CONCIERGE FLOORING, INC
TAMPA, FLORIDA

It is never the homeowners fault, if they hire a flooring specialist, many of the failures that I see are either not installed to manufacturer specifications or sold out side of the manufacturer recommended applications (wrong product for application), or the homeowner has been provided the incorrect or incomplete floor care instructions. I believe at least in Tampa where I am that a majority of floors are being installed outside of manufacturers recommendations, obviously they don’t all fail but, if it is never their fault, why do the end user always suffer. We can all agree that training installers and sales people is a priority in our industry. But who pays for this training, over the last few days I have been on multiple flooring installers groups on Facebook, asking what they need to attend training, and basically they said the training needs to be at their house on a Saturday for free and then they might attend. Many installers feel that the retailers or manufacturers should pay to train them. So this is the question “who cares enough about the homeowner to make sure the product performs to the customer expectation.” Let’s dissect the problem, the manufacturer has a vested interest in making sure that their product is constructed in a way that under normal conditions it will perform as intended. The retailer has a vested interest in making sure the sale of the product goes through, and the installer has a vested interest in making sure the product is installed “correctly”. If the installer is an employee of the retailer, both parties should be vested in making sure that the whole process goes smoothly. If the installer is a “Sub-contractor” they are wholly responsible for the installation performance. Many installers feel that much like in the tile industry, the manufacturers can come around and do product specific training. I have been to several of these “product demonstrations” and they are little more than a sales pitch for product A’s; setting materials grouts, sealers, ETC… and are performed over a couple hours at a local distributor/retailer. I believe the reason for this is that the installer should be directly involved in the purchase of the setting materials, but not necessarily the finished flooring goods. So the manufacturers of these materials go direct to the source, but this training while it includes some industry data, it is not what I would call industry specific “training”. It is more product specific training, that at time can lead to failures. Example: I attend company A’s training on concrete sealers, but on my next job I use company C’s sealer, well I don’t need to read the instructions, it must go down the same way company A’s does so that is what I will do. The installers complain that they can’t afford to be off work for several days, and they also can’t afford the $500-$2000 it costs with travel and school. So they think if the manufacturer wants their product installed correctly, they should pay for it, or if the retailer wants it done correctly they should pay for it. I must admit that if the installer is an employee the retailer should at least contribute to the training. They argue though that once they train the installer they will leave them and reap the benefits of being trained, while the company has to hire and train someone else. Exceptional Products ~ Expert Service Concierge Flooring, Inc. is the premier flooring installation and sales company in Florida. What we do is in our name, concierge service from start to finish. By only taking on a few customers a month, we are able to guide you through the process from pre-planning to your final walk through. We also come to you, with samples of our hand-picked products, designed and created by our industry leaders. We only deal with the best, what our customers expect and deserve. Our installation team is held to a very high standard. We require all of them to be fully versed in all industry standards, as well as receive continued education throughout the year. We are the only company in the Tampa / St. Petersburg area demanding this level of craftsmanship. By offering high quality products and installation, it allows us to provide an industry leading five (5) year warranty on installation, when other companies only offer one (1) year. As an NWFA Certified Flooring Inspector and Installer for over 20 years, I have seen my fair share of poor installations, low-quality products, and terrible customer service. It is my opinion that 90% of wood floors in the Tampa / St. Petersburg area are installed incorrectly. From basic mistakes such as incorrect product for the customer’s life style, to no pre-install moisture testing and bad sub-floor prep. All leading to an overall poor installation and dissatisfied customer. This is why Concierge Flooring was formed, to do it right from the beginning to end and beyond. Concierge Flooring’s management team has over 40 years of combined in-depth industry knowledge, from installation and jobsite evaluation, to product development, sourcing and design. We have the hands on experience to make sure every aspect of your project is handled correctly. All of our installations are performed to the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), Tile Council of North America (TCNA), and the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) S600 standards. We perform ALL required pre-install testing. This insures you, the customer, are getting the best protection available. Concierge Flooring, Inc. has the highest standards, so you can enjoy your beautiful floor for years to come.