Wednesday, June 29, 2011
EPA Could Expand RRP Rule
In April 2010—the very month the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule took effect—the agency immediately issued a notice to amend the rule by adding "clearance testing requirements." Just more than a year later, those proposed changes could be taking effect, as well.
In July the RRP rule—which affects wood flooring contractors moving baseboards or sanding a floor in a home or child-occupied facility built before 1978—could be changed to require contractors to work with a third party to verify a job site is free of lead dust after a renovation is completed. After receiving more than 300 public comments on the proposed changes, EPA submitted its proposed rule to the executive branch's Office of Management and Budget for review on April 14 and should take final action on the rule next month.
In the face of proposed upcoming changes, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) released survey results last week revealing why the regulation is "unwelcome to homeowners" and remodelers. Remodelers don't like the increased job cost from the RRP rule, and homeowners don't like paying more, either, especially if they don't have small children—whom the rule is primarily intended to protect—in their home. NARI added that the RRP rule—which has been in effect since April 2010—is "certain to negatively impact scores of small remodeling businesses."
In fact, NARI argues the RRP rule actually "deters homeowners' use of lead-safe certified contractors." Kensington, Md., remodeler David Merrick, said, "Lead clearance testing only applies to contractors, not to homeowners. Once homeowners discover this loophole, they often choose to do the demolition or project work themselves to save on costs. Ultimately they risk lead exposure because homeowners are not trained in lead-safe work practices." According to NARI, the proposed clearance testing change will only increase problems.
Despite its opposition to the RRP rule, in January NARI sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson requesting the agency "aggressively and consistently enforce the [RRP] rule so families can have confidence that work on their homes is being done safely and professionally." According to Remodeling magazine, NARI is actively lobbying in Washington, D.C., so its members can have more input on the RRP rule.
In addition, the EPA is also forming another RRP amendment that would see requirements for lead-safe work practices in pre-1978 buildings expanded to the commercial and public sector. Final action on that change would not occur until 2013.
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Denver Hardwood to Open Service Center
Denver Hardwood Company Inc. (Denver) will open a center on July 5 for servicing floor sanding, dust containment and related equipment from Clarke American Sanders and other major brands. The center will also carry a wide assortment of replacement parts, as well.
Steve Riney, who has more than 40 years of experience servicing sanding equipment, will manage the center. Prior to joining Denver Hardwoods, Riney worked in Clarke's Denver service center. Riney will also work closely with Denver Hardwoods' machine sales specialist Shawn Carrier.
For more information, call (800) 274-4144 or e-mail denverhardwood@aol.com.
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Scientific Certification Systems Opens Indonesian Subsidiary
Citing an increased demand by the country's growing timber industry—and, no doubt, a result of frequent problems with illegal logging (see here and here)—Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has opened a subsidiary in Jakarta, Indonesia, for certification and verification of the country's forest products industry. The subsidiary, PT Scientific Certification Systems Indonesia, now offers Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Management and Chain of Custody Certification in Indonesia.
According to a report by the European Union, Indonesian timber exports grew from $7.3 billion in 2005 to $9.7 billion in 2010. However, a 2007 United Nations report estimated that up to 88 percent of timber logged in Indonesia was illegally sourced, putting timber importers at risk of unknowingly trafficking illegal timber, which is now punishable in the U.S. under the Lacey Act.
"Having a full-time presence in Indonesia will allow us to serve clients quickly and effectively," said Dr. Robert Hrubes, senior vice president of SCS. "We are excited to expand into a market in which the added transparency of certification will have a large positive impact on a critical resource."
SCS will also offer forest carbon offset verification in Indonesia.
Loy Jones, a forester with 16 years of experience working with FSC certification, has been named interim director of the subsidiary.
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EIA: Satellite Images Show Illegal Logging in Indonesia
Click photo to enlarge.
After palm oil giant Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) denied last week that it had violated Indonesia's logging moratorium (on the very day it was enacted), its accuser, the Environmental Protection Agency (EIA), has released satellite images it says further indict KLK.
The images combine land images with satellite data recorded in a forest concession of KLK's on June 22. The NASA-funded satellites use technology called moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) to monitor for fires and hotspots across Southeast Asia with "high-percentage certainty," according to EIA. The latticed area deemed "Ongoing Process Deforestation" confirms KLK is illegally burning swaths of Indonesia's forests.
"KLK should prove it is not carrying out land burning in its plantation or its denials will amount to no more than hot air," said EIA's Senior Forest Campaigner Jago Wadley.
Image source: NASA FIRMS / MODIS Rapid Response
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Home Prices Rebound for First Time in Eight Months
For the first time in eight months home prices have risen, according to figures through April from the S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Indices. Compared with figures from March, both the 10- and 20-city composite indices rose 0.8 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively, in April, largely due to the annual spring buying flurry.
Even with 13 of the 20 cities studied showing improvement, prices are still down 3.1 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively, from April 2010 levels.
“In a welcome shift from recent months, this month is better than last—April’s numbers beat March,” said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Indices. "However, the seasonally adjusted numbers show that much of the improvement reflects the beginning of the spring/summer home buying season. It is much too early to tell if this is a turning point or simply due to some warmer weather."
According to the Associated Press, since the housing bubble burst in 2006, prices have fallen more than they did during the Great Depression.
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Derr Recognizes Longtime Employees
Distributor Derr Flooring Co. (Willow Grove, Pa.) recognized four of its employees who have worked 25 years with the company during a reception and dinner on June 23.
The employees honored were (left to right above): Bill Meehan, controller; Bob Frederick, outside sales representative; Terry Keller, warehouse foreman; and Tom Kelly, regional sales manager.
Each employee received an engraved watch and was added to the company's plaque honoring employees with 25 years of service. There are now 34 employees honored on the plaque.
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Cali Bamboo Launches Greenscape Contest
Cali Bamboo (San Diego), along with the Surfrider Foundation, launched the National Greenscape Challenge on Monday to promote eco-friendly landscape and garden designs.
Participants must submit sustainable landscaping projects, including photos and a brief description, on the contest page by July 31 for a chance at the grand prize: An all-expense-paid trip with a guest to Surfrider's Celebrity Expression Session in Malibu, Calif.
“This challenge is a great opportunity for people across the U.S. to showcase their landscape or garden projects that were designed with conservation, permeability and retention in mind,” said Jeff Goldberg, CEO and president of Cali Bamboo.
The contest winner will be announced on Aug. 8. For full contest details, click here.
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Monday, June 27, 2011
Wood Floor Needed for Game on Ship That Buried bin Laden
Sports flooring manufacturers: Here's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Morale Entertainment Foundation, a company that organizes entertainment for troops in the U.S. and abroad, is looking for a sports floor manufacturer that can supply a playing surface for a Veterans Day college basketball matchup that will be played on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson—the very carrier that conducted the sea burial of Osama bin Laden.
