ST. LOUIS, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Making the decision to buy, install, or refinish a hardwood floor in your home or business can be stressful. You want to be sure that the product or service you are choosing is right for you; you want to be sure that the money you are spending will be a good investment for years to come, and you want to be sure that the work you contract for is done right. But how can you be sure that the contractor, salesperson, or inspector you are dealing with is as knowledgeable as he or she claims to be? The answer really is quite simple: hire a certified wood flooring professional. The NWFA Certified Professionals offers certification programs for wood flooring professionals in installation, sand and finish, sales, and inspections. Certification with NWFACP involves a written test that determines knowledge and expertise in core areas based on the certification being sought. Successful completion of a written exam is required to become a certified Sales Counselor. For installation, and sand and finish, candidates must pass both a written exam and a hands-on test that determines wood flooring skills competency. To become an NWFACP certified wood flooring inspector, candidates must pass both a written exam, which includes a report writing section, and submit up to seven inspection reports to the NWFACP Review Panel, which must approve at least five reports. Hiring a certified wood flooring professional can give you the peace of mind you need to make good choices about your wood flooring needs. How can you find a certified wood flooring professional in your area? Simply visit the NWFACP web site at http://www.nwfacp.org/ and select the "Find a Certified Professional" menu option. You can conduct your search by city, state, zip code, area code, mileage, or company name. The National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit trade organization of more than 4,000 wood flooring professionals working worldwide to educate consumers, architects, designers, and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. The NWFA can be contacted at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63005, or at 800-422-4556 (USA), 800-848- 8824 (Canada), or 636-519-9663 (international).
