The National Wood Flooring Association’s 15th Annual Convention — held March 31- April 3 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Dallas — brought together manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and installers from around the world to share their ideas and experiences in the wood flooring industry.
The Performance Standards and Specifications Committee of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has developed a convenient new tool for specifiers. By referencing appearance-retention ratings, the committee has established carpet-selection guidelines that identify the performance requirements of carpet according to the specific areas of intended use.
As a response to the current technological revolution, many popular trends in floor coverings — and in laminate flooring in particular — are focused on natural themes. Consider the rising popularity of little indulgences that make us feel good, such as aromatherapy, exotic teas, bottled water, organic and preservative-free foods, yoga and day spas. Culturally, we are pampering ourselves with natural indulgences that are intended to promote health and ease the tension caused by the increased pace of daily life. The idea behind the trend is to let nature back into our lives and thereby create a counterbalance to the stresses of modern society.
Roughly one decade ago, waterjet technology was first harnessed as a means of cutting hard-surface materials for architectural and design installations. The first designers to embrace the waterjet process soon began to execute designs that previously were impossible to achieve through the conventional methods prevalent at that time.
The U.S. economic expansion of the last decade has opened the door for the development of many large-scale residential and commercial projects that otherwise would never have passed the planning stage. And nowhere is that door wider ajar than on the East Coast, where Forest City Enterprises recently completed construction of the Lennox Grande.
Mention “Valencia” and what, for most people, comes to mind? Oranges. True enough, but if you mention the word around a group of floor covering professionals, you’re apt to get a decidedly different response.