USS Carl Vinson entering Pearl Harbor. Photo credit: Chris Holloway via Wikipedia.
Morale is soliciting bids for the basketball floor, a process that should be completed by mid-July, said the company's Michael Whalen. For more information on the bidding process, Whalen can be reached at whaaahhh@aol.com or (770) 973-9023.
The matchup will be dubbed the Carrier Classic and aired on ESPN, and this year we'll see the North Carolina Tar Heels take on Michigan State Spartans. According to Sign on San Diego, the game has approval from President Barack Obama. Still, coordinating this matchup will not be easy. Outdoor basketball matchups are tricky since neither the hardwood nor players take well to rainfall. Just in case, a contingency floor will be placed in a hangar deck inside the carrier. Plus, since the Carl Vinson isn't a decommissioned carrier—like the Midway, for example—the carrier could be called to action at any point between now and Nov. 11 leaving the matchup in a lurch.
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AFCFJ to Hold Conference Call on Trade Investigation
The Alliance for Free Choice & Jobs in Flooring (AFCJF), a group that opposes implementing trade tariffs on engineered wood flooring from China, will hold a conference call on Wednesday during which it will discuss the effects of the ongoing trade investigation.
On Friday the group circulated letters throughout the wood flooring industry, urging people to take an active role in the proceedings instead of "handing over control of your destiny to someone else." The group related its conflict with domestic wood flooring producers that make up the Coalition for American Hardwood Parity (CAHP) to the biblical fight between David and Goliath. A section of the letter reads, "Unlike the [CAHP], we believe the market should dictate the styles and choices for the consumer rather than protectionist government actions manipulated by the Goliath U.S. flooring manufacturers." To participate in the conference call, e-mail secretary@choiceandjobs.com.
During the conference call Wednesday, importers from the wooden furniture industry will discuss how international trade sanctions have affected their industry. The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) reached a final decision on antidumping duty rates for China-manufactured wooden furniture in 2004. In May the Washington Post published an article detailing how the wooden furniture industry has fared since the 2004 decision.
To download the AFCJF's letter to distributors/dealers, click here.
To download the AFCJF's letter to importers, click here.
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UV Finishing Company Opens in Albany, NY
UV Finishing Company has opened a 45,000-square-feet prefinishing and storage facility in Albany, N.Y., at a cost of approximately $800,000. Mike Watson, who is assisting the company with sales and marketing, says the new facility was opened in light of the recent preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on engineered wood flooring from China, and to address the need for private-label prefinishing in the Northeast. The facility has a capacity of 50,000 square feet of flooring per week. The facility's mailing address is 10 Erie Blvd., Albany, NY 12204. For more information, Watson can be reached at mwatson@lsiglobalsolutions.com or (518) 465-7318.
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NeoCon Attracts 42,899 Attendees
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Exactly 42,899 people attended The Merchandise Mart's NeoCon this year, 4 percent more than took part in the annual commercial design show last year, according to event organizers. More than 700 showrooms featured their wares in more than 1 million square feet of space, and thousands of new products were revealed during the show. Despite evidence of a slower-than-hoped-for housing recovery, attendees said the show was evidence of an upswing in the economy and contract furnishings industry, according to organizers. The next NeoCon will take place June 11-13, 2012. For more information, visit www.neocon.com or call (800) 677-6278.
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Lumber Liquidators Shares Rise on Analyst's Upgrade
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Lumber Liquidators' (Toano, Va.) stock price rose Thursday on an upgrade from one analyst who switched the company's rating from "hold" to "buy," according to an article by the Associated Press posted on Forbes.com. According to the article, "Despite a tough economic environment, Lumber Liquidators has been able to grow its business. In the years since the industry's 2005 peak during the housing boom, the company's sales have jumped from $245 million to $620 million and it has nearly tripled the number of its stores." Analyst John Baugh of Stifel Nicolaus further explained that Lumber Liquidators' real competitors are small, independent floor covering outlets, not home centers, and that this represents an "on-going opportunity" for the company to gain market share.
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Moscow to Host Inaugural Domotex Russia
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Deutsche Messe, organizer of the Domotex flooring trade shows, will hold the inaugural Domotex Russia on Sept. 26-28, 2012, in Moscow. Like other Domotex events, the show in Moscow will highlight a cross-section of floor coverings, including hardwood. For more information, contact Deutsche Messe's Katherine León at (404) 214-0432.
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HF Briefs: Carlisle Names New York Manager; Fishman Adds Blastrac
Dan McMillian has been named managing director of all Carlisle Wide Plank Floors' (Stoddard, N.H.) branches in New York. McMillian's responsibilities will include general management and market growth among New York's architects and design professionals. McMillan's background includes 20 years in the luxury commercial building industry.
Fishman Flooring Solutions (Baltimore) has been named a distributor for Blastrac NA (Oklahoma City) shotblasters, grinders and dust collectors in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information, contact Fishman at (800) 556-7899.
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Friday, June 24, 2011
NWFA Vegas School Teaches Installation, Sand & Finish
The NWFA hosted 21 contractors at its Las Vegas training facility June 22-24 for an Installation, Sand & Finish school. Jon Namba of Namba Services Inc. led the instruction, along with these volunteer instructors:
- Jennifer Hansen (3M)
- Gary Arnold (Fortifiber Building Systems Group)
- Mark Mukosiej (Arboritec USA Inc.)
- Wayne Highlander (Basic Coatings)
- Craig McIntosh (Dura Seal)
- Ken Tran (Flash UV LLC)
- Roger Barker (Fortifiber Building Systems Group)
- Cort Dunlap (Hardwood Inspections)
- Todd McDonald (W•D Flooring)
- Adam Martin (Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products Inc.)
Article updated June 27 at 8:37 a.m.
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Goodfellow's Income Falls 68%
Net income during Goodfellow Inc.'s (Delson, Quebec) third quarter was C$1.2 million, down about 68 percent from the C$3.8 million the company earned during last year's third quarter. Net sales fell about 9 percent during the third quarter to C$127.5 million compared with C$140.0 million posted in the year-ago period.
Cash flow from operations for the third quarter decreased to C$1.8 million from C$3.2 million last year. The company attributed its declining sales to lower housing starts and slower demand from retailers due to bad weather during the third quarter. Its sales fell 9 percent in Canada and 31 percent in the U.S. Goodfellow's export sales increased 39 percent compared to last year due mainly to strong hardwood lumber sales in China and the Middle East.
Over the first nine months of its current fiscal year, the numbers are worse for Goodfellow. Income during the most recent nine-month period, which ended May 31, is down about 94 percent from last year's first nine-month period, from C$7.8 million to C$500,000. Sales for this period are more reflective of last year, however, having fallen just 7.1 percent from C$357.1 million to C$331.8 million. Cash flow from operations over the first nine months decreased to C$1.9 million from C$8.2 million for the same period last year.
