A floor covering does not become a finished product until it is installed. Fortunately many very knowledgeable installers are out there. Unfortunately many butchers that call themselves installers are also out there. Installation is a key element in how a product is going to perform a fact that cannot be stressed enough. A few of the common examples of improper installation are:

• Carpet where the seams that are not properly sealed may fray and allow the backing to separate along the seam edge; seams not properly performed or the carpet stretched as tight as it should have been. Seams in cushion that have not been properly joined.
• Laminated floors where the seams are not properly joined, acclimated or locked in against fixed objects and planks not properly staggered.
• Sheet vinyl where the seams are not properly sealed will open, shrink and turn upward. Material not properly rolled, the improper adhesive or underlayment.
• Hardwood floors that are installed at the proper moisture level, bad boards not pulled, improper nailing and finish problems.

The floor covering industry is striving for improvement in many areas including the area of installation. The WFCA – World Floor Covering Association offers many courses for both members and non-members. The CRI – Carpet and Rug Institute has developed a “seal of approval” that it issues to companies meeting specific installation criteria. The CFI -Certified Floorcovering Installers Association and the FCIA – Floor Covering Installers Association – have developed excellent programs for improving the quality of floor covering installers. The NWFA – National Wood Flooring Association offers continuing education for both members and non-members. Flooring distributors and Manufactures are continuously offer regional programs.

With all of the programs offered one would expect the floor covering installers are very well trained. Unfortunately only a small percentage of installers are willing to invest their time and even less willing to invest their money in continuing education. The buyer must beware and check out the quality of the installers work by asking for references.

Watch for continuing articles in this series.

A floor covering does not become a finished product until it is installed. Fortunately many very knowledgeable installers are out there.  Unfortunately many butchers that call themselves installers are also out there.

Installation is a key element in how a product is going to perform a fact that cannot be stressed enough. Common examples of improper installation are seaming problems. Carpet where the seams that are not properly sealed may fray and allow the backing to separate along the seam edge. Laminated floors where the seams have not been properly joined may separate. Hardwood floor that have not been properly nailed down may squeak or move.  Sheet vinyl where the seams are not properly sealed will open, shrink and turn upward.  These are but a few of the many problems that can occur when a floor covering has not been installed by a knowledgeable installer.

The floor covering industry is striving for improvement in many areas including the area of installation.  Carpet and Rug Institute – RCI has developed a “seal of approval” that it issues to companies meeting specific installation criteria. The CFI – Certified Floorcovering Installers Association and the FCIA – Floor Covering Installers Association have developed excellent programs for improving the quality of floor covering installers. The National Wood Flooring Association – NWFA and the World Flooring Association – WFCA  both offer continuing education as do many other trade organizations.