For the month of October, the talented crew of installers with Ballin Knows Best, the first-ever AI-driven flooring installation chatbot, contribute content written by installers for installers in this editorial takeover. 

The recent CFI FCICA Convention in Orlando challenged the industry to raise the bar on installer recruitment, expand high-quality training, and expand awareness of the latest installation techniques and technologies.

NAFCD Executive Vice President Michael Wilbur applauds the sponsor who committed to the growth of the flooring distribution channel.

Domotex Asia/Chinafloor 2025 will return to Shanghai May 26-28, 2025, as part of the Build Asia Mega Show, a platform of co-located shows and activities established to foster the integration among construction, building materials and interior design sectors.

Smartlift's SL 609 Outdoor series is designed for mounting glass, marble, granite, and steel. 

Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring launched Accelera One is an advanced coating technology designed for decorative flake and quartz flooring systems that meet the rigorous demands of commercial and institutional environments, delivering a high level of performance, ease of application and chemical resistance.

Schönox FP is a flexible, one-part filling and priming compound for priming and filling in one step.

Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring seamless flooring systems offers up durable, chemical resistant systems that cover a range of commercial applications, ranging from moderate to heavy use. The Resuflor systems integrate industrial-grade epoxy with flake or aggregate to create a decorative floor. 

Taylor Adhesives 710 is designed for a variety of applications, including: applying seaming tapes, joining padding, sealing raw edges, securing binding, patching carpet, replacing damaged nap and reinforcing seams and weak backings.

Schönox Moisture Blocking Leveler (MBL) is a two-part leveling compound used on concrete substrates to control moisture before the application of floor coverings. It is a moisture mitigation system and subfloor leveling in one step. 

Designed to allow for an easier install process for hardwood flooring contractors by mitigating moisture on concrete and wooden subfloor systems, Bona launches Bona RollGuard.

Sherwin-Williams High-Performance Flooring seamless flooring systems offers up durable, chemical resistant systems that cover a range of commercial applications, ranging from moderate to heavy use.

HS Sturdy by Schonox is a hybrid active-dry technology-based rapid drying repair and smoothing compound suitable to provide a smooth finish on various substrates in interior areas.

Laticrete introduces Hydro Ban Rapid Custom Shower System, a suite of niches, benches, seats, curbs, and other accessories.

¿Habla español? TotalWorx, the flooring accessory brand of Shaw Industries Group, will unveil a new Spanish-language catalog and share its latest innovations for professional-level flooring installations at the 2024 CFI FCICA Convention.

Builder sentiment for new single-family homes increased in October, despite ongoing affordability challenges. The National Association of Home Builders reports optimism for 2025 market conditions, with builders anticipating easing inflation and moderating mortgage rates. The upcoming election remains a key factor in housing policy outlook.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of its Color of the Year, Sherwin-Williams created its first-ever Color Capsule of the Year, a curated assortment of hues that encapsulate a variety of eras and aesthetics. 

With the Federal Reserve beginning an easing of monetary policy and builder sentiment improving, single-family starts posted a modest gain in September while multifamily construction continued to weaken because of tight financing and an ongoing rise in completed apartments.

Homeowners are shifting their approach to bathroom renovations with personal comfort and long-term usability increasingly prioritized over resale value considerations.

AHF said it continues to produce ways to grow the Do It Best partnership and drive sales, such as putting together pallet buy specials, creating a national drop-ship program and looking to get products into their distribution centers.

Flooring America welcomed four members to its Advisory Council. The Advisory Council convenes multiple times throughout the year to guide senior management and influence the strategic direction of our programs. 

Celebrity designer Jennifer Farrell announced her latest project, I.C.E. House (Interconnected Changeable Environments), set in historic stone farmhouses amid French vineyards. The two-year multimedia experience, culminating in 2026, showcases an adaptable "home of tomorrow" concept blending ancient architecture with modern luxury design.

Despite a slowdown in Q3 2024 construction sector activity, home renovation professionals express optimism for Q4, according to Houzz's latest Renovation Barometer. 

USA Flooring announced the launch of a Partner Rewards Loyalty program, designed by The Incentive Group for Pro Customers, with support from Shaw Industries. 

Flooring franchise Floor Coverings International continues its expansion in Arizona with a new mobile showroom in Sunrise. As the real estate market booms and demand for its services grows, the franchise actively seeks partners in several Arizona cities.

In a recent Floor Talk podcast, we spoke with Grogan about his goals for 2024, how his past roles at Bentley and Parterre will help him grow connections and market share within the architecture and design community, and what he anticipates for the adhesives and commercial flooring markets for the next year.

Starnet President and CEO Mark Bischoff reveals the evolutionary and revolutionary changes taking place in the commercial market today—and what commercial flooring contractors need to do to shift their perspective to prepare for the future.

