Surfaces Preview: A brief look at what's in store at this year's Surfaces show - Jan 2017

By Darius Helm

The Surfaces show, held as part of The International Surface Event (TISE) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from January 18 to 20, is the biggest residential flooring show in the western hemisphere, and this year promises to be a memorable event, with innovations in construction and design dominating new product introductions. One of the key themes at this year’s show is added value.

Many of the new carpet collections feature upscale designs, complex construction and sophisticated colorways, with a good deal of experimentation. The hard surface side continues to be dominated by wood looks, with designs going in several different directions, from chasing leading trends of the last couple of years to setting off in new directions. Some will gain traction, while others are destined to fade from view.

Construction innovations range from Mohawk’s new 100% PET carpet, from face fiber to adhesive to backing, to various rigid core LVT products, enhanced wearlayers, and wider, longer formats. And DIY products are hot this year, led by those rigid core products.

This year’s exhibition space is about 10% larger than last year’s, and larger crowds are expected to attend the TISE event, which includes StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and TileExpo. The education program actually kicks off on January 17, with many of the sessions contributing to certifications and credits. Floor Focus will be sponsoring design events, including the Trends Hub and the Design Day luncheon with A&D icon Art Gensler, alongside Houzz, Karastan and Polycor. Floor Focus is also hosting the Emerging Professionals event.

This year’s preview is the most extensive ever by Floor Focus, though of course it’s not comprehensive, representing new programs and product introductions finalized by press time. However, enough of the significant exhibitors are represented to offer a good sampling of what attendees will see at the show.

SOFT SURFACE
Mohawk-Booth 6003
On the soft surface side, the biggest introduction at Mohawk is its new Airo product, with a backing so distinct from traditional carpet that the firm is instead calling it a “unified soft floorcovering.” The product is 100% PET, with its needlepunched backing fused to the greige goods with a melt-bonded PET. The initial offering comprises eight cut pile styles in 48 ounce and 60 ounce weights. (For more on Airo, turn to our in-depth review on page 67.)

Mohawk is adding to its SmartStrand line with an even higher level of soft carpet in its Silk Reserve collection. The product has an all-pet warranty and built-in stain protection. And new to Karastan are woven and tufted collections in wool, SmartStrand Silk and Kashmere nylon.

On the entry-level side, Mohawk has added to its branded carpet offering with new styling and colorways in its Forever Fresh PET carpet.

Dream Weaver-Booth 1709
Dream Weaver’s new Your Retreat display is the firm’s most comprehensive residential carpet collection and display system to date, and it features the firm’s PureColor soft cationic nylon in styles from solids, tonal colors and balanced accents in a range of colors and price points.

Earlier this year, Engineered Floors, the parent company of Dream Weaver, launched its mainstreet commercial division, Pentz Commercial Flooring Solutions, leveraging its acquisition of J+J Flooring Group, and now the firm is introducing a Pentz display system that will feature its Encore solution-dyed nylon on both broadloom and carpet tile.

The Dixie Group-Booth 6055
The Dixie Group’s high-end Fabrica operation will debut ten styles at Surfaces, including Garbo and Verona, which are notable for their high luster accent yarns and light tip shearing in a rich, dense hand. The designs are constructed out of Stainmaster’s Luxerell nylon 6,6 yarn.

Dixie’s Masland will also introduce ten new styles, one of which is Bandala Jazzed, a relaunch of the firm’s successful Bandala style, tufted with a dense, low luster Stainmaster yarn and offering a new color line. Another new Masland style is Ventura, also using Stainmaster yarn, in a two-color medium scale pattern of irregular laddering in a neutral color line.

Phenix-Booth 1737
Phenix Flooring is introducing a collection of three multi-colored patterned carpets with state-of-the-art cut and loop technology, yielding textured dimensional patterns reminiscent of upscale commercial looks. Refuge, Flourish and Well Being are constructed with Opulence HD solution-dyed PET fiber.

Also new at Phenix is Restored, also made from Opulence HD, with warm tea-stained hues from pale to dark for a soft overall look with striae effects.

