John McGrath, director of INSTALL, has announced in the most recent issue of the organization's eNewsletter that a prototype for a new INSTALL Surface Prep Certification has been developed.

According to McGrath, the prototype was developed through collaboration with nine underlayment mills, four INSTALL contractors and eight INSTALL instructors from around the country.

The certification will cover substrate evaluation, primer selection and application, product estimating and application, mixing operations (knowledge of and application) and ramping and gauging for height.

Topics to be covered in a classroom orientation as part of the certification process are: moisture and alkalinity awareness and testing, moisture mitigation, basic and major substrate prep and self-leveling underlayments.

Following the orientation will be a written test, and then a hands-on demonstration to evaluate the installers' command of the substrate, product knowledge and proper application techniques.

Test runs and final review of the certification will be done at the Carpenters International Training Center before its official launch, according to McGrath. Collaborators on this new certification include Ardex, AC Tech, CMP, HP Schonox, ISE Logik Industries, Koster, MAPEI, UFloor Systems, USG, Allegheny Contract Flooring, Consolidated Carpet, Flooring Solutions, Master Craft Floors and instructors from various locations. 

For more information, visit installfloors.org.