Goodfellow's full earnings report can be viewed here.
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Thursday, June 23, 2011
Man Sentenced to Prison for Asbestos Flooring Violations
A former operator of commercial/residential property in Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced to 41 months in prison and fined $12,500 for violating asbestos work practices during the renovation of 10 floors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Bobby Joe Knapp committed the violations between 2005 and 2008. While Knapp was overseeing the renovation of Des Moines' Equitable Building, workers illegally removed asbestos from the building and disposed of it in an uncovered dumpster. Knapp also failed to provide workers with PPE to reduce to exposure to asbestos, which the EPA said increases the risk of developing lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.
One of Knapp's employees testified that he and his colleagues were never instructed to wet asbestos-containing tiles before and during demolition in order to decrease exposure. Testimony showed that Knapp's actions endangered tenants in the building, which houses retail, residential and office spaces.
On March 18 Knapp pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and one count of violating the act's asbestos work standards, which requires public building owners to safely remove asbestos. Specifically, renovation supervisors must notify the EPA beforehand about the project, wet asbestos during removal and before disposal, and dispose of the material at an EPA-approved disposal site.
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New Home Sales Decrease in May
After rising for two consecutive months, sales of new single-family houses fell in May to an annual rate of 319,000, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The latest figure is 2.1 percent below the April rate of 326,000 but is 13.5 percent above the May 2010 estimate of 281,000.
The median sales price of new houses sold in May was $222,600, while the average sales price was $266,400.
"Today's report indicates that new-home sales are holding fairly steady at a relatively low rate, with both April and May sales numbers running above the first-quarter average," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "In view of the slow progress of economic recovery and the challenges builders continue to face with regard to rising materials prices, access to construction credit, competition from foreclosed homes and inaccurate appraisals, the averages for the last two months combined represent some very slow improvement, which should continue as expected economic gains boost consumer confidence."
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Robert Hawkins Jr., Former Waterlox CEO, Dies at 89
Robert L. Hawkins Jr., the retired second-generation president and CEO of Waterlox Coatings Corporation (Cleveland) and son of its founder, passed away June 11 at the age of 89. He died in his home from natural causes.
Hawkins started at his father's company in 1937 at the age of 15, and by 1948 he was a member of its board of directors. During World War II he served in the United States Army Air Forces and conducted aerial reconnaissance. Hawkins earned Master's Degrees in both chemical engineering and industrial chemistry from the Case School of Applied Science. During the '60s he took over as president and CEO until his retirement in 1992. One of his greatest accomplishments at Waterlox involved development of a patent for the production of rubber mats used in the automotive industry.
Hawkins leaves behind a strong family legacy at Waterlox, a company that today is run by his son, CEO Jay Hawkins, and granddaughter, Vice President Kellie Hawkins Schaffner.
“My father was not only a kind and generous man, but he was a pioneer in this industry," said Jay Hawkins. "He will be sorely missed by his colleagues, friends and especially our family."
Hawkins' family suggests memorial contributions to The Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44119.
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DOC Lowers Preliminary Antidumping Rates
The preliminary antidumping rate for the Samling Group and 73 other engineered wood flooring manufacturers in China has been lowered, according to a memo from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) that was circulated Sunday.
Samling Group's preliminary antidumping rate will be lowered from 10.88 percent to 0.29 percent, while the 73 other companies participating in the antidumping investigation will have their rates lowered from 10.88 percent to 6.78 percent.
DOC's latest revisions give all three mandatory respondents in the investigation—the largest manufacturers by volume that sell engineered wood flooring to U.S. importers—an antidumping rate classified as "de minimis," or close to zero. The other two mandatory respondents are Zhejiang Layo Wood Industry Co. Ltd. and Zhejiang Yuhua Timber Co. Ltd. The revisions do not affect the preliminary countervailing duty rates handed down in March.
"The fact that all three are at zero is a great validation of our feelings on this case altogether," said Jonathan Train, president of the Alliance for Free Choice and Jobs in Flooring (AFCJF), whose group opposes the investigations. "It is becoming a complete waste of time."
DOC also revised the antidumping rate for any engineered wood flooring manufacturer in China that is not actively participating in the investigation; their revised antidumping rate is 27.12 percent, whereas originally it was 82.65 percent. DOC refers to this rate as the "PRC-Wide Entity" rate.
The Coalition for American Hardwood Parity (CAHP) is holding to its argument that only data most favorable to the companies opposed to the antidumping and countervailing duties has been presented to DOC thus far. As a result, Jeff Levin, counsel for the CAHP, said the latest action by DOC was "not surprising" and that his group still "fully expects the final rates to be substantially higher than the margins just issued."
On May 31, counsel for Samling Group submitted comments alleging DOC committed three "significant" errors in determining the company's original preliminary antidumping rate. Samling alleged DOC neglected to factor in warranty expenses on certain sales and that it miscalculated factory overhead and freight expenses. In its memo Sunday, DOC confirmed that it miscalculated Samling's overhead and freight expenses, but that it did not miscalculate any of the company's warranty expenses. Still, the errors warranted a re-calculation of antidumping rates for Samling and the other 73 companies. (For a full list of the antidumping rates assigned to specific exporters in China, see below.)
The new rates will become effective upon the DOC's memo being published in the Federal Register, which should occur this week. What's more, the rates are retroactive for orders that entered the U.S. since May 26.
The latest news is confirmation for Train that his group and others opposed to the trade investigations are having an impact, he says. "Three months ago you had a lot of people thinking that you couldn't change what the government is doing, and that it was a lost cause," he said. "We had a lot of people that didn't want to support our cause because they didn't think we could impact the results," adding that "to see this thing through we need another round of supporters to help us out. There is still a lot of work to do."
The Samling Group is comprised of Riverside Plywood Corporation, Samling Elegant Living Trading (Labuan) Limited, Samling Global USA Inc., Samling Riverside Co. Ltd., and Suzhou Times Flooring. At this point, the antidumping and countervailing duties are temporary and could be eliminated in the fall, when DOC is expected to make its final determination in each investigation.
A full list of the antidumping rates assigned to specific exporters in China is below:
Article updated June 23 at 4 p.m.
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Q.E.P. Reports Record 1Q Earnings
For the first fiscal quarter of 2012, Q.E.P. Co. Inc. (Boca Raton, Fla.) reported net income of $4.1 million, or $1.22 per diluted share. The latest figure is a new record and more than double the $1.9 million the company reported for the first fiscal quarter of 2011. The company also had record first quarter sales of $67.8 million, up from $60.6 million reported in the first fiscal quarter of 2011. Lewis Gould, chairman of the company's board of directors, attributed the financial success to the company's Harris Wood brand.