Vivacious, another PET product, is notable for its bright color pops and its complex random aesthetic, and it comes in six dynamic colorways.

Stanton-Booth 6455
Stanton will unveil a substantial lineup of new products across its various lines. Under the Stanton line, the firm is introducing the Cottage collection of three styles made of wool and polysilk, with designs ranging from classic geometricals to striated textures. The firm has also added to its Marquee collection under the Atelier line with Muse, a lush nylon 6 in fresh, bold colorways.

The Tailormade collection under Crescent offers a tailored tweed theme in flatweave constructions. New to Rosecore is Nexus, an upscale pair of nylon 6,6 carpets, one a sheared pile and the other a striated pattern with a handmade feel. And the Antrim line offers the Horizon collection of chunky felted wool and braided stripes.

Lexmark-Booth 1227
At Surfaces, Lexmark will introduce its new Lexmark Living display, featuring 11 new designs along with 17 existing designs. The display offers larger card sizes along with new branding and logo. New designs in high gauge construction and the firm’s Primus LexSoft PET fiber include Solitaire, Monarch, Casa Blanca, Striation, Pasadena, Silhouette, Cheyenne, Santa Fe, Trinity and Waverly.

Also new is a heavier weight Downy in a Saxony construction using Primus SuperSoft PET. And the firm has expanded its Tailored collection with four new designs: Noble, Tuscany, Milano and Serene.

Kaleen-Booth 6367
Kaleen’s new Jacks River carpet, a 100% wool product hand-loomed in India, gets its inspiration from “the depth and dimension of a mountain stream” for a dynamic small-scale pattern that is gently irregular, while its Capstone flatweave, also 100% hand-loomed wool, offers a crisp houndstooth pattern.

HARD SURFACE
Armstrong-Booth 2009
Armstrong Flooring has added to its TimberBrushed engineered hardwood line with a gently textured hickory with treatments like liming and deep etching. It comes in five colors and 7-1/2” widths on planks up to 7’ long.

New to the firm’s Alterna Reserve line of solid vinyl tile are two collections. Grain Directions combines a dynamic color palette with a warm, rustic aesthetic, while Historic District features weathered wood visuals.

Armstrong will also introduce a new product type, a rigid hybrid LVT called Pryzm that is waterproof and has high dent resistance. And the firm will also showcase its Vivero LVT with its Diamond 10 protective layer.

US Floors-Booth 2037
US Floors, which is now owned by Shaw Industries, will show its new Coretec Plus XL Enhanced, a line of 18 hardwood designs with embossed grain patterns, an attached cork underlayment and a four-sided enhanced bevel. Also on display will be the Coretec Plus Enhanced collection, also with four-sided bevels, offering both modern and rustic visuals with the look of wood and tile.

Mohawk-Booth 6003
In hardwood, Mohawk has reformatted its offering through its completely retooled engineered hardwood facility in Melbourne, Arkansas, with four new collections that feature sawn-face veneers and varying levels of grain detail through wirebrushing. The new 1/2” products are 7” wide and up to 72” long, with a polyurethane TruFinish that has an almost oiled look.

In laminates, the firm is focusing on the higher end of the market with four collections with looks ranging from the high shade variation styles that were so popular at last year’s show to more clean and modern looks, like a chestnut visual with cream and gray shading.

Another major introduction for Mohawk is its new SolidTech rigid core LVT in three collections; Galvyn comes in 12 designs including Nightfall and Castle Rock; Ravella, offers eight sophisticated designs, such as Sandstone and Burnt Ember; and Vershire features wide plank designs in a range of designs and colors, including Shadow Wood, a multi-tonal wood look.

SolidTech allows for DIY installation with its Uniclic MultiFit technology, which ensures an “impenetrable” lock between planks and makes SolidTech waterproof. To promote SolidTech, Mohawk is partnering with Doug the Pug, a Nashville, Tennessee based pug that has eight million followers across social media platforms and over five million YouTube video views.

Crossville-Booth 5403
At this year’s Surfaces, Tennessee-based Crossville is unveiling its Nest collection, featuring striking oak and olive wood visuals in plank formats in a range of hues for a crisp, sophisticated look.

