Surfaces 2006

December 6, 2005

    The event, from Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, will once again feature stone as a key part of the North American floor-covering industry, for both residential and commercial markets.
    And, continuing a trend for the past few years, stone also plays a part in the event’s seminar programs running throughout the four days of Surfaces.
    One highlight is Natural Stone Flooring Installation, offered on Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. The 90-minute workshop covers thin-set installation from planning stages through the final job, including the concept of the installer “owning” the substrate with careful surface preparation to avoid most problems.
    The presentation also features a familiar face in the trade with co-presenter Kevin M. Padden, the training and consultation specialist for the Marble Institute of America and a writer for several publications over the years (including Stone Business). He’s joined by Ralph Williamson, CNC, of Ceramic Tile & Stone Consulting of Arizona Inc.; a licensed and bonded contractor for both residential and commercial work for more than 41 years inspecting hundreds of natural-stone flooring installations – as well as co-authoring a number of specification guides on ceramic tile, pavers and natural stone.
    Repair Material For Floor Moisture Problems on Feb. 1 at 8 a.m., meanwhile, looks at the advantages and disadvantages of various materials available on the market, and all the latest repair materials for floor moisture problems will be discussed in detail by Howard Kanare, senior principal scientist in the Structural/Architectural Evaluation Group at Construction Technology Laboratories (CTL) in Skokie, IL.
    And, Radiant Heating, also on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m., focuses on this added-value product for flooring, with Monica Irgens of Electro Plastics Inc. providing the details on the different types of radiant systems available and the appropriate installation use for each.
    Other Surfaces seminars throughout the event cover topics such in marketing, safety and employee issues. The sessions are available for $55 each ($75 after December 30), and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.
    There’s also some education available for a great price – free – with the Installation Showcase offered on the Surfaces trade-show floor. nstalling & Maintaining Natural Stoneis set for Feb. 3 at 10 a.m., with Bob Perry, Rich Crawford and Scott Conwell of the International Masonry Institute. The showcase session is sponsored by LATICRETE International, in conjunction with the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), Floor Covering Installer and National Floor Trends magazines and the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA).
    The hot ticket for many, however, will be the exhibition floor, with more than 1,000 vendors throughout more than 500,000 ft² of space; show hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Feb. 1-2, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Feb 3.
    The official sponsor of Surfaces is the Anaheim, Calif-based WFCA, representing retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America. Hanley-Wood LLC of Dallas produces the event.
    For more information on the event, call 800-547-3477, or visit www.surfaces.com.

The following are stone-related exhibitors at Surfaces 2006, as of mid-November 2005:

A
Accu-Cut
Alay Marble
Alpha Professional Tools®
Amerisink
American Bullnose Co.
Artistic Stone Gallery Inc.
Arizona Tile
Art FX Productions

B
Bab Tile
Bedrosians
Big Pacific LLC
Bostik Inc.
BTI Tile & Stone
Builders Home Supply/Wisteria Lane

C
C-Cure
Cactus Enterprises
Ceramica & Stones U.S.A.
Cercan Mosaic
Charleson Sink Co.
Chemcore International Inc.
COBSA USA
Cosa Marble Co.
Custom Building Products

D-E
Dal-Tile Corp.
Davil Travertini Srl
Deluxe Granite
DK Heating Systems
Dragos Marble Inc.
Dry-Treat (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Eastern Gold Star Inc.
Easy Heat
Electrolux Construction Products
Eliane Ceramic Tiles
Elon Tile and Stone
Emser Tile & Natural Stone
Epic Imports LLC

F
Famosa Tile and Stone Studio
FBR-Travertine Marble & Tile
FILA Chemicals USA Corp.
Flanders Export Agency
Fritz Industries Inc.

G-H
GBI Tile & Stone Inc.
Gemini Srl
Gemini Saw Co. Inc.
Glaze 'N Seal
Granite and Marble Resources
Grand Tile Inc.
Honor Life Medallions

I-J
IGE Stone and Tile LLC
Import Stone Inc.
Indomarble Pte. Ltd.
International Masonry Institute
International Wholesale Tile
Intertile Natural Stone Surfaces
Jerong Marble Products

L
Laser Products Industries Inc
LATICRETE International Inc.
Laura Ashley

M
M S International Inc.
Magna Rosetta Ceramica
Malbros Impex Pvt. Ltd.
MAPEI Corp.
Marble Institute of America
Marble World.
Marmol Export USA
MARMOTECH S.A.
M-D Building Products
Miracle Sealants Co.
MK Diamond Products Inc.

N-R
National Metal Shapes Inc.
The Noble Co.
Old West Paint Company Inc.
Oshkosh Floor Designs
Pacifica Wholesale Tile and Stone
Park Industries
Phoenician Arts America Inc.
Protecto Wrap Co.
Questech
Rainbow Stone USA Inc.
Rosoni Antique Marble
Rubi Tools USA Inc.

S
Sawmaster Diamond Tools Inc.
Schlüter Systems
SGM Inc.
Sicis
Shi Wa Stone Co.
Solistone Inc.
Source Products Group Inc.
Spectrum Imports
Stone Business
Stone Care International
StoneImpressions
Stone World
StoneTech Professional/DuPont
Stoneworks of Art
Surface Shields Inc.

T-U
TEC Specialty Products Inc.
Tecno Art Marmi/CTM
Tile Stone Industries
Total Tile Training
Trade Commission of Mexico
Tureks/Marble Systems
Unique Floor Products
United Team Tile and Stone

V-Z
VIC International Corp.
Vytek
WarmlyYours Inc.
Warmup Inc.
World Sales Group
World Wide Stone Corp.
Zhong Yuan Art Stone