Installer & Inspector Workshop

Tandy Reeves · November 10, 2007, 08:15 AM

Lets not let any type politics get in the way of our plans and goals. I promise you I will take care of the politics, because there will be none on the floor of our workshop.

Dobby Tappet · November 10, 2007, 12:10 PM

what gets me is a long time ago walker and hunt were friends...life is to short get over it

Al, with all due respect, Jim Walker and I have never been friends and, if you for some reason believe otherwise, you have been misguided. There was a time, when I was naive, when I was active in the CFI. Back when I believed the purpose of the CFI was to improve the plight and educational opportunities of the regular installer. It is not. The sole purpose of the CFI is to promote Jim Walker, period. {{and if you doubt this or need me to expand on this, out of respect for this site, we can discuss this via PM}

However, make no mistake, Jim Walker and I have never been friends, there was a brief time when I believed we were fighting for the same cause, until Jim Walker realized that I was not there to worship at the Jim Walker alter. Unfortunately for me, I did not realize the true purpose and intent of the CFI until much later and even then, it was not until the events leading up to the Woven Symposium that I saw the real CFI.

And yes, I agree, life is short and there is nothing to get over. Nonetheless, these leopard's have not changed their spots and my post, as with Mr.Tuckers, is simply to say; if your gonna swim with these sharks, be careful, because they do bite and, unless your event is 100% about them, you will be attacked. Perhaps I should have remained silent on this issue and just let the members here discover these realities on their own.

Again, it's not that this event should not be pursued, it should. My posts here are simply offered as fair warning. What you choose to do with it is totally your decision.

Respectfully,

David Hunt

Tandy Reeves · November 10, 2007, 12:10 PM

Another question. Many of you will be bringing your wife or girlfriend and I would like to see them included in your $50.00 fee and not have to pay an additional fee.

What are your thoughts.

TFP Admin · November 10, 2007, 12:36 PM

Tandy said

I promise you I will take care of the politics, because there will be none on the floor of our workshop.

And none here either. It's fine to state your experiences, but please leave idle comments about a person's character or your predictions of what they will or won't do out of it.

This website was begun with this very goal in mind: to bring all segments of the industry together for a common goal. No segment or individual is treated differently, better or worse. I feel we all can make many changes to better ourselves and that's what I had hoped for TFP - and it seems to be working.

I like that this symposium, workshop or whatever you want to call it is focused on the relationship between installer and inspector. I especially like that it will exclude no one from participation. I hope that, because of the success of this, I will have the opportunity to be associated with and support other similarly focused workshops with a variety of specific goals (e.g. relationship between manufacturing and installation; relationship between inspectors and manufacturing; relationship between retailers and installers, etc.). I have recognized the conflicts between various segments of this industry for years and always wanted to be a part of helping them work together better. It is the primary reason The Floor Pro Community is here (contrary to many assertions otherwise) and my first attempt several years ago, FloorcoveringPROS.

Let's stay on track. I am happy to follow Tandy's leadership in this. I don't agree that there shouldn't be any main speakers. I think Tandy should be the main speaker and our guide in this effort. I believe he is capable of organizing this and bringing good people with their particular expertise, as well as their ability to communicate effectively, to the front of the workshop to direct the rest of us in specific areas of discussion and problem solving.

We have no exclusivity rules here at TFP. Selva and maybe a couple others should know that by now. Everyone who works in the floorcovering industry is welcome to participate. Everyone is given the opportunity to learn and to teach. If their goal appears to be to divide, disrupt or destroy, their ability to participate becomes restricted. No matter what any of you have heard elsewhere, I assure you that no flooring professional who registers here is on any ban list. They may be restricted in some way, based on their previous attempts here to do harm, but no one is banned except actual spammers. I hope that this workshop will have similar guidelines and bar no one from attendance.

Sorry for the lecture. Let's stay focused.

T

Tandy Reeves · November 10, 2007, 04:31 PM

How about this: WORKSHOP GOAL---Change Attitudes and Increase Knowledge

BREAK OUT DISCUSSIONS
1. substrates
2. carpet
3. ceramics
4. wood
5. laminates
6.resilient
7. commercial
8. waivers
9. reports
10. installer training
11. inspector training

Installer responsibility of product sold.
Is installing a mis-specified product an installation related problem?
Should inspectors attend installation classes?
Should installers phone numbers and name be included with all inspection requests and are they employees or subcontractors?

