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Christopher, A customer asked me what would happen if we used VCT adhesive on VET? I was researching online and came across your article, “Vinyl tile confusion.” Just wondering if you have any insight?

Scott Lippman, President/Owner IRA Sales Associates

Hello, Scott Always nice to hear from one of my readers!

If the reason for changing is cost savings, make sure that you do the calculation based on the spread rate of the more expensive adhesive. In other words, “per square foot” cost, not “per pail.” Many times, the premium adhesives cover more floor, so the cost per square foot is comparable or less than a less expensive adhesive with a smaller spread rate.

As far as switching, I’m old-school when it comes to the subject of adhesive. I have always been a big believer that you use the manufacturer brand adhesive, or the manufacturer recommended adhesive for the specific product that you are putting down. To me, we’re talking about minimal square foot cost savings to switch to a less expensive adhesive.

The problem is, in those rare cases when there is a failure and the adhesive is called into question, do you wind up with a lot of finger-pointing if you change the spec. When you use the manufacturer brand adhesive, it’s single source, single manufacturer warranty.

That said, in the case that you are discussing, it would be up to the manufacturer of the VCT adhesive to honor the warranty for their product under the VET. So, if you’re going that route, write to the adhesive manufacturer with the brand of the tile you’re installing and the substrate you are going over. Ask them if they will warrant that application.

I hope this is helpful!!

Correction: In the January/February 2020 issue of Coverings, we reported that a worker cut his finger when a stone saw slipped. In fact, it was a router that slipped. The story was accurate based on information we had at the time, but the offending tool was a router. a pool of over 1,000 residential and commercial construction professionals and contractors. Desjardins is also supporting the company’s plan to increase its footprint outside of where it currently has most of its business — Greater Montreal, Greater Toronto and the Quebec City region. Reno-Assistance president and founder Eric Perigny founded the company in 2010 after experiencing problems of his own with contractors and renovations that ended up costing him $50,000.

NAC names sales director David deBear Akron, Ohio-based NAC Products has named David deBear its director of architectural and commercial sales. A veteran of the flooring industry for more than 25 years, deBear will work to further NAC’s architectural program focusing on increasing specifications within the design community for NAC’s crack isolation, sound control and waterproofing membrane systems. He previously served as the national business development manager for Huntington Beach, Calif.-based Custom Building Products. The addition of deBear to the NAC team follows the promotion of Meredith Peffer to general manager and David Hanna as director of marketing.

Desjardins partners with Reno-Assistance Financial services firm Desjardins of Levis, Que., is now the majority shareholder of Toronto, Ont.-based Reno-Assistance, a company that pairs clients Eric Perigny with reliable contractors who can execute large-scale residential or commercial renovation projects. The company now has Lumber Liquidators announces leadership change Dennis Knowles Richmond, Va.-based Lumber Liquidators has announced that Dennis Knowles has resigned as president and c.e.o. and as a member of the board of directors. The board has appointed Charles Tyson, the company’s chief customer experience officer, as interim president and principal executive officer. Knowles’ duties will be divided between Tyson and Nancy Walsh, the company’s chief financial officer, while the board of directors conducts a chief executive officer search of internal and external candidates. Tyson also will remain the chief customer experience officer. Tyson joined the company in June 2018 after serving in several key senior executive roles for Advance Auto Parts of Raleigh, N.C., as that company’s chief customer experience officer.

Halifax ferry port renovation includes flooring

and the provincial capital of Nova Scotia, has had renovation work completed that is designed to improve passenger movement efficiency and greater customer service. The work, carried out in three different phases, has seen the involvement of Caesar, the Spezzano di Fiorano, Italy, firm responsible for supplying the ceramic floor tile material for the ferry terminal’s Alderney Gate pedestrian walkway. The new space has also been restructured with a more effective air-conditioning system and the creation of three separate waiting areas, each with accessible seating.

NWFA publishes updated installation guidelines The National Wood Flooring Association has published a new edition of the NWFA Wood Flooring Installation Guidelines. The new publication represents the most comprehensive revision of the installation guidelines since they were first published in 1988. Topics include evaluating job site conditions, subfloor preparation, proper installation techniques, guidelines for moisture testing, fastener schedules and radiant heat installations. Highlights include architectural CAD drawings to enhance learning and clarify descriptions; photographs to provide visualizations and to make the guidelines multilingual; updated and improved artwork and illustrations; and, responsible parties have been clearly defined, and include obligations for each.

New technology tracks service appointments A technology application called PinPoint is said to now take the guesswork out of service delivery and helps ensure Nick Began customer satisfaction when receiving assistance from the trades. The application from PinPoint Technology of Akron, Ohio, tracks technicians’ progress on service appointments, allowing contractors to provide narrower service windows so customers are there and happy when trades arrive. It offers real-time visibility to truck locations on route and on the job, and can give customers automated, accurate arrival times. Nick Began, partner with PinPoint Technology, says the technology is suitable for companies in the stone and tile industry, as well as other customer-facing businesses such as those in cabinets, carpet, HVAC, plumbing, residential deliveries, painting, appliance, electric and pest control.

Coronavirus leads Ikea to close China stores Sweden’s Ikea has announced that it has temporarily closed all its stores in China because of the outbreak of the coronavirus. The decision to close all of its 30 stores follows an earlier announcement from world’s biggest furniture retailer that it was closing around half of its stores and shortening opening hours. the several hundred-million-dollar range today. After turning around the Toronto facility, he presided over continued expansion, first in Canada, with the purchase and upgrade of the Grand Forks, B.C., facility in 1999 and later building a new production line in Milton. In 2014, a Mississippi factory was opened, which expanded further in 2017 with the onset of Rockfon acoustic ceiling material production. And in early 2021, operations will start at the West Virginia factory, marking the fifth North American production line.

