(Kansas City, MO) May 15-16, 2007, continuing their partnership focus on education, CFI and WFCA present the Woven and Patterned Carpet Workshop in Kansas City, MO. This hands-on skills workshop explores installation possibilities and challenges encountered when working with patterns and woven carpets. It is often stated at the conclusion of this workshop by installers that they learned enough the first day to pay for the entire course.

The personalized, intensive two-day course involves working with designs that present an installation challenge or patterns that are out of the manufacturer’s tolerance. It is common knowledge that most installations are on a time restraint and carpet is the final completion product. Working at this capacity when problems surface, the professional, qualified installers search for a way to satisfy the customer and assist the manufacturer by avoiding a reorder of the merchandise.

All attendees receive the CFI Patterned Carpet Resource Guide. This is the second in a series of installation resource guides prepared by CFI. The information in the resource manual and the hands-on training in small groups are necessary for commercial and residential installers who are searching for installation techniques and solutions to problems that surface in the field.

The CFI Team of Trainers, Jim Walker, Ed Braile, Bob Gillespie, Jon Namba, Robert Varden and technical specialists representing the carpet manufacturers provide demonstrations and training. The focus is to enhance and develop skills and techniques required for the installation of patterned and woven carpets.

Jon Namba, CFI Executive Director presents commercial direct-glue woven and patterned carpet installation by discussing blueprints, the substrate, guidelines for bidding work, the results of underbidding and understaffing a project and the WFCA White Paper.

Namba said, “There is so much more to consider than “fuzzy-side-up,” which is what dealers who are looking for the lowest cost do not understand. We must be concerned with pattern tolerances and how to correct them. We must understand dye lots and roll sequences, the requirements of the particular carpet and backing; the correct adhesives, pattern repeat, pattern count and pattern loss. All of this and more play a major role in providing the customer with a lasting and acceptable installation.”

Tuesday, May 15, the program begins at 8:00 in the morning and concludes at 5:00 in the afternoon. The Wednesday session begins at 7:30 a.m. and concludes at 4:30 p.m. The Kansas City Expo Center located near the Kansas City provides an abundance of training space and is an ideal location for hands-on, skills training for large and involved applications. Numerous flights depart on May 16th after 5:30 in the evening. Shuttle service is arranged for the 10-minute trip to the airport.

The event is sponsored by Burtco, Karastan, Mohawk, Clayton Miller Hospitality Carpets, Shaw, AAT, APAC, Dependable, Halex, Leggett & Platt / SCI, Orcon, Roberts and Seam Master. Manufacturers receive the names of those who successfully complete the workshop.

Jim Walker, CEO, “No one wants to hear that you did not bid the job correctly. A professional installer must know what type of carpet, type of substrate and method of installation is required before the job is bid. No customer expects a bad installation if difficult situations should arise. At the onset, we already know that working with patterns will require more time, expertise and knowledge to install successfully.”

Paul Carrell, Technical Services Shaw Patcraft Carpet, “In the real world, every pattern is exact, but due to many circumstances that are beyond our control, this doesn’t always happen. We find far too often that installers are way over their heads installing patterns and without the faintest idea of what is required to complete the job. Manufacturers will work with installers. If a situation occurs, call us. It’s better for the job to go in than to hold up a commercial installation because of a difficulty that a qualified installer could correct.”

Due to the amount of space required for the event and the individual training commitment, the number of participants is limited. Installers will be working with large sections of carpet in 16 x 30 modules, constructing seams, powerstretching, pattern matching and learning techniques that enhance the value of their skills.

The cost of the training event is $620.00, which includes the 60-page hardbound CFI Patterned Resource Guide and lunches. Participants should contact the Airport Fairfield Inn (800) 228-2800 or (816) 464.2424 and request the CFI lodging rate that includes round trip airport transportation. The CFI Resource Guide may be purchased separately for $100.00.

For additional information, contact CFI (816) 231-4646 or visit the website at www.CFIinstallers.com.