For many years, resistance to change was the norm within our industry. Solid hardwood flooring had long been the King of the Hill. Little, if any, attention was given to the “Lost Valley” of installations that lay below grade. At the time, the mentality of the consumer, which was nourished by the salesperson and/or installer, could be summed up in the arrogant phrase: “Accept no substitutes.”
Understanding the accepted requirements for solid hardwood flooring installations placed an immediate restriction on our industry to capitalize on floor covering market share. On- or above-grade installation requirements left our industry defenseless to alternative floor covering choices.