He told the builders about the variety of available shower-door options, whether for a shower module or for a tile shower. Gunnlaugsson also answered questions posed by a handful of the attendees.

“In this market, shower doors are becoming a statement or showpiece within homes,” Gunnlaugsson shared with the group. “All of our shower doors are custom fit, and the options for the consumer are endless.”

Gunnlaugsson explained the current trend is that showers and shower doors are getting bigger, though he cautioned that there are size limits because the attached tile only can withstand a certain amount of weight.

Among the other bits of knowledge he shared with the builders is that shower-door hardware can be matched to existing fixtures, and there are a variety of color selections for new fixtures. He added that patterned glass is available for additional privacy within the shower unit, and custom etching also can be done on the glass for a distinguished look.

Traditional shower doors can be utilized in creative ways, according to Gunnlaugsson. These uses include as wine room doors and for offices and exercise rooms where transparency is desired. For those seeking a truly distinctive look, Gunnlaugsson discussed with the builders the option of barndoor-type sliding doors on rollers.

Gunnlauggson demonstrated the value of having H.J. Martin and Son add a clear glass coating on a shower door.

Gunnlauggson also stressed the importance of ongoing maintenance and cleaning to prolong the life of the product. Soaps and shampoos, along with iron and other hard-water minerals, can degrade the shower door by seeping into the glass over time and causing corrosion.

It is best to utilize a clear glass coating on the shower door, he said. Pre-applied by H.J. Martin and Son prior to delivery, it provides a seal, and the water will bead up and run off easier. Also, using a squeegee after every use of the shower will keep cleaning to a minimum.

Edward Martin, president and CEO of H.J. Martin and Son, reminded the assembled builders that the company additionally offers cleaning services to consumers.

Gunnlaugsson told the builders that all of the available shower door options are on display at the H.J. Martin and Son showrooms in Green Bay and Neenah, Wis. An advantage over big-box retailers, the company’s in-house designers work closely with the client and bring a higher level of knowledge and customer service, he added.

It takes approximately two- to two-and-a-half weeks from measurements to installation of a new, custom shower door, according to Gunnlaugsson.

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H.J. Martin and Son hosts these educational events to help the local building community learn more about flooring, installation techniques, and new products to ensure shared customers receive the best results during a new home build or remodel project. On Feb. 20, 2018, vendor representative Corey Cheney from Kentwood Floors teamed up with H.J. Martin and Son Residential Crew Coordinator Brian Valentine and Claims Manager Al Brandner to discuss Hard Surface Flooring Installation Prep.

Cheney primarily discussed installation prep for hardwood, while Valentine and Brandner were able to inform about vinyl and resilient products. They talked through common mistakes that would cause the flooring to gap, buckle or creak when walking on it, and how to prevent this in the future.

The main point Cheney worked to teach was, even if our teams have been preparing homes for new flooring one way for years and have been successful, we need to learn to adapt with how products are changing.

The most important thing to consider when preparing a home for hardwood (and other hard surface products) is to ensure the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems have been up and running for about a week at approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Additionally, flooring should not be installed if the home exterior is not closed. Meaning all doors, windows and the roof should be complete.

Hardwood and some other hard surface materials are really susceptible to moisture. They will expand and contract depending on the humidity and moisture levels they are exposed to. Considering this, when building or remodeling, it is always best to have concrete poured and dry, drywall finished and painting completed before the flooring is installed.

Vinyl planks can react a lot like wood to moisture and how a house acclimates. Cabinetry can even force flooring to buckle if moisture and temperature are not controlled.

Doing all of this will help warrant the product and installation. Manufacturers of flooring products offer very specific specs for installation, and should always be followed for the best results in a finished product.

An essential part of this is to educate homeowners as much as possible about how to heat and cool their homes in accordance with flooring. It is necessary to keep customers informed about what they are purchasing, and how to keep their warranties valid.

Cheney explained there are now some new tools called Thermax Strips to use to help determine if there is some kind of HVAC failure. These strips are basically thermometers installed under the flooring, and allow us to pinpoint causes of gapping hardwood or buckling seams. If there is an issue, this tool can help with insurance.

For more information about hard surface flooring, contact a designer at www.hjmartin.com/company/contact/ or visit our online gallery at www.hjmartin.com/residential/gallery/.

