Brett Miller chats with Norman Kaswell, a second-generation owner of Kaswell Flooring Systems, about the history and future of end grain flooring in commercial and residential applications. They also discuss tips on installation, finishes, fillers, and long-term care of this unique cut of wood flooring.
Nov 08, 2022•43 min
Brett Miller chats with Greg Mihaich, an application engineer for Norton/Saint-Gobain Abrasives. In this role, he works in the professional floor sanding and DIY/Contractor markets on new product development, testing, and training. A second-generation wood flooring contractor, Mihaich has been active with NWFA, serving as an instructor at schools and assisting with updates to NWFA’s Sand and Finish Guidelines.
Sep 30, 2022•59 min
Brett Miller and Tim Nassis of Woodchuck Flooring in Toronto, Canada discuss his company’s business model and more. This podcast is sponsored by Woodchuck Flooring.
Sep 09, 2022•26 min
Brett Miller and Mike Somodean of MSCS Inc. discuss the value of education, what it means to be credentialed in the wood flooring industry, and the responsibilities you carry as a qualified professional in your market.
Sep 07, 2022•37 min
Brett Miller and staff from City Floor Supply, including owners Mike and Joe Glavin, as well as Caran Baxter, and Amanda Fox-Rouch discuss distribution in today’s wood flooring industry. They talk about changes in today’s distribution business, the economic climate, supply chain issues, the importance of keeping in front of their customers through different marketing strategies, their annual nailing competition, the importance of training, and some of the continuous challenges distributors face,...
Aug 09, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Brett Miller and Damian Bush, Technical Sales Advisor for Berger-Seidle America, discuss his background in the industry, installation differences in dry climates, and more.
Jul 28, 2022•45 min
Jared Fitzgerald of Southern Oaks Flooring in Nashville, TN, talks with Brett about his career path in and through the wood flooring industry, the unspoken values of collaborating with other professionals to stay motivated, the importance of education, and what to expect with Spanish classes and technical publications through NWFA.
Jun 28, 2022•47 min
Brett Miller and Russ Watts discuss the science of sanding, changes in customer expectations, how finishing furniture differs from flooring, the meaning of 'sand job topography' in relation to wood flooring, equipment maintenance, upcoming equipment maintenance class hosted at Lägler’s facility, and more.
Jun 13, 2022•48 min
Brett Miller is joined by wood flooring professionals Alex Korbut and Chris Yates to discuss their experiences in Ukraine and how they are participating in relief efforts. Korbut discusses his experiences in Ukraine since the war began. And Chris Yates discusses his efforts to assist refugees.
May 24, 2022•42 min
Wood Talk welcomes Joe Rocco of Artistic Floors by Design. Brett and Joe discuss Joe's background in the wood flooring industry, how he went from being an employee to building his business, the importance of investing in employee education, the purpose of NWFA Certification, finding artistic inspiration, Wood Floor of the Year projects, and more.
May 03, 2022•43 min
Recorded at the 2022 NWFA Expo on Wednesday, April 13th, Brett Miller and Michael Martin are joined by Alfred Melka, Michael Fischer, and Ashley Carter of Loba-Wakol, LLC on the day of Loba's 100th anniversary. They discuss the company and its culture and philosophy, the importance of education, the future of the company, and more.
Apr 13, 2022•25 min
The guest on this week's Wood Talk episode is Andrew St. James. Andrew holds a Ph.D. in Physics and is a wood science enthusiast who is an independent consultant in the wood flooring industry. Andrew consults for manufacturers such as Goodwin Heart Pine, as well as others. In this discussion, Brett and Andrew talk about the relationship between relative humidity, temperature, and the moisture content of wood.
Apr 05, 2022•55 min
Brett Miller and John Yarema discus Yarema's path into the hardwood flooring industry, and the upcoming presentation on Tuesday, April 12, at the Pre-Expo Symposium - Define Your Niche and Tap Into a Million Dollar Market. https://www.nwfaexpo.org/NWFA2022/Public/Content.aspx?ID=2251
Mar 09, 2022•40 min
Brett and Kjell discuss the NWFA Certified Professional program in depth. They discuss what the word certification truly means, the differences between professional certifications, product certifications, certificates of completion, other types of certificates, and more.
