3M Has Found the Gold

It takes companies like 3M who strive to become leaders within the industry.  With the latest flooring and sandpaper technology, “3M Has Found the Gold”.  We’re talking about the “Easy Change Floor Sanding Discs” in various grits ranging  up to 150.

We tested the 120 grit Gold Easy Change disc backed up with the 3M thin white driver pad.  This parquet floor (photo below) was drum sanded to 120 grit in both directions.  The normal process would have included hard-plating or screening to remove drum marks.  In many cases over screening produces dish-out which does not happen using this soft-plate technique with the gold easy change discs.  As you can see in the photo below there is not one sanding mark in the floor. 

NWFC has personally tested and used this system for the past two years.  We have not used screening techniques since that period.  I highly recommend the 3M Easy Change Gold 120 grit for those who stain or finish wood floors. 

I guarantee you this system works. If you have any further questions regarding this product contact your 3M representative. 

www.shop3.com

From The Field

During the construction process of a high rise condominium the client purchased a Tiete Chestnut engineered wood floor. Shortly after install the floor began to show a few surface checks. Within 5 weeks the floor looked like this and I was called in to complete a wood floor inspection to determine the cause of the checking. How could this happen in such a short period of time?

A wood floor inspection process will identify the cause of the checking. Keep in mind the wood floor will tell you the story and it NEVER lies. Let start the process with claim history, a very important part of inspections including interviews with all parties involved to determine an unbiased opinion.

Claim History:

• Flooring selection made at the GC’s design center in October 7, 2011
• Flooring was ordered by designer on October 17, 2011
• Flooring arrived at distribution and took delivery on November 1, 2011
• Flooring was delivered to the jobsite on November 14, 2011
• Flooring installer (subcontractor) began installation November 19, 2011
• Flooring installation completed November 23, 2011
• Owner noticed a few small checks in flooring on November 30, 2011
• Construction meeting was held and portable humidifiers (5) were brought in December 1, 2011
• Second construction meeting held December 9, 2011 and checking has worsened.
• Installer commissioned a wood floor inspection on December 30, 2011

The Process:

Interview with Sales Team: This is a design studio for the GC where most of the interior finish selections are made including flooring. During the interview with the sales team who worked with the owners making the flooring selection mentioned this was the floor the owner wanted. During the sales process there was some discussion about maintaining proper relative humidity (RH) requirements outlined by the manufacturer.

Interview with Installer: Requested flooring contractor field notes and recorded as follows:
Wood MC 7-9%
Subfloor 2.8 – 3# (ASTM 1869)
RH Interior RH ranged from 30 to 38 during installation
Witnessed photos and log sheet to confirm information accuracy

Interview with GC: Project manager stated the checking began almost immediately after install which indicated to them that it must be a wood problem. Why 5 portable humidifiers? He stated the mechanical contractor ordered the wrong parts and new parts
are on back order. I requested the RH levels he recorded at the site meeting and he said they were around 22%.

Inspection: Upon inspection there were 5 portable humidifiers yet the RH couldn’t get above 15%, some rooms measured 9%. The entire floor has severe checking where the flooring wear layer looks like a shattered windshield. The built in humidifier on the HVAC system was present, however was non functioning due to back ordered parts.

Cause of Concern: The floor was installed to manufacturers RH parameters, yet the HVAC system could not support these requirements post installation. The manufacturer guidelines clearly state RH requirements must be maintained between 30 and 55% pre, during and post installation. The project manager scheduled the installation knowing the humidifier was non functioning. The weather during the installation was mild, however immediately after install the weather turned for the worse and near 10ºF. The portable humidifiers could not keep up with the demand. The checking is caused from decline in moisture content since the day of installation.

Cure: There is no easy fix; full replacement is the only choice.

Call the Question: How could have this disaster been prevented? What solution can be offered to resolve these business relationships?

NWFA's New 'Involved Parties' Definitions

The NWFA has released the 2012 Installation Guidelines, and on page 3 the guidelines now include a statement about “Involved Parties.”  This is to help identify the roles of each party when it comes to the wood floor and who is responsible for testing, delivery, acclimation, installation, floor care, etc.

Why was it written? There simply are too many times then someone involved in the sale/delivery or installation of flooring is unaware of what their responsibilities are. Our goal was to identify each level of responsibility so that we can attempt to put a cap on passing the buck. Note that installers are responsible only for flooring installation procedure and site conditions while present on the job. 

Here are the definitions included in the guidelines:

Manufacturer: Any individual or entity that physically manufacturers the wood flooring product.

Specifier: Any individual or entity (including, but not limited to, architects, builders, consultants, design centers, designers/decorators, end users, general contractors, flooring contractors, sales professionals) that recommends, specifies, or in any way advises the buyer prior to ordering, purchasing, and/or installing the wood floor products.

Supplier: Any individual or entity (including, but not limited to, distributor, importer) that receives product from a manufacturer and supplies the wood flooring products to a seller or buyer.

Seller: Any individual or entity (including, but not limited to, retail stores, big box stores, internet
sales, interior designers, direct sales) that physically supplies/sells the wood flooring products to the buyer.

Buyer: Any individual or entity (including, but not limited to distributors, homeowners, installers, flooring contractors, general contractors) that is the first to use/handle/possess/receive/deliver the wood flooring material prior to installation of the wood flooring product.

Installer: Any individual or entity that physically installs and places into service the wood flooring product.

End-User: Any individual or entity that physically receives and puts to use the final wood flooring product.

To obtain a copy of the new 2012 Installation Guidelines, contact NWFA at (800) 848-8824 or go to www.nwfa.org. 

To Fill or Not to Fill?

I went to an inspection where the client expressed their concern regarding snagging their socks on the wood floor. The inspection showed compressed filler (filler push-up) that was raised above the wood floor surface:

The flooring contractor refinished this floor six months ago and the condition did not exist previously. Who’s at fault? The flooring contractor was the last person to service the floor, therefore he or she carries the liability. 

Let’s take a closer look at some aspects of this job: 

Sales: Many times when bidding the floor, you are faced with bidding against four or five other companies. Therefore everyone tries to sell themselves and their service to rise above their competitors. One of the biggest statements I hear is, “We’ll make your floor look like new” and trowel fill all the gaps at no charge. The client feels they are getting a premium service for free.

Cause of Concern: The floor was refinished in January when seasonal gapping was taking place, creating many small and large gaps. This would be considered normal. The flooring contractor has to project what dimensional change will take place when installing, sanding and finishing any wood floor.  

Cure: The current condition was caused by trowel-filling the wood floor in low-RH season. The floor will have to be re-screened, have stain touch-up on the filler and be recoated at the flooring contractor’s expense.

Prevention: The estimator has to educate the end-user regarding proper HVAC control and seasonal change in the wood flooring. Seasonal gapping is a normal condition. Having an explanation of the results of trowel filling and a photo of filler push-up in your portfolio usually sets you apart from the competitors. On future jobs, there are only three ways to prevent this:

• Wait until high-RH season when gaps close, then trowel-fill all remaining gaps
• Spot-fill only large gaps and leave small ones for normal and required expansion
• Trowel-fill the floor in its current condition with a disclaimer of filler push-up in your proposal and the cost to re-coat floor in August at their expense to correct the condition.