NALFA and CFI Partner to Promote Installation Professionalism: Lowe’s Laminate Installers to be certified by NALFA

The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) and the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) will provide expanded laminate installation training to the Lowe’s Wood and Laminate Installer program. Upon completion of the course, installers are eligible to take the NALFA and CFI test for certification.

“NALFA is very excited for the opportunity to partner with CFI and Lowe’s for installer training,” says Bill Dearing, president of NALFA. “The partnership helps to promote installation professionalism and reinforces NALFA’s presence as an expert in the laminate flooring industry.”

The 8-hour laminate curriculum was developed by NALFA. CFI will conduct 26 sessions throughout the year, with a potential to certify about 416 installers. Topics to be covered in the sessions include: moisture, subfloors, floor prep, manufacturer specific laminate product knowledge, problems, causes, skills sessions on proper installation techniques, homework, a written test and a skills test. Sales representatives will also attend the sessions and are required to pass the written test.

Professional installers who successfully complete the requirements of two-years of experience and the written and skills tests of the laminate training course will be certified through NALFA.

“The association with NALFA adds another opportunity for flooring installers to achieve a higher level of professionalism through knowledge and skill,” says Jim Walker, CEO of CFI. “We continually strive to build an environment in which the customers receive what is expected at the time of the sale; quality work provided by professional, certified Installers with the ultimate in customer service skills.”

In addition to the certification through the CFI Laminate training with Lowe’s, installers can be independently certified through NALFA by attending the NALFA Installer Certification School. This curriculum covers every aspect of quality laminate installations and gives the attendees the skills necessary to perform installations to high standards and craftsmanship in the field. For more information, visit www.nalfa.com.

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NALFA has been setting the standard in the laminate flooring industry for the past 13 years. For more information visit www.nalfa.com.

CFI was founded in 1993. In 2009, the organization represents over 42,550 installers worldwide who regard customer satisfaction as the ultimate goal. For more information visit www.cfiinstallers.com