AHF Products President and CEO Brian Carson, Crossville President Greg Mather, and Lindsey Waldrep, VP of marketing for the Crossville brand, recently spoke with FLOOR Trends & Installation about how the acquisition came about—and what it means for flooring retailers.  

Mannington Commercial's Shane Totten, AIA, director of sustainability, offers insights into the manufacturer's recent sustainability announcements. 

Architect Scott Faucheux is an expert at bringing magic to retail environments. Having worked on concepts for Urban Outfitters and Anthropology, Faucheux is now creative director at TPG Architects. Learn what he has to say about the role flooring plays in the design of retail spaces. 

Bona’s Matt Casey, director of professional marketing and the Bona Certified Craftsman Program, has been with the company for nearly two decades. During that time, he has witnessed a multitude of contractor challenges as well as the evolution of new product solutions. He details the current state of sustainability in the wood products industry, offering a few tips on how to work smarter not harder. 

Louisville Tile Distributors recently promoted Tina Boyle to the position of Chief Operating Officer. She shares perspective on her career path and leadership roles for women in business.

David Gross, executive director, INSTALL, shares his experience, how he came to land in a union organization and provides next steps for flooring installers who are interested in moving into another role within the flooring industry.

Frank Chiera, senior VP of marketing and advertising, CCA Global Partners, and Terri Daniels, VP of public relations, offer guidance on marketing strategy for flooring retailers in 2024. 

Roland Thompson, owner, Thompson Flooring & Installation and CFI member, was recently appointed to CFI Board Chair to help revamp the association’s chapter program. Here, he talks about his new position and CFI’s plans to grow the program. 

The INSTALL Warranty Contractor designation is a unique offering in the flooring industry because it guarantees that the installation work is of the highest quality and stands behind that guarantee with a free extended warranty on labor.

Ned Monroe, president and CEO of the Vinyl Institute, offers insight into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement that vinyl chloride will be one of the next five chemicals selected for prioritization under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

After losing family members to gun violence, Charity Adeoti discovered her passion for making a difference. Learn how this graduate of the Floor Covering Education Foundation 10-week installation program aims to inspire youth to get off the streets to pursue careers—and successful futures—in flooring.

Belknap White’s Dave Godlewski, vice president ceramic, and Jane Twombly, director of specification, provided a more in-depth look at the company which is one of the largest flooring distributors in the country, discuss what’s coming for 2024, the opportunities they see on the horizon and the trends they are following this year.

Leslie Del Pozo, vice president of marketing content & communications, QEP/Roberts has been supporting the installation community in a variety of ways for several years now, including sponsoring our Installation Awards for the second year in a row. Here, we dive more into her flooring journey, what supporting the installation community means to her and the importance of just showing up.

Resilient Floor Covering Institute President and CEO Bill Blackstock offers an update on the association's key initiatives for the second half of 2024 and provides an outlook for the resilient category of flooring. 

David Gross, executive director, INSTALL, highlights the Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB)—a women’s union organization within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. He provides an update on how the unions have evolved over time and talks in depth about the support and resources the SIB offers.

Fishman Flooring’s new president Shane Richmond discusses the benefit of Employee Stock Ownership Plans, succession planning and the future of flooring distribution. 

At NeoCon 2024, Floor Trends & Installation met up with AHF Products Chief Commercial Officer Jennifer Zimmerman and Vice President of Commercial Fred Reitz to learn more about the company’s commercial channel strategy, incorporating AHF Contract, Armstrong Flooring, Crossville Tile and Parterre brands.

Learn how this leader in resilient flooring emphasizes long-term planning, approaches the evolving role of digital printing, and discusses the importance of clear product storytelling. Plus, Wu highlights Novalis' commitment to domestic manufacturing.

SCI Floor Covering, backed by Ranier Capital, is expanding through strategic acquisitions in the Midwest. Despite some market softness, SCI President and CEO Dave Elberson remains optimistic about the flooring industry's outlook. Learn about his acquisition strategy, business outlook and SCI's career path for installers. 

Get an inside look at the art of flooring design through the eyes of Audra Keiber, Mohawk’s director of design & development. In this episode, Keiber gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Mohawk Design Summit, bringing retailers and designers together to forecast 2025 and 2026 trends and product ideation.

The Belknap White Group recently announced the brand merger of Belknap White, JJ Haines and Swiff Train under the UCX umbrella. Here, UCX CEO Ray Mancini discusses the merger and the future of distribution.   

David Winkler, regional director of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 5, discusses the importance of training, provides insight into the inner workings and benefits of IUPAT and dispells some common misconceptions about trade unions. 

No doubt, artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay, but how is it being utilized in flooring installation? App developer and installer Jason Potts walks us through the newest features of AI bot Ballin Knows Best and what it means for the future of installation.