"We are exceptionally pleased with the company's continued growth, especially the growth in our domestic Harris Wood manufacturing operations and in our overseas operations," said the Q.E.P.'s Chairman Lewis Gould.
Q.E.P. purchased Arborcraft LLC, owner of the Harris Wood brand, in February 2010, and in May it purchased Porta-Nails Inc.
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Rubio Monocoat, W•D Partner With Distributors
Rubio Monocoat (Camarillo, Calif.), through a national distribution partnership with W•D Flooring (Laona, Wis.), is now available through these regional distributors:
- Custom Wholesale Floors Inc. (Jacksonville, Fla.), serving Georgia and Florida
- Superior Hardwoods and Millwork (Missoula, Mont.), serving Montana
- Erickson's Flooring & Supply Company (Ferndale, Mich.), serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio
- All-State Flooring Distributors LP (Fairfield, N.J.), serving New Jersey and New York.
For more information, contact W•D Flooring at (636) 519-9663.
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HF Briefs: Heidelberg Sales Reps; Gold Coast Day; Used Equipment for Sale
Heidelberg Wood Flooring (Kingsbury, Ind.) is seeking outside sales reps experienced in high-end, custom flooring. For more information, call (219) 714-3852 or e-mail heidelbergflooring@yahoo.com.
Gold Coast Flooring Supply (Hicksville, N.Y.) held its Contractor Appreciation Day on June 15. More than 300 flooring contractors attended the event and enjoyed drawings and food. Vendors present at the show included Norton, Clarke, Powernail, Dura Seal, Absolute Coatings, Bona, Harco and Basic Coatings.
Newly listed used equipment for sale on the HF website includes: three Clarke edgers ($800 each), one Clarke 16-inch buffer with sanding and wire-mesh pad ($500), and pre-cut sheets of 16-grit sandpaper ($1 each). For more information, visit Hardwood Floors' Classifieds section.
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Firm Denies Violating Indonesia's Logging Ban
Nearly every week, the logging landscape in Indonesia shifts, with government officials, NGOs and activists clamoring—usually ineffectually—to slow the illegal destruction of the country's forests. In the latest development, palm oil firm Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) on Monday denied violating a logging moratorium on the very day it was enacted (May 20), according to Reuters.
The moratorium was enacted by Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Last week the Environmental Investigation Agency, a U.K.-based NGO, accused KLK of violating the moratorium in Indonesia's Central Kalimantan province, on the island Borneo.
"Crime and corruption in Indonesia’s forestry sector has resulted in President Yudhoyono’s moratorium being undermined the very day it was signed," said EIA forest campaigner Tomasz Johnson.
KLK told Reuters Monday the allegations from EIA were "preposterous," but the company did admit stopping an "over-eager" contractor from logging one of its legal concessions on Borneo. KLK's Plant Director Roy Lim said "existing concessions with valid licenses are exempted from the moratorium."
In its report, EIA also condemns the government of Norway for profiting from illegal forest destruction in Indonesia. As part of the United Nation's Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degredation (REDD) campaign, Norway has pledged $1 billion to Indonesia to better protect its forests; however, EIA showed that Norway's government "has invested in scores of plantation and logging companies" in Indonesia.
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B2B Wood Products Marketplace Opens to North America
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In an effort to boost leads for its members in North America, Fordaq (Brussels, Belgium) has opened its B2B European wood industry marketplace (www.fordaq.com) to its members in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Fordaq says its website lists more than 8,000 sales leads for Europe's wood industry, and now its members in North America can list a full company profile with all their products and contacts.
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Palo Duro Picks Up Thermory Solid Flooring
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Attica Millwork Inc. (Attica, N.Y.) has named Palo Duro Hardwoods (Denver) distributor of its Thermory brand of thermally modified solid wood flooring in Wyoming, Arizona and Colorado. Attica Millworks says Thermory is the only solid wood flooring product to include a warranty for use over radiant heat and over concrete using up to a 6-inch plainsawn plank. For more information, contact Palo Duro's Jeff Fairbanks at (303) 375-0280.
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May Existing Home Sales Fall
Temporary factors like spiking gasoline prices caused existing home sales to fall 3.8 percent in May to an annual rate of 4.81 million from a downwardly revised 5 million rate in April, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales are 15.3 percent below the 5.68 million pace in May 2010, when sales surged as buyers looked to beat the deadline for the homebuyer tax credit. The current rate is the lowest yet for 2011.
Single-family existing home sales declined 3.2 percent to an annual rate of 4.24 million from 4.38 million in April, and are 15.4 percent below a surge to 5.01 million one year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $166,700 in May, down 4.5 percent from May 2010.
“Spiking gasoline prices along with widespread severe weather hurt house shopping in April, leading to soft figures for actual closings in May,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "Current housing market activity indicates a very slow pace of broader economic activity, but recent reversals in oil prices are likely to mitigate the impact going forward. The pace of sales activity in the second half of the year is expected to be stronger than the first half, and will be much stronger than the second half of last year."
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Monday, June 20, 2011
LEED Adds Pilot Credit Recognizing Non-FSC Certifications
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) will allow non-FSC-certified wood products to qualify for a pilot LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credit. The change was introduced Wednesday.
Pilot Credit 43: Certified Products is divided into three weighted tiers of 50 percent, 100 percent and 200 percent of one credit. Under this credit, FSC-certified products are weighted at 50 percent—the same as other forest certification programs, including Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
Projects can still earn MR Credit 7: Certified Wood, and FSC is still the only certification recognized for that credit.
Whether non-FSC certified wood products can earn LEED credits has long been a bone of contention. This latest development is a reversal of fortune for groups striving to have wood certifications besides FSC recognized under LEED. In December, USGBC members voted down a proposed Forest Certification Benchmark, which would have established a standard against which all forest certification systems would be evaluated to determine whether they can earn points in the LEED green building certification system.
USGBC bills the LEED Pilot Credit Library as proving grounds for proposed LEED credits. According to the USGBC, it is a "mechanism for testing proposed credits in the marketplace and gaining real-time feedback on their usability as well as their ability to meet a credit’s intent."
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HF Adds New Contractor Blogger
In addition to the popular posts by Wayne Lee, the HF Contractor Blog will also now include posts by contractor Scott Avery, of Portland, Ore.-based Modern Tech Floors. Avery has been a regular student and instructor with the NWFA since 2002, when he left the biotech industry to start his own business. In late 2008 the changing economy triggered him to re-evaluate his business and personal habits, resulting in a greatly improved home life and much more profitable business, and he now blogs for HF in an effort to help other wood floor contractors reclaim their personal time from their business while increasing profitability. Read Avery's first post here.
