(Kansas City, MO) The first CFI Residential Resilient Training and Certification Workshop was launched in November in Fort Wayne, IN at the Carpet Cushions and Supplies facility. The resilient industry came together and worked for months to provide exceptional knowledge and skill information for this addition to the CFI programs.

Joe Cea of Congoleum is the Chairman of the CFI Resilient Committee. Members are Tim Provence of Armstrong, Terry Fitzpatrick of Mannington, Dick Schmidt of Johnsonite, Roland Thompson representing IVC, Ken Simmons consultant for Shaw and Kelly Huddleston, Tony Buckhardt, Roy Davison, Jay Zurn, Ope Niemeyer, Tony Viers and Scott Terryberry representing CFI.

The course material strictly adheres to the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, ASTM and manufacturers’ guidelines. Materials for the event were donated by Armstrong, Congoleum, IVC, Johnsonite and Mannington.

A CFI Study Guide is available for each attendee outlining the requirements for the installation of resilient flooring, including sheet goods, VCT, luxury vinyl tile, SVT and rubber floorings and to prepare for the written test.

The Team covered all segments of this industry and compiled the information into 60-page resource manual for attendees. The two-day intensive, hands-on workshop provides installers, technical staffs, inspectors, dealers and sales associates with the latest information concerning resilient flooring. A technical certification is available as well as the certification for industry associates. Installers who successfully complete the requirements of the course receive CFI Residential Resilient Certification (RR-I), one-year renewable membership, CFI decals and shirt, listing on the website and in the directory and the CFI Identification Badge and Certificate. Associates receive the CFI Residential Resilient Technical Certification.

A PowerPoint presentation highlights the various segments of the training which include topics such as: Developing a partnership with the sales team; Customer satisfaction; Preparation for the job, Working with the customer; Safety and product identification and requirements; Substrate testing procedures; The substrate and the subfloor qualities; Layout; Fitting the materials; Subfloor preparation; Seam cutting; Bonding, adhesives and application; Seam treatments; Repairs and the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, OSHA and EPA requirements.

The first workshop was conducted by Tony Buckhardt, Joe Cea, Tim Provence, Ken Simmons, Roland Thompson and Kelly Huddleston. CFI Certified Residential Resilient Installers completing the course from Shaw were James Mullins, Tonder Gentry, Lemarta Faulknor and Todd Woodall. Dennis Gentry of Mapei and Dave Garden of Installation Services of Michigan also attended.

The CFI Committee is to be commended for the generic presentation that covers industry resilient products. This program is another in a series of the fine training that is offered by CFI which also includes carpet, ceramic, laminate and wood. The CFI Commercial Resilient workshop has been offered in the past. However, this committee now begins on a revision of that program to present it also as an accepted industry-wide training and certification. The CFI Committee will also begin work on a CFI Resilient Inspector’s Certification.

At future events, various manufacturers will also offer certification for their products through these programs. Installers can attend one event for $485.00 and receive various certifications which saves them time and dollars. Flooring installers who join the World Floor Covering Association may also attend a manufacturer-sponsored workshop for only $125.00 presented by the CFI team of installation professionals.

SCHEDULED EVENTS
November 29-30 Kansas City, MO Laminate and Wood Carpet Cushions and Supplies
December 7-8 Sacramento, CA Laminate and Wood Tom Duffy
January 6-7 Naperville, IL Laminate and Wood ProSource
January 6-7 Elk Grove Village, IL Carpet ProSource
January 6-7 Louisville, KY Laminate and Wood II Duo-Fast
January 13-14 Atlanta, GA Carpet Seam Master
January 13-14 Milwaukee, WI Carpet Carpet One
January 14-15 Milwaukee, WI Residential Resilient Carpet One
January 18-29 Portland, OR Laminate and Wood Cronin Company

And more to come…………………

CFI, the International Certified Flooring Installers Association, founded in 1993 continues to provide the most intense skills training in the industry. The CFI Team of 81 instructors skilled in the various flooring surfaces has been involved in training over 43,000 worldwide in the professional trade of flooring installation.