The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) and the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) have joined together to promote installation professionalism through education at the Lowe’s training workshops. Today, it is essential that flooring installers achieve a higher level of education to achieve customer satisfaction. Both organizations strive to prepare flooring installers to become more knowledgeable concerning the latest installation techniques.

“Professional installers who successfully complete the two-year requirement of experience and the written, oral and skills’ tests of the CFI Laminate Training Course now have the opportunity to also become certified through NALFA. CFI and NALFA curriculum cover all aspects of a quality laminate installation and provides the skills necessary to perform installations to high standards and craftsmanship in the field,” said Jim Walker, CEO. “For the third year, the CFI 2-day, in-depth, skills training sessions and certifications are available through the Lowe’s educational courses in ceramic, laminate, wood and carpet.

CFI has trained over 40,000 flooring installers and sales associates since 1993 in all flooring surfaces. Through partnerships with the National Wood Flooring Association ( NWFA) and Armstrong (floorexpert.com); flooring installers may receive wood certifications. Through the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) and Armstrong; installers can be certified in laminate installation and also through Armstrong, CFI installers may become certified in resilient floorings. Working with industry partners, CFI also offers in-depth training and certification in carpet, ceramic, laminate, resilient and wood.

Scheduled events that are open for installation and technical certifications:

• January 22-23 Kansas City, MO Carpet CCS

• February 19-20 Milwaukee, WI Carpet Carpet One

• February 26-27 Kansas City, MO Laminate/Wood CCS

• February 26-27 Baltimore, MD Carpet L. Fishman

• March 5-6 Little Rock, AR Carpet RFS

• March 19-20 Nashville, TN Carpet RFS

• March 26-27 Phenix City, AL Carpet Eagle Interiors

• April 23-24 Milwaukee, WI Resilient Carpet One

• May 14-15 Milwaukee, WI Laminate/Wood Carpet One

• June 25-26 Kansas City, MO Ceramic CCS

• June 25-26 Milwaukee, WI Ceramic Carpet One

Training events in wood, laminate, ceramic and carpet will be conducted at 69 locations for Lowe’s throughout the nation during 2010. CFI events will be announced soon in Oklahoma, California, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey, Utah and Texas. The CFI calendar of events is online at www.CFIinstallers.com or contact CFI at (816) 231.4646 to schedule a course in your area.

Jon Namba, CFI Executive Director, “The Industry Technical Certifications are also available at these events for others involved in flooring that offers installation information that is vital when selling, inspecting or working with difficult situations that can arise in the field. The CFI calendar of events is updated daily at www.CFIinstallers.com.”

The training and information is based on the CFI Proven Methods of Installation, NALFA curriculum, NWFA requirements, Armstrong, product manufacturer instructions and experience in the field.

“The installation community is attending training events in greater numbers to add to their knowledge and skills. During December, CFI conducted laminate and wood sessions for FIS in Old Bridge, NJ, Installation Services of Michigan in Clinton Township, MI and at the W. C. Carpenter Company in Virginia Beach, VA. Carpet Certifications were held in Salt Lake City, UT at Custom Floors, at the W. C. Carpenter Company in Virginia Beach, VA, at All Floors Supplies in Mechanicsburg, PA.” stated Robert Varden, CFI Vice-President..