You have watched us start from the very beginning as a company. We can't thank all of you enough for the support over the years. We hope you enjoy this short video of how we started and how we got to where we are today. Please feel free to share our story!
#WichitaWoodFloor #DouglasDesignDistrict
Friday, December 11, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
What it Means to Hire a Certified Wood Floor Contractor
Contractors.... for some people just the word gives them the goosebumps! When you have a big project (like wood floors) that need to be completed around the house or office, you have a few different choices. You can either try to do it yourself, or you can hire someone. Most of the time when it comes to projects such as wood floors, YouTube videos or other publications may make it seem pretty easy. So there are a select few that will attempt to tackle the project on their own. 80% of the time after about a days worth of work they are on the phone trying to find a contractor to get the project completed.
Once the decision has been made to use a contractor, most people start stressing out trying to find the right one. This is completely understandable. Not only are you allowing someone you do not know into your home, you are allowing them basically to do surgery on your home and trusting them to meet your expectations of what you want completed. How do you even begin to try to find someone that can meet this criteria while being a stranger that you need to trust?
The National Wood Flooring Association has you covered! The NWFA is a non-profit that was founded simply to provide the best education and sources for anything that deal with Wood Floors. For contractors that want to be serious about wood floors, the NWFA provides several different level classes. Anything from wood floor basics to advanced level installing or finishing classes, even classes on how to sell the proper wood floor product to a customer.
Before the classes begin, the contractor must take it upon themselves to read up on the manuals and be mentally prepared for the classes. Once arrived, the students do hands on work with the wood. By the end of the week long class, the student must prove their knowledge by showing their craftsmanship as well as taking a written test. If they pass both sections, they then become certified for whichever class they took. The tests are not simple, and will really test the student on all different aspects of the course. Not everyone that takes the courses, pass them.
Thankfully though, the NWFA does list these fine contractors on their website for the consumer to find a certified contractor to help them with their hard wood flooring needs. You can simply go to: http://woodfloors.org/certified-professional-search.aspx and search for what you are needing in the area you live in. Simply choose what you need (installer, sand & finisher, etc.), the mileage range and your zip code. If for some reason you do not have a certified person in your area, you can call the office and they would be more than happy to assist you in your search of a qualified contractor.
So next time you hire a wood flooring contractor, be sure to ask them if they are certified through the National Wood Flooring Association. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at Wichita Wood Floor Specialists or call us at 316-747-4066. We love to talk wood!
Once the decision has been made to use a contractor, most people start stressing out trying to find the right one. This is completely understandable. Not only are you allowing someone you do not know into your home, you are allowing them basically to do surgery on your home and trusting them to meet your expectations of what you want completed. How do you even begin to try to find someone that can meet this criteria while being a stranger that you need to trust?
The National Wood Flooring Association has you covered! The NWFA is a non-profit that was founded simply to provide the best education and sources for anything that deal with Wood Floors. For contractors that want to be serious about wood floors, the NWFA provides several different level classes. Anything from wood floor basics to advanced level installing or finishing classes, even classes on how to sell the proper wood floor product to a customer.
Before the classes begin, the contractor must take it upon themselves to read up on the manuals and be mentally prepared for the classes. Once arrived, the students do hands on work with the wood. By the end of the week long class, the student must prove their knowledge by showing their craftsmanship as well as taking a written test. If they pass both sections, they then become certified for whichever class they took. The tests are not simple, and will really test the student on all different aspects of the course. Not everyone that takes the courses, pass them.
Thankfully though, the NWFA does list these fine contractors on their website for the consumer to find a certified contractor to help them with their hard wood flooring needs. You can simply go to: http://woodfloors.org/certified-professional-search.aspx and search for what you are needing in the area you live in. Simply choose what you need (installer, sand & finisher, etc.), the mileage range and your zip code. If for some reason you do not have a certified person in your area, you can call the office and they would be more than happy to assist you in your search of a qualified contractor.
(This picture is of a floor installed by our very own
Jesse Sample @ Wichita Wood Floor Specialists.
This floor is located in the NWFA's corporate office.)
