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This past week, I traveled down to Dalton, Georgia, for the FCITS Commercial Floor Inspector Certification course. Visiting Dalton always feels like a pilgrimage, as the little city in the mountains is “The Carpet Capital of the World,” and the heartland of all things Flooring.

The commercial inspection course was a week-long journey that included classroom instruction, hands-on demonstrations, two ‘mill’ tours where we observed the production of commercial carpets, and report-writing workshops.

The classroom instruction discussed some of the key differences between commercial and residential inspections.

Some of the differences are mechanical: for example, the nuances of scheduling when multiple parties want to be present. Additionally, the many ‘access’ complications that often arise in commercial settings can add multiple hours to the time allocated for an inspection visit in some cases.

Other differences, which were covered in great detail, included the various types of floor coverings found in commercial settings and the issues that arise with those flooring types. We learned about carpet tiles and loose-lay vinyl, watched an up-close demonstration of heat-welding vinyl seams, and rolled out multiple rolls of carpet in the warehouse to practice measuring bow-and-skew complaints. The instructors then demonstrated how skilled installers address bow, skew, and pattern alignment issues during the installation process.

The course instructors were engaging and enthusiastic; each one possessed a depth of knowledge and experience that enriched the lessons with stories, anecdotes, and practical lessons from the field.

During the middle of the week, we were each assigned a case study that included details of a commercial flooring complaint, along with a set of accompanying photographs. Our ‘homework’ was to write up the inspection report for the complaint. On the final day of the course, these reports were subjected to the scrutiny of our fellow-inspector peers, and also presented for critique to two commercial claims analysts. Receiving feedback on our work product was a rare opportunity – an experience that strengthened our report-writing and written communication skills.

Upon completion of the course, each participant was required to pass a test of our product and inspection knowledge, with a grade of 85% or higher. After a long week of total immersion in the study of product construction, performance, and complaints, I am pleased and proud to add the FCITS Commercial Inspection Certification to my resume.