The title of this issue of the Commercial Flooring Report mirrors the title of a 60 minute webinar we did for Buildings VIP and Buildings. (The term webinar is short for Web-based seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web).

THE FLOORING DISASTERS: PREVENTION AND RECOVERY webinar,

sponsored by Johnsonite, was broadcast on Wednesday, April 4, 2012. The subtitle

was: Don’t fall victim to a flooring disaster. Keep your floor in top condition with

preventative maintenance and create a game plan in case the worst-case scenario strikes.

The Learning Objectives of the webinar were:

1. Discover what factors lay the groundwork for an expensive flooring disaster

2. Understand necessary maintenance

3. Learn proactive strategies to prevent or mitigate potential problems

4. Develop a recovery plan to minimize facility downtime if a flooring crisis strikes

The key factors in a flooring disaster were listed and expounded upon and are as follows: The biggest flooring

problems currently are: Wrong product in the wrong place, Installation issues, Substrate issues, Curling Carpet Tile

and Appearance Loss. These issues cost the industry, which includes the end users, manufacturers, flooring

contractors, general contractors, architects, designers and anyone within range of the fallout of a failed floor covering

job, untold millions of dollars. All of these problems can be easily and intelligently avoided. When I say easily

avoided it means that the entire chain of participants starting with the architect and owner, armed with the right

information and receptive to doing the right thing from selecting the product to maintaining it, conforms and agrees to

not cut corners or accept the “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” way of thinking. Many times the sequence of

events such as “shoot, ready, aim” is employed just to get the job done only to face the costly consequences of ripping

the flooring up and disrupting business, later. I’ve never been able to understand why, for the sake of the schedule,

projects get rushed to the point that the punch lists swell with corrections and expenses that could have been avoided.

Three of the items mentioned in particular, are easy to avoid; 1. Wrong product in the wrong place incapable of ever

delivering the type of performance and appearance retention desired and expected; 2. Installation issues linked to

3. Substrate conditions that compromise both the installation and the flooring material - a deadly combination of

potential catastrophic flooring failure.

Volume 48 Page 1 for the Commercial Floor Covering Industry TOTALLY GREEN PUBLICATION April 2012

“I’ll be honest with you – The Government can’t get by on

what you’re making.”

Elaborating on another of the key factors is preventing problems from occurring relative to correctable substrate conditions which include moisture, alkalinity, curing and sealing agents and additives or topical applications, fly ash content in the concrete (>30%), highly burnished concrete surfaces and contaminants of various kinds on the concrete surface. On plywood, OSB and particle board chemicals for fire retardants, insecticide treatments, and chemistry inherently contained in the wood product can compromise the installation. Also, not to be minimized is the proper and appropriate floor prep of the substrate to accept the flooring material by leveling the surface, properly filling cracks and treating saw cuts. This is an extremely important matter. We are finding more and more troubling situations of flooring failures caused by the incorrect techniques, processes and procedures in the treatment of concrete substrates, saw cuts, expansion joints and so forth. The waters have become muddied by a multitude of treatments and processes that are being touted to prevent substrate problems that have actually created a whole new set of problems. Remember this, words do not change the laws of physics, to think otherwise is pure folly.

Installation was another category covered. This should only be done by experienced flooring contractors with a successful track record, journeymen installers, with references for similar projects for the flooring contractor and the installers. The installation should be in compliance with industry and manufacturers guidelines and follow standard industry practices and procedures for the product being installed. Allowing the wrong people to install flooring based strictly on price can cost a lot more later. If the flooring contractor is not selling and supplying the material and you’re only

THE COMMERCIAL FLOORING REPORT

Lew Migliore - President and Owner LGM Enterprises, LLC

P-(706) 370-5888- F-(706) 270-0482 - Email: lgmtcs@optilink.us

Click this link for archives of CFR articles

LGMANDASSOCIATES.COM

The experts at LGM specialize in consultation,

correction and resolution for flooring complaints, claims, installation and performance

issues.

No issue is too big, too small or too far away for us to

handle.