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Forney, Texas – Two H.J. Martin and Son employees, Mason Liebergen and Javier Sanchez-Ponce, recently graduated from a five-week Certified Floorcovering Installers (CFI) Residential Carpet Installation Course.

Liebergen and Sanchez-Ponce were two of seven individuals who passed the recent course. H.J. Martin and Son fully supports installers who wish to further their education and skill set, as this differentiates our team to be of higher quality and better skill.

The course teaches installers how to do everything from site prep, communications, management and specialized skills like seaming and stretching. Advanced procedures like custom insets and border work were also taught.

The class was lead by certified instructors and industry professionals under both theory and hands-on training. Students build modules, custom staircases and three-bedroom mock homes to put their skills on display.

Students also got out into the field and trained in actual homes under instructor supervision.

The course is made available to current installers or those interested in learning the trade. All graduates earn a CFI R-1 Certification.  

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In an effort to provide the highest quality commercial flooring installation to their customers, H.J. Martin and Son recently had six of their installers take the level three Armstrong Certified Installer Program.

H.J. Martin and Son opted to take part in this intensive certification because Armstrong Flooring will be incorporating specific installer qualifications into their material instruction, some of which will require the skills of certified level three individuals.

The two-day certification held in December was facilitated in Green Bay and organized by a representative from Armstrong.

Six H.J. Martin and Son installers who took the certification were really excited for the opportunity. The program was a great way to challenge our installers and to highlight their abilities while helping the company stay on top of our game in the industry.

Installers tasked with the certification program were required to perform a number of installation procedures, including Flash Coving, Cove Cap Installation, Heat Welding and more. Many of the techniques used in the certification are needed for work in places with resilient floor covering, such as hospitals. 

Through this program, H.J. Martin and Son will help our customers take advantage of warranty benefits on the special products tested through the certification, as our team has the backing of Armstrong’s certification.

Additionally, Armstrong will track H.J. Martin and Son installers with all levels of their certification program, and will be able to advertise their skills for future projects to general contractors.

These certifications separate the good from the great. It also highlights us as a leader in our industry and shows we have installers with superior capabilities.

For more information, visit our certifications page at www.hjmartin.com/company/why-hj/certifications.

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Eric Owen, north central (U.S.) & Canada regional manager for Crossville, shared a brief history of tile products, starting with basic 2×2-inch tiles in the 1980s.  As the consumer market asked for “less grout,” according to Owen, tile sizes initially grew to 8×8-inches and 12×12-inches.  Today, common tile sizes are 12×24-inches and 18×36-inches.

Two new technologies – Laminam and Continua – are integral to modern tile manufacturing.  “We need technology to do what we do today in terms of tile size,” says Owen.

With Laminam the tile is pressed between two steel plates, while two steel rollers are utilized with Continua, allowing for production of tile sizes of two big countertops.

Laminam by Crossville’s innovative tile panels are some of the largest in the porcelain industry at 9×3 feet.  The material is also quite thin, and is produced at 9/64th of an inch. The tile is so long, two or more people are required to handle the installation process.

Owen shared with the group many of the applications of Crossville’s Laminam products: remodels, where new tile is going over existing tile; shower enclosures; elevator walls; countertops with a single porcelain panel, such as at reception stations; and exterior cladding, such as on the outside of a building.

Advantages of Laminam product use include a dustless installation and, in the case of Crossville, the availability of more than 108 product colors.  Owen told those on hand that long-term cost savings also are typically realized because of the product’s durability, with a reasonable price point of $7-20 per square foot.

Continua often is utilized when tile is going in over granite or marble, for lobby walls, for steam-room ceilings and on large-scale staircases.

The learning session closed with an in-person demonstration of installation techniques and tips, using installers from H.J. Martin and Son.  Details such as grouts and edge treatments were part of the dialogue.

“We appreciated the opportunity to work with Crossville and the Brown County Home Builders Association to educate local building professionals about the advantages and ease of Laminam,” says Nicole Jensky, director of marketing for H.J. Martin and Son.  “With how popular this product is becoming, I think everyone walked away from the day full of ideas on how they could use it in future projects.”

H.J. Martin and Son offers a wide variety of tile and stone products from its Northeast Wisconsin locations in Green Bay and Neenah.  Much more can be learned on the company’s website.

