 15 – 18 SICAM Pordenone, Italy www.exposicam.it/en/ Nov. 20 – 22 GreenBuild Expo Atlanta, Ga. www.greenbuildexpo.com Nov. 27 – 29 The Buildings Show Toronto, Ont. www.thebuildingsshow.com

ADVERTISERS Accu-cut / Brockie International www.accu-cut.com . . . . . . . . .

27

Custom Building Products www. custombuildingproducts.com . . . .

31

Floors@Work www.floorsatwork.com . . . . . .

12

Laticrete www.floorsatwork.com . . . . . . .

15

Mapei www.mapei.com . . . . . . . . . .

Mohawk www.mohawkflooring.com . . . . .

5

NAC www.nacproducts.com . . . . . . .

28

Primatech www.primatech.ca . . . . . . . . .

14

Proma www.proma.ca . . . . . . . .

16, 17

Schluter www.schluter.ca . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Tarkett www.tarkettna.com . . . . . . . . .

32

TISE www.intlsurfaceevent.com . . . .

13

8

January 10-13 Domotex Hannover, Germany www.domotex.de/home January 13-19 IMM Cologne Cologne, Germany www.imm-cologne.com January 21-23 KBIS Las Vegas, Nev. www.kbis.com January 27-30 The International Surface Event Las Vegas, Nev. www.intlsurfaceevent.com March 24 – 26 Domotex Asia ChinaFloor Shanghai, China www.domotexasiachinafloor.com April 20 – 23, 2020 Coverings New Orleans, La. www.coverings.com

SECOND TO NONE IN

ORIGINAL CONTENT SECOND TO NONE IN

CANADIAN CONTENT SECOND TO NONE IN

BUSINESS CONTENT CALL US TO DISCUSS MARKETING PLANS THAT WORK! Stephen King | 416-802-1225 | sking@wimediainc.ca Rates and details available at: www.coveringscanada.ca Canada’s floorcovering magazine

29

THEN-AND-NOW Eastern Townships house fits landscape

Low tech country living THE HATLEY HOUSE NEAR MAGOG, Que., sits up a dirt road out in the country amongst rolling hills, its high-pitched gables so typical of the area displayed proudly.

The architecture firms Pelletier de Fontenay and François Abbott Architecture, both of Montreal, collaborated on the three-winged house. According to Yves de Fontenay, associate principal architect at Pelletier de Fontenay, the house is composed of a central communal wing, the master wing, and the guest wing. All three wings have double-height spaces reaching up to eight meters high.

“We had to build on the lot in a kind of

a weird, longitudinal row — the way the land was subdivided in Quebec about 300 years ago along the St. Lawrence River,” says de Fontenay. The orientation was created at the time to provide access to the water. He added that the house could only occupy a small percentage of the lot away from the road in order to be classified as agricultural land.

The client wanted a barn-like effect for the exteriors and interiors “instead of a more traditional Victorian house or farm-house,” explains de Fontenay. The house was also to be decidedly low-tech, with a request that no HVAC system be installed.

Temperature control is engineered using structural elements. “They didn’t want to invest in complicated heating and cooling,” says de Fontenay. “The main concept was insulating the house to passive house standards. There is a foam layer all over the outside of the house, providing a complete thermal break.

About an R40 on all of the walls and about R70 on all of the roofs, with an insulated slab on grade. There is a very smart air exchanger, no A/C and the heating is all radiant.

“With construction there was also a wood lattice on the perimeter — which is not entirely a sustainable design — but it definitely helps keep the facades cooler with less heat gain.”

He adds that the galvanized steel metal roof has its pros and cons. With no snow accumulation, its insulating properties are lost in winter. “But it definitely helps for reflecting the sun and all of the skylights are electrically operable,” he says.

The region around Hatley house has very strong dominant winds, something de Fontenay learned about from working on two other projects in the area. “There is immense natural ventilation. The house isn’t designed entirely around that, but that is the main cooling method.”

For the cold months, an electrical furnace is joined with a hydronic system embedded in the concrete slab. “Being in Quebec,” he says, “it is great to be able to use electricity as your renewable energy source.”

Exposed polished concrete is spread throughout the whole house, according to de Fontenay, other than the two mezzanines which are entirely clad in birch plywood.”

The owners are happy with their loft barn spaces, he says.

“They wanted to be able to host a lot of people and are looking forward to planting trees.”

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

Please submit project suggestions to news@wimediainc.ca.

30 30

September/October 2019 September/October 2019

THE GO-TO GROUT FOR RELIABILITY, VERSATILITY AND PROVEN RESULTS. The ultimate performance cement grout.

Uniform consistent colour n No efflorescence n Stain resistant n Lightweight for superior handling n Ideal for all grout joint sizes up to 1/2" n

DOWNLOAD CUSTOM’S MOBILE APP

Available at The Home Depot and tile distributors nationwide.

CustomBuildingProducts.com

800-272-8786