Hard Surface Training

Thinking about expanding your installation skills beyond carpet? Many CFI members have added hard surfaces installation to their skill sets to give their business an edge and expand their market. Like carpet installation, hard surfaces requires technical training in technique standards, and your skills can be elevated, tested and certified. In this economic climate, it is especially important to have a broad range of skills and means to keep business going. Adding Hard Surfaces Installation to your skill set is a super way to expand your business opportunities as an installer.

You can also become CERTIFIED in hard surface installation.

All hard-surface courses address:

• Professionalism – Pride – Customer Service Skills
• Product Knowledge
• The characteristics of the various types of flooring.
• Job-site evaluation - Preparation
• Importance of substrate acceptable for flooring - Subfloors, grades – on, above, below
• Effect of moisture and testing procedures - Acclimation
• Maintaining properly controlled installation environment
• Proper handling of materials - Following manufacturer’s installation and supplier guidelines
• Estimating and proper planning
• Tools - Cleanup - Maintenance

• Classroom and hands-on training with product provided by several different manufacturers
• Properties and characteristics of tile vs. stone
• Setting materials - Substrate preparation - Deflection
• Balancing floors - Backerboards - Membrane systems
• Estimating and layout - Radiant systems
• Tools required - Installation techniques

The hands-on course provides each student with the opportunity to participate in an installation from start to
finish. TCNA and ANSI guidelines are covered. Written materials for future reference are also included.

• Classroom and hands-on training of pre-finished hardwoods presented with various types of
manufactured products
• Nail-down, glue-down and floating floor installations
• Re-coating - Transitions – two parts - Balancing floors
• Properties and characteristics of unfinished and pre-finished floors (solid -types of cuts- plain, quarter
sawn, rift sawn)
• Strip and plank - Engineered and parquet - Janka hardness - Cork and bamboo
• Factory finishes (UV-cured, acrylic impregnated, ceramic and aluminum oxide)
• Nail-down, staples and cleats - Radiant systems - Installation of floating and direct-glue installations
• Technical handouts are provided for future reference

• Various types of materials provide an opportunity to work with different fastening systems.
• Technical handouts provided for future reference.
• Types of laminate floors - Specific installation properties and characteristics for each type of flooring
• Glue vs. Click - Adhesives
• Use of manufacturer’s recommended installation supplies
• Plank-lay direction - Startup and row stagger - Room size - Spacers
• Silicone sealant - Stairs - Transition systems - Expansion issues - Board repair

• Products are furnished by various manufacturers to provide the installers with an opportunity to
understand specific installation requirements.
• Use of stripping agents, citrus solvents, paint thinners, charcoal lighter fluid
• Patching compounds (Portland-based, gypsum and SLC’s)
• Types of flooring (rotogravure, inlaid, linoleum, felt-backed, vinyl-backed, vinyl-composition tile
(VCT), Vinyl asbestos tile (VAT) and rubber)
• Wall base
• Installation characteristics (adhesives, trowels, open-time, seam sealers, proper seam Preparation,
proper sealing techniques and using correct rollers)
• Review of common problems such as telegraphing and installation over existing flooring