A few years ago, I wrote an article titled The Ramifications of Specifications, which struck a chord across the flooring industry. The article highlighted how great flooring products often fail when installed in the wrong environments. This problem persists because crucial voices—those of floor care professionals—are too often left out of the decision-making process. Since […]
From the Trail to the Job: It’s Okay to Take a Pass
We all strive to exceed expectations in both our professional and personal lives. However, there are times when it’s crucial to check our egos and consider taking a pass. For the past six months, I’ve been intensely training for a bucket-list opportunity: the Maah Daah Hey 100, a challenging 106-mile backcountry mountain bike race. Every […]
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Get IICRC CCMT Certified at a Discounted Rate!
Need IICRC CCMT certification for your team? Join XL North’s Bill Luallen on November 14th & 15th in Columbus, OH where he’ll be instructing the newly-overhauled Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician course and exam. Don’t miss this opportunity to get certification at a discounted rate of $125 per person. Exam certification is an additional $80 made […]
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Get Serious About Company Culture
Company culture has been a trending topic in the corporate arena for a few years now, and it’s not exclusive to large corporations and the white collar professional. The “culture” of a company is essentially the organization’s personality. Company culture consists of many elements, including your organization’s mission, work setting, ethics, expectations, values, and goals. […]
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Case Studies
Grout Sealant Gone Wrong – A Case Study
In this case study, Matt Tylman of DFS Green in Phoenix discusses how his team turned around a grout sealant project gone wrong. Learn more about the challenge he faced and the chemicals and process he used to solve the problem.
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Suggested Procedures
Guidelines for Using Vital Oxide in HVAC Units
Vital Oxide is EPA approved for use in HVAC units to kill mold and mildew. In this XLN Suggested Procedures PDF, you’ll learn the step by step process to use Vital Oxide in commercial HVAC units.
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Case Studies
Hospitality Concrete Gets a PTU Shine Plus Upgrade
In this case study, CFS Interiors & Flooring tackles a high-traffic service hallway in a Minneapolis hotel using XL North’s Pro-Tect Ultra Shine Plus. Faced with the need for a clean, polished look without the cost of full concrete polishing, Maintenance Operations Manager Mike Becker shares how his team delivered lasting results with a faster, […]
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How Floor Care Providers Can Offer Value to Their Customers
XL North recently sponsored a manufacturer panel discussion at the Starnet Floor Care Maintenance Conference in Dallas, TX, where we discussed how flooring maintenance providers can become a customer’s trusted resource by adding value to your service offering. Our group of flooring industry experts included: Jim Toth, Maintenance & Technical Service Specialist of Mannington Commercial […]
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Guides & Checklists
How to Read Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Discover XL North’s essential guide to Safety Data Sheets, a must-read for anyone involved in handling chemicals. This guide simplifies the complexities of SDS, covering identification, hazard recognition, and safe handling practices to ensure you can manage chemicals safely and effectively. Perfect for professionals at all levels, it’s your key resource for understanding the critical […]
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Interview with Mark Warner, Education Manager, ISSA
Training As a Passion Mark Warner is currently the education manager for ISSA‘s Cleaning Management Institute. His extensive background in floor care spans over three decades, with two of those spent in training and education. “Being involved with training and sharing information, I learn every day as well as try and teach others every day,” […]
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Interview with PTL’s Lloyd Cooper: How Do We Revive Collaboration in the Flooring Industry?
In my pivotal conversation with industry veteran Lloyd Cooper from Professional Testing Labs, we dove deep into the significant transformations he’s witnessed throughout his career in flooring. Lloyd underscored how we’re grappling with a decline in seasoned personnel, leading to a resurgence of previously solved problems. We reflected on times when the industry was more […]
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Interview with The Moisture Testing Guy, Carl Bredl
Carl Bredl has been in the flooring industry for 35 years and the depth of his experience is impressive. Beginning as a union installer in 1985, he started with carpet, and eventually ventured into hard surfaces, including vinyls, rubber, wood, laminate, concrete repair, epoxy mitigation systems, and resinous flooring. He’s known as “The Moisture Testing […]
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Is Commercial Carpet Poised for a Comeback?
Original Author: Carrie Brown Carrie Brown is a strategic marketing consultant specializing in the floor care industry. With experience in copywriting, graphic design, and web development, she develops and executes integrated marketing strategies that help organizations communicate more effectively and drive growth. Modern workplaces are evolving to “flex,” as Jessica Chevalier highlights in this […]
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Last Chance to Get the Introductory Rate! IICRC RFMT Training Course & Certification
The first two IICRC Resilient Flooring Maintenance Technician (RFMT) classes in Columbus and Dallas were great successes, and the upcoming 2 day course in Las Vegas is your last chance to get yourself or your technicians certified for only $229. Don’t miss the opportunity! Continuing education is vital in flooring maintenance. This is an excellent […]
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Case Studies
LVP Sacrificial Coating Case Study
Flooring Services Inc. recently installed roughly 18,000 SF of quality LVP in a very large university book store. The customer was acutely aware that both the environment of the area and the traffic volume would be worthy of applying a “sacrificial” acrylic coating to the floor. Jason Rowley, Account Manager with Flooring Services, turned to […]
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New Update on IICRC Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician (CCMT) Course Revisions
We previously announced that the IICRC Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician (CCMT) Course and Certification Exam was in the process of being revised. Our own Bill Luallen is serving as chair of the Technical Advisory Committee overseeing the process and he recently provided an update. “Great news from the CCMT committee! We have completed the initial […]
