Author Archives: Content Syndicator

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 14, № 1 (The Most Sustainable Carpet Fiber: Wool)

 Volume: 14 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

In this issue we'll cover a couple of subjects. Since sustainability is one of the hottest buzz words lately and being green the ultimate objective of every manufacturer for every product known to man, we'll talk about the most sustainable carpet fiber. We'll also take a look at the absurdity of bidding a commercial flooring installation without knowing the product specified and to be installed. How this can be an acceptable practice and why it's done is, in my opinion, insane.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 13, № 1 (Pooling, Watermarking, Pile Reversal and Shading)

 Volume: 13 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

These issues – and the terms are somewhat synonymous in their meaning – continue to plague carpet manufacturers. Pooling, Watermarking, Pile Reversal and Shading are manifested in different ways but primarily give the appearance of water having been spilled on a carpet causing irregularly shaped light and dark areas in or out of the traffic lanes of carpet.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 12, № 1 (The Front End of a Project can be the Greenest Part of the Equation)

 Volume: 12 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Problems with new floor covering products, whatever they may be, don't necessarily mean the product has to be replaced. Carpet in particular can be made so it doesn't get shipped with defects and, depending on what defects may be in it, it is often possible to make repairs. Color shade issues, surface irregularities from shearing, stop marks from tufting and minor flaws can very often be repaired in place. The most prudent move however is to make sure these problems don't occur by being proactive rather than reactive — the former being much less expensive.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 11, № 1 (Protecting You and the Client's Investment)

 Volume: 11 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

In this issue of the Commercial Flooring Report we've got several guest articles. Part II of Jeff Bishops article on commercial carpet care and cleaning, an article on correcting side match shade variation by Mike Currin and another installment from Lance Wallach on your financial well being for commercial entrepreneurs.

I've also written a small piece on walk off mats; their use and safety. All of this has to do with protecting the end users investments and you as a business person.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 10, № 1 (Maintenance Issues)

 Volume: 10 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Cleaning and maintaining commercial flooring, especially carpet, is as important as selecting the right carpet construction, color and installation procedures. It is the one thing that will make the difference between a long healthy life for the flooring material or a short ugly one. For this issue we've asked Jeff Bishop, head of Clean Care Seminars whom I consider the Guru of the cleaning industry, to share information with you regarding commercial carpet cleaning. This is the first of two parts.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 9, № 1 (ACAA Reply and Vinyl Issues)

 Volume: 9 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

In the last issue of the Commercial Flooring Report I wrote an article about fly ash content in concrete and the issues this material presents relative to installation and in particular its relevance to gaining LEED credits for new buildings. The article prompted a response from David Goss the Executive Director of the American Coal Ash Association, which resulted in us pening a very fruitful dialogue. Following is a response from the American Coal Ash Association prompted by my article. At the end of the response I'll provide you with the outcome of our conversations and phone conference meeting we had with several participants and the resultant benefits this new relationship will bring to the floor covering industry.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 8, № 1 (Be Aware of Dangerous Situations!)

 Volume: 8 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

The commercial flooring business is fraught with danger much of it perpetrated by ignorance. This is not to cast aspersions on those in the industry as being dumb but it is in reference to people not knowing or sometimes, dangerously, not caring or worse yet taking matters into their own hands when they think they know and really don't.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 7, № 1 (Interesting Facts and Information for 2007 / 2008)

 Volume: 7 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Carpet tile use is growing dramatically but at the expense of broadloom carpet. There is no question carpet tile is the fastest growing textile floor covering material on the market but its growth is coming at the expense of broadloom. The ease of installation, design capabilities, structural integrity, performance characteristics and versatility of carpet tile, along with new innovative backing systems, many of them the result of recycling efforts, make carpet tile the hot property that it is.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 6, № 1 (Carpet Myths and Facts)

 Volume: 6 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

[b]There are a number of myths about carpet[/b] that many believe to be true when in fact they are not. The myths uncovered here are from Werner Braun, President of the Carpet and Rug Institute, from his presentation at the annual CRI Meeting held on November 13, 2007 and my subsequent interview of Werner.

I've added my own commentary to these categories based on 37 years of experience. The carpet industry is one of the most responsible industry's there is regarding addressing issues that are erroneous and putting forth information that benefits the consuming public.

Commercial Flooring Report: Vol. 5, № 1 (Beware of Imported Products)

 Volume: 5 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

This has been a scare of late particularly with products imported from China and it relates to carpet in particular, especially with one case we have. This carpet was installed in a public venue and after a short period of time there was a question of wear. This instigated the end users and flooring contractors questioning of the carpet itself and its quality. Further examination of the carpet revealed that there were three different backings supplied with the product which raised even more concerns about how reliable this product and its manufacturing supplier were.