Based in Crossville, Tenn., Crossville is a leading manufacturer of tile solutions that advance the frontiers of design.  The company prides itself on having introduced the first large-format porcelain tiles in the U.S., along with becoming the first (and only) net consumer of tile-waste materials – meaning that it recycles more product than it produces.

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The objective of the nora® Technical Academy is to provide installers with the latest industry developments and installation techniques, including new moisture-testing methods, along with extensive hands-on training with nora® personnel.

Upon completion of the course, participants are confirmed as nora® approved installers.  They then are certified in specialties such as Cutting In, Seam Cutting, Stairtreads, Sanitary Base, Heat Weld, Cold Weld, Flash Coving, nora® dryfix and adhesive methods.

“There definitely is an art to installing nora® products,” says Rachel Weber, project coordinator in the commercial flooring division of H.J. Martin and Son.  “Having this certification helps to differentiate our installers from others.  We see nora® as a high-performing product in the commercial-flooring market, and H.J. Martin is well-positioned to deliver a quality solution to the end user.”

The four H.J. Martin and Son installers who received the 2016 nora® certification are a highly experienced group: Pete Hermann (13 years in commercial flooring, 4 years in resilient, 1 year in coved), Cory Freeman (24-11-19), Karl Freeman (13-13-1) and Mike Robenhorst (6-6-2).

Often nora® products are seen in educational buildings, healthcare facilities and other heavily trafficked spaces.  H.J. Martin and Son and its affiliated Mavid Construction have upcoming nora® projects at the new science building at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and at the Thrivent Financial data center in Northeast Wisconsin.

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[L-R] H.J. Martin and Son designers Karen Siegrist, Lisa Herrmann and Andria Orth

[L-R] Project Manager Bob Gmeiner and Interior Designer Andria Orth of H.J. Martin and Son, and Melodi and Bob McGuire of First Weber Realtors

A wonderful lunch was served, followed by great conversation with the group including a dynamic couple, Melodi & Bob, also known as “McGuire to the power of 2.” The H.J. Martin and Son team enjoyed the informative luncheon and looks forward to the new relationships formed!

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Jason Brost, North Central territory manager for Schulter Systems®, presented on a number of topics related to the integrated family of products which comprise the Schluter®-Shower System and simplify tiled shower installations.

Brost highlighted the consequences of poor moisture mitigation in traditional shower systems, which use liquid-applied membranes. The Schluter®-Shower System instead utilizes a KERDI sheet-applied membrane, along with the pre-fabricated KERDI shower tray for the floor and the KERDI drain to ensure integration with the waterproofing membrane. Because of these advances in moisture mitigation, the Schluter®-Shower System carries a 10-year warranty on labor and materials.

“We appreciate the opportunity provided by H.J. Martin to share the broad product offerings of Schluter Systems® and to demonstrate how they address moisture-mitigate issues up front,” says Brost. “Our shower systems continue to experience double-digit growth. It helps to have a trusted partner in Northeast Wisconsin like H.J. Martin, who can provide expert installation.”

Consumers today seek shower-design elements which combine technology with luxury, comfort, relaxation and accessibility, according to a 2014 survey of manufacturers by Kitchen & Bath Design News. Designers Simona Castagna and Darren Genner of Australian design firm Minosa shared with Houzz their belief that walk-in showers with oversize panes of glass or solid walls that completely enclose the space is a trend becoming more popular. Showers generous in size offer a place for rejuvenation and wellness, according to Castagna and Genner.

With this trend, consumers more and more seek built-in seats and benches, along with inset shelves and niches, which can integrate with their shower and maintain the large, barrier-free space. Often this level of elegance will extend to linear drains, allowing for single-sloped floors and large-format tiles.

Fortunately, the KERDI line of the Schluter®-Shower System provides the flexibility for homebuilders to easily add these newly desired shower components for their customers. Brost was able to give an in-person demonstration of the relative simplicity of the Schluter®-Shower System, which all tile installers at H.J. Martin and Son are trained on.