So next time you hire a wood flooring contractor, be sure to ask them if they are certified through the National Wood Flooring Association. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at Wichita Wood Floor Specialists or call us at 316-747-4066. We love to talk wood!
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Wichita Wood Floor Specialists Short Clip
Check out our short Sponsor Clip for "This Old House". We love out community and are proud to help support our local non profit station!
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
What Does It Mean To Have A NWFA Certified Installer For Your Wood Floor Needs?
Good morning! It has been just over a year since the last blog, and my how things have changed in a year! Lets get caught up with some updates about where Wichita Wood Floor Specialists is before we dive into the good stuff.
This time last year Jesse and I began the search for a location for our very first store front. With a few struggles and disappointments, we finally found the perfect location! As of February 2015 WWFS opened their doors to the public at 3203 E. Douglas in Wichita, KS. We couldn't have asked for a better location (we are literally right next door to The Crown Uptown) or better neighbors!
As a small family owned business we have had many hiccups to get where we are today, but we have used all of those moments as learning experiences. With each other's support we have learned to tweak our methods, make changes and move on to strive to be the best wood floor company Wichita has ever seen. The end result is what you see today!
One of our main goal's is to have the best expertise in the field of wood floors. We understand that WWFS has not been in business for 20+ years, but we also understand that things change and we want to be educated with all of the changes so we can better educate all of you with the variety of options there are for wood floors now. We strive to not be stuck in a rut, only using the bare minimum standards to complete a floor, or to look at each customer as a "job". One of our favorite parts of being in the wood floor business is meeting all of the amazing people in our community. Jesse, our employees and myself all try to treat every single customer with a personal touch. Each and every single person is different so we try to truly listen to what your needs and wants are, and achieve those for you so that ultimately you are completely satisfied with the end result.
Okay! Enough about us, let's move on to the education part! What is the NWFA you might be asking. NWFA = National Wood Flooring Association. They are this beautiful nation's master of wood floors. This is where the top elite masters of wood floors come to learn, train and trade advice to each other. There have been some pretty amazing wood floor pictures floating around on social media lately, the ones that I see are actual NWFA member's floors. The latest picture I saw of what looks like the entire tree logs laid on the floor was the NWFA 2015 winner for Wood Floor of the Year. So needless to say, NWFA takes their floors pretty serious.
To become a member of NWFA, it is rather simple. You send in a check, sign some paperwork and there you have it, you are a member! It's what you do with that membership that will determine the expertise you gain from it. NWFA offers training courses that are available to become certified in a particular area of wood floors. Anything from installation of wood floors, to the selling of wood floors. For these certification courses you must study for hours ahead of time, have a good working knowledge and experience with wood floors, and prove not only your knowledge but your ability to implement that knowledge in a working environment. NWFA takes the certification courses very seriously and if you cannot prove your craftsmanship as well as your knowledge on the last day of training for test time, you will not pass certification.
With all of that being said, it takes a lot of dedication, hard work, knowledge and love of wood floors to become certified with the NWFA. A certified NWFA Installer will know the steps to take before the wood ever gets nailed to your subfloor. A good installation starts with the product being properly acclimated and the subfloor being properly prepared. A certified NWFA Installer knows what steps to take to make sure the pre-check list has been completed before the wood is installed. There are LOTS of people/companies that advertise they can install a wood floor and for the most part might get pretty lucky with not running into any issues while trying to install it. But... the issues may arise months or maybe even years down the road.
There are so many more things that go into installing a wood floor properly than nailing boards together to a sub floor. Is the temperature and humidity right in the house for a wood floor? Has there been enough spacing left around the edges of the room for the wood to expand and contrast with the different weather climates? Was the proper underlayment used and laid correctly for that particular floor? The list goes on and on. A certified NWFA Installer is educated on all the correct steps to assure the life of your wood floors.
WWFS understands installing a wood floor is a major time and monetary commitment. This is why we are certified through the NWFA for installation. We are the only company within a 175 mile radius that is certified for installation. To find a NWFA certified installer in your area simply click on this link: http://woodfloors.org/certified-professional-search.aspx and enter in your city information. So next time you are looking for a wood floor company be sure to ask them if they are certified through the NWFA.
Thanks for reading! As always comments and questions are welcome.
