We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of this year’s NWFA Intermediate Sand & Finish Course at City Floor Supply! The three-day event was a resounding success, with participants gaining hands-on experience and deepening their knowledge of professional floor sanding and finishing techniques. The panels look fantastic, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students who participated.

Highlights from the Course

The NWFA Intermediate Sand & Finish Course is designed to help contractors enhance their skills in sanding and finishing wood floors. This intensive program included both classroom instruction and hands-on practice, covering a wide range of topics to ensure that attendees leave with a comprehensive understanding of the craft.

Course Overview:

• Prerequisites: Participants needed at least one year of sanding and finishing experience or completion of the Basic Sand & Finish or Principles of Wood Flooring course, along with the NWFA University Sand & Finish safety course.
• Duration: The course spanned three days and included detailed training on equipment maintenance, sanding various types of flooring, and finishing techniques.
• Further Qualifications: Successful completion of this course qualifies participants for the Hands-on Sand and Finish Certification Test and the Advanced Finish course. It also paves the way to attend the Inspector school when combined with the Intermediate Installation course.

Day-by-Day Breakdown

Day 1: Introduction and Initial Training

• Morning: After introductions and a safety presentation, the class delved into customer expectations and job site preparation. A detailed discussion on abrasives and equipment followed, emphasizing proper usage and maintenance of sanding machines.
• Afternoon: Hands-on practice with the big machine and edger, where students learned the nuances of rough cutting and flattening floors, controlling walking speed, and removing drum marks.

Day 2: Final Sanding and Buffer Techniques

• Morning: The day began with a review of previous lessons and progressed to filling techniques, including vacuum, trowel fill, and putty. Students then moved on to final sanding their panels.
• Afternoon: The focus shifted to buffers and multi-head sanders, with classroom discussions on sanding flaws and job site maintenance. Students practiced with different sanding tools and learned the water popping technique to enhance wood grain.

Day 3: Finishing Touches and Product Application

• Morning: A thorough discussion and demonstration of reactive products like wood bleach and ammonia started the day, followed by in-depth sessions on sealers and finishes.
• Afternoon: The final segments covered site conditions, penetrating oil finishes, intercoat abrasion, and the crucial final clean. Students practiced applying the final coat, ensuring a flawless finish on their panels.

Day 4: Testing

On the final day, NWFA Certification Testing was offered to participants who wanted to take one step further and become officially NWFA certified.

Special Thanks

We couldn’t have made this event a success without the generous contributions of our expert instructors and partners:

• Todd McDonald: Our talented NWFA Instructor for this course
• Rob Johnson of Bona
• Kathleen Freeman of Canlak
• Robert McNamara of Sheoga Hardwood Flooring
• Austen Kreie of Lagler North America.
• Mike Bialkowski of Ciranova

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event. We look forward to seeing the continued success and growth of all our attendees in their professional flooring careers! Stay tuned for more training opportunities and events at City Floor Supply.