This is some of my thinking what do you want to add or take away. This is just the start of brain storming now you jump in.

TFP Admin · November 10, 2007, 05:18 PM

I moved some posts to their own thread here: My trials & tribulations of educating inspectors and installers PLEASE try to keep this thread on-topic and focused on the workshop. You are welcome to begin new topics that explore other issues.

T

selvalee · November 10, 2007, 05:33 PM

my gamecocks are on a three game losing streak, and I had a good laugh at the move and the title,,, needed it, we are going up against Fla. tonight,,,
thanks
slt

Tandy Reeves · November 10, 2007, 05:38 PM

Thanks to all for the warnings and concern that this workshop comes about and is successful. Now lets start building it.

Peter Kodner · November 10, 2007, 06:13 PM

I propose: "Standards for Inspection Practices: How do we write them and have them be accepted."

Installers have standards and directions for every product they deal with. Why are inspectors presumed to be qualified?

Or: "Installers and Inspectors: Building bridges not walls"

Or: "How can the installers protect themselves when an inspection is required". I see this as creating some tools for how the installers can be assured he will be notified if an inspection is ordered and how to have some say in who performs it.

In Tandy list of topics, for reports: "What should and what shouldn't be in an inspection report"

Does anybody other than me think we may want tis to be a 3 day meeting? If we spend 90 minutes (a pretty short session actually) on each of the topics Tandy started with, we are needing 16 1/2 hours. I believe we need some short (1/2- 3/4 hour speakers on the topics before opening up for discussion for them to have some focus and relevance.

I see a need for some folks to step up and help collate the information gathered from the discussions to submit to attendees as well.

How about some suggestions on what to call this gathering. It may help keep us focused. I would like the first order of business at the first session to present and discuss a mission statement. My experience is having a mission statement, and comparing everything considered action to it, dramatically increases focus and effectiveness. It can be really corny like: The Union of Installers and Inspectors: Working Together for Better Floors" or The United Bottom of the Food Chain"

TFP Admin · November 10, 2007, 06:38 PM

Peter Kodner said

How about some suggestions on what to call this gathering. It may help keep us focused.

I think you alread hit on a great name:

FITS inc., in association with The Floor Pro Community
Presents
The Installers and Inspectors Workshop
Building Bridges, Not Walls

Any other suggestions would be welcome.

T

rgfloor · November 10, 2007, 06:40 PM

Agree 100% on the mission statement. I asked about that in one of my first posts, what goals do we have. Perhaps put together some "Core Values" for inspectors and installers.

Danny Ferguson · November 10, 2007, 08:33 PM

Mission Statement.

Professional installers, inspectors, and retailers coming together to unselfishly share years of experience and knowledge. Each one coming to the table with an incessable appetite to educate themselves and others hungry for this knowledge. We stand for honesty and professionalism. We implement detailed craftmanship on installs, and conculsions based on facts on inspections, and customer service like no other. We do this for ourselves, because we know no other way, and we do this for our customer, who deserves no other way.

selvalee · November 10, 2007, 09:21 PM

good, very good, love it,,,
they are watching and you guys are great!

Jon Scanlan · November 10, 2007, 09:53 PM

I agree with Selva keep it up. I live miles away I can't do much but only offer support. We sometimes have the same issues here when a non flooring person (Building Consultants) does a report. In the past we have spent hours going over those reports correcting them when the flooring people have passed them over to the association to sort out. This is why I support Selva who has put his hand up and said enough. We do have the advantage in NZ of having the National Flooring Association who layers and customers can get to inspect a laying installation who are non political

TFP Admin · November 10, 2007, 10:24 PM

Here's my own submission for the mission statement. Perhaps we can mold a proper statement from all our suggestions and come up with one we all agree on.

A symposium of floorcovering professionals who gather for a single purpose: to further the education and understanding necessary for the proper installation and fair assessment of flooring materials. The goal is to bridge the gap in the relationship between the installation and inspection disciplines. We agree that the end user deserves the service and performance warranted by the products purchased. This will be assured by adhering to a set of standards and recommendations established through the cooperation of each of the relevant segments of the floor covering industry.

This workshop will address a diverse group of important issues regarding professional installation of floor products and finishes and how these processes are examined by qualified inspectors in cases of failure or fault. Education and communication are our highest priority. We dedicate the study and practice of these issues to the furtherance of our own professionalism and to the assurance of equitable performance for the end user.

T