Eagle Creek-Booth 925
Eagle Creek, Home Legend’s brand for independent retailers, will launch its Bakers Creek hardwood flooring program, which features a chemical treatment that yields a multi-colored effect. The line also features fumed and stained European oaks. All the products are hand oiled with Woca Oil.

In addition, the firm is expanding its SynocoreX line of rigid core LVT with new colors and sizes, including multiple width offerings. And it is pursuing a patent for a rigid core LVT that uses a crushed stone core instead of a wood and polymer composite.

Karndean-Booth 2546
Karndean Designflooring will debut its latest collection, Karndean Looselay Longboard, with 12 wood designs in 59” lengths, the firm’s longest plank to date, and featuring visuals based on American, European and Australian woods. The product is backed with the firm’s friction-grip backing, which requires minimal adhesive.

The firm will also preview Karndean Korlok, slated for release this spring. The 9”x56” rigid LVT planks, in 12 wood designs, use Välinge’s 5G locking system.

Kronospan USA-Booth 603
Exhibiting at Surfaces for the first time, laminate manufacturer Kronospan will unveil its Bohemian collection along with four other new collections at the Surfaces show. The rustic wood design features shifting tones and grain variety for a dynamic flooring installation. It comes in 8mm and 12mm thicknesses in widths from 5” to 8”.

MS International-Booth 3459
MSI’s new Pietra Bernini is a porcelain tile with a vein-cut travertine design with fossilated details, in whites, creams and warm greys. The line comes in various sizes in polished or matte finishes.

Also new is Domino, a porcelain collection inspired by classic checkerboard patterns in both rectangles and squares up to 32”x32”, and it comes with a range of decorative mosaics and wall tiles.

Quick-Step-Booth 5603
Mohawk Industries’ Quick-Step is coming out with a new 12mm premium laminate in long and wide planks with European white oak visuals, called Veriluxe. The firm is also expanding its 12mm Reclaimé collection of reclaimed hardwood visuals. And new designs are also being added into the 12mm Elevae collection of toned down reclaimed hardwood looks, inspired by European oak designs and weathered pine.

In hardwood, Quick-Step’s Q-Wood has expanded its Elongé with cerused wood visuals for a timeworn look. Last year, Quick-Step entered the LVT category as well, with a range of visuals. According to the firm, the high performance LVT is resistant to heat and sunlight.

Quick-Step has also entered into yet another new flooring category, specified commercial carpet. The program will go through Quick-Step’s distribution national network.

The firm will also showcase its new Matrix modular display that holds the entire Quick-Step hard surface offering-laminate, hardwood and LVT.

IVC US-Booth 5825
IVC US, a division of Mohawk Industries, will unveil new designs in its Flexitec glass-backed sheet vinyl program. Panama is a 4” stone design that features a range of vintage patterned motifs. And Katarina, a rustic stone look, uses a randomly placed design that has the look and feel of an Old World installation, with a minimal grout visual for a more organic aesthetic.

Forbo-Booth 440
Linoleum producer Forbo will showcase its Marmoleum Click Cinch Loc offering, featuring linoleum mounted onto an HDF core with a cork backing in two formats, which are approximately 12”x36 and 12”x12”. The tiles, which feature the firm’s Topshield 2 finish for enhanced protection, lock together using Välinge’s 5G locking system.

Novalis-Booth 726
Novalis, another first-time exhibitor, will introduce two collections at this year’s show. For mainstreet applications, the firm is introducing Abberly LVT from its NovaFloor collection, with visuals of ornamental tiles, concrete and weathered planks in 12 designs. Abberly can be direct glued or can be installed using Välinge’s 5G click system.

DuChateau-Booth 1137
DuChateau’s Concrete DeLuxe line will introduce Koncretech, a convincing rustic wood look made of durable concrete planks with a matte finish, using the firm’s high performance concrete technology.

The firm’s American Guild brand will debut its Premium Vinyl collection of luxury vinyl plank and tile in a range of designs, textures and colors inspired by wood and stone.

