“Reducing the Moisture Content in Poured Concrete Slabs”

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As environmental and workplace-safety regulations have limited the use of solvents in recent years, adhesives manufacturers have introduced water-based formulas with greatly reduced VOC emissions. For all their upsides, these adhesive formulas are less tolerant of moisture, making excessive moisture in concrete slabs a significant concern with certain types of flooring. When testing reveals that…

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“Successful LVT installation: Flooring Forensics-Mar 2014”

Luxury vinyl tile, or LVT, is one of the fastest growing hard surface flooring materials on the market today. Everyone making hard surface flooring, and even manufacturers who aren’t, want to jump on the bandwagon of LVT’s popularity. What drives manufacturers’ desire to enter this product category? First is its versatility from a styling perspective.…

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“Installing Tile in Wet Areas”

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Since we know that the tile itself does not create a waterproof environment, additional measures need to be taken as part of the installation process. For the most part, the tile surface, either glazed or unglazed, does repel water, but other than a porcelain product, the body of the tile is absorptive to some degree.…

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“Buying Made in the USA Helps Local Economies Thrive”

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So just why is Made in the USA important? For consumers, it’s becoming increasingly important to know where the products they’re purchasing come from. In the past few decades, as long as it looked good and the price was right then it was generally acceptable. Today, however, consumers are beginning to realize the true and…

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“Natural Instincts: Flooring Trends for 2014”

“Floors are the single biggest visual element in a home. They set the mood and tie the house together. In kitchens and, increasingly, great rooms, putting the floor to work as a warm visual element is paramount. Open floor plans present a challenge when specing flooring. Great rooms lend themselves to a monolithic look for…

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“ACT Large Format Tile and Surface Prep”

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The Large Format Tile (LFT) and Surface Prep exam was one of the first tests on the committee’s wish list due to the popularity and ever-growing size of ceramic tile found in the marketplace today. A further reason for including this test was that many times inappropriate materials are used to “fix” the floor or…

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“Builder Confidence Remains Steady in March”

“Builder confidence in the market for newly-built, single-family homes rose one point to 47 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). “The March HMI mirrors last month’s sentiment, as builders continued to be affected by poor weather and difficulties in finding lots and labor,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a…

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“Keene Acquires Ohio Facility”

“Keene Building Products has acquired a new facility in Euclid, Ohio. The industrial complex’s 11 acres provides room for Keene to create a new laboratory for research and development along with a prototype production line for small filament products. The acreage allows room for expansion and the creation of a rail spur to manufacture products…

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“Why ‘The Year of LVT’ Continues; Opportunities for Retailers”

“Many called 2013 “the Year of LVT.” And with good reason: Resilient has been the fastest growing flooring category, and within this rapidly growing segment, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is thriving (Editor’s note: For the purposes of this article, LVT refers to both luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank). We see no signs of the…

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“ Decorative Concrete and Toppings: Proper Prep and Installation”

Decorative Concrete Slabs require a more detailed surface preparation.  “Coatings for Industry. Kevin Klotz, president, said his company offers decorative floor coatings including flake, quartz and clear sealers for stains and dyes. “Our recommended preparation procedure for a pre-existing slab would be to clean and degrease the slab through use of detergents, pressure washing and…

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