Randy Prewitt

The success and longevity of any floor covering installation largely rests on an adequate subfloor and the installer's responsibility for qualifying and preparation. Any hard-surface installation depends upon the support of an approved subfloor. Carpeting installed over cushion usually can grant a "pardon" to just about any subfloor. On the other hand, carpeting can also hide a multitude of sins and may be considered the flooring industry's greatest cover-up story.

There are three key components to becoming a successful hardwood flooring dealer/contractor. Creating a satisfactory bottom line requires shrewd purchasing, a realistic margin or "markup," and a level of installation productivity that exerts minimal, if any, impact on the net profit. Poor productivity that continues to go unchecked during the fiscal year of operation can darken what would otherwise be a bright year of sales growth.

Undoubtedly, one of the elements of our industry that most excites hardwood flooring dealers/contractors is the opportunity afforded them to "grow" their businesses. The time and energy they devote to developing proper solid-wood floor installation practices that eliminate unwanted product expansion at the job site could be dramatically reduced if they'd only consider the selection and installation of alternative hardwood flooring. I guess you could say that some of these folks just can't see the forest for the trees.

The current economic climate continues to run hot and cold. Fortunately, with increasing signs of economic stability, consumers are once again beginning to warm up to the notion of long-term investments. And, as you probably already know, hardwood flooring is one of the best such investments of which I am aware.

Today’s consumers have become somewhat “dimensional” in their thinking when it comes to purchasing hardwood flooring products. Perhaps our industry was just a delayed recipient of changing times.

In our industry, hardwood flooring has always been perceived as a universal floor covering for most residential applications. The limitations for potential hardwood applications are minimal at best. And areas of the home that were once considered off limits to our industry are increasingly deemed quite suitable for a variety of hardwood flooring products.

Wood or Wood Knot

The phrase “turning over a new leaf in life” very aptly describes the hardwood flooring industry’s growing interest in “pasture-grown” bamboo.

The hardwood industry strives to equip the dealer/contractor with multiple choices for wood floor installation at each and every level of today’s construction market. Consumers continue to demand hardwood flooring for the single, most-important investment in life -- the home.

Consider wood floor finishes. For years, wax was the one and only finish that was available. It was never considered a choice -- just a given. Over time, this shortsighted approach to floor finishes allowed far too many consumer hardwood sales to slip away.