Earthwerks-Booth 1757
Earthwerks has added to its Parkhill collection of rigid LVT with six SKUs of embossed-in-register planks along with six 12”x24” tiles. Products in the collection feature Välinge’s 2G Fold Down system for glueless installation and Tuff Shield surface protection. The firm is also adding six 7”x48” styles to its Sherbrooke rigid LVT line, which also includes the 2G system and Tuff Shield.

For its multi-family and builder customers, Earthwerks will introduce The Development collection of luxury vinyl planks and tiles, Tuff Shield enhanced, for a total of nine lines of 2mm products.

American Olean-Booth 5813
New introductions from American Olean, part of Mohawk’s Dal-Tile family of ceramics, include Abound, a polished marble visual in a neutral color palette; Elemental Canvas, a color-body porcelain with the look of organic woven fabric; Harvest Grove, a glazed porcelain in a textured hardwood design; Horizon, with a soft linear wash in four neutral watery hues, ideal for wall applications or as accents; Serentina, made of glass and stone for backsplashes, tub surrounds, borders and liners; and Theoretical Bold, a bright and colorful complement to the Theoretical series, available in six hues.

Daltile-Booth 5803
Daltile will unveil the Cove Creek collection of glazed porcelain floor tile and glazed ceramic mosaics with a subtle linear design on a stone visual in pale earth tones and neutrals. The firm will also introduce Gaineswood, a porcelain floor tile line of sleek wood looks based on rustic pine, hickory, walnut and elm. And its new Severino collection of glazed ceramic floor and wall tiles features travertine and marble looks in four colors.

New to the firm’s natural stone offering is Venetian Calacatta, an iconic marble, in a range of earthy neutrals.

Beauflor-Booth 1536
Beauflor’s new Blacktex collection, a high performance cushioned sheet vinyl that the firm calls “Luxury Vinyl Roll,” offers enhanced durability and sound absorption, and can be loose-laid up to 500 square feet. It comes in 20 wood and stone styles. Beauflor has also expanded its Pure collection of LVT, which offers a four-sided locking system. And it is introducing five new wood collections, featuring species like red and white oak, hickory and plantation-grown seringa.

Marazzi-Booth 5813
Marazzi, also a division of Mohawk’s Dal-Tile, will unveil a range of floor and wall tiles at the show. Cavatina is a rustic travertine look on a flat, smooth tile with lots of color range from tile to tile, while Modern Oasis is a clean limestone visual with subtle organic movement. Edgewood offers a toned-down hardwood design in white, light grey, brown and dark brown in 6”x24” planks. And Urban District Mix is a dramatic blend of rustic painted wood visuals and modern color palettes in high contrast motifs.

New products for the wall include Luminescence, a 3”x4” transparent glass beveled mosaic in a range of pearlescent colors, and Materika, a concrete design in striated, flat or wavy textures.

Mercier-Booth 5430D
Mercier has added to last year’s Element introduction of maple, hickory and birch, notable for the vivid contrasts from the oxidized wood visual. This year, the firm has elevated Element into the Elegancia collection with the addition of white oak and walnut.

The firm is also introducing its Intact 2500 commercial finish, targeting businesses with street-facing access, which, according to Mercier, is a market previously unattainable with hardwood flooring.

Del Conca-Booth 375
Del Conca’s new Calico, made at its facility in Tennessee, comes in four colors and is inspired by Belgian wood, and it features a new size for the firm, 8”x48”. Also new to the U.S. market is Pandora, a contemporary design made in Italy on the firm’s new manufacturing platform that can make sizes up to 32”x72”.

Del Conca will also showcase its Otro Botanico collection of wood looks in 8”x72” and 10”x72” planks.

Inhaus Surfaces-Booth 2413
Inhaus will introduce Sono, a waterproof flooring based on Ceramin technology, which produces a stable homogeneous 4.5mm core composed of mineral powder mixed with polyolefins for a waterproof, dimensionally stable product. The line features the patented Push2Loc angle-drop installation. The line comes in 26 colors in 8”x51” and 12”x24” formats.