Tag Gunnlaugsson, the in-house showers technician of H.J. Martin and Son, followed Brost with a brief presentation on the types of shower doors available today, including custom options. The shower-door capabilities of H.J. Martin and Son were enhanced with the 2015 addition of Gunnlaugsson, giving the company’s customers a more streamlined buying and installation process; Gunnlaugsson provides a single point of contact from measurement all the way through to the in-home install.

“Most people know H.J. Martin for flooring and aren’t necessarily aware that we do custom showers,” says Gunnlaugsson. “With the increased demand for larger showers that provide luxury, it’s helpful to demonstrate our capabilities to the homebuilders of Northeast Wisconsin. Plus, it’s a logical extension of the services traditionally offered by our designers.”

The innovative Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT electric floor warming system – and its ease of installation – also was demonstrated to the homebuilders by Brost. Along with providing crack resistance for elegant ceramic and stone tile floors, the system allows for customizable heating zones. In other words, homeowners can have the heated-floor elements placed only where they want/need them.

Perhaps not surprisingly, sales of Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT have been higher in the North Central region than in any other area of the country since its launch in February 2014, according to Brost. Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT is available through H.J. Martin and Son, and the company’s tile installers are trained on the system.

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Members of the H.J. Martin and Son Neenah team and guests enjoyed listening to John McHugh, manager of leadership development and training for Kwik Trip, at the Excellence in Leadership conference, held Tuesday, April 12, at the Oshkosh Convention Center.  He entertained us with stories from the company’s humble beginnings in Eau Claire, Wis., to their true success with more than 500 stores.

Kwik Trip is a family owned business with a mission statement, “Treat customers and co-workers as you would like to be treated yourself.”  With core values such as Integrity, Respect, Excellence, Humility and Innovation, it is easy to see Kwik Trip as a Midwestern “roll up your sleeves” work-ethic kind of company.

John McHugh

The Kwik Trip stores are seen as “part of the neighborhood” in the communities they are located.  The products in the stores themselves are 80 percent local products.

Kwik Trip receives more than 1,500 letters of thanks and gratitude each year for an employee going above and beyond in service.  The company shares these letters of appreciation with each other and co-workers congratulate each other when they are mentioned in one of these letters.

Kwik Trip now has 15,000 employees and has been named a top workplace in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

Listening to John was very inspirational and it is easy to see why Kwik Trip is so successful.

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Schluter Ditra-Heat incorporates uncoupling mats that increase the stability of your subfloor to prevent the cracking of tiles and grout joints. Ditra-Heat is laid into the uncoupling mat for uniform heat distribution. The Ditra mat acts as an underlayment so that your floor will be flat where as with previous technology, you would have to skim-coat or self-level the floor, increasing the amount of time it took to install. Schluter Ditra-Heat can be used in various applications, such as over wood and concrete substrates, under ceramic/porcelain tiles and natural stone, along with being installed under shower pans and benches.

Ditra-Heat is great in small or large space applications. There are various amounts of cable sizes to fit any square footage job. There is even a new addition to the Ditra-Heat family called a power module. This power module is used to extend the span (previously 300 ft) of an area that can be heated on one thermostat. This makes it easier to install in very large spaces and have the ability to only use one thermostat. Schluter also just launched their new touch screen thermostat. This is available with their existing programmable and non-programmable thermostats.

Schluter Ditra-Heat offers a 10-year full warranty on labor and materials. The 10-year warranty requires that the cables are tested after installation with a megohmmeter and two times during the installation to ensure cable quality. H.J. Martin and Son supplies our installation team with megohmmeters and all other proper equipment to ensure our customers receive the 10-year full warranty. Schluter Ditra-Heat also uses two
probes, so if there are any issues with one cable probe failing after approximately 10 years, we are able to switch to the next wire that has not been used to prevent having to tear into your flooring to fix any issues with your Ditra-Heat.

The approximate cost of operating Schluter Ditra-Heat is roughly $0.10 per square foot, per month. Cost may vary per project. If you have approximately 80 square feet of Schluter Ditra-heat, it costs approximately $8.00 per month to run your heated floor 24/7. The touchscreen thermostat has the ability to calculate operating costs with the input of your current electric costs.

The Schluter Ditra-heat system is a product H.J. Martin and Son trusts. When thinking about your next remodel project or if you are building a new home, we can always give you the option of installing Schluter Ditra-Heat. Stop in today and let our designers help you with your latest Ditra-Heat project!

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