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HF Briefs: Domotex Dates; FSC COO; Leitz Names Rep
Domotex Middle East will take place September 12-14 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; this will be the sixth year for this show. In 2010, organizers say this event drew 4,864 visitors from 75 countries, along with 178 exhibitors from 34 countries.
The next Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor will be held March 27-29, 2012, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. In 2011, this show drew 1,060 exhibitors and 39,343 attendees.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has named Patrick Little chief operations officer at the group's international headquarters in Bonn, Germany. In this new role for the FSC, Little will develop technical and administration operations in support of the group's activities in more than 50 countries throughout the planet. Little, who is from Ireland, has a background in the telecommunications industry; he started in his new position on June 1.
Leitz Tooling Systems (Grand Rapids, Mich.) has appointed Dale Hatfield customer service/production at its Jasper, Ind., manufacturing center. Hatfield has a background in customer service, as well as woodworking.
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Thursday, June 16, 2011
NWFA 2012 Convention to be Held April 10-13
The National Wood Flooring Association has announced new dates for its 2012 Convention: It will be held April 10-13 in Orlando, Fla. The association had previously announced summer dates at the same location, but after receiving feedback from members, the show was rescheduled. “Our board of directors surveyed our exhibitors and past attendees after this year’s event, and we learned that late spring is the perfect time to hold this meeting,” said NWFA CEO Michael Martin.
The show will be located at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, where the NWFA Convention was held in 2002. Martin also noted that the Gaylord facility, with everyone under one roof for all events, is ideal for networking.
The show will feature an opening party on Tuesday night, trade show hours on Wednesday and Thursday, and educational and networking events throughout the schedule. The Convention Committee is in the process of relaunching the Expo portion of the show, with incentives for attending and participating, and plans are also underway to relaunch other elements of the show, offering top-rated keynote speakers, industry experts and entertainment.
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Harvard: Housing Market Remains Grim
A recently released study from Harvard University confirmed what has been painfully obvious to the wood flooring industry for the past few years: the U.S. housing industry is mired in the doldrums.
“The state of the nation’s housing is sobering,” Eric S. Belsky, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies, said in a press release for Harvard's State of the Nation's Housing 2011 report. “Total housing construction over the previous decade now barely exceeds the lowest level of any ten-year period in records dating back to 1974, but vacancies remain elevated because the recession has driven demand down so sharply.”
"With millions of owners stuck in homes worth less than they owe on their mortgages, existing home sales remain depressed while new home sales continue near record lows," according to Harvard's overall assessment. "Elevated vacancies and foreclosures continue to place downward pressure on prices. In places where foreclosures are concentrated, property markets are in turmoil."
According to the report, a housing recovery hinges on a return of demand, which is being hampered by the "lingering consequences" of the recession and financial crisis. However, the report's authors point out that the market "could turn quickly as evidenced by the healthy boost in both home sales and prices brought about by the 2010 homebuyer tax credit."
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Housing Starts Rise in May
Privately-owned single-family housing starts in May reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 419,000 units, up 3.7 percent from the revised April figure of 404,000. Overall, housing starts—including multi-family units—rose 3.5 percent in May, from April's 541,000-unit rate to 560,000.
"While the upward movement registered in today's report is somewhat good news, housing production continues to bounce along the bottom near historic lows, and is only running at a level necessary to replace dilapidated or destroyed units," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
NAHB's Chief Economis David Crowe added: "Like consumers, builders remain very concerned about the pace of economic growth and are awaiting signs of improvement before moving forward with new projects. The relative bright spot in new-home construction is on the multifamily side, where improving demand for rental apartments is spurring gains in that sector. However, access to construction credit remains a limiting factor for new building."
For an overall sense of the U.S. housing market, see our coverage of Harvard University's State of the Nation's Housing 2011.
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Chinese Manufacturer Asks DOC to Revise Antidumping Rate
One of the mandatory respondents in the ongoing trade investigation involving engineered wood flooring from China has asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to revise the preliminary antidumping duty imposed in late May.
Hong Kong-based Samling Group has alleged that the DOC incorrectly determined the company's 10.88-percent dumping margin, which is paid by the importer of record when Samling's products arrive at U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Specifically, Samling alleged DOC neglected to factor in warranty expenses on certain sales and that it miscalculated factory overhead and freight expenses. By rectifying these three mistakes, Samling says its preliminary dumping margin would effectively be zero, meaning companies importing its products would not have to pay an additional import duty.
According to a DOC employee, DOC will respond to Samling's comments in late June, when the DOC will either uphold its initial preliminary antidumping determination or issue a revised determination. A revised preliminary antidumping determination could affect the rate assigned to 73 "separate rate" exporters also involved in the investigation.
"According to Samling and some of the other legal counsel that we talked to, they feel pretty confident that DOC will accept that error request … and they feel that will give them a de minimis rate, a zero rate," said Jonathan Train, president of the Alliance for Free Choice and Jobs in Flooring (AFCJF).
The alleged errors will most likely add to the uncertainty within the U.S. wood flooring industry. "Many importers were expecting to operate under the 10.88 percent rate for at least four months, and now they are facing more disruption caused by this petition," Train wrote in an AFCJF press release. "This is a new challenge our industry did not need as this country works towards economic recovery."
Article updated June 16 at 10:39 a.m.
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Formaldehyde Added to Fed's Carcinogen List
The federal government on Friday issued a warning that formaldehyde causes cancer, according to The National Toxicology Program. Government scientists added formaldehyde—which is found in plywood and particleboard—to its list of substances that are known to cause cancer. The report was delayed for years due to lobbying from the chemical industry, which disputes the report's findings.
The National Toxicology Program warns that people are exposed to the highest levels of formaldehyde in work settings. "Frequent and intense exposures in manufacturing plants are far more worrisome than the intermittent contact that most consumers have," writes The New York Times. Contractors and consumers alike can reduce their exposure to formaldehyde by using pressed-wood products labeled U.L.E.F. (ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde), N.A.F. (no added formaldehyde) or C.A.R.B. (California Air Resources Board) Phase 1 or Phase 2 compliant.
Currently there is no proposed legislation to ban formaldehyde, although past studies naming asbestos and lead as carcinogens have led to those products being banned in the United States. Wood dust was listed as a carcinogen in the National Toxicology Program’s 2002 report.
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Builder Confidence Slips 3 Points in June
After remaining stagnant at a low level for the past six months, builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes dipped even lower to 13 in June, according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) latest Housing Market Index (HMI). The last time the index was this low was in September of 2010.
"Builders are being squeezed by the continuing weakness in existing-home prices—against which they must compete—as well as rising material costs," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "In addition to the ongoing impacts of distressed property sales on home prices, appraisal values and consumer confidence, rising costs for materials such as roofing, copper, wallboard, vinyl siding and other components have made it extremely difficult to construct a new home and sell it at a price that covers the costs."