All ads are interactive. Just click on the ad to enter

their website.

Page 2 The Commercial Flooring Report April 2012

OSB ISSUE

SAW CUT

BUBBLE OVER SAW CUT

paying for labor, the more you beat them up on price the less quality you’ll get. At some point you have to take something out to get to the lower figure and what part of the quality of the installation are you willing to do without?

Compliance with “Green” initiatives: Regardless of LEED qualification and dictates, if the space is not “creature and occupant ready” which is HVAC operating as it would if occupied, reactions can and will compromise the flooring product. Not only the flooring but other materials in the space will react to changes once the HVAC system is operational. Not something often realized that can have such a profound effect on flooring, the installation and the substrate.

Product Performance: The right product should always be used in the right place and there is always a product available that will perform exactly as expected. This means not only should the product be qualified for use in the space but the end user should be qualified as well. Will the product work and will the end user employ a maintenance program that will keep it looking fresh and new? If not then the product will have to compensate for the shortcomings of the end user which may mean increasing the performance and soil hiding characteristics. All of the following characteristics must be appropriately employed in the product; Color, Style, Construction, Fiber and Backing for carpet and, for hard surface products, the thickness, density, wear surface, resiliency, color and style as well. The webinar includes charts and photographs you can use to help you.

Appearance Loss: “Ugly Out” not worn out is usually what happens to flooring materials not properly specified, installed and cared for. Keeping the product clean – must start when installed. There are charts and graphics on this issue in the webinar you can use to assist you in keeping your flooring looking properly presentable.

Page 3 The Commercial Flooring Report April 2012 d 2010

PROPER SELECTION AND MAINTENANCE PREVENTS

PERMANENT DAMAGE

Fixing a Failure: This is something no one should have to do. The cost for fixing a failure can be up to 10 times more than the cost of the initial installation. It is also totally disruptive, environmentally irresponsible, jeopardizes safety and health of occupants, wreaks havoc on business operations, wastes money, time, resources and material. The objective should always be to do it right the first time. As we say, “get it in the door and keep it on the floor.” Some of this information has been written about and touched on in the past Commercial Flooring Reports but in the webinar you’ll get a different flavor for it that can be more enlightening. LGM and Associates in conjunction with BuidingsVIP is offering this free webinar to all of our readers. You must register for this free webinar by clicking on the link provided below and then following the directions and prompts.

COME HEAR LEW SPEAK

I also want to let you know that I will be doing a presentation at Neocon scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The title is: “Implications of Green Building on Installation of Flooring Materials, Substrates and Installation Technology” we’ve also included a link and information for this as well.

Page 4 The Commercial Flooring Report April 2012 d 2010

The new Velcro Brand Carpet Protector is ready to go. This product takes the place of clear plastic coverings with pressure sensitive adhesive that have created a host of problems for the industry. The new Velcro Brand Carpet Protector is made for use on loop and cut and loop carpet; the vast majority of commercial carpet. Bentley Prince Street is the first carpet manufacturer to offer this unique product. Contact Velcro for more information and samples.

Systems like EnviroSTIX for hard surface and hard backed flooring materials and Bentley Prince Street Contact Release for carpet are systems that will help prevent the failure of flooring installations. There is more technology coming, most of which we are involved with. We’ll keep you informed to help you. In the meantime understand that moisture, temperature and humidity have a profound effect on flooring materials and the integrity of their installation.

“WHEN NO ONE ELSE HAS ANSWERS, WE DO”

Flooring Failure Analysis and On Site Physical Inspection

Guidance and Consulting on all Flooring

Materials, Substrates, Concrete and Moisture Issues

Specifications, Consulting and

Information Before and After the Sale

Oversee Manufacturing and Inspection Of Product at the Source

Installation Oversight, Guidance,

Correction and Specification Writing

Identifying Concrete, Moisture and Flooring Failures

Certified Product Testing

Mediation and Dispute Resolution

Legal Case Assistance and Proffered Expert Witness

Insurance Loss Evaluations

Educational Seminars