Florim USA-Booth 481
Florim’s new collections include Faroe, a textile-inspired visual with subtle roughness and motion, available in six colors. Another new collection is Vintage Plates, an oxidized metal design with hints of stained concrete, also in six colors from Cobalt to a range of neutrals. Florim will also unveil Element, with a more refined rustic metal visual. Element comes in Bronze, Dark Grey, Light Grey and Gunmetal.

Somerset-Booth 2623
Somerset Hardwood Flooring has added to its Specialty collection of maple and hickory with a line of oak flooring prepackaged in three widths per carton, up to 4” for solid hardwood and up to 7” for engineered hardwood. The line comes in Mountain Brown, Country Night and Rustic Grey.

Johnson Hardwood-Booth 2209
Johnson’s new Jockey Hollow collection features wide and long planks with a range of surface treatments. The six colors in the collection range from pale and natural colors to greys and a dramatic grey blue.

Swiss Krono-Booth 5455
Laminate producer Swiss Krono will showcase its new Wood Medley collection, replicating looks from old barn walls, fence pieces and the floor of 100-year-old manufacturing houses with oak, birch, white walnut and weathered pine designs. The firm will also introduce Eagle Crest Hackberry, based on a North American hardwood species with dramatic, aggressive veining. Both collections feature in-register embossing.

Lauzon-Booth 1016
Quebec hardwood producer Lauzon will unveil the Organik series that uses a proprietary process to enhance maple’s distinctive graining. The line comes in Sombra, Rustica and Minera for a sleek and sumptuous aesthetic.

Emser Tile-Booth 5647
Emser will introduce Dunham, a glazed porcelain with a textured fabric visual in two sizes and eight neutral colors, and it features recycled content. Also new is Metaphor, with a rustic matte texture in brick-sized tiles with the look of naturally weathered materials, and it comes in five colors from icy to warm. And Vertigo is a higher gloss product with a soft, neutral palette in nine colors.

Emser is also adding to its Metro and Winter Frost collections with 13 additional stone mosaics from elegant classics to floral-inspired designs.

THE SUPPLY SIDE
Schönox-Booth 4721
Schönox will showcase Schönox DSP, a wear-rated self-leveling compound for durable concrete surfaces that can be polished, with a compressive strength of 7,250 pounds per square inch. The firm will also spotlight its latest moisture mitigation system and migration barrier, Schönox EPA Rapid, that cuts drying time in half compared to its orignal EPA product, so it’s ready for floor leveling in two to three hours.

Taylor-Booth 2637
Taylor’s new Signature Products collection features high-tech adhesives and prep coatings for carpet tile, LVT and hardwood installations. Two of those products are Sahara and Zephyr, concrete subfloor preparation coatings designed to handle highly alkaline substrates with relative humidity up to 99% and 95%, respectively.

Laticrete-Booth 5431
Laticrete will introduce Tri-Lite, a lightweight, high performance mortar designed for large, heavy tile, as well as thin-bed and wall installations, and can be used for both interior and exterior ceramic and stone. Also new is Strata Mat XT, which serves as an uncoupling and vapor management layer. It also helps mortar dry faster and functions as a transition between uneven floor heights.

QFloors-Booth 4863
QFloors will be unveiling its QPro POS+ cloud software, which features browser-based Internet technology for greater mobility on every kind of device, as well as more flexibility, compatibility and customization.

Royal Adhesives & Sealants-Booth 5468
Royal Vinyl Flooring Spray Adhesives is the latest addition to Royal’s adhesives offering. The new spray adhesive works on most types of LVT and vinyl sheet, and offers enhanced moisture resistance. Its unique spray pattern gives the installer more control over the application of the non-flammable, VOC compliant adhesive.

Stauf Adhesives-Booth 4813
Stauf USA will introduce LVP-777 Pro-Lux, an adhesive formulated for the installation of luxury vinyl tile and plank. The adhesive can be used for wet lay applications or, if exposed for a half hour or so, as a pressure sensitive adhesive. Its high shear strength is designed to decrease shrinkage and reduce cupping and end peaking.

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