Feb 18, 2022•42 min
Brett Miller kicks off 2022 with a group discussion with the NWFA Regional Instructors as they prepare for the year ahead at their annual meeting at NWFA headquarters.
Jan 24, 2022•40 min
Brett Miller and James Toal of Loba-Wakol discuss his history in the industry, theories on the sanding process, finishes, and the importance of education...
Jan 10, 2022•36 min
Brett Miller is joined by Daniel Boone, Training Manager at American Sanders. Brett and Daniel discuss the history of industry training, the importance of mentors, sanding tips and tricks, unsung industry veterans who have shaped the hardwood flooring industry, and more.
Dec 13, 2021•38 min
Brett Miller is joined by Kayleen McCabe, general contractor, TV host, and trades advocate, to discuss apprenticeship, the importance of inspiring the next generation to get involved in the trades, and more.
Nov 10, 2021•32 min
Brett Miller chats with Footprints Floors owner, Bryan Park. They discuss being a businessman versus being a craftsman and how to understand your market. Park also talks about understanding the vital role margins play in the success of your business.
Oct 26, 2021•44 min
Join Brett Miller as he talks with several students at the recent NWFA Wood Floor Inspector school. This school happens once each year and takes a heavy commitment from each of the students who attend. This five-day in-person course has been developed to prepare wood flooring professionals to earn the NWFA CWFI credential. Training involves learning about the inspector's role, their legal responsibilities, identification of wood flooring problems, testing methods, tools, report writing, and more...
Oct 14, 2021•24 min
Brett Miller chats with Footprints Floors owner, Bryan Park. They discuss the importance of honing your sales skills and how they translate into company growth, how he took a leap of faith and started his business, his recent educational partnership with the NWFA, and more.
Sep 26, 2021•48 min
Brett Miller chats with Jason Goldberg, founder and CEO of America's Floor Source. They discuss the labor crisis, addressing the shortage of qualified workers in the flooring industry, how trade associations should be playing a vital role, and combining forces to put trainers on the street to bring new installers to the trade. They also talk about the importance of investing in training, his passion for training for the wide variety of employees under his supervision, and the process he uses to ...
Sep 14, 2021•51 min
Brett Miller chats with Edward Tsvilik of Czar Floors and Terra Erb and John Wonderly from the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association. To learn more about Czar Floors' winning entry, click here.
Aug 26, 2021•17 min
Brett Miller is joined by Joseph Hillenmeyer from Aprilaire, and Matt Hoots of Sawhorse Inc. to discuss an upcoming webinar on how humidity impacts wood flooring. The free webinar will be held on Thursday, August 26 at 11:00 AM CDT. Register now at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5569924012807502351
Aug 10, 2021•26 min
Brett Miller chats with Steve Seabaugh. They discuss his beginnings working with wood flooring, overcoming adversity, the biggest changes he's seen in the hardwood flooring industry, and more.
Jul 27, 2021•33 min
Brett Miller and Denny Hickman of Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring discuss moisture content, kiln-drying, the performance of live-sawn wood, common and uncommon issues caused by improper drying, and more.
Jun 29, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Brett Miller chats with Tom Ourada about his beginnings working with wood flooring, his passion for finding unique flooring material, his recent multiple 2021 Wood Floor of the Year Awards, including Best in Marquetry/Inlay, Circle/Curved Application, and Members' Choice, the importance of positive self-talk, and more.
Jun 15, 2021•47 min
Brett Miller and Todd McDonald of Maple Ridge Handscraped discuss what it means to be a part of the hardwood flooring industry, why taking care of your health is important, hardwood flooring industry legends who made marks on his career, and more.
May 25, 2021•32 min
Brett Miller and Marc Schulz discuss Marc's path in the hardwood flooring industry, his unique perspective on sanding theory, and the importance of attending educational courses to enhance skills.
May 11, 2021•34 min
Brett Miller and Tim Nathan from Basic Coatings discuss the importance of increasing your skill level and being better than the competition, perspectives on industry innovation, water-based stains, the rise of UV stain technology, and more.
Apr 27, 2021•52 min