Every HMI component fell in June. The component gauging current sales conditions and the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers each fell two points, to 13 and 12, respectively. The component gauging sales expectations in the next six months fell four points to tie its record low score of 15, which was set in February and March 2009.
Scores from each component of the HMI are used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor.
"Potential new-home buyers are being constrained by difficulty selling their existing homes, stringent lending requirements, and general uncertainty about the economy. Economic growth must pick up in order for housing to gain the momentum it needs to get back on track," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.
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Armstrong Names New VP of Residential Marketing
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Mara Villanueva-Heras has been named vice president, residential marketing, at Armstrong World Industries (Lancaster, Pa.). Villanueva-Heras holds an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, and previously she worked with Whirlpool and Masco Retail Cabinet Group in various marketing roles.
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Michelman Appoints New High-Level Managers
Michelman (Cincinnati), a polymer and water-based coating developer, has announced a number of management changes aimed at keeping pace with growth and streamlining operations.
- Steve Ruehrwein has been named global business unit manager, chemical specialties.
- Yves De Smet has been named global business unit manager, fibers and composites.
- Marty Riehemann has been named vice president/chief commercial officer.
- Bob Poletti has been named vice president/chief marketing and business development officer.
- Rick Michelman has been appointed vice president/chief technology officer.
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Small Business Index Dips Lower in May
Weak sales continued to push the Small Business Optimism index lower for the third consecutive month, according to data from the National Federation of Independent Businesses. The index fell 0.3 points in May to 90.9. In addition, one in 10 respondents to the random survey of NFIB members said inflation was their "most serious business problem."
Highlights from the most recent index include:
- The average employment change for small businesses throughout the previous three months was +0.01, and 12 percent of respondents reported unfilled job openings.
- Just 5 percent of respondents view the current period as a good time to expand operations. Of those who view the current period as a bad time to expand, 71 percent blame the weak economy.
- Capital spending remains historically low in spite of very low interest rates and expensing incentives.
- The seasonally adjusted net percent of owners raising average selling prices reached 15 percent, or a 3-point increase.
The latest Small Business Optimism index can be read here.
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HF Briefs: Bozovich & Bona Gain Green Certifications
Bozovich Group (Lima, Peru) has obtained FSC Forest Management Certification for 180,000 acres in the Peruvian Amazon. As a result, Bozovich Timber Products Inc. (Evergreen, Ala.) now offers FSC-certified cumaru flooring for the residential and commercial markets. "Along with our FSC Chain of Custody Certification … our Forest Management Certification reaffirms our commitment to doing business in a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable way," said Bozovich Group CEO Drago Bozovich.
Bona US' (Aurora, Colo.) Bona Traffic HD waterborne finish has received the Greenguard Children and Schools Certification. The certification is given to low-emitting materials suitable for environments where children and adults spend long periods of time. Products with this certification adhere to limits outlined in California's Department of Public Health Services Standard Practice for Specification Section 01350.
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Monday, June 13, 2011
Indonesia Officials Revisit Illegal Logging Case
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Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission is reopening a cold case involving companies that allegedly robbed the country of $115 billion through illegal logging operations, according to the Jakarta Globe. The commission is re-opening the case in light of a recent exposé by the newspaper that detailed how 14 companies conducted clandestine logging operations in old-growth forests by way of illegal permits. Provincial police in Riau had begun investigating the companies in January 2007, but the investigation was halted in June 2008 after the lead investigator was transferred to Central Java.
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Consumer Reports Weighs In On Wood Flooring
Consumers put a lot of stock into what is published by Consumer Reports, the non-profit group dedicated to helping buyers distinguish "hype from fact and good products from bad ones." So it's important to know that Consumer Reports recently published guidelines on installing flooring. The guidelines cover wood (solid and engineered), bamboo, plastic laminate, vinyl and linoleum flooring. The guidelines begin from the purchase point and end with installation (with no mention of sanding and finishing unfinished flooring).
In a separate article, Consumer Reports listed wood flooring as one of its ways to boost home value, "with oak playing a starring role." Consumer Reports noted that Bruce's Dundee Plank Natural prefinished oak flooring scored "Excellent" for wear in its flooring tests.
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Construction to Climb 2% in 2011
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Total construction will rise about 2 percent in 2011 after falling 9 percent in 2010, according to a second quarter report from FMI, an engineering and construction industry research company. FMI forecasts 12 percent growth in single-family construction over depressed 2010 levels; however that figure is still 28.9 percent below a 2003 peak in residential construction. "Strict lending practices by banks, high inventories of unsold homes and the shadow inventory of unsettled foreclosures will continue to put downward pressure on new-home building," the report reads.
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SureLock Industries Names Joe Marmon President
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SureLock Industries (Oswego, N.Y.), a wood floor prefinishing company, has named Joe Marmon president. Marmon brings with him more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing hardwood. Most recently, Marmon served as vice president of operations at Shamrock Plank Flooring, and before that he worked at Aacer Flooring.
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NWFACP Announces Board of Directors
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National Wood Flooring Association Certified Professionals Inc. (NWFACP) has announced its new board of directors. The group's 2011 officers are: President Len Daubler, Shaw Industries Inc.; Vice President Kevin Mullany, Benchmark Wood Floors Inc.; Secretary Andy Campbell, DNA Floor Surgeons Inc.; and (non-voting) Treasurer & CEO Michael Martin, NWFA. NWFACP 2011 directors are: Drew Kern, Flooring Works; Mark Lamanno, Franklin International; and Bill Renaud, ISC Surfaces. Jon Namba, Namba Services Inc., will serve as immediate past president.
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Woodworking Accounts For 11% of Adhesive & Sealant Demand
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The woodworking segment accounts for 11 percent of global demand in the $40.5-billion adhesives and sealants market, according to The Adhesive and Sealant Council's (ASC) North American Market Report. The report, which is published every three years, covers the 2010 to 2013 time period. Overall, the adhesive and sealant market is expected to grow 3.3 percent annually over the next three years. The report is available to ASC members for $630 and non-members for $945, and it may be purchased here.
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HF Brief: Goldstein Seeks Position
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Bob Goldstein is seeking a sales position within the hardwood flooring industry. Goldstein has extensive expertise in all phases of the industry, including commercial sales, wholesale, equipment and sundries sales, and technical training; he is based in Middleburg, Fla., and is willing to travel. Goldstein can be reached at bobgoldstein46@yahoo.com or 954/684-5171.
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Thursday, June 09, 2011
WFCA Gains New Leadership
Jim Walters, president of Macco's Floor Covering in Green Bay, Wis., was elected chairman of the board during the World Floor Covering Association's (WFCA) spring meeting in New Orleans; Walters' new position will become effective July 1, and current chairman Nick Freadreacea will become immediate past chairman.
