Kahrs' Corporate Vision Comes to Life through INSTALL Partnership
Contractor: Kahrs Hardwoods
Project Type: Flooring Case Studies
The Kahrs Hardwood web site speaks of a strong belief that quality craftsmanship sets the company apart from competitors. The company’s vision includes an insistence that high quality is evident in every piece of wood that carries the Kahrs name. That commitment to quality and craftsmanship has in motion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where an active working partnership is in high gear between Kahrs and INSTALL Philadelphia and Vicinity – the local affiliate of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ flooring program.
What makes this partnership noteworthy is the hands-on, continuous training and mentoring by Kahrs and the willingness of INSTALL Philadelphia members to take extra steps to ensure they understand and master best practices in the installation of Kahrs products.
A host of recent projects illustrate why this partnership is important to contractors and the end user, all a part of the premier project training initiative, such as the Naval Square Townhomes and Condos, Venice Lofts, Justison Landing, and Dockside.
“The most effective training we have is jobsite training,” said Patrick McGinley, Coordinator of the INSTALL Philadelphia & Vicinity program. “I welcome input from experts so that we can reinforce training center work with what’s actually going on at the site.”
At the Naval Square project on Grays Ferry Avenue, seven different Kahrs products are being used for single family townhouses and condos. All are 15mm engineered Woodloc products that are installed using the floating installation method. The Naval Square project is in its second phase – a job that’s been in progress since 2004.
Inevitable manpower changes occurred. McGinley said any time he needed more training for a new crew member, Kahrs was there. “It’s important for us to be on the jobsite to guarantee a quality installation, that is something that Kahrs prides itself in – keeping mechanics on top of their skills,” said Chuck Antonucci, Kahrs’ vice president of technical services.
Brian Emmons is the Senior Project Manager for Toll Brothers, the Naval Square builder/developer. He said having a manufacturer’s technical expert frequently on site is not typical, but Kahrs’ consistent presence contributes to the project’s overall quality. “Everyone can see, feel and touch the flooring, so it’s important that it’s done correctly. Now add the natural properties of wood – you can’t have Mother Nature do quality control. Any issues we’ve had, Kahrs got it resolved quickly. We’re very satisfied with Kahrs’ and its attention to customer service,” Emmons said.
“If the end user is happy, we’re happy. We want to meet and exceed their expectations,” Antonucci said, adding: “This arrangement with INSTALL has worked out amazingly well. We’ve put in thousands of square feet of Kahrs product throughout the Philadelphia region without a hitch, and I don’t anticipate problems as we move into the future.”
Kahrs is a long-time endorser of the INSTALL program, which is the flooring industry’s only multi-year training and certification program for flooring installers. INSTALL partners are frequently asked to review the overall INSTALL curriculum to make sure that what’s being taught to apprentices and journeymen is exactly what’s needed on actual jobsites. Kahrs has responded to every request by INSTALL to review the curriculum and is looked to for expert guidance on hardwood flooring issues. Pilot training programs between Kahrs and INSTALL local affiliates first started in Boston, and then expanded to Philadelphia.
“With Kahrs as a partner, we are able to do effective, hands-on training and offer on-the-spot support. The theory is, keep them trained and they in turn will install our partners’ products according to their specifications,” McGinley said. “Our members also understand the importance of this training, and participate in training on Saturdays if that’s what’s needed to get the job done.”
“I think that’s why Kahrs gets along so well with INSTALL – the common goal is to produce quality,” Antonucci added. “The last thing we leave behind on a job site is the workmanship, if it’s right, the customer’s happy and we can be proud of job well done.”