Waterproof hardwood wins design award AHF Products of Mountville, Penn., has announced that its Hydropel waterproof hardwood flooring from Bruce has been honoured with a 2019 Good Design

Moss succeeds Ogilvie as Rockwool president Milton, Ont.-based Rockwool Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of stone wool used in applications such as building insulation and acoustic ceilings, has announced that Trent Ogilvie, president of Rockwool North America, has elected to retire after 25 years. The company has also announced that Rory Moss, who currently serves as managing director, Rockwool Nordics, will step

Rory Moss

Trent Ogilvie

into the role of president, Rockwool North America effective April 1st, 2020. Ogilvie built up the North American business from a small, unprofitable operation with 60 employees in 1995 to one with 1,000 employees and sales in Award. Founded in Chicago in 1950, Good Design is an internationally-recognized program for design excellence. Hydropel is an engineered hardwood flooring infused with proprietary technology to resist water for up to 36 hours. Hydropel is built with a unique core technology which AHF Products has termed ultra-high density fibreboard. This construction is said to be denser and more water resistant than typical plywood or high density fibreboard cores, the company says, and helps protect against everyday spills, wet mopping or even pet accidents from absorbing into the wood or leaking between planks into the subfloor.

Ware Malcomb announces expansion in Canada Ware Malcomb, an international design firm, has opened a second office in Canada in downtown Toronto, Ont. The company’s Vaughan, Ont., office will continue to operate. Ware Malcomb first

entered the Canadian market in 2007 through an acquisition. Ware Malcomb principal Frank Di Roma has led the growth and diversification of the firm’s business in Canada since 2010 and will Frank DiRoma continue in this role overseeing both offices. In addition, Christina Kolkas, Ware Malcomb director, interior architecture & design, will be leading the growth, development, operations and studio management of the new Toronto office, as well as continue to lead the Vaughan Interiors Studio. Christina Kolkas Specializing in architecture, planning, interior design, branding and civil engineering design for commercial real estate and corporate clients, the firm has completed over 700 projects in the greater Toronto area and beyond. The firm currently has active projects in five other provinces across Canada.

FCEF board tackles installation crisis The Dalton, Ga.-based Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF), a newly formed, non-profit organization dedicated to the recruitment, scholarship and placement of professional floorcovering installers, has announced its board of directors. With representatives from retailers, training organizations, advocacy groups, distributors, and manufacturers, the new board members’ collective expertise will strengthen the FCEF and ensure the foundation’s power to overcome the skilled installer labour crisis that affects the flooring industry.

10 March/April 2020 Spearheaded by the World Floor Scott Humphrey Covering Association (WFCA), the FCEF’s initiative “We are Part of the Solution” is an industry-wide collaboration to remedy the installer shortage. The FCEF Board of Directors includes: Scott Humphrey, WFCA c.e.o.; Ken Jackson, Shaw Industries Group; Karen Mendel son, Mohawk Industries; Jeff Honkonen, Engineered Floors; Geoff Gordon, Fuse Commercial Flooring Alliance; Joe Yarbrough, The Carpet and Rug Institute; Robert Varden, International Certified Flooring Installers Association; Dean Thompson; The Resilient Floor Covering Institute; Kevin Gammonley, North Amer ican Association of Floor Covering Distributors; Michael Martin, National Wood Flooring Association; Bart Bettiga, National Tile Contractors Association; Deb DeGraaf, WFCA chair; and, Don Roberts, retail representative.

Ardex Academy announces training schedule Ardex Americas has announced its 2020 training schedule for the Ardex Academy in Delta, B.C. The following courses are now open for registration: March 4, 5 — Ardex Polished Concrete Systems; March 24, 25, 26 — Tile & Stone Installation Systems — Module 1; May 26, 27. 28, 2020 — Tile & Stone Installation Systems — Module 2; July 28, 29, 30,

September 22, 23, 24 and November 24, 25, 26 — Moisture Control (each month has different course lineup). Register at https:// bit.ly/2SJq0Bb. Ardex Academy training is also available in Mississauga, Ont. NFCA welcomes Armstrong as new member National Floor Covering Association of Canada (NFCA) based in Surrey, B.C., welcomes Armstrong Flooring as a new member, supporting quality assurance and best practices in Canada’s floor covering industry. NFCA installation standards are detailed in the Floor Covering Reference Manual, with 11 architectural specification guides included, detailing proper procedures for the installation of resilient, carpet, hardwood, laminate, bamboo and cork floor coverings. NFCA also provides unbiased, professional floor inspection services for the commercial floor covering industry.

Faller joins Fuse Alliance Fuse Alliance, a member-owned, Parker, Colo.-based organization of professional commercial flooring contractors, announced today that concrete expert Jennifer Faller Jennifer Faller has joined the network as a consultant. With more than 20 years of experience in the concrete polishing industry across North America, Faller provides consulting services and solutions for horizontal hard surfaces and concrete. Her company, Concrete In-Site of Philadelphia, Penn., offers on-site quality management, site inspections, productivity and quality improvement recommendations, slip resistance and slab finish quality testing and documentation, product testing and development, specification review, SOW design and bid review prior to submittal along with other services. Fuse Alliance represents 115 companies in more than 180 locations across the U.S. and Canada, accounting for approximately $1.7 billion US in sales and services.