Also during the meeting, the group's directors elected Harold Chapman, Bonitz Flooring Group (Greenville, S.C.), chairman-elect and confirmed these additions to its executive committee:
- Vice Chairmen: Dennis Blake, Better Floors & Restorations (Placentia, Calif.) and Scott Walker, Walker’s Carpet One Floor & Home (Bellingham, Wash.)
- Corporate Secretary: Janice Clifton, Abbey Carpets Unlimited (Napa, Calif.)
- Treasurer/CFO: Paul F. Johnson, Interiors One Inc., Carpet One, (Tulsa, Okla.).
These individuals will serve on the group's executive committee for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, along with WFCA President and CEO D. Christopher Davis.
In addition, WFCA directors confirmed directors—which are elected by the association's members—to its board for three-year terms. Newly confirmed directors include:
- Maryanne Adams, Avalon Carpet, Tile & Flooring (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
- Bob Caputo, Carpetland of Dothan Inc. (Dothan, Ala.)
- Kelby Frederick, My Flooring America (Denton, Texas)
- Howard Partridge, Clean As A Whistle Inc. (Sugar Land, Texas).
Phil Koufidakis, Baker Bros. (Phoenix), and Mark Weaver, Carpet Weavers (Bloomington, Ill.) were re-confirmed for an additional three-year term. Keith Campbell, Mannington Mills (Salem, N.J.), was re-elected by the directors to a three-year term as an associate director.
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Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Recession Pushes Woodworker Into Custom Wood Floor Biz
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Before the recession hit, woodworker Joe Guida of Flagstaff, Az., was making more than a million rubber stamp mounts per year, and he had six employees. After the economy tanked, he decided to keep his workers busy by creating a line of custom wood flooring, according to a recent story from AZdailysun.com. Through an advantageous arrangement with a mill in Michigan, Guida gets all of his wood direct, and he also sells exclusively to contractors and builders; this helps keep his costs lower. "I've been buying from the same mill for the last 20 years," he told the newspaper. "I don't buy from a wholesaler, so I am able to get things that are difficult for other people to get." Guida produces white oak, red oak, hickory, soft maple, birch, American beech, walnut and cherry. With the new home market in a major slump, he has focused his efforts on the remodeling market as of late: "People are remodeling, and new floors are part of that," he said.
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Sustainable Forest Management in Tropics Increasing
More of the world's tropical forests are being placed under management plans, however, less than 10 percent of these forests are being managed sustainably, according to a recent study from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).
Even with the murky data, the ITTO report paints a picture of general improvement in tropical forest management. Among the reports key findings are:
- In most of the ITTO's 33 member countries throughout Africa, Central America, South America and East Asia, deforestation rates between 2005 and 2010 were generally well below one percent.
- The area of certified natural forests for production increased in each region between 2005 and 2010.
- The area of forests under sustainable management increased about 20 percent between 2005 and 2010, from 25.2 million hectares to 30.6 hectares.
However, even the ITTO acknowledges that its report data is "unreliable or, at best, inconsistent." "Few developing countries in the tropics have funds for regular forest inventories, so even basic information on forest extent and condition is at best outdated and often non-existent," reads a sentence from the report's opening paragraph.
The full report can be viewed below:
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North American Sustainable Forestry Overview Available
As specifiers increasingly focus on green building and finish materials, The Wood Products Council, a cooperative of major wood associations and research organizations in North America, has released an information sheet on sustainable forestry. The document provides overviews on certified forestry, including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Canadian Standards Association’s Sustainable Forest Management Standard (CSA), and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Modern harvesting techniques are also discussed, including silviculture—harvesting that mimics natural forest cycles—thinning and clearcutting. To download the document, go here and click the "Sustainable Forestry" link.
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Teragren Sponsors Green Home Sweepstakes
Teragren Bamboo Flooring, Panels & Veneer (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) is one of five sponsors for the $25,000 Save Money, Save Energy Green Home Makeover Sweepstakes from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Better Homes and Gardens. The sweepstakes runs through Aug. 15, and participants can enter daily. Upon registering, users have the option of downloading the "Save Money, Save Energy Featured Tips and Product Guide," which describes various benefits of sustainable living.
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Flooring Installer Research Report Available
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IBIS World has made available a new research report about U.S. flooring installers. The 35-page report details market size, market share, segmentation of products and services, business insights, market trends, a five-year industry forecast and more. The cost for the report begins at $825, and it may be purchased here.
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NAHB: Home Ownership Still the American Dream
Despite the uncertainty of the U.S. housing market, homeowners and non-homeowners still consider owning a home essential to the American dream, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
"The survey results show that Americans see beyond the immediate housing market to the enduring value of homeownership," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen. "An overwhelming 75 percent of the people who were polled said that owning a home is worth the risk of the fluctuations in the market, and 95 percent of the homeowners said they are happy with their decision to own a home," Nielsen said.
The national survey was conducted May 3-9; participants included people likely to vote in the 2012 election.
Other survey results include:
• Homeownership and a retirement savings program are considered by voters to be their best investments.
• 80% of homeowners would advise a close friend or family member just starting out to buy a home.
• Saving for a down payment and closing costs is the biggest barrier to homeownership.
• Americans believe that owning their own home is as important as being successful at their job or being able to pay for a family member's education.
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Monday, June 06, 2011
Revoked Registration Costs Contractor $45K
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Officials in Rhode Island recently upheld $45,000 in fines against a wood flooring contractor who was caught trying to perform work under his stepson's contractor license, according to WPRI.com. Spurred by complaints from three homeowners, WPRI investigated contractor John Ribeiro of Cranston, R.I., and discovered the contractor's registration with the state had been revoked in 2007 for "negligent work." Ribeiro told WPRI that he had been working for his stepson because in Rhode Island if a contractor's registration is revoked, he can still work as an employee of a registered contractor. Ribeiro's stepson, however, denied this in a signed affidavit, and the state's Contractor's Registration Board has upheld the fines.
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Nations Unite to Stop Deforestation
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Leaders from 32 nations sharing the world's three largest rain forests agreed Friday to stop deforestation, and they asked industrialized nations to help finance their efforts, according to AFP.com. During a meeting in Brazzaville, Congo, the leaders acknowledged "the links between deforestation and forest degradation as well as socio-economic issues such as sustainability and poverty reduction." They agreed to "put forward their common interest in the framework of different multilateral forums" and to "adopt concrete measures to promote dialogue and cooperation between countries." Nations comprising the Congo Basin in Africa, Amazon Basin in South America, and Borneo-Mekong Basin in Southeast Asia took part in the meeting.
