Do I need to employ a mallet made of rubber while making engineered flooring?

Tim McCool, technical director at West Plains, Mo.-based The Master’s Craft Tim McCool, technical director at The Master’s Craft in West Plains,

I recently took care of a case about this subject. The seller claimed that it is the norm in the industry to use a mallet made of rubber for installing engineered flooring; however, the directions from the manufacturer of the case state:

“Never strike a rubber mallet or hammer directly on the flooring to engage the tongue-and-groove. This practice can damage the flooring and the finish. Use a tapping block if necessary.”

It also got me interested in reviewing other manufacturers’ guidelines. I looked up at least 5 other big wood flooring companies. I found similar warnings against hitting your flooring using a mallet with numerous references to “striking the surface with a rubber mallet may ‘burn’ the finish, causing irreparable damage” and that it could “mark or damage the flooring.”

As someone who has worked in the wood flooring business for over 40 years now, I am familiar with the usage of the mallet of rubber to engage the tongue-and-groove when installing glue-down, nail/staple down, and even sometimes while floating an engineered floor has been (as the dealer claimed) an accepted practice. When I was contracting, I owned a variety of mallets made of rubber, with various sizes, weights, and densities to fit the flooring I was putting in. However, using multiple kinds of wood floors engineered, I could utilize my mallet for my tapping block rather than on the flooring itself.

Manufacturers advise against using a mallet made of rubber because there are numerous types of mallets made from rubber, ranging from soft to complex, with various colors and styles of rubber. Some are too tough and may break the floor. Others are too soft and leave rubber leftovers across the floor. Others leave burn marks on the floor’s finish. Even if that doesn’t happen, the adhesive may get on the mallet head and then get transferred to the surface of the floor, and without proper cleanup, adhesive residue cures on the surface or in the wire brushing/texture. With all the different types of finishes and textures the manufacturers are producing today, it’s not a “one mallet for any floor” solution. The manufacturer will not warrant an installation in the event of damage to the flooring wood by using a mallet made of rubber. Therefore, you must utilize a tapping block or the suggested installation method. Mainly, with the next wave of scraped and wire-brushed flooring and the various types of finishes available, it’s prudent to be extra vigilant and shield yourself from any liability.

Art can be a massive asset in the current economic climate and is a powerful method to connect people and improve their quality of life for people. According to my organization’s 2024 State of the Art Report, 96% of the respondents think that art improves the living quality of those who work in office space.

More than just beautiful artwork on the wall, art can drive growth. When used to help in early business development, it can be used to create positive change throughout the organization. You should consider three points when deciding whether ways to incorporate art into your plans for development.

Expression of a Brand’s Image Through Artwork

Businesses rely on their brand’s visibility and reputation. Art can tell a story in a way that no other medium can. Improving your brand’s image by presenting a compelling narrative. Art can remind your employees, customers, and the broader community that you’re who you’re and the values you are about while creating a distinct space for your business.

Through the expression of your brand’s identity through artful design, create a space that reflects the mission and values of your company. In addition, it will draw customers to your business (and keep them there for longer). It will also help increase the credibility of your brand and allow you to be recognized incredibly in authentic and genuine ways.

When choosing artwork to represent your company’s image, be sure to consider a variety of artists, mediums, and subjects. This can result in a rich and diverse selection that provides an array of options for all and results in a cohesive artwork specifically curated to enhance your company’s story.

If they are brought in early in the development process, art consultants will work with designers, developers, architects, and other professionals to ensure that the collection aligns with the space’s branding and acts as an indicator of the brand’s values.

It could be as concrete as a piece of work like Denver Water, where my company created three large-scale outdoor sculptures that depict different aspects of water. Or, as the project with Home Advisor, where we assisted them in filling their office with art that plays with different ways of thinking about home.

But the expression of your brand via artwork is also possible than just metaphorically. For instance, my team worked closely with employees from The Denver arts and cultural group, Bonfils Stanton Foundation, to collect works by various local artists, resulting in offices where employees can feel a sense of connection to the community of creatives their organization serves.

In any case, using artwork to visually represent the brand’s image is not an easy task. If you decide to hire an art expert, ensure that they collaborate closely with designers and developers to get to know the company’s identity and connect it with visual concepts and concepts. The result will be an artistic experience that will bring the brand to life and connects with the desired target audience.

Art As A Way To Commit To DEIB

Today more than ever before, companies are being asked about what they believe in and how they can put actual actions behind their claims. Artwork that is diverse in its subject and perspectives can show your dedication to diversity, equity as well as belonging, inclusion, and diversity (DEIB).

About 70% of participants in my survey believe that the primary purpose of art is to help build an understanding of culture and social equity. However, in their most recent projects, only half of the artists we surveyed had female artists in their portfolios 35% showcased artists who identify with being Black or Hispanic, and 15% included an artist who identifies as LGBTQ.