This time last year Jesse and I began the search for a location for our very first store front. With a few struggles and disappointments, we finally found the perfect location! As of February 2015 WWFS opened their doors to the public at 3203 E. Douglas in Wichita, KS. We couldn't have asked for a better location (we are literally right next door to The Crown Uptown) or better neighbors!
As a small family owned business we have had many hiccups to get where we are today, but we have used all of those moments as learning experiences. With each other's support we have learned to tweak our methods, make changes and move on to strive to be the best wood floor company Wichita has ever seen. The end result is what you see today!
One of our main goal's is to have the best expertise in the field of wood floors. We understand that WWFS has not been in business for 20+ years, but we also understand that things change and we want to be educated with all of the changes so we can better educate all of you with the variety of options there are for wood floors now. We strive to not be stuck in a rut, only using the bare minimum standards to complete a floor, or to look at each customer as a "job". One of our favorite parts of being in the wood floor business is meeting all of the amazing people in our community. Jesse, our employees and myself all try to treat every single customer with a personal touch. Each and every single person is different so we try to truly listen to what your needs and wants are, and achieve those for you so that ultimately you are completely satisfied with the end result.
Okay! Enough about us, let's move on to the education part! What is the NWFA you might be asking. NWFA = National Wood Flooring Association. They are this beautiful nation's master of wood floors. This is where the top elite masters of wood floors come to learn, train and trade advice to each other. There have been some pretty amazing wood floor pictures floating around on social media lately, the ones that I see are actual NWFA member's floors. The latest picture I saw of what looks like the entire tree logs laid on the floor was the NWFA 2015 winner for Wood Floor of the Year. So needless to say, NWFA takes their floors pretty serious.
To become a member of NWFA, it is rather simple. You send in a check, sign some paperwork and there you have it, you are a member! It's what you do with that membership that will determine the expertise you gain from it. NWFA offers training courses that are available to become certified in a particular area of wood floors. Anything from installation of wood floors, to the selling of wood floors. For these certification courses you must study for hours ahead of time, have a good working knowledge and experience with wood floors, and prove not only your knowledge but your ability to implement that knowledge in a working environment. NWFA takes the certification courses very seriously and if you cannot prove your craftsmanship as well as your knowledge on the last day of training for test time, you will not pass certification.
With all of that being said, it takes a lot of dedication, hard work, knowledge and love of wood floors to become certified with the NWFA. A certified NWFA Installer will know the steps to take before the wood ever gets nailed to your subfloor. A good installation starts with the product being properly acclimated and the subfloor being properly prepared. A certified NWFA Installer knows what steps to take to make sure the pre-check list has been completed before the wood is installed. There are LOTS of people/companies that advertise they can install a wood floor and for the most part might get pretty lucky with not running into any issues while trying to install it. But... the issues may arise months or maybe even years down the road.
There are so many more things that go into installing a wood floor properly than nailing boards together to a sub floor. Is the temperature and humidity right in the house for a wood floor? Has there been enough spacing left around the edges of the room for the wood to expand and contrast with the different weather climates? Was the proper underlayment used and laid correctly for that particular floor? The list goes on and on. A certified NWFA Installer is educated on all the correct steps to assure the life of your wood floors.
WWFS understands installing a wood floor is a major time and monetary commitment. This is why we are certified through the NWFA for installation. We are the only company within a 175 mile radius that is certified for installation. To find a NWFA certified installer in your area simply click on this link: http://woodfloors.org/certified-professional-search.aspx and enter in your city information. So next time you are looking for a wood floor company be sure to ask them if they are certified through the NWFA.
Thanks for reading! As always comments and questions are welcome.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
100x The Allowed Amount of Formaldehyde in Laminate Flooring Sold to the US!
Good morning! As a hardwood floor professional, I take it very seriously when I come across certain stories that can effect the health of uninformed consumers. I am a member of the National Wood Floor Association (NWFA), so I receive updates on current events from all over the nation on a pretty regular basis. When I came across this story about product being sold to the US at 100 x the formaldehyde limit, I felt that I needed to help spread the word in case someone has recently purchased this flooring and has no idea what it is that is in their home.