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Neuhofer Holz Reorganizes Corporate Management
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Following the departure of Martin Neuhofer in March 2011, Neuhofer Holz (Zell/Moos, Austria) announced appointments to its corporate management team. Hans Alberts has been appointed executive director and is responsible for external sales management. Also, Christian Mikstetter has been named operation manager and is responsible for management of the company's production processes.
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Mohawk Names Demboski VP of Creative Services
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Mohawk Industries (Dalton, Ga.) has named Elise Demboski vice president of creative services. Demboski, a long-time marketer, has more than 20 years of experience managing high-profile brands in the flooring industry. She will manage the company's creative, public relations and Internet marketing teams for both the residential and commercial flooring markets. Previously, Demboski worked at Wools of New Zealand.
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Maersk Line Transitions Away From Uncertified Tropical Hardwood
Maersk Line, the global containerized shipping division of A.P. Moller-Maersk Group (Copenhagen, Denmark), will refrain from purchasing containers with floors made from uncertified tropical hardwood, according to a corporate release. With the switch, the company hopes to reduce demand for illegally logged tropical hardwood.
With the new policy, all Maersk containers will have floors made of responsibly harvested timber, bamboo or recycled plastic. For 2011, some FSC-certified tropical hardwoods will be allowed while other floor types are scaled up in production. The company vows that within 18 years, all of the floors in its containers will be legally certified.
"Illegal logging is widely recognized as a serious threat to forests, people and wildlife," said Maersk's Jacob Sterling. "We feel obligated to use our purchasing power to push for higher standards and ensure that the timber we use for container floors come from responsible forestry."
According to Maersk, containers have traditionally been fitted with tropical hardwood floors. It takes two cubic meters of hardwood to produce floors for three 40-foot containers, and the container industry uses approximately 1.2-1.5 million cubic meters of hardwood annually to meet demand for new containers.
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HF Brief: LL Offers 100-Year Warranty
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Lumber Liquidators (Toano, Va.) has increased the warranty of its Bellawood brand of solid and engineered wood flooring from 50 to 100 years. In addition, homeowners now have the option to transfer the warranty in the event they sell their home.
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Inspectors to Learn About Science of Wood Flooring
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The Flooring Inspectors Educational Guild of North America will host an educational workshop Sept. 12-15 in Charleston, S.C., that will focus on the science behind wood flooring. These topics will be addressed: moisture movement and relative humidity equilibrium; engineered wood flooring construction; inspection of solid wood flooring; and glue-down problem solving. Several university researchers will assist with instructing the workshop, along with these members of the flooring industry: Howard Brickman, Brickman Consulting; Gregory Wood, founder of Advanced Adhesive Technologies; Mark Brown, a former NOFMA certified inspector; and Steven Tolli, former North American technical director with Wicanders. For more information, e-mail Selva Tucker at slt7@charter.net or call (864) 238-5507. Also, this course qualifies for matching scholarship funds from the World Floor Covering Association.
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Thursday, June 02, 2011
Registration Opens for Greenbuild 2011
Registration is open for the 10th edition of the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, which will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Oct. 4-7; this will be the first time the event is held outside of the United States. In 2010, more than 28,000 attendees from 114 countries attended the event, which is the largest conference and expo in the world dedicated to green building. On tap are three days of educational programming and workshops, an exhibition floor featuring 925 exhibitors, and tours of green building projects throughout Toronto. For more information, visit www.greenbuildexpo.org, or watch this YouTube preview:
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Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Wood Flooring Contractor Receives Presidential Pardon
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Just before he was about to begin a hardwood flooring job on a recent Friday morning, Randy Dyer, owner of Seattle-based Christian Brothers Floor Service, received a phone call. On the other end of the phone was a woman from Washington, D.C., who told Dyer that, after being locked up for his role in a marijuana smuggling ring 35 years ago and serving time in prison, he had been pardoned by President Barack Obama. "The president represents the United States of America and millions of people, and he is saying, 'We see what you've done with your life, and we feel you are worthy of being forgiven,'" Dyer recently told The Seattle Times. Dyer spent his youth running the streets of Seattle, racking up three felonies by the time he got out of high school, and in 1975 he was convicted for smuggling marijuana from the Netherlands. In prison, Dyer learned about Jesus' life by reading the Bible, and when he got out he began preaching to inmates. In 1985 he started Christian Brothers Floor Service. "Ever since I was saved, I've tried to be a positive person in our society, be a normal guy," he told Hardwood Floors.
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Home Prices Reach New Low
Home prices fell 4.2 percent during the first quarter, sending U.S. housing prices into a double dip and reaching a new post-bubble low, according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. Housing prices are down 33.1 percent from a July 2006 high and are now on par with mid-2002 levels.
"This month’s report is marked by the confirmation of a double-dip in home prices across much of the nation," said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Indices. "Home prices continue on their downward spiral with no relief in sight. The rebound in prices seen in 2009 and 2010 was largely due to the first-time home buyers tax credit. Excluding the results of that policy, there has been no recovery or even stabilization in home prices during or after the recent recession. Further, while last year saw signs of an economic recovery, the most recent data do not point to renewed gains."
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April Construction Spending Rises
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Annual spending on private residential construction rose 3.1 percent to $232.1 billion in April from March's $225.1-billion rate, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Nonresidential private construction rose 0.5 percent to $250.8 billion in April from March's $249.6-billion rate. Including both public and private building, construction in the U.S. rose 0.4 percent to an annual rate of $765 billion in April from March's $762.1-billion rate.
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Illegal Logging Activists Killed
Brazil intends to increase its police presence in the Amazon rainforest in order to stem deadly disputes over illegal logging, according to The Washington Post. In less than one week, at least three activists have been killed in the states of Para and Rondonia; a fourth person who may have witnessed the murders in Para has also been killed. The watchdog group Catholic Land Pastoral says that during the past 20 years, 1,150 activists have been killed, mostly by hired gunmen affiliated with logging, ranching and farming interests.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, a journalist covering Vietnamese illegal logging was stabbed, according to ThanhNienNews.com. The journalist had covered illegal logging in Vietnam's Anh Son District, during which he charged government officials with land management misconduct. The journalist was taken to a hospital and received 21 stitches in three wounds.
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HF Briefs: FCICA Chairman Steps Down; NeoCon Heads East
Christopher Capobianco has stepped down as chairman of The Flooring Contractors Association; Capobianco first became chairman of the group in 2005. Gerry Swift of Potomac Floor Covering (Chantilly, Va.) has been elected as the group's next chairman, and Capobianco will take the role of immediate past chairman on the group's executive board of directors.
The ninth annual NeoCon East will be held Nov. 2-3 at The Baltimore Convention Center. This show is for the "design and management of the built environment." Organizers expect more than 7,500 attendees, including architects, interior designers and end-users to attend. For more information, visit www.neoconeast.com.
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