Hands On Training

Hands-on training events are offered all year long throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each event is led by an NWFA Regional Instructor. These instructors are highly skilled and trained individuals who have a great passion for the wood flooring industry and are eager to share their knowledge with others. Learn more about our instructors.

Along with the Regional Instructor, you can expect to see manufacturer representatives from NWFA member companies at each event. These representatives come to share their experience, but to also demonstrate their products and help answer any questions you might have while testing them out.

Each class includes an educational reference manual, access to online courses that reinforce the hands-on training being taught, safety goggles, disposable respiratory mask, earplugs, instructor directory, and lunch.

Ready to get started? View the hands-on training schedule and click on an event to register.

NWFA Partners in Education help make our training events possible. View the list of participating companies and learn how you can get involved.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS & PREREQUISITES

Basic Install & Sand/Finish Combo

Four-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. Provides a broad overview by combining the Basic Installation and Basic Sand & Finish courses. Includes a history of wood floors, understanding wood, an introduction to wood flooring tools/equipment and uses, installation of unfinished/factory finished solid/engineered flooring, and nail/glue/floating installation methods. Also includes fundamentals of sanding/finishing wood flooring, practice with application of stains/sealers/finishes, and an opportunity to participate in the entire wood flooring process from installation to finishing.

Prerequisite: Complete NWFA University Installation and Sand & Finish Safety courses.

Basic Installation

Three-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This course includes safety, an introduction to installation tools, exploring the many elements of job site preparation, and a variety of installation methods used when installing solid and engineered wood floors, including nail-down, glue-down, and floating.

Prerequisite: Complete NWFA University Installation Safety course.

Basic Sand and Finish

Three-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This course includes safety, an introduction to sanding equipment, as well as an introduction to staining and finishing products and processes.

Prerequisite: Complete NWFA University Sand and Finish Safety course.

Intermediate Installation

Three-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This course covers job site preparation, layout, moisture testing, choosing and using the proper tools for the job, and an analysis of the different types of wood flooring and the methods to install each of them. This level of training includes board repair and replacement, adding simple design elements such as borders and patterns, and retrofitting existing floors.

Prerequisite: One year of installation experience OR attendance at Basic Installation or Principles of Wood Flooring training. Plus, completion of the NWFA University Installation Safety course.

Intermediate Sand and Finish

Three-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This course covers the entire sanding process, each piece of equipment, their proper uses, and basic maintenance. Training includes sanding different flooring types and species, sanding multidirectional floors, and resanding and recoating factory finished floors. Students will use a variety of stains, sealers, natural oils, waxes, colorants, reactive conditioners, and finishes, scraping/texturing, repairs, maintenance coats, and different final coat applications and methods.

Prerequisite: One year of sand and finish experience OR attendance at Basic Sand and Finish or Principles of Wood Flooring training. Plus, completion of the NWFA University Sand and Finish Safety course.

Advanced Installation

Four-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This class, led by some of the best in the industry, includes specific training on some of the specialty skillsets required to become a Certified Master Craftsman. The skillsets taught at this level include circular/curved applications, marquetry/intarsia, inlays, medallions, parquet, and wood bending.

Prerequisite: Three years of installation experience AND attendance at the Intermediate Installation school. Plus, completion of NWFA University Installation courses.

Advanced Sand and Finish

Three-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This class, led by some of the best in the industry, includes specific training on some of the specialty skillsets required to become a Certified Master Craftsman. The skillsets taught at this level include using different colorants, reactive conditioners, paints, dyes, and minerals in order to achieve unique results on the floor, manufacturer guidance in producing unique blended systems, and texturing and sculpting wood.

Prerequisite: Three years of sand and finish experience AND attendance at the Intermediate Sand and Finish school. Plus, completion of NWFA University Sand and Finish courses.

Master Craftsman

Four-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This course, led by some of the industry’s most prestigious guest instructors, including some of the most-recent Wood Floor of the Year winners, is for those looking to take their skills to the highest level. This is where we tie everything together to produce award-winning results.

Prerequisite: Three years of installation and sand and finish experience. Plus, successful completion of Intermediate Installation and Intermediate Sand and Finish schools. Completion of NWFA University Installation and Sand and Finish courses.

Inspector School

Five-day hands-on training and classroom presentation. This course teaches the necessary tools to become an inspector. Training includes learning about the inspectors’ professional role and legal responsibilities, how to properly identify issues, using specific testing methods and tools, the art and skill of conducting interviews and writing reports, and using and applying industry standards. Actual flooring inspections are included as part of the training.

Prerequisite: Three years of installation and sand and finish experience. Plus, successful completion of Intermediate Installation and Intermediate Sand and Finish schools. Completion of all NWFA University courses.

One-Day Seminar: Concrete Prep and Moisture Testing

This course includes assessing and addressing concrete subfloors. Topics include proper methods for grinding and flattening a slab, use of self-leveling products, learning about concrete surface profile (CSP), identifying the right moisture control and adhesive systems for the job, and addressing elusive problems of moisture. Moisture testing training includes learning about different quantifiable and non-quantifiable test methods.

Prerequisite: None

One-Day Seminar: Wood Subfloor Prep and Moisture Testing

This course includes assessing and addressing wood subflooring systems. We will discuss and demonstrate proper methods for testing flatness, flattening the subfloor and the subfloor system, addressing inadequate subfloor systems, and addressing elusive problems of moisture. Moisture testing training includes learning about different types of moisture meters and how to use them properly.

Prerequisite: None

One-Day Seminar: Wood Floor Claims – Evaluations and Inspections

This course, led by wood floor inspectors, teaches the processes necessary to evaluate flooring failures when dealing with claims. Learn the most impactful methodology in dealing with a claim by understanding the entire claims process from all involved parties. Learn tips on how to work with customers, manufacturers, distributors, and inspectors.

Prerequisite: None