The original story was sent to me from NWFA through their Hardwood Floors magazine. Here is the link for you to read the original story: Formaldehyde Story Basically there is a company that has had several legal issues this past year that has now been selling a laminate floor product that has been manufactured in China with 100 x the allotted amount of Formaldehyde. So if you or anyone you know has purchased and installed a laminate floor from Lumber Liquidators, PLEASE read this story and follow up to see if it is the same product.
If you have any concerns or questions, don't hesitate to contact us. I understand that it can be difficult sifting through different information from different sources when in the end you just want to make sure you and your family are safe! I hope this story will be shared by many others so the correct consumers will be informed. Thank you all for your help with this!
Your Family @
Wichita Wood Floor Specialists
The original story was sent to me from NWFA through their Hardwood Floors magazine. Here is the link for you to read the original story: Formaldehyde Story Basically there is a company that has had several legal issues this past year that has now been selling a laminate floor product that has been manufactured in China with 100 x the allotted amount of Formaldehyde. So if you or anyone you know has purchased and installed a laminate floor from Lumber Liquidators, PLEASE read this story and follow up to see if it is the same product.
If you have any concerns or questions, don't hesitate to contact us. I understand that it can be difficult sifting through different information from different sources when in the end you just want to make sure you and your family are safe! I hope this story will be shared by many others so the correct consumers will be informed. Thank you all for your help with this!
Your Family @
Wichita Wood Floor Specialists
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Why Professional Cleaning for Hardwood Floors?
Many people ask us why they should professionally clean and maintain their hardwood floors. They are stuck in the rut of believing they should keep up with their normal maintenance techniques and then call their local wood floor professionals every 5 years or so to get their floors sanded and refinished to look new again. This is a never ending rut and a pain in the neck people have to deal with every 5 years. I have even heard some folks say they would rather not have real wood floors because of this.
The simple truth is you shouldn't need to sand and refinish your wood floors that often. If you maintain them the way your local wood floor professionals have taught you AND you have your wood floors professionally cleaned every 6 months to a year you should not ever need to sand and refinish your floors. The thing most people don't realize is that when you have your floors professionally cleaned by a wood floor company (and not just a carpet company), they can actually chemically bond a new polyurethane finish coat to your floor. This is adding another protective layer to your floors and making them not only look beautiful again, but helping to protect them for a longer period of time.
Professionally cleaning them not only is less stressful on your home life compared to sanding and refinishing your floors, it is also less stressful to your wallet! So it just makes sense to call your local professional wood floor cleaning company. When contacting the company please make sure to ask them if they are able to chemically bond a new polyurethane finish coat to the floor. There are several companies out there that will only apply a Refinisher coat to the floor. In some circumstances the Refinisher is all the floor may need, but if that is the only coat the company offers it is a sure sign that they aren't truly educated on the needs of your floor.
If you are interested in learning more, or would like to schedule a free estimate please give us a call at 316-747-4066. You can also visit our website at www.wichitawoodfloorcleaning.com From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!
The simple truth is you shouldn't need to sand and refinish your wood floors that often. If you maintain them the way your local wood floor professionals have taught you AND you have your wood floors professionally cleaned every 6 months to a year you should not ever need to sand and refinish your floors. The thing most people don't realize is that when you have your floors professionally cleaned by a wood floor company (and not just a carpet company), they can actually chemically bond a new polyurethane finish coat to your floor. This is adding another protective layer to your floors and making them not only look beautiful again, but helping to protect them for a longer period of time.
Professionally cleaning them not only is less stressful on your home life compared to sanding and refinishing your floors, it is also less stressful to your wallet! So it just makes sense to call your local professional wood floor cleaning company. When contacting the company please make sure to ask them if they are able to chemically bond a new polyurethane finish coat to the floor. There are several companies out there that will only apply a Refinisher coat to the floor. In some circumstances the Refinisher is all the floor may need, but if that is the only coat the company offers it is a sure sign that they aren't truly educated on the needs of your floor.
If you are interested in learning more, or would like to schedule a free estimate please give us a call at 316-747-4066. You can also visit our website at www.wichitawoodfloorcleaning.com From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!
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