Art can demonstrate a sincere belief in the value of the human experience and help create a community where everyone feels welcome. A commitment to art can be a fantastic opportunity to show how your business is living in line with the DEIB commitment. To achieve this, the artwork you choose to include should reflect a range of backgrounds, reflect the local community, and help the careers of young and marginalized artists.

Increasing your Return On Investment (ROI) Through Art

Beyond the visual aspect, Artwork that local artists have carefully selected can generate publicity and goodwill, connecting employees, customers, and the general public.

More than 90% of the business leaders who participated in my company’s survey said their initiatives would not be as productive without art. A positive experience with art allows companies, from multifamily developments to hotels, to attract higher rates and extended reservations. Employers with offices decorated with art could also boost the recruitment of employees, retention of them, and satisfaction and efficiency.

One of the most significant issues we receive from our clients is the ability to distinguish their properties from others. This is particularly true when the costs of development and construction increase, putting pressure on the budget for art. The best method to get around these challenges is to think about art in the early stages of developing the project. This will ensure that the experience is seamless with the design, architecture, and operations and not being a secondary consideration that leaves a minimal impression on visitors.

When they are brought in earlier, experts in the art can aid in maximizing budgets for artwork and reduce costs by planning dramatic art events that leave a lasting impression on people who interact with the space. If they begin early and work closely with other stakeholders, the project experts can design spaces for striking, iconic art that is impossible anywhere and everywhere else.

Next Steps to Build the Business Case for Art

Art can be a catalyst for the growth of businesses. However, to make art that is a meaningful and memorable experience, it’s essential to start early in the project’s development phase to ensure the best results.

The bottom line is that projects are more efficient when all the stakeholders, decision-makers, and experts collaborate. This can help improve budgets, art location, artist selection, etc. By leveraging leaders’ wisdom, collective experience, and the transformational power of art, a business can generate genuine opportunities to grow and achieve success.

Sheridan Corp. has been called the general contractor for the $1.3 million build-out of the newest Winslow production site for Maine Clean Co., a producer of gluten-free snacks.

Maine Clean, founded as a home-based organization in 2014 by Karen Getz, has become going right through its next expansion. Most recently, it has been located in Waterville.

Overall, the company is investing $2.4 million to boost its production capacity by tenfold and multiple its workforce.

That uses annual national growth. Maine Clean today distributes nationally through Providence, R.I.-based United Natural Meals Inc. (NYSE: UNFI), which statements to be the biggest freely traded wholesale provider of health and specialty meals in North America, and Napierville, Ill.-based KeHE Distributors, which has 16 circulation centers in North America.

PHOTO / PETER VAN ALLEN
LaJoie Bros is finishing up a new site for Vivid Cloud at Brunswick Landing.

Incidentally, the three leaders of Maine Clean — Karen and Charlie Getz and Jordan Ross — were called Business Leaders of the Year by Mainebiz in 2024.

Expansion plans were first created in 2020. The company seemed for a brand new center that would enable development and was near Waterville. Among Maine Crisp’s investors obtained 20 Lithgow St. in Winslow at the end of 2020 and is managing renovations and the fit-up.

Architect John Shipsky, located in Waterville, drafted plans to repurpose the extensive, aging development into a 100% gluten-free-certified site for production, warehousing, and retail.

Fairfield-based Sheridan was employed for the fit-out.

“It indicates a good deal to Sheridan to participate in that challenge, being able to support firms succeed and build jobs in main Maine, where most of our employees live, is a win-win for all of us,” claims Dan Wildes, president of Sheridan Construction. “We has effectively completed a large number of food-processing projects and understands food safety needs a lot better than most. A task that’s near to house is essential as we keep our experienced employees and build our team.”

Maine Clean is anticipated to resource higher volumes of materials from Maine suppliers with the added capacity.

It presently works with the Bouchard Family Farm in Fort Kent to have buckwheat and gets maple syrup from Spring Break Maple Farms in Smyrna.

“The brand new center may be the catalyst for Maine Crisp’s evolution from a specialty fresh maker to a national model distinguished for its knowledge and development in value-added buckwheat items,” claims Jordan Ross, chairperson of Maine Crisp. “We’re thrilled to be able to continue our development in Maine, using its agricultural bounty and competent workforce which can be critical materials to our success.”

Other information from across the structure industry

LaJoie Bros., an Augusta contractor, is concluding up a brand new Brunswick Landing site for Vibrant Cloud, a Brunswick IT firm.

Aceto Earthworks, a Lewiston company, is doing site work on the site of what will be an Aroma Joe’s coffee shop in Topsham.

A.R. Developing Co., a Pennsylvania builder, got approval to build a 202-unit house complex at 305 Tub Street in Brunswick on a vacant parcel opposite Mid Shore Hospital.

In Freeport, the 144-unit Residences at Crosstree is nearing completion. The complex was a collaboration between West Hartford, Conn.-based Simon Konover Co., Providence, R.I.-based KGI Qualities LLC, and Boston-based Devine Capital LLC.